MAT 238
Computational Fabrication
MAT 238
Computational Fabrication
Location: Elings Hall Room 2003
Instructor: Jennifer Jacobs (jmjacobs@ucsb.edu)
TA: Mert Toka (merttoka@ucsb.edu )
Course Time: Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 AM -11:50 AM
Open Lab Hours: Monday 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM
TA Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00-3:00 PM (By appointment only). Office Hours Location: 2024 Elings Hall
Slack: https://ucsb-mat.slack.com/archives/C038Z96RDKP
The increase in diversity and functionality of digital fabrication technologies has provided new ways to transition between the digital and physical realms. Computational fabrication— a particularly powerful application of digital fabrication— combines computer programming with digital fabrication. Computational fabrication enables people to design digital forms by writing code and then construct these forms, at least partially, via fabrication machines, like 3D printers and computer-numerical-controlled (CNC) machines. In this course, students will explore tools, workflows, representations, and applications of computational fabrication. Students will be instructed in the use of computer-aided design software tools and programming languages aimed at the design of physical artifacts. The course also will cover the process of converting digital designs to physical form through computer-aided machining (CAM) for different forms of additive and subtractive CNC machines. To the extent possible, students will design and create functional physical objects and devices. In the process, the class will critically evaluate the opportunities and limitations of standard computational fabrication technologies with respect to mass manufacturing and traditional craft. Technical instruction will be complemented by readings about computational design, making, and manufacturing.
Provide practical experience in computational design software and methods, including procedural and parametric CAD, generative geometry, optimization and discretization, and data-driven design.
Provide direct experience with additive fabrication (3D printing).
Provide an introduction to CAM for subtractive CNC machine operation.
Provide opportunities to design and fabricate functional and aesthetic physical artifacts.
Survey trends in research in the interrelated fields of human-computer interaction (HCI), digital fabrication, and computational design.
Students will be responsible for completing weekly computational design assignments, as well as a series of fabrication projects. Students also will be responsible for completing a final project in the last two weeks of the quarter. Each assignment and project must be documented with a written description, screenshots, renderings, and when applicable, photos of the physical artifact and assembly steps. Documentation must be shared online either on your Instructables or personal website. Uploads, unless an exception is granted, must be completed prior to the start of the class on the date the assignment is due. Assignments are detailed in the course schedule.
Students will be assigned weekly readings about computational design, digital fabrication, and maker culture from HCI research venues. Students are expected to complete the readings prior to Thursday's class and create a google slide with their reflections. Reflections should focus on analysis and response of resonant themes in the reading, or provide comparisons or contrasts between readings. Readings can be found here. We will discuss readings as a group in class on Thursday. Students will each be randomly assigned in advance as a discussion group leader for 1-2 of the reading sections. You may swap your section with a classmate if desired. It is the discretion and responsibility of the session leader to guide the content of the session.
A portion of online sessions will be devoted to discussion of readings and concepts from the lecture, and group critique of student presentations. Students are responsible for actively and thoughtfully contributing to these discussions and critiques as time allows. Moreover, students are responsible for providing feedback and comments on peer projects and reflections.
Weekly projects: In addition to submitting your project on Instructables, students are responsible for commenting on at least two projects by their peers.
Final Project: A full description of the final project can be found here
Weekly reading reflections: In addition to uploading a slide to the google slide deck with your reading reflection, students are responsible for commenting on at least two reading reflections slides by their peers.
In addition to reading reflections and weekly course activities, students will be responsible for completing three smaller in-course assignments and one final project for the quarter. Each assignment and final project must be documented in written form (complete with figures), and submitted on the course website prior to the class on which they are due. Assignments are detailed here. All assignments will be submitted via the google class drive.
The course is divided into bi-weekly class meetings. All meetings will be IN PERSON unless otherwise announced.
Before class: Students post project documentation online before class.
In class: We will review 3-4 student projects (based on time) and introduce the new topic area, and provide initial technical instruction.
After class/ Asynchronous: Instructor support. Comment on two student projects, and complete reading.
Before class: Students post reading slides (by 6:00 PM Wednesday Eve).
In class: Reading Discussion- Reading discussion leader schedule
Instruction supplemental. Describe project assignment. Q/A and Technical support
After class/ Asynchronous: Technical support and code examples, Students comment on two reading posts and work on the project assignment due on the following Tuesday.
All required software is either free for educational use or will be provided by the instructor.
Primary software:
Fusion 360 (Educational Version)
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Slack