Luke Schiesser Final Project: Mixed Techniques

Process

I started this project wanting to make multiple things to help me with my modeling hobby. Because of time constraints, I had to reduce the scale of my project to two structures: a paint rack and a brush holder.

I took inspiration from these two simple designs I found online, though I came up with the measurements and specifics myself. 

Brush Holder: 

I decided to make this part 3D printed instead of laser cut, since the wet brushes might warp the wood over time. I made a grid for the brushes to go through and mirrored it on the bottom to allow the brushes to slot into the base. I liked the three-tiered design to allow different brush sizes, so I decided to go with that. Once I had my design, I divided it into several parts to make printing easier.

Trying to print during finals season proved to be a big challenge, as the printers were being used nonstop. Since my design was multi-part, it took several print cycles and was pretty long. I didn't need to worry about supports or overhangs after the pieces were done, so cleanup was very simple. Once it was all done, I glued the pieces together. 

Paint Rack:

I wanted a smaller version of the design I was inspired by, so I designed it to only be half as tall. The original also featured different holes for different sizes of paints, and though I use both pots and dropper bottle paints, I opted for the bigger size for more versitility. Learning from my previous experience with laser cutting, I made sure to apply the thickness function to only the parts that needed it.

The stepped pattern would ultimately sit at a steep angle, but I designed it flat in Fusion to make it easier and then rotated it up.

I transferred the design over to the laser cutter, and, with some help from Ryan, was able to successfully cut the pieces out of two 3mm boards.

Elizabeth had bought a small jar of wood stain for her project and offered it to us, so Jay and I both took the oppertunity to add some color to our builds. While I think mine came out a little dark in places, I like how it brought out the woodgrain.

Result

Reflection

Brush Holder:

I'm pleased with how this came out. Some excess glue and wood stain from my hands got onto it, but it'll be covered up by paint splotches in no time. Though simple and boxy, it should serve its purpose well. I'm not too worried about the grid pattern breaking even though its thin, but if it does I'll have space to fit larger tools as well.

Paint Rack:

Despite my adjusting for thickness, several joints are too loose. I plan to secure it with wood glue, but I chose not to glue it together right now to make it easier to transport home. There were a couple design changes I would have liked to have made, namely adding a crossbeam near the back corner for added stability and reducing the angle of the slope somewhat. I may glue on a crossbeam sometime in the future if I need to.