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Prototypes, mockups, maquettes!

Gregory Hickman

Gregory Hickman

Joined
Dec 21, 2024
Messages
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Location
Denton, North Carolina
In the beginning there is a blank slate. Toy may approach your next project with a piece of wood in mind, you might have an idea of what you want to make, or you might just want to turn for turnings sake. How each person approaches their creative endeavor can be a very personal procedure.

When many artist/creators undertake a project they may start with a sketch, but do any of you build prototypes. The title of this thread might have a word you've never heard, maquette. A maquette is a study made by a sculptor to look at shape, form or arrangement. While the term probably doesn't directly apply to woodturning, woodturners are sculptor in some sense.

Why i bring this up you might ask? I'm wondering if anyone uses these methods to understand their next piece. There are many sculptural forms that I've seen in the community. There are many highly detailed pieces that require vast amounts of planning to execute, and the like.

So I'm curious if anyone makes prototypes or should we say maquettes? I'm very interested in making boxes, both endgrain and cross-grain, and plan on making several maquettes after i work through sketches. I think having a representation of forms to look at, touch and experience that I'll be able to craft boxes that work. These are usually made at a scale other than full, but with the types boxes i plan on making that is probably isn't needed. So I'm curious what others do in regards to prototypes.

Gregory
 
I've not made prototypes, but they can be useful.

Two books that may also be useful-



Similar titles may be available. Also look for similar books from the pottery and ceramics world.

Richard Raffan would turn shapes and then spray paint them black so he could concentrate on shape and not be distracted by grain and color. He'd also band saw the pieces as to see how interior shape compares to exterior shape.
 
Steve Tiedman said:
Richard Raffan would turn shapes and then spray paint them black so he could concentrate on shape and not be distracted by grain and color.
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I plan to do just this, based on his mentioning it. Next week I'll be picking up a bunch of poplar in varying thickness to turn different box designs. I'm torn between full boxes or just exterior shapes to figure out what i like the look of before doing a full box. That is a bridge I'll cross when I get started.

Like I started earlier i plan on starting with endgrain boxes. I'm thinking I'll also do this with finials. It will be good spindle training exercise and give me reference material for box making. After completing a series of exterior shapes and finial shapes I then can focus on the complexity of box turning.

I've seen Richard show his box in cross section, which i hadn't thought to do myself. It is a good idea though and something i will do when I get to that stage in my progression. I can see how that will give insight into a design as well as evaluate my turning performance of hollowing.

Gregory
 
Steve Tiedman said:
Practice is never waisted.
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I agree that practice is never wasted. That applies to everything that we are trying to learn.

Since I'm totally new to turning in focusing solely on spindle orientation to start. After I get my Lab up and running my day will consist with doing bead and cove sticks, skew only sticks, then one or two project type turnings (wand, outside of a box, or the like). I can even see just practicing turning until the stick disappears.

It's my goal to build muscle memory for each of the tools, but create an object that is project like at the end of the session. Keeping these project like objects over time will help me see my turning progress. After I've made some progress I'll undertake the next step doing the studies that this thread was created about.

I'm under no illusion that I will have to put a lot of effort into learning to turn. This is why I've prescribed for myself the schedule above. Even after developing my skills, I'll continue to do practice sticks as a warm up to a session. Over time maybe that will be once a week instead of at each session. Only time will tell, but I think it's a solid plan to learn a quick as possible.

Gregory
 
I’ve made a few miniature versions of larger projects. Not necessarily perfect miniatures, but rather just smaller prototypes to test out concepts. I find it helpful. That said, I still approach the prototype as if it were a primary project.
 
I do sketches instead. I often make several sketches with small variations before putting tool to wood, sometimes on either side of a vertical line to make comparison easier. So far, I'm able to visualize the final piece from the sketch. To my satisfaction.
 
I do prototypes when i need to discover things i can’t see in my mind or on paper.

Prototypes give feed back on
Holding methods
Process
Design dimensions ratios
Tool choices
Construction
Painting order
Feasibility
How much fun it is to make

Pro-types are low stress because it is planned as throwaway
A have had second thoughts with some prototypes and never made the piece

More than once the prototype has gone so flawlessly that I didn’t find problems until number two and I make an unintended throw away. But I learn enough to succeed with trial 3


Not really prototypes - I’ve made a few series that run through transitions or evolution. Useless simple to more complicated smaller to larger ….
 
hockenbery said:
I do prototypes when i need to discover things i can’t see in my mind or on paper.

Prototypes give feed back on
Holding methods
Process
Design dimensions ratios
Tool choices
Construction
Painting order
Feasibility
How much fun it is to make

Pro-types are low stress because it is planned as throwaway
A have had second thoughts with some prototypes and never made the piece

More than once the prototype has gone so flawlessly that I didn’t find problems until number two and I make an unintended throw away. But I learn enough to succeed with trial 3


Not really prototypes - I’ve made a few series that run through transitions or evolution. Useless simple to more complicated smaller to larger ….
Click to expand...
These are three stated purpose of maquettes. Bring a new turner i look at this type of turnings, iterations of a conveyor can give inspiration or a what was in thinking moments. With the added benefit of lathe practice. Thanks for sharing.

