Yuqing Wu's Digital Making Blog

Aluminium Bowl making Aim:   Make a smooth bowl with accurate radium according to the class instructions. Objectives: Completed bowl is line with the chosen radian by Russel. The surface is smooth and even. It has a flat and smooth edge. Equipments and tools: Concentric circles Tin snip Shear File Sand paper Mallet Timber stump English wheel Sand bag Hammer (plain head) How we work: Use the concentric circles to mark the circle lines on the metal sheet. Those different size of circle will guide how to make the bowl. Use Tin snip to cut the area outside the outer circle. Use scissors to remove the burs and make the edges smooth. Put the aluminium sheet on a timber stump, which has a curved bottom. And keep hammering it from outer circle to the inner by fibreglass mallet. The intensity of each hit should be controlled evenly. Use the English wheel to remove and smooth the dents on the bowl's surface. Also, it can make the bowl has a evenly radi

The Aluminium Torus Aim: Make aluminium torus with specific curving according to the class instructions. Objectives: Smooth and shining surface. Smooth and flat edge. Same curving for torus' both sides. Consistent and even curving for both sides. Equipments and tools: Log Mallet Hammer English wheel Sand paper File How we make it: Mark the metal sheet into three parts. Bend the metal sheet till it fit the curving with the log. Use the plastic head mallet to hit the middle part of metal sheet. Consistently hit the two sides from another way. Use the English wheel to smooth the curving.

Aluminium Blister Aim: Make a smooth blister, which fit the mould according to the class instructions. Objectives: Has a smooth and even surface. The edge must be consistently round and clearly defined. The blister fits the mould perfectly. Equipments and tools: Two moulds CNC machine sand paper Mallet Hammers Table clamp Wood blocks How we make it: We need to get the moulds of the blister from CNC machine. Use table clamps to hold the two moulds and the metal sheet in the middle. Use fibreglass mallet to hit the metal sheet evenly and lightly. The wood block with a shape head and help to shape the edge of blister. Keep hammering the blister and make the surface smooth.  

Aluminium Tray Aim: Make a pair of aluminium trays with another, which fit the wood block perfectly according to the class instructions. Objectives： The two aluminium tray fits each other perfectly. The edges must be flat and smooth. minimal the gaps between two tray when they are closed. Fit the wood block perfectly. Equipments and tools: Shear File Mallet Hammer Disc sander Aviation snips CNC machine How we make it: Create a mould to form the tray. Choose one radium and mark on the plywood block. Use disc sander to shape the plywood block to get the two moulds. Hold the two plywood blocks and the metal board. Use fibreglass to hit it lightly and evenly. Use the aviation snip to cut the excess area. Keep hammering it carefully and lightly to shape the tray.