Another Great Summer Class: Digital Fabrication!

In the 2nd week of CCA's summer formations program, a small group of students from CCA and beyond worked on generative architectural studies using Rhino and Grasshopper.  Each project was designed to tile together to create a larger collaborative pattern.  Each tile used a different digital fabrication process including: laser cutting, CNC routing and 3D printing. Thanks to Adam Marcus for all the guidance.

Keith and Kiki lay out the group's piece on Friday afternoon.

Cutting curved paths with the CNC router.

Breaking a solid form into 100 or more laser-cut slotted pieces.

Breaking a solid form into 100 or more laser-cut slotted pieces.

My end of the week project collection.NCC

My end of the week project collection.NCC

Second Solar Suitcase Installation

I worked with Katarina Cusin and LWHS student Cameron Rosen to install a 2nd WeCareSolar suitcase in the remote village of Nguniene, Senegal.  Cameron and I performed the install, and Katarina delivered the training.  During the training, the staff informed us that they deliver babies for a whopping 25 villages!  As with the previous install, we were unable to drill into the roof so we had to get inventive. The hospital gave us an old steel bed frame and we used metal zip ties to attach the panels to the frame.  Let's hope this device makes for many happy babies!

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Patient Check-in

Patient Check-in

The hospital keeps all sorts of friends on campus.

The hospital keeps all sorts of friends on campus.

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They had a ladder!

They had a ladder!

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Katarina explains the features of the suitcase

Katarina explains the features of the suitcase

The installation crew

The installation crew

Successful First Solar Suitcase Installation

We installed our first WeCareSolar suitcase at the Poste de Sante Dediender, about 10 minutes from the village of Santhiou Mame Gor, Senegal.  This clinic is heavily used and sometimes has doctors delivering babies by candlelight!  They were very excited to have the included super-bright LED lights and rechargeable headlamps for upcoming deliveries. 

Four students (Zack, Kyle, Long-Long, and August) helped with the installation.  Katarina Cusin and I worked together on training the staff how to use the unit.  Daouda Camara helped to translate the instructions to Wolof.  We couldn't drill into the roof due to suspected asbestos so we built a wood framework for the solar panels and attached everything to cinder blocks (which were already on the roof).  

Check out the candle in the window!

Check out the candle in the window!

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A Saturday Afternoon with "We Care Solar"

A generous donation, from LWHS Parent Brad Rock, has connected the Lick/Drew Senegal Trip with the Berkeley-based NGO, We Care Solar.  On Saturday afternoon students learned about the solar suitcase's lighting and charging abilities, as well as how to install the units and properly train local health workers.  We'll be installing 3 of these units on the upcoming trip! 

Trying out the LED lights.  Very bright at only about 2 watts each.

Trying out the LED lights.  Very bright at only about 2 watts each.

Installation exercise.

Installation exercise.

Hal Aronson and Laura Stachel have an amazingly well designed and engineered system.  It's very exciting to make this connection and to be able to work with such a high quality device. Find out more about We Care Solar.  We'll post updates on the installation from the field.  Look for them on the LWHS/Drew trip blog.