Gregory
 
I don’t make prototypes, only failed projects - that end up in the bin! 😂 I do sometimes though make sketches on the computer to check dimensions etc. I also sometimes make templates or jigs though.
 
I do prototypes if it's a form I've not made before. Here's a prototype of a judge's gavel I did a year or so ago. I intended to make a couple of these for lawyer relatives but I never got back to it.

IMG_20230806_114550.jpg
 
Bill Blasic said:
I would suggest a book by Chris Stott Turned Boxes 50 designs. You will find this book in most places sell for $40 and up. I found a copy here (www.thriftbooks.com) for $18.98. This is my goto book for box designs.
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I have it and Raffan's box book. I do like them and will consult them often. There is also Pintrest for inspiration. The idea of making the maquettes though is to see variation and create the forms. They are something I can make as i learn to turn.

Gregory
 
I'll sometimes do throw-away pieces (whatever name you want to give them) when I'm exploring something new. Not always, but if I can't adequately sketch it or otherwise have problem visualizing some part of the piece.
I also find it useful when I need to explore how to hold an unusual piece on the lathe, or to explore order of operations on something a bit complicated.
 
Bill Alston said:
I don’t make prototypes, only failed projects - that end up in the bin!
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I put my small failures in my “Box O’ Shame”. Great to show someone when they have a problem. I think I'll take it to my next demo.


Kent Reisdorph said:
I do prototypes if it's a form I've not made before. Here's a prototype of a judge's gavel I did a year or so ago. I intended to make a couple of these for lawyer relatives but I never got back to it.

View attachment 71471
Click to expand...

I like the gavel design! I'm glad you posted that - reminds me that I told our lawyer I'd make a sounding block for her. Yikes, that was 6 months ago...

I’ve made several. One tip if you haven’t thought of it: I once read of a gavel where the glue joint loosened with use. I started making them with threaded joints, glued. A bunch of years ago I found the wood tap and die sets for cheap at Woodcraft - I suspect they are available elsewhere too.

The 1/2" thread seems to be the right size for the gavels I make.

gavels.jpg

I started making them with pieces cut from the same chunk of wood to get the best match.

JKJ
 
Gregory Hickman said:
When many artist/creators undertake a project they may start with a sketch, but do any of you build prototypes.
Click to expand...

I definitely do not make physical prototypes, but I have always made a full size cross sectional drawing on graph paper. I used to joke that I wouldn't turn a cylinder without an accurate full size drawing.

For the complex sculptural pieces I make I started using Fusion 360 in addition to full size graph paper drawings. F360 is 3D modeling software that's really directed to the manufacturing community. It has a very steep learning curve. But with perseverance I am able to create and examine 3D renderings of what I intend to make. I am also able to make changes to a model and explore variations.

But I still have full size pencil & paper drawings at the lathe when I'm turning.
 
Mark Jundanian said:
...I started using Fusion 360 in addition to full size graph paper drawings. F360 is 3D modeling software that's really directed to the manufacturing community.
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Hey, maybe post some renderings!

I used Autodesk 3D Studio Max for years with my work but never used Fusion. I sometimes used it to design things for home and shop, for published documentation, or to make illustrations to show others. Some simple ones:

wood_stuff_comp.jpg

Good for figuring out things too. I used it once to finally convince myself of the key cause of twisting as a board off the sawmill dried without constraint.

JKJ
 
Mark Jundanian said:
Then you, sir, are invited to my house for a Fusion 360 play date. 😁
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I actually need to download it and use it first. After using many different programs as a design engineer and teaching to seperate programs at colleges, it won't take long to figure out. Most of the better CAD software do the same things, it's a matter of finding the buttons.

Gregory
 
When I was working, I started with Autodesk products. Switched to Solidworks after a while. Both are WAY too expensive for hobbyists. Now I’m using Freecad. Not as intuitive as solidworks but mostly the same functionality. Parametric so you can update sizes by just changing a dimension.

@Gregory Hickman , even going from solidworks to Freecad was a steep learning curve for me. Programmers are getting pretty good at hiding the buttons! In addition, different programs require doing things in different orders. SW I could create a sketch then rotate to make a solid. FC I have to create the empty solid first, then the sketch, then rotate. I probably should have started with a few hours of YouTube tutorials.
 
I have about 1/2 kilo of plasticine that I use occasionally working out some of the embellishments I do. Had an older version of solidworks for awhile, but as said a bit expensive, dont really make models or smaller versions, just wing it make changes on the fly
 
Mike Novak said:
When I was working, I started with Autodesk products. Switched to Solidworks after a while. Both are WAY too expensive for hobbyists.
Click to expand...

Yes, kind of pricey. I sold 2 motorcycles to buy the 3D Studio. And that was the DOS version.

Then I got good at it and started doing internet tech support, Autodesk gave me any or all of their products I wanted and a new computer. I used the 3D software for my job for about 15 years, working from home, lots of modeling, animation, and video.

After I retired, my primary computer suddenly lost it's power supply and I found I didn't care. The farm, equipment, animals, and woodturning were keeping me busy!

