Fractal Table Can Only Be Made By Rapid Prototyping
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
I do go on about my fascination with downloadable designs, where ideas go from the designers computer to the production process without being shipped; where anyone, anywhere can order up a design and get it printed out at their local 3Dkinko or main street store like they do at London's Unto This Last.
You can also do things with these technologies that are impossible with conventional methods. Platform Wertel Oberfell and Matthias Bär designed this table "which derives from studies into fractal growth patterns. Treelike stems grow into smaller branches until they get very dense towards the top." They claim it could only have been built with rapid prototyping technology.
It appears to be made using laser sintering, where a laser "selectively fuses powdered material by scanning cross-sections generated from a 3-D digital description of the part (for example from a CAD file or scan data) on the surface of a powder bed. After each cross-section is scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness, a new layer of material is applied on top, and the process is repeated until the part is completed." (WP)
Such extraordinary detail. ::Platform Wertel Oberfell via ::Mocoloco and ::Core77
See also our website devoted to Downloadable Designs and the work of Freedom of Creation, who imagine "models for localized manufacturing and distribution logistics where no stock, no assembly, minimal transportation and just-in-time production are future goals."
More posts on Downloadable Designs here
I think their claim that this could "only" be done with rapid prototyping is a bit of a stretch. Odds are it could only be done reasonable with rapid proto, but I think this could be made without it (if it's layer built, you should be able to make it with plenty of tiny sheets of paper / wood and glue).
That is not to say I am against the concept, I think it's great (one of the reasons I like make). I just think their claim is a bit of an attention grab.
we won't be seeing technology like this unless the capital and energy needs can be met... not what you would call a post-kyoto technology.
Funny that the RAPID PROTOTYPING looks so tree-ish. Wait...I can think of another way that tree-ish things can be made!!! Earth does it for free! Make a wooden table; it looks better anyway. Lotsa nature stuff is fractal-like. Love.
This could be done with plastic casting by every chinese plastic casting company. Have you ever seen those detailed plastic model stuff (ships, cars, planes)? The concept is nice, I didn't want to have one, much to aggressive, I like smooth shapes. Imagine cutting your toe off on one of those corners!
I may have missed the point, but I can't see how this has anything to do with anything green. I think it has been posted on the wrong website by mistake. doesn't it belong on some website about design or something?
Traditional injection molding couldn't produce all of those intricate undercuts, but you could definitely make it by investment casting: http://www.wtec.org/loyola/rp/10_01.htm