Hello, and welcome to our ongoing examination of one architecture seminars’ experience with 3D scanning and printing technology! The class—ARCH 5004—explores the translation of digital models into physical models through analog (wood shop, hand craft) and digital fabrication tools (laser cutting, 2D/3D CNC milling, 3D printing). Class assignments will focus on the process and production techniques for designing with each set of tools (software and hardware). Students will simultaneously develop an understanding of best practices for each set of tools and will explore the limits of these tools. Particular attention will be paid to the feedback provided by the translation from a ‘perfect’ digital model into a physical model (analog and/or digital).

My name is Mark E. Martin. I work in the Special Collections Library located in Hill Memorial Library, a division of LSU Libraries. My specialty is photographic materials and the history associated with photography. I also serve as the Aerospace Studies and Louisiana Historic Photograph Collections subject specialist.

During the fall 2013 semester, I have the pleasure of working with Marty Miller, the LSU School of Architecture, and their Communication across the Curriculum (CxC) liaison on a project involving the 3D capture, manipulation, and 3D printing of objects.

My name is Marty Miller and I’m the Art and Design Librarian  at Troy H. Middleton Library.  Like my colleagues in the Research and Instruction department, I tend to be a ‘Jill of all trades.’  I assist students with research assignments, teach research skills in one-shot sessions for a wide variety of classes,  as well as serving as liaison to the Art and Architecture students and faculty.

This is my first up-close experience with 3D scanning and printing.  I’m excited by the creative potential inherent in this assignment.   The final projects will be displayed in the open space between  Room 141 and the circulation area of Middleton Library.  Stay tuned for more updates—this is going to be a fantastic show!

Who else is involved and what do they do?

Shelby Elizabeth Doyle, Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, takes the lead in this project. Her Architectural Design Seminar students will be capturing 3D scans from a number of objects from the LSU Libraries—Special Collections located in Hill Memorial Library.  Vincent Cellucci, LSU College of Art + Design CxC studio coordinator, will be overseeing the technology used for this project. Vincent will be assisting students gain first hand experience using advanced visualization technology. 3D Scanning and digital fabrication are currently redefining the professional disciplines of art and design and learning to use them as tools for critical thinking and effective communication. He will be doing so by leading the students in the use of the Creaform VIUscan scanner hardware and the VXElements and Rhino software used to manipulate the digital files.

What objects will the students work with?

We looked around LSU Libraries’ Special Collections – located in the Hill Memorial Library—for interesting objects that had potential for manipulation. It turns out we found them!

A coconut, the surface of which is carved with M. C. Escher’s tessellated fish . . .

 An impressionistic sculpture of a heron or egret . . .

A bronze reproduction of a bird’s skull . . .

 A reproduction of an ancient canid (dog) skull . . .

 A different bronze bird’s skull reproduction . . .

 We hope you will follow along with us as we learn . . .

What Will These Become?