In the beginning of this lab, I decided to model random things and then decide what would be the best to unroll, and what would be the best to 3D print. I was having a hard time conceptually with what I wanted my unrolled object to be. At first, I really wanted it to be a super curved item because I think that looks interesting when it's translated to flat, geometric surfaces. So I started modeling stuff, and the first things I modeled were some of my 3D models.
I started out with the cup, because I had never made or modeled any sort of vessel before. This was interesting to building because I wanted it to be geometric, but I also wanted there to be something different about it. I decided to cage edit it, and twisted it around. It doesn't look symmetrical from the front or sides, but it does from the top because of how I used cage edit. Then I modeled the 'M', mostly because I wanted something that was specific to me, but again, I wanted it to be interesting, so I used cage edit to add some curves on the top, and I was very curious as to how this was going to print. Then I modeled the minion, which was a last minute idea, and was actually a lot more easy than I thought it was going to be. I used a ton of basic shapes and manipulated them until I got the desired result. I actually ended up splitting the minion in half so I could avoid the annoying support structure that it would need to print.
I really liked that cup shape so I decided to model it for my unrolled object. I also came up with a shape that I manipulated using cage edit and rotate, and I got a very interesting twirl shape. Lastly, I got inspired with a llama, so I found a picture online and then traced it out on rhino, and then I extruded it and pulled some of the edges out. For all of the objects, I made them into a mesh and reduced the mesh as much as I possibly could, without completely changing the resolution and clarity of the original shape.
I ultimately decided on the llama, mostly because I thought it would be the easiest to unroll and the easiest to assemble. To unroll, I first grouped pieces together that fit easily together. For example, the whole top, front and underside of the llama is one continuous, straight piece. I grouped those pieces together in chunks to make assembly easier. Then I took the side of the llama and grouped it into two different pieces for each side, and unrolled those separately, as well. I think this was only easier because of my shape, and because when it came down to it, I didn't have a ton of shapes that I had to work with. After unrolling, I used DupBorder and DupEdge to make the border and fold lines more obvious, and exported those as an Illustrator file. I know how to use Illustrator fairly well, so I was able to scale everything to fit onto six pages of paper. I wish that I had used thicker paper, because I think it might have held up better, but I also think that thinner paper was very easy to fold and manipulate.
Overall, this project was fun, and it was very interesting to see how easily you can make things in different ways in rhino. I think I struggled the most with coming up with an idea that I actually liked. I like my end product and don't feel too bad about displaying it in my room.
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