Intermediate Rapid Prototyping Schedule
Spring 2022, Section A4
Class Homepage
Date Lecture Office Hours Project/Assignment Hand-in
Week 1 Mon 3/14 Course overview and intro to mechanisms.
Scissors script.
Install SolidWorks on your laptop or try out Virtual Andrew.
Laser cutter:
(A) Laser cutter policies.
(B) Laser cutter safety module.
(C) Cody Soska trains you on the laser cutter: watch both parts 1 and 2.
Sign up for fire extinguisher training if you need it.
Wed 3/16 Gears and linkages.
Gears and LittleMan Automaton script
LittleManParts.zip
- Watch this Mechanism video
- Assignment 1: Mechanism
Fri 3/18 Lee 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Week 2 Mon 3/21 Simulation.
Parts file: Levers.zip
Video: Computational design of mechanical characters.
Wed 3/23 Articulated motion.
Resources: Compound.zip, Articulation.zip
Assignment 2: Automaton Mechanism due
Fri 3/25 Lee 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Week 3 Mon 3/28 Intermittent motion and complex linkages.
Parts files: DrivingShaft.SLDPRT and DrivenShaft.SLDPRT.
Videos: Automata videos
Mechanism files for motion study. Cozmo's lift.
Wed 3/30 Surfaces in SolidWorks.
Image files: frontview_deoroller.jpg, sideview_deoroller.jpg
Fri 4/1 Lee 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Automaton due
Week 4 Mon 4/4 Procedurally-generated objects. Intro to Grasshopper.
Wed 4/6 Grasshopper part 2: Grasshopper and Rhino.
Fri 4/8 Lee 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Week 5 Mon 4/11 Grashopper part 3: lists and trees.
Optional video: Grasshopper Trees lecture by Nick Senske
Read this data tree tutorial.

Assignment 3: Voronoi Vase

Wed 4/13 Weaverbird and Coccoon
Files: StanfordBunny.stl, airplane.stl
Demo: rabbit mesh sculpture.
Fri 4/15 Lee 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Week 6 Mon 4/18 Kangaroo 2 Physics
bouncy.3dm, bouncy.gh, File: kanga-pipe.3dm and instructions for making it.
Final projects Voronoi vase due
Wed 4/20 Final project proposals.
More Kangaroo 2.
File: organic-pipes.3dm
Week 7 Mon 4/25 Advanced Grasshopper topics
Books: Khabazi: Generative Algorithms books and porous shell files
Wed 4/27 Galapagos evolutionary solver.
Source files.
Fri 4/29 Lee 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Week 8 Mon 5/2 No more classes. Work on final projects.
Wed 5/4 No more classes. Work on final projects.
Fri 5/6 Lee 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Final projects due.
Taking Care of Yourself
Take care of yourself. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.
All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is often helpful.
If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is here to help: call 412-268-2922 and visit their website at http://www.cmu.edu/counseling/. Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help.