LAUNCH

Launch is a metal form and material study inspired by a rocket. Mainly produced on a metal lathe, it is made of aluminum, brass, and acrylic.

Through many considerations and reconsiderations of the turning, tapping, threading, and press fitting methods, the main "egg" design was a process-driven challenge. The brass stand completes the piece as a concept as it holds the egg suspended in space at just three small points. The mixture of the brass and aluminum chips press fit between the acrylic and aluminum pieces adds to the space-like feel as it mirrors the image of a galaxy.

2"x2"x4"
Aluminum, brass, acrylic
Spring 2013

*Exhibited in the Industrial Design Senior Show

PROCESS

First, I turned, drilled, bored, and sized the aluminum and brass pieces separately.

Each separate piece started out as cylinders.

Then, I press-fit the brass into the acrylic.

I turned, tapped, and threaded the rest of the pieces accordingly.

The threaded rod which is part of the top head runs through most of the piece for production reasons.

I press-fitted the brass+aluminum piece into the acrylic piece.

The extra part, which also screws onto the top head rod, acts as a reference piece to hold the whole object while it is being turned.

The top head fits flush and snug to the brass neck.

To shape the entire form, part of the larger aluminum piece was first held in the chuck of the lathe to cut the top half.

To finish off the top head, the reference piece was added so the tool bit would not tighten the head in too much as it cut the piece. This allowed for removal of the top piece from the main body so that the other half can be shaped.

For a complete finish of the top half, I carefully filed, sanded, and buffed the top half without the reference piece for a smooth transition between all the separate parts.

To make the bottom half, the reference piece was held in the chuck.

However, because the reference piece would loosen as the egg turned and eventually damaged the egg, a new solution had to be considered (after re-turning, re-tapping, and re-threading the top half).

I made a larger reference piece and used nuts and bolts to secure the piece in place, which worked successfully.

New mechanism for security and stability.

And voila!

The stand is cut and rolled sheet brass that are attached at the edges.

Different configurations.