ALGORITHMIC SKETCHBOOOK ALYSSA MAREE SANTOMARTINO (585168) ABPL30048: STUDIO AIR
SEMESTER 1, 2014 UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
TUTORS: Haslett Grounds and Brad Elias Studio #11
CONTENTS
LOFTING CURVES IN GRASSHOPPER UNDERSTANDING GEOMETRY,
TRANSFORMATIONS AND INTERSECTIONS COMPOSITION AND GENERATION POINT ATTRACTORS
LAGI BREIF APPLICATIONS
EVALUATING AND GRAPHING FIELDS GRAPH CANTILLEVERS IMAGE SAMPLING
REGENERATING A DESIGN
THE TRAVELING SALESMAN GRADIENT DECENT
FRACTAL PATTERNS
KANGAROO AND WEAVE-A-BIRD PLUG-INS MATRIX DESIGNS
DIGITAL PROTOTYPING
DIGITAL TO PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING KANGAROO
L-SYSTEMS AND LOOPS
OPTIMISING THE DESIGN A NEW DEFINITION
LEARNING TO USE LIGHT EXPLORING ELK
EXPLORING ANEMONE
ANOTHER NEW DEFINITION CONNECTIONS PRINTING
RENDERING
PLANS, SECTIONS AND ELEVATIONS LADYBUG
FINAL DESIGN PROPOSITION
A.1
4-5
A.3
9-11
A.2
6-8
B.1
12-14
B.2
16-18
B.2
20-22
B.1 B.2 B.2 B.2 B.5 B.5 B.5 B.5 B.5 B.5 B.6
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18-20 22-24 24-28 28-30 30-36 36-39 39-42 36-39 39-42 43
B.6
44-46
C.1
49-50
C.1 C.2 C.2 C.2 C.3 C.3 C.4 C.4 C.4 C C
47-48 51-53 54-55 56-57 58-63 64-65 66-67 68-71 72-73 74-75 76-77
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A.1 :
LOFTING CURVES IN GRASSHOPPER Learning to use the programs Rhino and Grasshopper in conjunction was the main agenda of this week’s exercise. In doing so we were instructed to create a set of curves, lofting them first through rhino and then through grasshopper. From this the importance of grasshopper was seen.
The curves of the shape were drawn in rhino and then referenced in Grasshopper. By doing so a loft which could be manipulated was constructed. The top image displays the manipulation of the first loft to the last. After each manipulation the result was ‘baked’ from grasshopper into Rhino. The grasshopper base is the red shaded object in the bottom left image. Here we can see the working process of manipulation. The left screen-grab shows the ‘bake’ having just been performed. The red curves can be seen underneath. The shape has been derived from these curves which are red as they are connected to grasshopper.
The bottom right screen-grab shows the initial lofted curve I made through the Rhino ‘loft’ command. Whilst this may be a faster method originally, manipulation is not able to be completed with ease. Instead of the loft moving with the curves as the control points are moves, as it does in Grasshopper, the loft remains stationary, only the curves themselves moving.
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At the suggestion of the video, I tried to find an output which I could input by surface into. I tried to create a panelling system with a square, which I made on grasshopper. It became a little too complex and I was unable to make panels on my lofted shape. Within a box I experimented in creating 3D cells. They were then taken out from the box and randomly deleted to play with different forms. This was done with the Voroni3D command which created the cells around a selection of points I created within the box. I proceeded to use a similar concept on a lofted form which I had created. This time using the Octree command, I placed points on my surface and boxes were created on it. This can be seen in the screen grab below.
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A.2 :
UNDERSTANDING GEOMETRY, TRANSFORMATIONS AND INTERSECTIONS
This week’s tutorial video’s introduced us to creating surfaces from vectors and points and then meshing these surfaces. This screengrab shows how to add together two different vectors to create one. Two different ways of doing this was explored in Grasshopper. While they achieve the same result, one uses less plug-ins.
This second screengrab indicates how I came to create a rectangle from a plane in grasshopper. This allowed me to have a fully static and changeable rectangle to work with.
