Reflection

Task: Choose one of your projects and critically review it using;
images, video, text and drawings to reveal strengths, weaknesses and alternatives to your approach, techniques and tools.

Choice of Project: Major Group Assignment

Introduction

The task set for the major group assignment was
to create a 1:1 to scale of a motorcycle fuel tank.
As a group of 10 you had to decide what fuel
tank you want to try and replicate, one was more
challenging than the other, that's what we chose,
attempting to push our skill level and have
fun learning new techniques we will have to
equip along the way. Once the group was sure on what model they wanted to make, we then split into smaller groups of 3, these were the groups you would then create the model in.


Making the Replica

Strengths

• Communication between team on when to come in and meet up
• Trial and error of computer modelling software
• Quickness to create model and get started
• Motivating each other to choose harder model

The team worked really well in this situation to get the model completed a lot quicker than other groups, we understood that once the model is done we will be able to plan out our work and see what is the best way to approach the assignment.
The model was created by using hundreds of photographs that Charlie and myself took on 360 degree angles, this was to ensure once the photos were put into Rhino that the model wouldn't have any gaps. This process took us 2 attempts as the first attempt we did not have enough photos, so we took another 180 and the model on Rhino was ready to be put into Slicer, the laser-cutting software.

As seen to the right the model resembled perfectly what we had to make and therefor meant we could put the image into Slicer. Once this was done the group then went to cut the wood with the laser-cutter. Ultimately this part of the project was a success.

Weaknesses

• Knowledge of slicer and rhino
• Frustration

As a group none of us had ever used slicer or rhino and our group consisting of only construction management students had little knowledge of similar software. Although we did trial and error and eventually worked our way around the programs it took a few days for us to fully understand what we had to accomplish. We were a little frustrated with each other when the photos the first time didn't come out properly and then there were holes in the rhino copy of the fuel tank. In the end we relaxed ourselves, although these two aspects of the process were weaknesses for our group.

Alternative Approaches

• Split original group of 10 differently (4 landscape architects, 3 architects, 3 construction)
• Complete trial of rhino and slicer to get better understanding

The group of 10 that we originally started with where we chose what fuel tank we would attempt to build, consisted of 3 different courses; construction management, architecture and landscape architecture. Because we everyone within those groups knew each other already it was decided they would be the smaller groups for the project. As a construction student I did not have great knowledge of slicer and rhino which is where an architect student could of come in handy, so maybe changing the groups would of been a smarter approach to take as well as meeting new people from other aspects of UNSW. 

Moreover, if I completed the trials and tutorial videos on slicer and rhino it would of been easier to complete the tasks quicker and more efficiently. Instead of attempting to understand everything straight away I should of taken a step back read the manuals and tutorials and then attempted after having educated myself. These were some alternative approaches that could of helped me in the creation process of the model.

Metal Making the Yamaha IT250


Strengths

• Patience 
• Teamwork
• Communication 
• Execution

As someone who doesn't have any patience this project definitely brought some out in me. The task could not be completed properly without mapping out what you have to do before you start, and continual fails and learned successes. My first 3 parts that I would have to make for the fuel tank were all incorrect and didn't fit forcing me to start again. The last time I tried I took a step back from what I was doing, traced the mould with a piece of paper and pen and got started. I predominately used the english wheel in this step as opposed to the hammers or mallets due to my frustration and the impact a hammer would have on the metal. The english wheel allowed me to control my actions a lot easier and come out with a smooth finish.
The teamwork that Charlie and I constantly conveyed to each other was really good I thought, the ability to come into University early and complete 4 hours of work and then go to lectures all day and come back for night time work was a reason for our success.  This can be seen through the time lapse of us constantly checking with each other if we're on track, if our parts are fitting and giving each other advice.
Communication between us similar to teamwork was evinced through the whole project, asking each other when we ere going in next and really enjoying the project. Being able to enjoy completing the assignment meant that we were communicating with each other a lot more cause it even felt like a study break when we didn't want to do assignments for other subjects. Communicating was a large factor in our groups success.
Finally, the all round execution of the project I believe was a large success, the complete model and our individual bits actually sat on the fuel tank quite nicely. The reason why even though we think differently and create differently that we were able to create a model that represented what we were doing was because of the previous 3 strengths outlined; communication, teamwork and patience. Without those traits there wouldn't be an end product to show so I am very happy with the outcome and owe it to Charlie who was a great partner.


