Upcycle Progress: Topographic Cardboard Case

After much consideration, I scraped the original model and created a new one from scratch. In hindsight, the corners of the topographic layers were not the best decision regarding appearance — the original intention was to make it easier to align the corners. Still, then, that defeats the whole purpose of the project. The new rendition adds more variation to the topographic landscapes and an additional layer to all sides, improving aesthetics and increasing structural stability (being made of cardboard and all that).

I am more content with the result this time around. Adding additional variety in contours to the landscape helped break down the cover’s symmetry and gave it a more natural feel.

I have also gathered the necessary materials: cardboard, an X-ACTO knife, and a glue gun I found in storage. All this should be sufficient for the upcycle project, but I do have additional cardboard in reserve should I need it.

Hands-On Tutoiral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGcKYuCfqDI&ab_channel=KyleSinko

Given the relative size of the project, I believe that one of these doubled-layered moving cardboard boxes should suffice for the cover. I also have an X-ACTO knife that will be used to cut the pieces through. Again, I’m not looking to replicate the Blender model strictly — excluding the dimensions to encase a tissue box for obvious reasons — so I have some leeway regarding shaping the topographic layers.

Laser Cut Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65M3cASdU3E&t=989s&ab_channel=JoelRamirez

Above is one of the videos I found during my research, which entails using a program called Rhino as a reference to shape and assemble the physical topographic model. The tutorial uses a base surface as a reference to create the first topographic layer, with each subsequent layer referenced from the previous one. The process should be relatively simple to convert to Blender, which will likely entail making a reference plane in the dimensions of a separate piece of cardboard as a work surface.

However, after hearing about the equipment available at ATLAS, I may consider utilizing laser cutting for the project. Of course, Blender is not one of the compatible programs that the ATLAS website listed. However, after further research, it is possible to transfer models from Blender over to Rhino — a listed program. After separating all the layers into a flat surface, I need to save the Blender file as one of the compatible files for Rhino.

 

However, If that does not work for any reason, the backup plan is to use Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape — likely the former since it is free — to mark each topographic layer in red to be cut. With the instructions provided in the video and on the ATLAS website, it should be relatively straightforward.

References

[1], [2], [6]: Blender 4.0 – https://www.blender.org/

 

Laser Cutting Resource: https://www.colorado.edu/atlas/research-creative/documentation/laser-cutter