In the last technical video, I used the technique of creating surfaces on grasshopper, between points in rhino, to make a 3 dimensional hexagon. I then baked this out. By linking in a lofted surface to Grasshopper, and using the Mesh Brep command, I was able to create a paneled surface for my loft and also my 3D box. After baking this out I could potentially lay this out and have it laser cut, just like we did for virtual environments.
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The other video’s introduced transforming curves into other objects. I was able to create this arched surface, which I then baked out to use in Rhino, from two curves.
I learnt how to create a plane on an individual curve, and then create a shape within that plane which can move along the curve. This could allow me to create multiple ribs around a curve, allowing me to create a specific path for the ribs to follow.
I explored, through creating a set of closed oval curves, creating frames through the offset plug-in. This was an interesting concept which could help me in creating a sculptural design for my project
One of the video’s had us creating a shape which we would contour under. This allowed us to form panels which could potentially be laser cut. We were also taught how to use grasshopper to lay the panels out. Even though I copied exactly what the video said, I was not able to make the panels. All of the panels were pasted on top of one another, even though I tried to separate them. I was not successful with using the orient command.
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I also had issues with using the planar command to create a flat plane at the center of an object. For some reason my planes were massive in comparison to the ones in the video. I could not avaerage them out to find the central point. I was interested in learning about notching from creating a circle on a plane between two surfaces. This would be extremely helpful for manufacturing purposes. offsetting the angle
Creating different parts to the circle Creating a notch for the material to fit into. Obviously the notch has been exaggerated here
Ofsetting the line
The contouring was placed against an offsetted surface to create contour lines. Conturing a surface
By creating a Brep component out of subtracting different extruded shapes from my square (the Boolean subtract command in Rhino) I was able to use what I learnt in the driftwood 8
A.3 Composition & Generation From a set of three curves I used the ‘Three-point-arc’ output to create a rounded wire frame. This became a lofted form. It was interesting to create a precise form around specified curves.
The curve was divided into sections and the corresponding points were joint. This created an interesting pattern and way of dividing the surface.
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From a flat surface, which was linked into grasshopper through the surface input, was divided and flattened to become a Voronoi 2D Patterned surface. Here I experimented with different uses of the Voronoi tool using sliders to change the amount of panels, as well as the true false command within the panels.
I had some issues with connecting the Voronoi to my extruded surface and Culled Pattern. However I was still able to achieve what was happening in the video’s, my rectangular boundary square was just massive. I decided to try other inputs within the Triangulation tab. Some worked when I inputed my extruded surface and/ or culled pattern.
Delaunay Edges
Proximity 2D
Voronoi 3D 10
Using another set of random curves which I created I attempted to repeat what I had learnt in the first video. This attempt was successful. These are the three curves I made. I followed the same process, using the explode tree component to create points which the arc could connect to.
I then lofted the shape and made this mushroom like object.
I then went back into Rhino and adjusted the control points randomly on the shape. This change was replicated within grasshopper and I was able to create a different shape from a similar set of curves.
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B.1 POINT ATTRACTORS Creating a polygon in grasshopper through triangles
i then repeated the same process but with a 5 sided shape (pentagon) whish created some similar but different geometry
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POINT ATTRACTORS
starting with one point and then moving onto two i can see how the points are attractiing the arrows dependig on where i moves them
this pont attraction is more clearly seen through the use of the colours,. I tries a few different parameters to see the different colour options
The point Attractoes were then applied to a lofted surface. Circles (their radius and number) were scaled dependant on their proximty to the point
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Through the attachment of expressions and evaluations i was able to change the movement of the circles and how they were mixed to the loft. I used Cos, Floor and fix, as well as a number of x and y combinations
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LAGI BRIEF APPLICATIONS To explore the application of a sculptural concept onto the site I took one of the more interesting designs which I felt could be exciting to fabricate from the matrix exercise. I chose the object I created from the facet dome command. When I baked this into rhino I was given a wire frame, however when lofted a sculptural form was created.
The purpose of the project is to create a community area as well as promote renewable energy. I feel like these little shapes could be used as gathering points. I have scaled them at different heights for interest and placed them around the site. The tallest however, is the maximum height for the site 125m.
This was placed in a polyline which indicates the barrier of the site. From this I learnt just how big the site is. Even though my biggest sculpture is 30m across it looks tiny in comparison to the site.
