Coding
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Practicing Angular.js
I have been working on my Web Dev skills and one of the topics I have been practicing and experimenting with is Angular.js. On the right you can see a screenshot of one of my practice projects, based on a Lynda.com course. Click this link to see the code in action. I also uploaded all the source files for those who are interested. |
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3D Modeling and Design
Custom designed and 3D printed Apple TV Mount
For my first endeavor in the magical world of 3D I decided to design something practical. We had recently mounted our TV on the wall but the Apple TV greatly reduced the clean aesthetic with its cables and not having anywhere to place it. So I designed a bracket in SketchUp that could be attached to one of the screw holes that were formerly dedicated to the tv stand. I purposely did not choose an existing model, because I wanted to go through the whole process of designing it from scratch and finishing the final product after printing. I started by taking measurement of the Apple TV (incorporating the dimensions of the larger 4th gen version that was recently released), and designed a mount that was slightly bigger (+1mm on all sides) to allow easier access.
Since I had not experience with 3D printing yet, I created the model out of a single piece. This, of course, was not practical, because the print would have to incorporate a lot of supports to cope with the empty space that would be taken up by the Apple TV itself. After careful consideration, I decided to split the mount into two parts ("base" and "hanger"), which would nearly eliminate the need for supports completely. The base serves as the bottom bracket and the hanger forms the connector to attach to the tv and scoops under the base for support. These two parts were printed separately and are easily assembled.
Thanks to Burbank Makerspace for the tips and assistance with my first 3D printing project!
For my first endeavor in the magical world of 3D I decided to design something practical. We had recently mounted our TV on the wall but the Apple TV greatly reduced the clean aesthetic with its cables and not having anywhere to place it. So I designed a bracket in SketchUp that could be attached to one of the screw holes that were formerly dedicated to the tv stand. I purposely did not choose an existing model, because I wanted to go through the whole process of designing it from scratch and finishing the final product after printing. I started by taking measurement of the Apple TV (incorporating the dimensions of the larger 4th gen version that was recently released), and designed a mount that was slightly bigger (+1mm on all sides) to allow easier access.
Since I had not experience with 3D printing yet, I created the model out of a single piece. This, of course, was not practical, because the print would have to incorporate a lot of supports to cope with the empty space that would be taken up by the Apple TV itself. After careful consideration, I decided to split the mount into two parts ("base" and "hanger"), which would nearly eliminate the need for supports completely. The base serves as the bottom bracket and the hanger forms the connector to attach to the tv and scoops under the base for support. These two parts were printed separately and are easily assembled.
Thanks to Burbank Makerspace for the tips and assistance with my first 3D printing project!
3D model of former residence.
To progress my SketchUp skills, I started working on a 3D model of my former residence in Boston. I lived in the Piano Craft Guild, which was originally built as a piano factory in the mid-1800's (791 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. 02118). This project proved quite the challenge, first of all because the east and west wings of the building have some interesting angles to them, as can be seen in the Google Earth imagery. Once I had these angles figured out (101° for the West wing and 85.5° for the East wing) and sketched a representative floor plan of the building, I proceeded by modeling the rest of it using Google Street View imagery and some physical measurements I took. The architecture is quite complex with lots of arches, ledges, and an iconic dome, and I did not want these features to get lost in the finished model. So rather than using the Photo Texture feature to quickly copy facade images from Google Street View, I decided to try and model the building in much greater detail. Some images of my model can be found below, with a comparison between the original images captured by Google and the model I have created.
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Google Earth snapshot and preliminary model of the Piano Craft Guild, illustrating the building's slightly "awkward" angles and unique features.
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Street View image and 3D model (in progress) side by side.
The building's iconic dome and chimney in the background.
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Model of the entrance way. The building's "moat" is another item on the to-do-list.
The building features many window arches and ledges, making it a fun challenge to model accurately.
Working on this model has proved a very enjoyable hobby project. Once I consider the work finished, I will upload the model to Google Earth to include in their already vast collection of 3D buildings.
Custom rabbit hutch and book shelf design.
As another SketchUp project I designed a custom rabbit hutch and book shelf for our apartment. The main idea behind the design was to have (1) multiple levels to function as living quarters, (2) a small access door to be opened when the rabbits are allowed to roam free through the apartment, (3) front opening doors to enable petting, feeding, and cleaning, and (4) shelving units above the cage for added storage.
Custom rabbit hutch and book shelf design.
As another SketchUp project I designed a custom rabbit hutch and book shelf for our apartment. The main idea behind the design was to have (1) multiple levels to function as living quarters, (2) a small access door to be opened when the rabbits are allowed to roam free through the apartment, (3) front opening doors to enable petting, feeding, and cleaning, and (4) shelving units above the cage for added storage.
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These images show a few of the design options I created. The top two pictures show the cage closed and with its doors opened. I added some additional levels to the bottom design to introduce more variation to the living environment. |
Photography
Although I don't get around to doing this often enough, I really enjoy going on explorations and photographing the little things that catch my eye, whether it is by nature or design, novel or familiar. Visit my Instagram for more frequent updates
