Intricate Flower Centerpiece

grabcad

This model is a piece of functional art, designed with the goal of conveying that with the advent of 3D printing the possibilities are endless. If you imagine it, you can build it (depending on your CAD skills, as I quickly found out). All surfaces have been detailed/lofted/twisted to emphasise this point. This piece would be extremely complex/impossible to manufacture using traditional methods.Originally, the dahlia and zinnia flowers (fig.6) inspired this design. Being an engineer, I wanted to make this art piece also functional. 3D printing allowed me to do that. The outer flower shape is split into eight parts, which move inwards with gears (fig.4, 5) to form an enclosure. The model has two functions: a candle stand and a jewellery box. The candleholder (fig.1) replaces the central shaft piece to allow a tea light to be placed in the centre of the model. The area above the candle is clear and the walls are a sufficient distance away from flame so that heat should not be an issue. The zinnia flower symbolises remembrance and lasting affection. When the candle is placed inside the flower it projects heart shaped shadows (fig.2), symbolising the love between a person and their absent friends.The central shaft has a tray and hooks that allow it to hold various pieces of jewellery (fig.7). The dahlia flower symbolises a lasting bond between two people, making this an especially meaningful jewellery box for items that were received as a gift from someone special.Ideally, this design would be SLS/SLA printed, as this would better capture the intricate surface details on some parts (fig.8), however FDM using ABSplus can also be used. The item is under no major stress so the material choice is not critical. Different colour combinations are possible (fig.3). Care has been taken to ensure that the model follows recommended design guidelines concerning minimum wall thickness, fillets, etc. The design printability has been proven by using Formlabs Pre-form software (fig.9). Parts may be printed separately, or combined together with gaps between components. This may reduce printing time. Four of each of the parts Flower_L and Flower_R are required.Name: Daniel FahyInstitution: University of Oxford