Day 3 - Successes, failures and a stabbed thumb

Day three proved popular with the public, I was kept busy explaining the process to numerous members of the public as well as a large group of gallery volunteers from Brisbane. I did manage to print two objects in the morning and when Corrie arrived later in the day we printed four cogs she had designed overnight with an object I whipped up in a couple of minutes to fill space on the printing platform. My attempt to dye the alien-egg object from day 2 was basically a failure; the egg did fill with dye overnight so it wasn't as watertight as I had initially thought and the dye seems to have only coloured the object inside and in certain areas. The result is quite uneven so I will have to explore other options for colouring the objects. I experimented with density settings for the support material and have found that the 'lowest density' settings still provide enough support for overhanging elements but are easy to remove from the finished product. Incidentally I slipped with a knife while removing some raft and support material from an object and stabbed myself in the thumb. I might stick to sandpaper from now on!

Day 2 - Bunnycows, alien eggs and twisted pyramids

Day two was spent getting stuck into it. I have started formulating a plan for what I hope to achieve throughout the month. 

• Week one will be experimenting to find out what works, testing different settings and printing pre-existing models. 
• Week two will be an ambitious attempt to create a larger scale figure comprised of smaller printed parts. 
• Week three will be exploring ways to integrate the models into other artistic practices and incorporating other materials. 
• Week four will be working towards one high quality outcome which I hope to have coated via vacuum metalising.

Today I was kept busy with members of the public but managed to print a ZBrush sculpted art-deco alien-egg object, a Stanford bunny with a bulls head and a pyramid made of stacked, twisted rectangles. I have brought the alien-egg home and am currently soaking it in a bath of green food dye to give the object some colouring. An interesting point to note is the buoyancy of the ABS plastic. The alien egg has a three strand thick surface and seems watertight and very buoyant. Radio controlled watercraft enthusiasts who are also 3d designers will find nirvana with this material; it is light, flexible and strong. so far the object doesn't seem as receptive to the dye as I had thought it would be; it seems to stain the material rather than be absorbed by it. 

Day 1 - Setting up and settling in

Day one involved setting up our equipment before having an informal talk with the gallery volunteers about Dig.i.tate. It is a testament to the user friendly nature of the UP! 3d printer that I was able to have a model printing in less than an hour after arriving at the gallery. During the day I was able to print a number of objects, answer questions for members of the public and the gallery staff and work with Corrie before taking part in a discussion with members of the public and attend the official opening for the exhibition.

Dig.i.tate

26 April to 27 May 2012

dig·i·tate – Having distinct parts arising from a common point or center.

dig·i·tate is the first activity as part of a pilot program to investigate the processes and potentials of a Fablab. AFablab (short for: fabrication laboratory) is a fully equiped digital fabrication workshop which gives everyone in the community from small children through to entrepreneurs and businesses, the capability to turn their ideas and concepts into reality. Fablabs are opening world-wide. Their focus is for access and collaboration, for low cost fabrication and production on a small scale.

dig·i·tate artists Beau Deeley and Corrie Wright will work as artists-in residence at the Caloundra Regional Gallery to collaborate and experiment with 3D printing technology. A schedule of demonstrations, talks and forums will be included.

dig.i.tate will be open from 10am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday until the 27th of May. Visit the Caloundra Regional Gallery website for more information.