Reflection, Exploration of Designing for Vinyl, CNC, LaserCut WK 7



Another first for me this week! I have no previous experience with vinyl/laser cutters. I decided to use Gravit.io to make my design.Our computers at school don't have Adobe Illustrator, at least not yet! After working this week's projects we're considering loading them on a few computers in our Makerspace. I found the Gravit.io website simple and kid friendly, considering my lack of knowledge, but also saw that it had lots of more sophisticated applications to be explored.

Faith, Jeremy (our IT specialist) and I met up with Lucie at Generator in Burlington on Tuesday afternoon to cut our designs (and think about what we might want to have at school.) I hadn't seen the Generator's new home and loved the openness of the new facility. Lucy introduced us to Brook, who was making paper cut outs of hyperbolic paraboloids. I am drawn to this application as an approachable, artistic, mathematical project for students.





Next Lucie took a look at the designs Faith and I had brought. Here is a link to my design. I thought it was simple enough but when Lucie opened my file she burst out loud laughing saying like, "This is simple?!"

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwDIPYofjRLbMVBpUXVBdXg3MVE

Brook was so helpful with our printing, explaining and demonstrating that the border on my design complicated things. She worked on the computer connected to the laser cutter, shading the positive and negative spaces which told the computer what to cut and what to leave. Here are pictures of the cutter and my design on the computer.






It was fascinating to watch the cutter get to work. We cut both cardboard and wood.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwDIPYofjRLbNzVtRGFIVHF1T3g2d2JnR0h0ZkZjVFVIX280/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwDIPYofjRLbRkxEXzhzdnlWV3V3eFJfcmVRNEcyR21DWFZn/view?usp=sharing

We had time to talk with other makers while there and had a look at Lucie's wind tunnel project. I had such a fun time at the Generator. First and foremost I saw how valuable and enjoyable it is to be part of a community of makers!





With Lucie and Brook's support, my laser cutting project went very smoothly. If I hadn't had access to Brook's expertise I know I would have had a hard time cutting a complicated design. I appreciated the scaffolded learning approach to this experience and believe that is what students need to - a balance of challenge and support that makes every learner successful.

The vinyl cutter inspires me most. I hope that we can purchase an inexpensive one for our makespace to expand the types of projects available to students. I would love, for example, to have students experience the process of designing a 3D object, translating it to a 2D cut out, and then reassembling it back to 3D. I immediately think of drama masks and props and geometric designs, but really the skies the limit in terms of curricular applications in all subjects.




Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 27, 2017 at 12:47 PM

    Ellen, It was my pleasure to meet up with the three of you at the Generator. Thanks for taking a trip down to Burlington. Brooke, who you worked with is so helpful and its people like her that make it worthwhile to stay connected to the Generator community.

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