Polygon Lamps
Taking on a side project that is less technical can be a great way for me to recharge and bring back some enthusiasm to my work. It can also provide an opportunity for me to try out new ideas and experiment with different techniques. By shifting my focus to a less demanding project, I can give myself a much-needed break from the intense demands of my capstone project, allowing me to approach it with renewed energy and creativity.
The key inspiration for this project was a video I watched of Adam Savage and Matt Parker. However, my initial interest in these shapes was sparked by an exhibit I saw by an artist named Olafur Eliasson.
The first was in the shape of a dodecahedron, which is a three-dimensional shape with 12 faces, each of which is a regular pentagon. I used 3D printing to create the vertices and laser-cut acrylic for the faces, which allowed me to create a sturdy, overbuilt lamp that was strong enough to be used as a step stool. I was really pleased with how the final product turned out, and I think it's a great example of how combining different techniques can create something truly unique and interesting. For more details and photos look here.
I really enjoyed the process of making the first lamp and decided to make another one.
Second Lamp
This second lamp is a rhombic dodecahedron with pyramids for faces. I used fasteners to hold the 3d printed vertices together independent of the faces. Each face is held in with double-stick tape. The power cable and mount are both held in an improved way as well. For more details and pictures look here.
Third Lamp
This lamp is three cubes in different orientations with a shared central position. I used fasteners to hold the 3d printed vertices together independent of the faces. This lamp uses small coarse threaded screws instead of m3 fine threaded hardware. This should cut down the assembly time massively from the previous lamp. Not already having the hardware on hand has extended the timeline of this project. For more details and pictures look here.