MAT 238
Computational Fabrication
MAT 238
Computational Fabrication
Lecture Location: Elings Hall Room 2003
Lab Location: Elings Hall Room 2024
Instructor: Jennifer Jacobs (jmjacobs@ucsb.edu)
TA: Alejandro Aponte (aponte@ucsb.edu )
Course Time: Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 AM -11:50 AM
Open Lab Hours: Monday / Friday 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (subject to change)
Office Hours: TBD
Slack: invite via UCSB email
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 subtractive and additive fabrication.
Provide an introduction to CAM for additive and 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.
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 the reading.
Before class: Students post reading slides (by 6:00 PM Wednesday evening).
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)
Instructables (or other means of public dissemination of coursework)
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Slack
Absences
Students are allowed a maximum of 2 pre-planned excused absences throughout the quarter (e.g. for conferences, art performances, etc.) This does not cover unplanned absences (illness, emergency, etc.). If you have professional or personal circumstances that will require that you miss more than 2 classes over the course of the quarter, you should evaluate if this is the right time for you to take this class.
Safety and equipment use
This course involves the use of lab equipment, which, when used correctly, poses no safety hazards; however, when used incorrectly, poses risks to both yourself and your fellow students. We will provide clear safety protocols for all equipment usage. For portions of the class, you will be working in a shared lab space on shared equipment. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates and lab users by cleaning up equipment and materials and being considerate about space usage.
General safety requirements:
1. Dress appropriately and wear appropriate safety gear. Wear closed-toed shoes at all times in the lab; sandals are not permitted. Avoid extremely loose clothing. If you have long hair, it must be pulled back when working. Safety glasses and noise protection are available and required for some equipment.
2. Only digitally fabricate with the materials provided by the instructor. Bringing in external materials of any kind to use with any of the machines (subtractive stock, 3D printing filament, etc.) is not permitted. Unapproved materials can damage the machine and/or you. Check with the instructor if you wish to bring in materials for manual fabrication.
3. Only use tools and machines approved by the instructor and for which you have been properly trained. Unauthorized use of any tool (digital fabrication or otherwise) is not allowed. Hand tool use, with the exception of hand saws, is permitted without prior training.
4. Never in the lab alone. At least one other person must be present at all times for machine use.
5. Never deliberately misuse a tool or a machine.
6. Report any equipment breakage or malfunctions immediately to the instructor or TA. Mistakes and malfunctions happen, but we need to be made aware of them as soon as they do.
7. Clean up after yourself and respect your fellow students during your time in the lab.
8. Show up on time for your scheduled equipment use session with your files ready to go. Showing up 5 minutes late means that you will not be permitted to use the equipment during your session.
Failure to follow ANY of the above requirements or other machine-specific requirements will result in restriction of your lab access . Further violations can lead to your expulsion from the course.