In this assignment, I started with carefully measured the dimensions of the wooden block that the professor gave me. I recorded it in detail in my sketch on the tracing paper. Then, I started using Sketchup to build up the exact block. During this process, it was very important to keep in mind the rule of gravity, and tried to smartly build the block by following that rule. For example, my block was an arch. If I designed the block just as how it looked, it might need supports in the arch to print out, and it even might not successfully be printed in the end. Therefore, when I designed it, I designed it in a way that the arch was “lying down” on the ground, so the arch would be printed perfectly.

This assignment also gave me first experience of printing a 3D object, I felt so excited when watching it printed, and I even made a 20 minutes long video to record the whole printing process! When observing the printing process, I realized that the block was printed hollow inside and filled with hexagon shapes. It blowed my mind because I assumed that it would be printed solid inside before it was actually printed.

For the multiple block design, the most challenge I found was how to move and turn each objects to the specific angles that I wanted, especially for some objects were very difficult to turn. At first I didn’t know why, but after consulting the professor, she told me that it’s because some objects were not designed perfectly align to the axes. For example, instead of making its bottom horizontal to the ground, some blocks were designed to lean 20 degrees against the ground. Thus, it was very hard to rotate those blocks to the certain angle that I wanted.

Therefore, after this experience, my suggestion is that it’s better to make an object aligns to the axes (so it’s easier for people to download and reuse it), except if the designer really want to make a very special item.