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B.2 EVALUATING AND GRAPHING FEILDS Point chargers were used to create lines along curves.
These lines were more densly populated around the points using a number slider
On top of these point charged curves, if the input spiral force was applied, the lines followed this circular pattern. When i changed the charge to a negative number i was not able to achieve any results
The base algorithm to produce a set of point attracted lines from a number of curves.
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The points are then moved upwards by the factor determined by the slider
From these points we create some lines through the points using Interpolate.
After this we can use the graphing component to create different curves.
With a positive slider a platformed design with pin point piloti’s is created.
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B.2 GRAPH CONTROLERS
Use of the Bizzar input created hexegonal patterns around the circles which were created through a graph map. These circles radii can be adjusted with a slider. With the input of a cull pattern, the points which i created on the circles were inputed at a true/false pattern.
35 points on a circle
87 points on a circle
Cull pattern output
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Adjusting the panel inputted into the vorrinoi to a true/false/false rather than a true/false, as appealing spiral pattern was created. This is more densly populated in the image to the right. 80 points were used.
I then tried to input different graphs into the graph mapper. This created some interesting patterns. Here we can see the use of the sync graph. A pointed vorronoi was created.
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B.2 IMAGE SAMPLING The circles, created through the image sampler, are applied to the planar surface which i refrenced into grasshopper from rhino. The below screengrab from grasshopper indicates the use of the image sampler.
Change of density: .22 slider
Change of expression. Timed by .01 rather than 20 .1
Change of density: .63 slider
Overlapping of two different image samplers
The offset of the points to later create the mounds. These are offset by a particular distance.
The circles are offsetted determined by the expressions which i have used. Their height is dependant on an angle inputted, in this
case i plugged in 71 Degrees. These Curves are then able to be lofted, after they have been grafted to simplify their data tree’s.
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B.2 REGENERATING A DESIGN Creation of a sphere leads to pointed edges. A smooth mesh component is needed
I tried to use a flat surface to project points onto the surface of the sphere’s like they showed us in the video because i wasnted to put the image on it. This didn’t work in the end.
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Even though i copied and pasted this algorithim from the Museum video which we watched this week, it would not work with my surface. The expressions were incorrect and as i didn’t understand why they were incorrect i couldn’t resolve the issue. At most i would get cirlcles or arcs at horizontal planes. I
wanted verticle planes which wrapped around the object. As the shape was extreemly complex i couldn’t unroll it Therefore neither could i place the pattern on the surface that way.
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B.5 THE TRAVELLING SALESMAN Creating lines between closest points waas achieved through using a cull item input. This selected a certain point which a line could be drawn to.
This would then be repeated a number of times for each point to become connected to another., Instead a cluster cna be created which allows for easier repetition.
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I downloaded python and attempted to use it to script my own algorithm, however i was unsuccessful in creating anything.
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B.5 GRADIENT DECENT
After creating a cluster where i created a set of points moving along a surface i was able to create line patterns like these.
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Cluster
algorithm using clusters
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B.5 FRACTAL PATTERNS Creating clusters i was able to rotate and scale two curves around one another. I tried this inputing both curved and straight lines. I then tried to input a closed shape (the polygon) to achieve somewhat successful results.
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This was then applied to a closed curve which was moved upwards.
Next, using a 3D box with curves intersecting it, i was able to create a cluster which formed boxes around those curves.. this created an interesting structre.
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B.5 KANGAROO- Plug-In Kangaroo allows movement of shapes created in grasshopper in relation to toggle and stress/rest sliders.
9.5 rest length
Returning the rest length to 10 does not mean that the line will take the same form as previously
Applying a gravity component onto a line will make it catenery form. When i applied a negative charge a floating line was created.
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i learnt how to use the kangaroo plug in with a boolean toggle component and timer to control the abstraction of the form.
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B.5 KANGAROO & Weavebird- Plug-Ins These plug-ins allowed me to turn a edged structure into a more organic form.
form after kangaroo original form
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I was able to simulate this on to my own three-D meshed shape.
5 second deformation
11 second deformation
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B.5 Voussior Cloud KANGAROO & Weavebird- Plug-Ins
base shape created through a combination of Rhino (points and base shape) and grashopper (vorrinoi shape contained within).
