Course detail

Digital Fabrication

FSI-YGT Acad. year: 2026/2027 Winter semester

The essence of the subject is teaching so-called Fabrication Aware Design. Product geometry already includes the requirements of the intended manufacturing process, including its limitations, which significantly increases productivity. Students will design material studies of products using algorithmic modeling in Grasshopper, work independently with a handheld 3D scanner, desktop 3D printer, and laser plotter in the strojLAB prototyping workshop, where they will manufacture the designed product. The subject consists of two parts connecting theory and practice from the process of creating digital data, its processing, to its direct digital manufacturing (DDM).

Supervisor

Ing. David Škaroupka, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Machine and Industrial Design

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Prerequisites

Knowledge of CAD systems is expected, especially the principles of NURBS modeling and the Rhinoceros 3D software environment.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Conditions for obtaining credit:

  • activity in exercises (min. 5 out of 20 points),
  • completion of assigned projects (min. 45 out of 80 points),

The condition for obtaining a classified credit is the submission of digital data for the project and physical products. The final classification will be determined according to the ECTS scale

Language of instruction

Czech

Aims

The aim of the subject is to acquire competencies in the field of algorithmic modeling, production-oriented design, and direct manufacturing based on digital data. Students will acquire the skills necessary for prototyping their designs implemented within application-oriented teaching. They will learn fabrication-aware methodologies and acquire skills in algorithmic modeling and automation of production data preparation in the strojLAB prototype workshop. Students will gain practical experience in the process of obtaining 3D geometry through optical scanning, working with 3D models, and preparing production data for digital technologies, especially for 3D printing and laser plotters.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B-VKP-P: Visual Communication in the Creative Industries, Bachelor's
branch ---: no specialisation, 4 credits, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Laboratory exercise

9 hours, compulsory

Syllabus

Practical training in the strojLAB prototype workshop



  • Production of parts using 3D printing.

  • Production of parts using a laser plotter.

  • Production of parts using CNC machining.

Computer-assisted exercise

30 hours, compulsory

Syllabus


  • Algorithmic modeling – introduction to algorithmic modeling in Rhinoceros 3D Grasshopper.

  • Algorithmic modeling – parametric modeling with complete history (Grasshopper).

  • Algorithmic modeling – Generating structures (Grasshopper).

  • 3D optical digitization – Scantech Simscan 22, Sense, or other handheld scanner system.

  • 3D printing – Preparing a model for 3D printing, closing the model, fixing errors.

  • 3D printing – Preparing production on a desktop 3D printer, slicing.
    Slicing for 3D printing.

  • Preparation of production data from a 3D model for a laser plotter (sorting, nesting, automation of profile preparation).

  • Slicing for CNC – (Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, or alternatively Autodesk Fusion).