Industry Placement; Summary

Overall, I enjoyed my time at SetSquare Staging. I was lucky to have such a good opportunity to work for such a prolific and well regarded company in industry. I think the timing of my placement could have been better; in the office everyone was so busy they didn't have much time to take me through anything and a lot of the time there wasn't a spare computer so I didn't have anywhere to work. But the drawing work I did do was good, and it was so good to get the feedback on how I use AutoCAD, learning new shortcuts and tricks and tips. My main problem is working with lines when I need to join them together to make a group, it makes things easier and quicker. 

When I had things to do in the workshop I enjoyed that. I like the banter of the boys, and the fact that most of them didn't belittle me for being a woman which was my main concern. The only one that was really sexist was the electrician who tried to snaffle me to help him. 

I feel I made friends and I have the opportunity to go back there to use it as a space to build for future projects outside of university. 

It was five weeks well spent and I'm glad I did it. I learned a lot more than I would have done working on a hypothetical design project at uni.  

Industry Placement; Day Seventeen/Eighteen/Nineteen

27th April 2012

The last three days were spent back up in the drawing office; where they finally utilised my skills! I was drawing up flattage, placing flats into ground plans, drawing up flight boxes and a few other bits and pieces including display boxes for CII which looked like this after being made up; 

You can find all the CAD work I did in my folder I have submitted; although I am unable to submit anything digitally because of file copyright. 

Overall, I enjoyed my time at SetSquare, even if I wasn't doing much I had fun doing it and made some friends. I was also offered a reference from them, which is useful and I can always go back for help on any future projects I may do. 

Industry Placement; Day Fifteen/Sixteen

24th April 2012

I spent these two days helping out on the CNC router. I didn't do much else other than lift sheet materials, sand down pieces and clean the CNC bed with an air gun. 

Industry Placement; Day Fifteen

20th April 2012

So I wasn't roped into more boring laborious tasks I hunted around for something to do when I came into work today. It wasn't the most interesting job, but the paint shop were up against it so I helped them out by doing some filling for pieces to be painted. I didn't mind doing this as there is an art to filling pinholes! There were quite a few of us on this job too, so I at least had a sense of comradery unlike yesterday!!

I literally filled holes all day.

Industry Placement; Day Fourteen

19th April 2012

I was due to be working with the electrician again today, and he set me a task yesterday to complete before he got in (I arrived at 8am, he would stroll in at ten). It was very very cold where I was working in the old office above the workshop and what I was doing was extremely dull. I was sticking velcro to LED strip. Yup. Exciting. Oh - it also transpired this guy thought I was about 17 and doing some BTEC at college... which I didn't appreciate. 

My central heating system. 

Possibly the most boring thing ever. 

Oh no wait; wrapping them in bundles was more boring. 

 Then commenced the PAC testing. An important job I understand, but whilst I was not a trained electrician (of which there were two) it was my job to pick off bits of LX tape, old stickers and write new stickers. It was at this point that my patience was being heavily tested by this bloke who was condescending and presumed I was some kind of idiot. I don't mind doing menial tasks if I am benefiting from them in some way, but this really took the biscuit. It was the point where he was telling (not asking) me to make him and this other guy cups of tea that I walked downstairs to the workshop and made myself look busy till I left.

Fun? Educational? No. 

Industry Placement; Day Thirteen

18th April 2012

As we finished the EPT set yesterday, there wasn't much going on for me to do today. I just helped out round the workshop for a bit, and I did a lot of sanding of some CNC cut 6mm. 

Sanding is boring. 

 After sanding the world I was then pilfered by Steve the electrician bloke to help him make new LED strips for the Intel job. LED comes in 5m strips that can be cut to length with an electrical attachment at either end.

Cutting the LED to length

What we are going to be making.

Ali strip (has to be cleaned by hand)

Sticking the LED strip to the ali strip

Then attaching velcro to the back for use on site.

This wasn't even half of them...

Honestly, making LED strip is a lot more exciting than it sounds. I really didn't enjoy this vaguely menial and pointless task, and I have more of it tomorrow. 

