Geometric Instrumental Fabrication

This project seeks to bring personal manufacturing closer to people who may not have access to digital tools. It is about materializing ideas through prisms.

The system is called Fig. By the acronym in Spanish of 'geometric instrumental fabrication'. The system are tools to generate molds with prism shapes, which can be combined into more complex figures. With the molds you can do almost anything!

Step 1: Creating Your Tools

If you do not have access to a laser cutter, you can make your tools with a 1.5mm thick cardboard, and print the files from here

Glue every component to the cardboard. The hexagon must be completed since is divided in two different sheets.

Step 2: Finish Templates and Rules

Cut the parts, and drill the holes in those who have them marked.

When you are done with the drill, you will have the templates ready. Get all the small pieces for the rules together to glue them accordingly to the diagram.

Now you have all the tools for start making parametric figures.

If you do have access to a laser cutting service, you can download the files here, and you just need to glue the pieces of the rules.

Step 3: How It Works

These tools allow you to create regular prisms, which you can mix to generate more complex figures.

They work based on 3 parameters:

- Number of sides (n)

- Length of the edge (s)

- Height (h)

The first thing is to select a value for each variable among the following

(n = 3,4,5,6)

(s = 2,4,6,8,10)

(h = 2,4,6,8,10)

Step 4: Using the Tools

Select a template based on the n value you chose.

Mark the points according to s. Remove the template and draw lines to connect the points.

Adjust the rules so that they form a rectangle of sides s and h. Then draw n rectangles.

Cut all the figures and assemble the volume by taping it.

With the volume taped you have a mold ready to fill.

Step 5: Use the Molds

You can create different types of molds, and what you can do with them is almost unlimited. Try combining shapes, or using a counterform mold.

Use your creativity to materialize any idea that comes to your mind!