Tree-Cycle
Junior year - Advanced Topics in Digital Fabrication
For our large scale digital fabrication project, my group decided to explore the bounds of the CNC while recycling materials. Our idea was to construct a tree out of bottles that used a unique fastening technique.
Clamp System
In an effort to maintain quality of the bottles and make it easy to assemble - we developed a clamping system that holds the neck of the bottles.
By avoiding glue or hardware, this method also allows for the bottles to be recycled when we are finished with them.
As the neck size was standardized, this system is adaptable because it can house bottles with a variety of body sizes.
This clamping system was separated into two pieces that could be easily cut on the CNC mill.
Material Usage
The rings that held the bottles fit concentrically for milling. In this way, our cut minimized the amount of material waste.
Working alongside the CU Recycling Center, our team collected each bottle at the CU basketball stadium following a home game.
Final Assembly
The rings were hung from one another and the final assembly was on exhibit in the Environmental Design Building.
