Week 3 - Journal

Ideation

Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week. Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)

Pen and pencil holder

This week's assignment idea is inspired by my love for square glasses. If I were to design a pair of glasses, I would make the frame square because it aligns with my personal brand in content creation. Square frames have a unique and stylish look that I find very appealing, and they represent my brand's aesthetic perfectly.

Tool Chain

Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?

Fusion 360 for design Cool Glass

For 3D printing

Ultimaker Cura Software for slicing and preparing the file to be printed

3D Printer Ceality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer

PLA plastic filament

For Laser Cut

laser Cad for preparing the file for cutting

El Malky ML149 CO2 Laser Cutter

PLY wood 3mm

Design/Preparation Process

Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment. How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?

For Fusion Design

Firstly, Search for Pen and Pencil Holder sizes.
Secondly, draw help lines using standard dimensions.
Thirdly, draw one side of the Holder.
Fourthly, Mirror work for the first side.
Fifthly, Extrude The sketch into a 2.5D part.
Finally, I extracted the file as DXF then imported it to Laser CAD program.

For Laser Cut

I exported the file in DXF format from fusion 360 software.

Then, I added the design to Laserworks. I downloaded a pattern from the internet and attached it to LaserCAD software.

Next, I moved the design closer to the origin. Then I started by selecting lines based on the action they represented, then assigned speed and color to each selection.

I chose the following colors to represent each action:

Cut - Black
Speed Cut - Blue

I set the cutting action as the last step to ensure it wouldn't affect the design, finally export the file in RLD format.

(The photos show the used power and speed for each action, note that we did a little changes in the lab) .

Development/Implementation Process

Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment. How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?

For Laser-cutting:

After importing the DXF file to LaserCAD software, I had to adjust the right speed and power for each operation.
Before making sure that the laser focus (distance between the lenses and the material used) is correct I had to use masking tape to make sure that the material will not move during the vibration of the machine and that the sheet is completely flat on the bed.
I connected the laptop to the machine with a USB cable and downloaded the file.
After closing the bed cover I did the following:

Position the head in the right corner of my sheet and press on "origin"n, so I communicate the start point to the machine.
Select "frame" from the control panel to make sure that my design fits in the sheet area.

Community of Learning

Did you ask for feedback? What are the ideas that others have contributed or suggested? What was someone else’s idea that you built upon? How did you help your peers? How did your peers help you?

I am very happy this week that I worked with my friends in the architecture department and learned a lot from them about the principles of design.

I also helped my friend Farah at the end of the week by installing her design because it was complex due to its beauty and the many details in it.

Overcoming Challenges

When you got stuck, what/who did you turn to? At what point did you have to pause to research or learn more before moving on? What are some mistakes, pitfalls, or challenges that others can avoid if they were doing this assignment?

The biggest challenge was to get it to look good because the wood got dirty in the end as a result of the assembly and cutting, but I solved the problem by sanding it and also painting it with clear varnish so that I can use it on my desk.

Final Project

How can you use the skills and knowledge that you've acquired this week in your final project?

The skills and knowledge I have acquired this week are actually the basics of design product and user experience consideration when designing it.

After using the laser machine myself, I gained new experience that will benefit me in the final project. I will use the laser machine to print the body of the project and the 3D printer to connect and make the parts that need details.

WOW!

What is the coolest thing that you've learned this week? What is something that you will never forget from this week?

The best thing this week was attending a very important event in the field of manufacturing embedded systems used in electric cars because I am passionate about electric cars.

I was able, with my university team, to manufacture a completely electric car with our own efforts and participate in the Ever Rally car competition.

We also got second place on the track, so I am interested in this field and I am doing my best to continue in it and find a job in this field.

The peak of fun was today in ITI Smart village and was attended by Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications, and Dr. Heba Saleh, the Chairwoman of the ITI, as well as the sponsoring company, a German company (VECTOR Informatik).

It was a very enjoyable day and I benefited a lot.