EXPERIMENTAL DIGITAL FABRICATION

 


week one 


For this project, I was part of Group 3, along with Vian Dallas. We decided to modify a CNC machine to expand its capabilities, we enjoyed using them and felt confident in pushing their boundaries without overwhelming ourselves. Our goal was to transform the CNC machine into a drawing tool capable of handling five different mediums.

We divided the workload evenly, making sure that each of us had a manageable section of the project. My part was to design the pen holder something that initially seemed simple but quickly became a challenge.



my ideas. 


Vian ideas 


Dallas ideas 





Brainstorming with all our ideas together 

I found inspiration in an unexpected place, my hair clip. While brainstorming ideas, I was playing with my hair clip and noticed how well it clamped onto my finger. This sparked the idea of modifying it into a flexible holder capable of securing different-sized drawing mediums.

week two 

Despite the setbacks, I kept refining the design, learning from each failure. Through trial and error, I adjusted the structure, ensuring it could grip different drawing tools effectively.

Even with this new idea, the design process wasn’t easy. I went through several redesigns, testing different ways to integrate the clamping mechanism into a functional pen holder. Some versions failed because they didn’t grip evenly, while others weren’t strong enough to withstand the CNC machine’s movement. I even asked a few friends who are engineers for advice, but their expertise in environmental and construction work wasn’t exactly useful here.




week three

Despite the challenges, I kept refining the design. This latest version feels promising. I really think it’ll work, though I haven’t tested it yet.

A lot of my early designs didn’t hold the pen properly or weren’t practical
for swapping tools. But with this hair clip-inspired design, I’m confident it has the flexibility I need.

With these techniques, I can really see how the design fits into the bigger picture. It’s not just about making it work. it’s about exploring how art, creativity, Problem-solving and technology come together. Experimenting with that is actually really fun.



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