Justin McGinnis : Week 8 Waffle Lamp

This project was a bit of a struggle and a enjoyment for me as I really liked opportunity in this project but became challenged in makes all the pieces come together in the puzzle.  I started out with a focus of designing a figure that radiated light in a unique manner.  So with that in mind I was inspired by how the two dimensional pieces fit together perpendicularly and geometrically with half lap joints but could also form a more rounded and organic final structure.  With all that as inspiration and the background of this design I came up with this form because it somewhat takes the form of a traditional light bulb that radiates light 180 degrees downward, so for me it made sense the lamp should hang from the ceiling like a chandelier.  

       I first came up with a model with that had diagonal zigzag lines in the curved shape to allow more complexity to the shape and perhaps reflect light in more direction in the final piece.  I then cut the pieces and found the zigzag form created very thin connections in the vertical pieces so I had to go back and make some changes to assure a strong structural connection.  I also had to make sure the light bulb would be able to be removed and changed but didn't want to take away from the closed light bulb like form, so I allowed an 3in opening at the top allowing just enough room for the fingers to twist and remove the bulb.

       I used some revolve, rotate, duplicate edge, extract isocurve, selection, contour, curve boolean, massive unroll, make 2d, pipe, fillet edge, and mirror commands to build this.  I used Herringbone wood to render with radiant 60 watt light bulb.  This piece would make a nice piece in a restaurant hanging over a table or perhaps lined in a hallway.  I think this project helped me lean alot on how to think in the context of the pieces and problem solving in order to create a complex figure with several simple pieces that fit together.  I enjoyed the process and have really come out with a new understanding of three dimensional constructing.  It would be neat to use this waffle connection in other objects like chairs or other pieces of furniture like a table.