WISRD Research & Engineering Journal

Figure 9. Left: View of surface in CAD. Right: View of full platform in CAD. This design was functional and would have been used; however, it was redesigned after it was said that it looked like a table. Square Design 2 morphed away from looking like a table to one that was a lilypad-like shape, and as such, it was dubbed the “Lilypad.” 3.3.2 Lilypad Design

3.3.2.1 Lilypad 1

This design (Fig. 10) was circular with wide, curved legs. It had an open surface with four main “dips” in which we would place the corals. This was the first prototype we printed, which was in PLA. Because PLA is light and floats, we created cavities in the legs and mid-print sand was added. We were optimistic that since we would be printing the final version in clay, floating would not be an issue because clay is denser, and printing in clay would not leave pockets of air.

Figure 10. Left: New leg system used in Lilypad design(s). Middle: Surface for Lilypad Design. Right: Lilypad prototype printed in PLA. Our first attempt at a clay print was on January 22, 2021. It took place outside, at the home of J.A. Wise (Fig. 11 and 12), due to COVID restrictions on the Wildwood School campus that houses the WISRD facility.

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