JKJ
 
Mike Novak said:
When I was working, I started with Autodesk products. Switched to Solidworks after a while. Both are WAY too expensive for hobbyists. Now I’m using Freecad. Not as intuitive as solidworks but mostly the same functionality. Parametric so you can update sizes by just changing a dimension.

@Gregory Hickman , even going from solidworks to Freecad was a steep learning curve for me. Programmers are getting pretty good at hiding the buttons! In addition, different programs require doing things in different orders. SW I could create a sketch then rotate to make a solid. FC I have to create the empty solid first, then the sketch, then rotate. I probably should have started with a few hours of YouTube tutorials.
Click to expand...
I started with a surface modeler known as solutions 3000, which was bought by Autodesk, they wanted to add their surfacing technology to their product line.

I've used several versions of Catia, UG, Ideas, and Solidworks professionally. Played with a few systems of the likes of FreeCad.I agree that the workflow from one to the next can have idiosyncratic methodologies. The over arching theme is similar, so the designer still retains their base skill. While I haven't used Fusion 360, I did research using Inventor and hear there are some similarities.

The costs of systems are outrageous, or i would suggest Solidworks to hobbyist for sure. I could see, personally, writing a book on CAD for woodworkers. Might even be interesting to do it covering multiple systems, hmmmm.

Gregory
 
If I’m building a piece of furniture I’ll sketch out the design mostly for overall size and then just build as I go. I have made enough furniture that I don’t need to do detailed drawings like I did in the past.
For turning I just visualize what I want to make and consider the first piece a prototype.
 
The few times I've made prototypes I followed the general consensus of using cheap wood, or wood you don't care about screwing up. Naturally, this ensured that the result was perfect, due to beginners luck. And then you end up with beautiful piece out of ugly wood. :D

I don't believe it is beginners luck, near as much as a lack of fear / pressure / hesitance etc. to screw up. Knowing I am working on a prototype somehow allows me to relax more than when working with the "real" wood.

Recently I've been exploring hollow forms, and have managed to screw up all sorts of ways. To use a baseball analogy - you can fall behind by 10 runs by the second inning and play out the string in a losing effort, or you can cough up a walk off homer in the bottom of 9th to lose. Either way, you lost, but playing out the string in the first scenario is more relaxing. Back to hollow forms. I was in the beginning stages of hollowing one, and tore out the shoulder. Rather than throwing the piece into burn pile, I continued to hollow. Without any pressure of consequence of further screw ups, the rest of the form went really well. Cut it in half at the end, and was quite happy. Was it a loss? Technically yeah, but playing out the rest of the game was a moral victory.
 
I never make prototypes. If I have a new idea, I start to make that with the hope that it will turn out well. If I see that it was not a good idea, I just stop. Otherwise I finish it and then look at what I possibly can improve to next version of the idea.
 
Instead of prototype I am a little curious of CAD software to visualize different ideas as 3D. Fusion 360? Autosketch?? or other that is easy to use and learn? I am thinking of this type of project. K3_07730LRs.jpg
 
Lennart Delin said:
Instead of prototype I am a little curious of CAD software to visualize different ideas as 3D. Fusion 360? Autosketch?? or other that is easy to use and learn? I am thinking of this type of project. View attachment 71549
Click to expand...
That is very doable in a 3d software. It can even be different materials for rendering.

Gregory
 
Gregory Hickman said:
That is very doable in a 3d software. It can even be different materials for rendering.

Gregory
Click to expand...
What software would you recommend as the most likely to be "very doable". I’m utterly hopeless when it comes to computer drafting. Repeated attempts with various packages have been exercises in frustration – and that was the good part. Even SketchUp classes didn't help.
 
R Henrickson said:
What software would you recommend as the most likely to be "very doable". I’m utterly hopeless when it comes to computer drafting. Repeated attempts with various packages have been exercises in frustration – and that was the good part. Even SketchUp classes didn't help.
Click to expand...
I really don't know how to answer this. I would think your best bet would be to look at getting and learning Fusion 360. It seems to be the most popular in the woodwork community, therfore you should be able to get good support.

Gregory
 
Mostly I make prototypes to prove out a technique, like feedrate, rpm and tool step over to provide a part needing only fine sanding if at all. All my turning-like creations are done on CNC's.

I've done parts for artists, high end jewelry store displays, architects, jewelry makers and so on. I keep pictures like below of a variety of odd shapes that were done on CNC's. It's way to show customers that anything can be done on CNC's.

Sometimes CAD sketches or 3D models are used, other times the cutter path might be done on a spreadsheet. No matter what you do on a CNC you have to have a design in mind. I don't use Fusion 360 because I want nothing to do with Autodesk, they are not an ethical company.

turnings.JPG
 
R Henrickson said:
What software would you recommend as the most likely to be "very doable". I’m utterly hopeless when it comes to computer drafting. Repeated attempts with various packages have been exercises in frustration – and that was the good part. Even SketchUp classes didn't help.
Click to expand...
Woodturner Pro is the best software for turners. It can design for segmented or solid vessels or bowls. Because it is designed specifically for woodturners, you do not have to set it up, it is ready to go.
 
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