Open source umbrella design - is it possible?

Discussion in 'Architecture & Engineering' started by Lilalena, Feb 24, 2011.

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  1. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    I wanted to do a 'design a particular object' thread for umbrellas - since they never evolved over a hundred years and especially, they tend to fall apart in one second in the wind.

    I have some crazy technically unsound drawings that I would like to post but...would there be other people willing to post their own designs?

    Would there be a way to solve copyright & trust issues in order to make such a project possible? Would people be OK with letting any resulting good designs become public domain or "shareware" or "freeware". Are these concepts only possible in the software world?

    Is this naive and impossible? My main question is, do you think such a thread would be impossible due to (quite understandable) copyright issues?
     
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  3. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    With regard to copyright, surely (I'm speaking from a limited understanding here, so I could also be talking out of my arse) if someone posts a design here then it will have a date stamp on the post. Anyone wishing to steal that design would then have to show prior work.
    Yes? No?
     
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  5. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    But if somebody steals the design, this thread will be proof that they've stolen it....ok that's weak. Edited to add: No, that's not weak, that makes sense.

    My other question is - do you think that the level of idealism that helped to create the internet completely non-existent in 3D product design?
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2011
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  7. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    I'm not 100% sure I understand your question, but 3D design tends to be a fairly limited discipline and it's either a labour of love or a (highly) paid job (or both!).
    From an engineering perspective coming up with a new design for something involves hours and hours (if not years) of work and it's done either for a company (as part of your job) or as a project that will "make your fortune" so that you don't have to have a job any more.
    Yeah, I've done a few things for my own benefit (because it was something I wanted to prove/ disprove for myself or simply because I thought it would cool to do) but a viable engineering project takes a lot of work, a lot of calculations and a lot of sheer drudgery - few people would give it away for free unless they also either: had something better in the works to make their fortune or because they know there's no way they can put it on the market and are convinced it has some worth. Unfortunately a large number of the latter actually don't. :shrug:
     
  8. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    "unless they also either: had something better in the works to make their fortune or because they know there's no way they can put it on the market and are convinced it has some worth."

    All true.

    I think it would have been a good way, and an interesting way to accelerate a design's evolution. It would be a long, incremental process, but still, maybe progress faster than if you did it yourself.

    It's a naive idea but just think for a moment, what if copyright issues were not a problem? There are free software/ programs that are just as much a boon to us as the 3D products we use everyday. And the people who designed them would have been faced with the same considerations as those who had to design 3D objects.

    - So what's the difference do you think?
    - Why (the hell) have you (yes YOU) British not designed a decent umbrella by now anyway? Isn't London supposed to be a 'design capital of the world?' The last Royal College show I went to, I saw a design for a *spoon* that I will never forget. It's like everything else is evolving, but not the umbrella.
     
  9. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    Hmmm...snacktime or bedtime?
     
  10. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    It's a nice idea, but how many people are competent at design? Sure a lot of people can sketch, and a lot can produce some phenomenal artwork, but how many understand, and can actually do, the engineering?
    Even here on Sci we get posters who suggest things that are frankly impossible or totally unfeasible in the real world because they have no understanding of the underlying concepts and, in many cases, no wish to understand them. They think that just because they think it's a good idea, somebody should be able to make it work.
    Life, and engineering in particular, doesn't work like that.

    But then we're back to lack of understanding of the principles. A monkey with an engineering calculation package, no matter how sophisticated that package, is still a monkey*.

    Hey, don't blame me! I was, er, making coffee at the time.

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    Um, form follows function? Cost/ engineering considerations? If it ain't broke don't fix it? Apathy?
    Take your pick...


    * I'm speaking from experience here, having taught, or attempted to teach, numerous engineering students.
     
  11. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    There is something like that here. You upload pics of your 3D part, and other can order RP prints.
     
  12. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    Me.
     
  13. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    But it's always broke, that's the thing...


    But you know the principles... The truth is, you can probably do it. Not joking. Of course this might not be of interest to you.

    In case you know someone who would be interested, could you tell them please, I'd prefer remote controlled ones, to match my remote controlled luggage.
     
  14. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    Hah. so if I post my design will you post one too?
     
  15. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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  16. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    Duct tape is the answer.

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    At the moment I only devote time to ideas that grab me by the neck and don't let go.

    Remote control luggage? Whatever will they think of next?

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  17. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    Probably not, but I could make a 3D model for you that you could print in 3D.
     
  18. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    Actually, that's very kind, thanks! But I don't think my drawing would be worth the trouble at this point. And the truth is I should learn to make 3D models myself. What software do you use? Is it 3DS Max or do you use more specialized programs?
     
  19. Lilalena Registered Senior Member

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    Actually that's a very good idea. I'm almost cured of this umbrella thing...for now.

    "There is something like that here. You upload pics of your 3D part, and other can order RP prints"

    That looks like a great link, I will definitely be roaming around in that site. For now, though goodnight!

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  20. Dywyddyr Penguinaciously duckalicious. Valued Senior Member

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    How much experience have you had with 3D modelling?
    Google Sketchup isn't a bad start: http://sketchup.google.com/
    And there's a few free packages around, although if you learn those what you become used to may not translate across to more professional packages.
    We've had a couple of threads about 3D packages, try looking here, here or here, or further back at old threads in this sub-forum.

    Great idea if you can afford it: at the moment it's quite expensive.
     
  21. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    I use about 16 different ones. Sketch Up by google is very, very basic, I can't use it myself, it won't do what I want. Rhino is a good one for beginners, and the student version is inexpensive. Delcam's Powershape-e is free, the catch being you pay to export your model to a usable 3D format. I use Powershape quite a bit.
     
  22. phlogistician Banned Banned

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    I have a rough idea in my head for a new design of umbrella,... even have some ripstop nylon I intend to fabricate a prototype from,... just got a few parts of the mechanism that need refining still.

    My design shouldn't get destroyed by wind,... that's one of the goals.
     
  23. keith1 Guest

    Umbrella upgrade is for solar sails.
    Best to pick out a good Grundens outer coat/hood,
    and free your hands from holding a wind collection device.
    This is engineering to the exact surface intended for protection.
     
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