Concept My concept was inspired by an hourglass shape combined with a spiral pattern. I wanted the form to twist as it moves upward while still keeping the overall shape of an hourglass. I used code to repeat and rotate the geometry to create the spiral. I also added a square shape at the top and bottom of the code. This helped frame the spiral, made the hourglass shape more clear, and gave the design more support.
Link to p5.js sketch
https://editor.p5js.org/maa9946/sketches/Ekqykopgr
3D design screenshots and your workflow
Photos of tests and final 3D-printed result
Test 1
Test 2 (minimal support)
Final Result (Organic support)
Process and challenges
One of my main challenges was getting the code to create a model that could actually be 3D printed. Some parts were too thin or not fully connected, which caused problems when preparing it for printing. To fix this, I added the square base and square top so the spiral had stronger support and stayed connected. I also resized parts of the model, adjusted the code, and added printing supports so the full shape could print properly.
Reflection on how 3D printing changed or shaped your computational design
3D printing changed my computational design because I had to think about more than how the model looked on the screen. I had to consider whether the form could physically stand and print successfully. The square top and bottom were originally added for support, but they also made the design look more like an hourglass. I had to resize the model, add support, and change parts of the code so the design could be printed completely. This showed me how turning a digital design into a physical object can change and improve the original idea.