Weaknesses

• Technique with mallets
• Early attempts at creation, too rushed

As a whole I am not very good with using the mallets to create shape in the metal, I think my eagerness to see an end result before even start is an attribute to this. Whenever I hit with the mallet I am thinking about what I'm going to do next without even finishing my current step, and this causes me to mishit and create shape where I don't want it. The English wheel for me was a much easier tool and I felt comfortable and relaxed using the English wheel as opposed to the whacking and loud noises of the mallet. I think in a way it stressed me out and forced me to make fast irrational decisions with the hitting.

At the beginning of the project I just wanted to be completed after 5 minutes and did not plan out what I had to complete. I didn't use the paper cut out techniques that were shown to us in tutorials, instead I believed that I could just do it based off my eye sight and this lead to further problems. It led to frustration, anger and disappointment, although once my teammate assured me of the way to create the fuel tank and a belief in my own ability I was finally able to make progress. A subject like this involves a lot of planning and patience and I can say I didn't have that at the start.

Alternative Approaches

• Learn more advanced techniques with mallet
• Draw everything out in a diary of what you want to achieve, how and what you hope for it to look like

As simple as the mallet looks and as rough as the shape it creates when struck, the mallet is actually one of the hardest tools I found to control when working with metal. It creates such strong divots and responses when you hit it, and when accompanied with other surfaces and sand bags alike, it can become a tool that will save you hours or cost you hours... I experienced the mallet to cost me more time than it helped me, whether it was my lack of attention in tutorials or general arrogance to think that "it's just a hammer how hard could it be?", this mentality cost me lots of time in the early stages of the project. By the end of the project I was using sandbags under the metal, curved surfaces and right angle metal surfaces to create responses from the metal I needed. Ultimately, this project taught me a lot about different tools and techniques but the mallet was most fascinating and if I were to complete this project again I would use the mallet more efficiently. 

Visualising your goals before you start a task makes them a lot more achievable and realistic. For art and similar projects that I have undertaken at school or university, I have used this technique of drawing everything out before you start, so you can actually see what you want to make and how you are going to do it. It allows you to understand when you make a mistake and how you can fix it by going into your dairy and seeing your step by step process. I had too much confidence in myself to believe this task "wasn't that hard", and therefor lost a lot of precious time at the start of the project where finishing touches and further smoothing of my parts could of occurred. These are approaches I certainly would of taken if conducting the project again.

Conclusion

Looking back on the project and understanding my faults and successes, there is definitely ways I would do tasks differently. A reflection allows me to review the project and outlining the strengths, weaknesses and alternative approaches gave me a different view of the assignment. I understand that I have strengths in team work, effort and collaboration, but also lack skill in technique of creation and metal making, while learning of ways I could of done it better for next time, like using a diary to draw out my steps. Ultimately, I believe the project was a huge success and I had a great time completing the assignment with Charlie.

Assignment 2 - Group Assignment

Introduction

Task 2 asked students to create a cover for a motor cycle fuel tank, in real life size. This task allowed us to choose from a different selection of tanks. As an initial group of 10, our group consisting of students from landscape architecture, architecture and construction management (myself) we decided as no other group decided to attempt to make the hardest tank. This tank is from a Yamaha IT250. 
The task was then to form smaller groups within our groups which is where we split up the parts. The next days at uni and in class consisted of our group taking around 300 photos of the Tamaha IT250 model in order to create a 3D model in Rhino and Slicer where the model could be cut using the laser cutter. Once the model was established, the primary task was then to use our skills learnt over the semester in metal shaping, whilst using various techniques.

Step 1 - Digital Creation of the Fuel Tank

Our group came into uni to take 100's of photos on all different angles of the fuel tank in order to create a photo bank so large that when the photos were put into a computer software the fuel tank would be completely recognised allowing it to be used with slicer and the laser cutting machines. We would take a photo and then move the fuel tank slightly all the way around 360 degrees and we did this about 5 times to ensure that the photos were sufficient. We had to then put the photos on the computer and import them into recap which created the 3D image of the tank. After a model had no gaps and looked similar to the one of the real life model we measured across and added the correct measurements and dimensions exporting the file to slicer and started to prepare for the laser cutter.

