Chess Project
Date: March-April 2025
Project Length: 5 Weeks
Background
The project was to redesign and build the six pieces of chess set. The emphasis was on family of form, making sure the set had visual continuity and reflected a common theme. A parameter set by the project was having a cast common piece, so I had to design around one piece that was repeated throughout the set.
Ideation
Refinement & Low Fidelity Common Pieces
Three Directions & Low Fidelity Models
Two Directions & Low Fidelity Models
Chosen Direction & Low Fidelity Set
Making the Common Piece
I modeled my common piece using Fusion 360, making various different versions until I was happy with the shape. Then I 3D printed it and sanded it to a smooth finish - using filler primer and milliput to fill any gaps.
Casting
I made a three part mold using the 3D printed part and a small piece of my wooden dowel, so that there would be a hollowed out section to put the dowels in. I tried casting with resin and rockite, the weight of rockite felt a lot better so that’s what I ended up going with.
Mid-Fidelity
I carved my pieces from ¾-inch mahogany dowel, using a saw, chisel, knife, and dremel. I step-sanded to 5,000 grit and polished the dowels with linseed oil. They were placed in my common pieces that were cast out of rockite.
Orthographic & Cross-Section Drawings
Renders
Everything was modeled using Fusion 360. The opposite side of the board would be a lighter wood, so I used maple in this model. The trim on the board was polished cement to match the bases.
Final Prototypes
The throne-like bases were cast out of rockite and step sanded to 5,000 grit. The wooden inserts were carved from 3/4 inch diameter dowels and also step sanded to 5,000 grit, then polished with linseed oil.
