This is the prototype I worked on for "Beyond Prototype" (a visual studies elective taught by Jason Ivaliotis) with Bo Liu, Lalima Chemjong, and Michael Gonzales. 

Our project, called "Aperture Cells," is a self-supporting component-based partition system constructed out of (3) 1/2” acrylic sheets.  The two components – “jacket” and “aperture” – used in this system are developed to create a partition hybridizing a structural element and a porous skin. The use of parametric modeling software such as Rhino and Grasshopper has allowed us the flexibility to investigate the form of the system without altering the connection assembly already embedded within the design.  Within 6 weeks, we were able to complete the design and efficiently transition between a virtual system to this full-scale physical prototype.  The one shown was fabricated using a CNC mill, plastic bender, and connected using 1/4″ sex bolts:

Some process images:

Heat strip and acrylic bending:

Clamps, connection, and joining:

It was a lot of fun :o)