Step 2 - Laser Cutter

The file from step 1 (slicer) was uploaded to the computer ready for the laser cutter to create out of plywood, the pieces to be created are those that would then allow us to glue them together to create our own model. The laser cutter was really fascinating and I have never seen one of these work before, it was great to use the technology for my own studies and understand how useful they can be.

 





































Once the plywood pieces were all cut out by the machine, we assembled the pieces and stuck them together with glue. The glue was left to set and then we proceeded to cover the whole model with masking tape to ensure the stability of the model. This would then allow us to trace the surface with paper which takes us to step 3.










Step 3 - Planning the Creation/Paper Tracing

There was some confusion at the start of the planning process as to how Charlie McLeod and I were going to construct the petrol tank out of aluminium. We decided the best way to go about this would be as seen above with 2 wing like objects on the front side with the lid and middle body sitting in between them. The back and sides would be 3 large pieces so it was agreed I would do the front side while charlie did the back side. We also worked very closely with the architecture group who were in a group of 3 (Conrad, Remmy and Jake).
Upon many trial and errors we finally began to make some progress and with help from Gabe and the UNSW staff we started to create what sort of looked like a petrol tank.

Step 4 - Metal Making/Shaping


With my section of the assignment being the two front pieces either side of the middle piece, I started off with my paper cut out and then traced over aluminium which I then cut on the guillotine. The shape was really unusual but resembled aspects of the reverse curve, so instantly I knew that I was going to have to use the English Wheel a lot. I made a very quick practice to understand the shape that was going to come out of it, I tested different ways of hammering on sand bags to see which was more effective and would allow me to decide how I was going to create my assignment. Charlie was hard at work with the back parts so we decided to overhang my parts and then trim them down as we went. This turned out to be very useful as no gaps could then be seen from a birds eye view. The process consisted of constantly going back and forth from english wheel to the model to fit the shape, always trying to perfect those edges or the way the surface bent back, this can be seen through our time lapse below!

These were the results of my part. I am very happy with the result considering different people using their different techniques had to make various shapes and considering they fit so well it was a huge success.

Step 5 - The Finalisation 

The complete project overall was really fun but extremely difficult and had to result in a lot of team work and hours of coming into the lab. The mixture of using the laser cutter digital information applications and my own hands to create this tank was really rewarding and I learnt a lot. The completed photos are in my view really incredible and the way we worked as a team was great to see. Below are individual photos of my part and group photos of our works together, fitted to our mould.

Individual Parts:



Group Parts Together:







FINAL PRODUCT



23/5/2018 - Simon Cooper

 The creation of the blister was a delicate process that needed you to place a metal sheet in between 2 wooden stencils. Each stencil was shaped differently and allowed us to choose what shape we wanted our blister to be. The mallet was the tool that I found easiest to shape with as the small end made the fine details stand out and shaped the edges very well, while the thick end was what gave the middle its depth and general look.

Tin Making

The Task was to create 2 tins in pairs (a tin each) that would hopefully in the end sit on top of each other flush. Conrad and I started off buy using the same stencil and curve on the edges, this would ensure as much accuracy as possible. The tin was the hardest module yet as the metal broke very easily and would pinch, this cause me to restart my project twice. Conrad and I came in to the workshop together after we already had made progress on our tins to stretch and shrink our tins to the others specifications. Ultimately, we created 2 tins that resemble each other but found it very hard for them to sit perfectly.  

In order to make the reverse curve I had to stretch the two outside edges with the use of the English wheel slowly and constantly rolling to create that bent finish. This process can be completed in many different ways but I selected this way due to Gabe's demonstration and the softer finish you can get. I then used the mallet hitting on the grooves of the wooden block to complete the majority of the shaping and to shrink back some of the extensions the english wheel created. The english wheel helped me flatten out the middle and smooth the surface although you can easily overwork the curve with the wheel so you have to do this process slowly. The metal hammer/metal block flattened out the rough patches and allowed me to define my curve correctly.