The pattern was scalled and set down by a certain z factor. Through lofting a basic form was created. When i imported this into kangaroo i was able to play with the form, using the Naked points as ancor points.
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B.5 Interesting and Failed Outcomes from Matrixing
This was a successful attempt at creating a deisng interation of the double Agent White, however for some unknown reason i was unable to bake the object. Therefore i am not able to put it into the matrix.
Another iteration which just would not co-operate with the bake command. How annoying!
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B.5 MATRIX DESIGNS
This is a really cool desing. I don't have any idea of how i did it, but im glad that i did. It seems as if there is a central point where all of the fans are rotating outwards from.
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From the Sphere shape i was able to project the vorrinoi onto a flat surface. Whist i don't see much potential for this in regards to the breif, i think it a really cool design!
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contours were created using a attractor point. Something i accidentily learnt how to do.
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B.5 DIGITAL PROTOTYPING
I helped to further explore the contouring iteration which was explored in the matrix and explained on pp 72 of my journal. It is seen on pp 36 of my Sketchook. We used one of the video's to create surface contours running in the opposite direction to the inital iteration. I think that this creates a more sculptural and practicle form than what was initially created.
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i was responsible for the digital prototype #2. I aimed to recreate and further explore the physical prototype which i made (see Journal page 78). I found it to be a difficult process as i knew what i wanted the model to look like, however i had trouble trplicating it in Rhino. After some time, however, i achieved a model which i believe closely represented whiat i was trying to achieve. It created an elegant design of randomly sized and placed arcs on the site over the sphere like shape.
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B.5 DIGITAL TO PHYSICAL PROTOTYPING I attempted to re-create my piped arcs by had to test them in a real life situation. Straight away issues were run into with the creation of the pipe. It was not a smooth curve, as grasshopper had modelled, rather the paper bended at odd angles creating a pointed form. In order to create a smoother curve different folds and papers were experimented with.
This twisted form created by folding the paper around itself was the best suited as it curved but still maintained a pipe-like form. This allowed the structural form to be replicated to a certain extent.
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PART C KANGAROO PULL TO MESH
i decided to watch a video to further understand kangaroo, I used the process on our brep shape with unique and exciting results.
If you adjust the pull to mesh slider (in this case i made it higher) there are different result.
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PART C L-SYSTEMS AND LOOPS
Creation of a looped system originating from points which i had created. Lines are created between the points based on the vector points. . this is then duplicated numerous times.
i created a cluster to make duplication easier
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The result of replication due to clustering. I could also create verticle patterns through adjusting the points.
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If the points were adjusted and changed different replicated patterns were created.
Accidentally using the wrong plane (and XY instead of a XZ) an intersecting and rough pattern was created.
PART C OPTIMISING THE DESIGN: ISSUES When attempting to fit the design to the site i used an extruded outline of the site to contain my points. This did not work as i expected. the points were created outside of the outline and i was unable to create a version of the design which fit the site exactly.
The points would not stay within the line.
This caused the linework to continue outside of the brep that i used.
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i had to use the brep shape to trim the design. This worked to some extent. It wos not completely successful.
In optimising the design some intersting but unwanted were achieved. in attempting to fit the design over the whole site i created a verticle stairway.
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PART C A NEW DEFINITION
We attempted to reverse engineer our own design to create more structural integrity, We attempted to use anemone
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We attempted to create peaks and baths at different heights. In the center of these circles anemone was suppose to create lines falling downwards. The point charges would then push the lines outward away from the point. Anemone failed to work. Im unsure why.
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PART C LEARNING TO USE LIGHT Through optimising the design i was forced to learn how to use vray and the light system of rhino. This was a suprisingly difficult process and i still am not able to use it with ease, however i managed to produce some renders This was more than i have achieved before.
First render: no definition; no light source
Second Attempt: More definition but little shadow due to plane lighting
#4: background is white. Definition is somewhat lost due to pixilisation no lighting
#3: Much more definition and shadow. BUT why is the background black???