Industry Placement; Day Twelve

13th April 2012

Today I did a lot of painting black, and breaking things. The boxes for the sides of the LED screens were to be covered in dibond on the exterior edge then painted black to finish them off. To apply dibond to MDF you use contact adhesive on both objects you wish to adhere. It's super sticky once it's ready so you have to be very careful when applying the dibond, making sure it's in exactly the right place. 

Contact Adhesive.

 Once the pieces have had dibond attached, you need to use a router to make sure the dibond is flush with the MDF surface.

Routing - it was very very cold

Set in the background

Finished! just needs painting black.

I didn't take any further pictures as all I was doing was painting things black, but I also managed to drop one of these pieces and break it; but luckily for me it was easily repairable. I blame Friday 13th. 

Industry Placement; Day Eleven

12th April 2012

I was back with Richie, and would be for the forseeable future which is good! One of the first jobs that needed doing was the steel truss needed covering in black lycra, a process that involved pulling it extremely tight, making sure there were no creases in it and stapling it into place. It was easier said than done because the truss is curved.  

Looks pretty slick!

 We then had to drill through and bolt all the hand rails down using a massive drill bit; I kept hitting my hand on the uprights because drilling through steel and MDF is a bit tough! Richie then took me into the workshop to knock up some light boxes with him.

Apparently drawing some spider lines makes things easier. 

CNC cut ply formers. 

Ta Dah!

I painted the insides of these - brilliant!

I spent most of this day painting the interiors of light boxes, but I didn't mind as I know it was a job that needed doing in haste.

Industry Placement; Day Ten

11th April 2012

After the long Easter weekend (plus another day due to injury) there wasn't much for me to do in the office so Richard sent me downstairs to the workshops to work alongside Richie, one of the Project Carpenters. Before I went down I found the acetate CNC job I did the week previous, although it's upside-down it looks cool!

My first job with Richie was to paint inside the lightboxes - within five minutes I had dunked my fringe in the bucket. 

These are the lightboxes inside the set; the dibond strip is to attach the led onto.

These is the set for the EPT; the lighting truss and the other truss (on the floor)

LED screens starting to go in

Lifting the truss to attach to the lighting truss. 

Measuring to make sure the truss is level all the way round. 

I had a fun day working alongside the boys; I preferred it to the office as there was a little more "banter" to be had! It was a less stressful environment and I got along with everyone as there is more opportunity to have a conversation. 

Industry Placement; Day Nine

5th April 2012

Site Visit

Richard decided to take me on site with him to do a recce; survey the area, double check measurements against the ground plan and liaise with other Project Managers. It was a conference for a computer programming company, so design wise it wasn't that exciting. 

After using a laser to measure the main hall of the function room, we then had to analyse this side area and see if it correlates with the design. 

As you can see from the below image there is a fire hose that needs permanent access, so the flat that is going in front of that needs to have access. 

This is the area that the stand needs to go into, but upon measuring we realised that the design is oversize by a metre in all dimensions, so this needs to go back to the designer for reworking.  There was also no consideration in place for the pillars.

It was good going on site with Richard, as I have fully seen the process of production with this sort of commercial set design and I can also see the space in real life as opposed to just on a ground plan. 

Industry Placement; Day Seven

3rd April 2012

Today I remained busy with things to do pretty much all day - Richard set me the task of creating a perspex light up ornamental thing for a client - just a mock up - so the client can see how it will look and decide whether they want us to create a finished version.

First of all I was given a sheet with dimensions and a rough breif/spec (see folder) and then the led light strips - here they are!

I put the product together so I could see if there were any restrictions to what I am building, taking dims of all the led pices to draw up an accurate drawing.

Well isnt that pretty.

I draw up a rough idea of what was needing to be made - the restrictions being that you cant screw into the perspex as the LEDs would show it - but the perspex needs a solid base to sit in.

It was then sent off to the CNC man who will cut it tomorrow afternoon - I had to include rebate depths and several thicknesses of material.

I made sure the CNC jigs were ready before I left - but I need a couple more hours to work on the technical drawing for someone to work from which I will do tomorrow.



Industry Placement; Day Six

2nd April 2012

Today has been a busier day in terms of tasks to complete; I had a meeting this morning with Alex the Project Manager and Pete the Draughtsman to go through the details of bits that had not yet been drawn or made.

