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Otemon Gakuin University

At Otemon Gakuin University, students use a Speedy 400 to produce architectural models and accessories such as plants and furniture.

Application

Architectural modelmaking

Location

Osaka, Japan

Laser machine

Speedy 400 Run on Ruby®

About Otemon Gakuin University

In April 2022, Otemon Gakuin University in Osaka established a new degree program in architecture, "Aesthetics and Architectural Culture". Students at the university use a Speedy 400 laser engraver to create architectural models.

With a laser, multiple cuts for detailed landscaping can be made at once.

Aesthetics and Architectural Culture is an architectural major in the Department of Humanities, where students can study both architecture and art history.

The Speedy 400 was introduced alongside the launch of this major. The laser engraver is installed in the drafting room and used to make architectural models, mainly from wood and cardboard. Whilst cutting with a cutting knife is possible, the laser cutter is by far more efficient. Hand cutting is time-consuming, especially for detailed accessories such as miniature-sized people, plants and furniture. With a laser cutter, multiple accessories can be cut at one time, while producing uniform results, making it possible to create beautiful models. The Speedy 400 is the largest machine in the Speedy series. For architectural modelling applications, it is more efficient to process large materials at once, making the large work area of the Speedy 400 is very convenient. The pass-through function also allows for materials that are larger than the working area to be processed.

When I started at Otemon Gakuin University, I already had in mind to install a Trotec laser. Having used a Trotec machine at the previous architecture university I worked at, I was very familiar with the laser and had great confidence in its durability, accuracy and safety.

Keita Aoshima
Associate Professor, Aesthetics and Architectural Culture Course

High performance exhaust system provides safe environment for students.

The speed of the laser engraver was another reason why Otemon Gakuin University chose the Speedy 400. With 35 students in the department, it was important to have a very fast device available to reduce waiting times.

It is really an asset for the university to have the Speedy 400 directly in the drawing room, because it motivates especially the new architecture students to make models with the laser machine. Generally, when a laser machine is installed on campus, it is usually placed in a separate room to avoid the effects of dust and odours generated during processing. However, Trotec's Atmos exhaust system has such a high performance that dust and odours do not leak out and the room can be kept in a comfortable environment.

The hand-drawn lines can be easily laser cut.

The Speedy 400’s laser software Ruby is integrated in the machine and can import PDF, jpeg, ai, and other files directly without the need for a printer driver. Ruby also has a design function that allows for simple editing, such as creating shapes, placing photos, and entering text. If you need to make minor data modifications before you start processing, you do not need to launch another graphics software.

Students at Otemon Gakuin University have a freehand note-taking application on their drafting tablets. With Freehand, you can add lines to the walls or draw the shape of a window as you wish. The hand-drawn PDFs can be simply dragged and dropped directly into Ruby, where they can be easily converted to a cut line. The used application costs only several thousand yen, which is cost-saving compared to graphical software such as Illustrator or CorelDRAW. This would be a great advantage for educational institutions such as universities and schools in general.

Design data can be imported directly into Ruby, which speeds up the processing of model parts.

Keita Aoshima
Associate Professor, Aesthetics and Architectural Culture Course

Workshops for children

With the introduction of Speedy 400 and Ruby, project output has become easier. Staff and students can simply create a drawing, drag and drop it into Ruby, and the materials are cut and engraved to create model parts so you can start working on the architectural model right away. In architecture, it's very important to be able to give shape to the drawings in your head.

In the future, the university would like to use the Speedy 400 not only in the classroom but also for other purposes. A workshop for children entitled "Build a house for everyone" is currently being planned. In this workshop, children will make their own rooms out of wooden boxes and assemble them to make a housing model. The children will be asked to draw their own window, which will then be laser cut with the Speedy 400. The transparent top cover of the laser allows the children to see the laser process. When the top cover is opened, the laser stops working, so parents can feel safe allowing their children to participate in the workshop.

We would be happy if this kind of safe laser workshop for children could be a catalyst for the birth of future architects.

Keita Aoshima
Associate Professor, Aesthetics and Architectural Culture Course

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