Week 2: Digital bodies

We started this week with an introduction to the history of representing the human body and traditional and new, digital techniques for representation. We then covered the practical side of digital techniques for acquiring a physical model of the body through the following tutorials:

• Obtaining a 3D model - 3D scanning of real body parts with iSense with the iPad; creating 3D sculpture with Make Human
• Repairing body part with Meshmixer - transform (rotate and scale), clean, fill holes, cut, smooth
• 2D modelling with Slicer for Fusion 360 - obtaining plans for 2D 'slices' for 3D building, changing slicing technique, slice direction
• Overview of Rhinoceros and Grasshopper for modelling
• Integrating a joint with body parts - using Fusion 360 to extrude holes in the body part to be connected with dowels to the joint
• Using the laser cutter
• Using the CNC milling machine and associated software (OptiScout)

The assignment was to create a physical 3D model of a body part and produce it using digital software and digital fabrication. I created a model of my leg composed of cardboard with a joint piece for the knee made of wood. To download the files for leg parts and joint, visit: https://oscircularfashion.herokuapp.com/project/-L6R71DWy7yctx2GMjGx

I took the following steps to achieve this:

1. Used iSense on the iPad to obtain a 3D model of my leg.

2. Used Meshmixer to repair the leg (clean, fill in holes, smooth) and cut into 2 parts - the upper leg and lower leg, excluding the knee (the joint would replace the knee).

3. Obtained the file for the joint and extruded holes through the 2 leg parts in Fusion 360, so that the parts can be connected with dowels to the joint.

4. Exported the 2 leg parts (with holes) into Slicer to obtain PDF plans of stacked slices.