Each section of the basic technical drawing was gone through in more detail to do with construction and materials with Pete for him to draw up; I was also delegated sections for me to draw under the supervision of Pete.

I then draw up the chairs that will be going into one aspect of the build, and the base they will sit on. I then also worked out how many MDF tiles will fill a section (see folder) - and then created the CNC file for the Underground sign (see folder).

I have more work to do tomorrow - but today has been challenging and I've felt useful as I've had things to do!

Industry Placement; Day Five

30th March 2012

The steel structure I drew up and gave to the workshop yesterday had been built - hurrah! Although it was welded together and it was supposed to be bolted - I made the mistake of not relayinf this information to the metalwork guys - in other words - I forgot. Oops.

Here it is completed with timber cladding.

I then created a CNC ready drawing of some bar tops for a Coca Cola job - there was a learning process involved in this; for example making sure the drawing was at co-ordinates (0,0) so the MasterCam programe can find it (problems with working in infinite spaces), making sure its on the right sheet material bed and also saved in the right area for the programmer to find it.

For lunch I had a cheese and ham sandwich in a crusty roll that was really yummy - although I forgot I didn't have any cash and now owe Tony the sandwich man £3 for Monday. Oops!!

I did a rough costing for Richard for a company wanting SetSquare to make some sofas - so I had to mock up a drawing of roughly what it would look like, work out quantities for leather upholstery, foam etc and compare that to a price from contract furniture makers Hillcross to make a similar sofa (Verona Bench). I created a spreadsheet and emailed it to Richard to he had something to show the client - basically - it's to expensive to custom make furniture - better to contract it.

Industry Placement: Day Four

29th March 2012

As aforementioned in my last post; I had the morning to draw up a steel struture being used to life two pieces of glass onto a roof using a crane. I drew - it was checked several times by members of the production team and after several draughts (see folder) I was able to hand it to the metalworkers for construction.

Having something I have drawn being made for an important client is quite exciting - and also having someone checking over my drawings is very useful - telling me where I can improve etc.

The afternoon involved a site visit at a top secret location in London for a major sports event happening over the summer. Mysterious.

The Project Manager and myself went into Westfields in Stratford for a burrito. It was very nice and I had rice, chicken, sour cream and guacamole in mine. I went for the medium strength salsa - although in retrospect I think I should have gone for the hot. After lunch I donned my steel toe caps, a hard hat and my hi-vis jacket and sauntered onto the building site located not far from where we had lunch.

I can't say much about what was being built on site - but it was high up and everyone was very busy. There was a lift and everything. I was introduced to lots of members of the construction crew and they were all very nice. I sat in with the Project Manager on a few meetings - but also did some surveying of the site (laser measurers are very exciting!) and the boys also roped me in to laying some oak wood laminate flooring. There was a continued faff with the AC unit cassette as the one that was deemed to be the correct one was actually twice the size of the one we had back at Mitcham and would not have fit.

The View

The view

Oak laminate

This was fun...!

Cisco House

Where the 360 cinema is going

Tube tunnel

Site

Afterwards we got an ice-cream and journeyed back to Mitcham to end the day.

I really liked going out onto site as I had been looking at technical drawings and pieces of scenery all week and it was good to be able to put them into context and see where they were going. There is a plan for me to go on site with the Project Manager next week to act as his assistant to [hopefully] make his job easier.

Industry Placement; Day Three

28th March 2012

Today started with an early morning meeting; scheduled for 8am. Unfortately the client did not arrive till 10 - and due to the confidential nature of the meeting/client I am not allowed to go into much detail with what the job is!

It was interesting to see how a client goes through the job spec with a project manager; discussing the construction techniques of the particular items/budgeting/colourways/materials etc.

I cant actually say much more on this or they might shoot me.

In the afternoon after a rather lovely sandwich (cheese and salad on some bouncy white crusty bloomer) - I drew up the AC unit that I measured yesterday, realised I didn't have enough information so measured it again. Twice. Tomorrow I will find out that it's the wrong unit.

Here are some pictures of the AC unit; the tech drawing (I can't have the file) and how the drawing of the AC unit fits into the already built tunnel piece.

I then recieved a brief from Richard for something to do tomorrow AM - See folder (can't publish on the internet).