Introduction of a ground plane and use of directional lighting allowed for a nice render
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Using V-Ray i was able to learn more about lighting and shadow. This became essential when later using photoshop to render our design
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C.3 Exploring Elk Following the tutorial i created a site map for Copenhagan. This program was amazing!!
All of the buildings on the site
The Waterways, Roads, Cyclist paths and buiildings.
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Major and Minor Roads
Loading the information from NASA allowd me to discover that the site is almost flat.
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C.3 Exploring Anemone basic anemone loop
Addition of a Spin feild
Addition of multpile Spin feilds
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Point charge used alsong side the spin charges
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Another New Definition Anenome did not work. Therefore we had to start again This time we aimed to create a domes design which would be considered more structural. This was ultimately achieved.
Firstly we inputed the surface of the site.
Next we populated geometry within a projection of thsi site. These points were projected vertically by a distance relative to another point.
Poiint Chargers were added to both sets of points. When the Feild Lines were connected lines were pulled to and from these points. The feild lines look nothing like what our design does due to the Graph mapper with a Bazier input.
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Once the graph was pluged into the Intercurve component our domed shapes were created.
We still had two issues howeve.r. First: Creating different heights for the domes Second: Trimming the domes
I attempted so many different ways of projecting the points up at differnet heights relative of a specific point or curve or equation however nothingnwould work.
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As nothing was creating the effect which i wished to create i had to divide the points wanted into a number of different populate geometry components. I realise that this in not the most succinct nor parametric way of resolving the issue, yet i was unable to figure out another way.
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To trim the design we created a surface which had the fluxations needed for the bathing areas. This allowed us to trim the domes precisely where they needed to be trimmed to stand. This however became another issue as if i moved the points too high the legs were not long enough to reach the base. For this reason they all had to be relatively close in height. Even when i tried to change this through the Decay i was unable to. The legs would just fan out rather than inward if i made it any more than2.1 or less than 1.9.
I extruded our base surface into one with depth in order to trim. This also helped later for printing.
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CONNECTIONS
I attempted to create a model of the base connection. We didn't end up going with this design, however it was an interesting excersie. I learnt about using boolean and piping commands which helped me later on.
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For fabrication purposes i had to also create a connection plate at the top of the dome. It is here that all of the legs connect to one another to provide a stable design. The whole wass created through using the booleandifference command. I booleaned a hole .2mm bigger than the leg in attempt to make an easy fit. This did not work unfortunately.
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PRINTING
On the guidance of the fab lab i was instructed to create seperate pieces for our single dome which we wanted to fabricate. This process involved me creating the top connection piece as well as a single leg for each section of the dome. I am quite fustrated that the print out was a failure. The Lab told us to use the Merkbot to print in plastic. So much support material was printed that we were unable to extract our pieces without them breaking in multiple locations. They were unable to use. There was high potential for this but it was a complete failure. Rant over.
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The Base created was printed on the CNC router. This worked perfectly, yet due to the failure of the dome it was practically unusable. To create this, a flat surface was created. When i placed the dome on top i created individual pools relative to the domes ontop. The deepest section is 2m. It gradually slopes inward however. This was done through the selection of control points and moving them down.
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RENDERING In Rhino i used the material selector to apply materials onto layers which i had downloaded online/ In this example i believe that an effective result is achieved. It is an expressive render.
In other cases it did not work quite so well. The chunky materials were not fitting and i could not work a realistic view. It was dissapointing.
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I was really happy to further my skills with photoshop and learn how to render. In our tutorial, our tutors said that our renders weren't very convincing and didn't like them, and whilst they probably are not, im exteemly happy with this being my first ever attempt. I learn lots and am happy with the outcome.
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PLANS SECTIONS AND ELEVATIONS I created the plans sections and elevations through the MAKE2D command in Rhino. I experimented with using different pen wights and types.
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LADYBUG
The Lady bug tutorial online seemed promising as it would be perfect for my design proposal. I attempted to use it on my tubed design to see roughly which areas would recieve the most sunlight. I would have use it to help optimise my site. Unfortunately it did not want to work!
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FINAL DESIGN PROPOSITION After feedback from the presentations we decided to change our design one last time. It was a relatively minor change to the graph however the result was a more dynamic design, which is something our tutors asked for.
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