For the metal cutting and post-processing assignment, I made two diamond-shaped metal decorative pieces. Dealing with metal is a very new experience, and I found myself enjoying it.
Process
I began by making the vector file in Adobe Illustrator for plasma cutting. I had this idea of a shooting star emerging from a human hand. With a photo of my right hand, I first hand-sketched the shape and recreated the shape in Adobe Illustrator.
Figure 1. Hand Sketch
Figure 2. Vector File
After completing the file, I cut both diamonds using the plasma cutter. Its precision turned out better than I expected, but there were still small chips at the start points of the cutting path.
Figure 3. Plasma-cut Pieces
Then I used the angle grinder to remove dross and used files to further smooth the edges. I also sand-blasted all the surfaces to make them smooth and uniform.
Figure 4. Angle-grinded Pieces
Figure 5. Sand-blasted Pieces
Lastly, I spray-painted the pieces using different colors. From the wooden crate assignment, I discovered that deep blue and white worked very well together, so I decided to apply those two colors again. First, I colored the star shapes, covering other areas using tape so that only the stars were painted blue. The hand part was painted white in a similar way. After the blue and white dried, I covered the pieces in clear coat, leaving the connection part the natural color of steel. I figured it was nice to leave a glimpse of the look of the raw material. I was planning on doing the same thing for both sides of a piece, but I happened to find a bottle of beautiful shiny hazel spray paint that I really wanted to use. Which I did, so the back of the pieces was painted in that way.
Figure 6. Spray-painting Preparation
Figure 7. Metal Pieces (Front)
Figure 8. Metal Pieces (Back)
Cleaned Workspace
Cost Breakdown
- Raw Materials
Steel Sheet – 10 sq. in. : $5
Spray Paint : $7
- Tools (based on usage time)
Plasma Cutter : $8 (1 hour for $8/hour)
- Labor
3 Hours – $10 per hour : $30
Total Cost: $50
Reflection
Through this project, I completed two processed metal pieces and learned several lessons about metal cutting and post-processing. Since the pieces are relatively small, they require greater concentration and attention to detail. Also, it’s better to be careful when trying to put any type of tape on a surface, as the glue may stick to it and take a lot of effort to remove. Overall, this was a meaningful and enjoyable experience, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped along the way.
