Iteration, or “looping”, is a way of repeating a bit of code either a certain number of times (incremental) or until a certain condition is met (conditional).

The three types of iteration this primer will focus on are “Do While…”, “For Each”, and “For i…”

Download the Rhinoscript Files from modeLab.

The ability to quickly and efficiently manipulate data in Grasshopper is critical in order to increase design productivity.

This Primer incrementally creates a matrix of points whose addresses are contingent upon the negotiation of 3 Data Trees: X, Y, Z, respectively. The Graft, Simplify, and Flatten Components will be utilized in order to develop an introductory understanding of how Data Trees are created and manipulated.

Download the Grasshopper Definition (version 0.6.0019) from modeLab.

The ability to quickly and efficiently manipulate data in Grasshopper is critical in order to increase design productivity.

This Primer incrementally manipulates and rearranges a linear list of Data created by the Series Component. Additional visual feedback is provided by the Point List Component.

Download the Grasshopper Definition (version 0.6.0019) from modeLab.

The Logic Tab contains a variety of Components for creating and manipulating lists in Grasshopper.

This Primer introduces the Range, Series, and Duplicate Data Components through the use of numerical and gradient color feedback.

Download the Grasshopper Definition (version 0.6.0019) from modeLab.

As of Grasshopper 0.6, data can be stored in hierarchical structures not dissimilar to a branching tree.

Data is still stored in lists; however, each list now has a series of indices describing the unique position of the data within a larger data framework. This framework is not unlike a Data Dictionary in that it contains a list of all transactions in the Grasshopper Definition and the number of associated entities per transaction. In Grasshopper this framework is referred to as a Data Tree. It is important to remember that the Data Tree does not contain any of the actual data in the Grasshopper Definition, only bookkeeping information for managing it.

Data Trees can be visualized in Grasshopper using the Parameter Viewer in which you can toggle between the visualization of the Data Tree as a branching diagram or a per-Path address.

This Primer incrementally constructs a Data Tree- from trunk to leaves.

Download the Grasshopper Definition (version 0.6.0019) from modeLab.

Like Curves, Surfaces can be described both geometrically and numerically.

The numeric description of any NURBS Surface can be understood as the “Parameter Space” of the Surface. This space is two dimensional and not necessarily tied to the Euclidean space of the modeling environment but is always tied to the topology of the surface which is a consequence of the geometry that created that surface. The bounds of this space is called the “Surface Domain” which can be navigated numerically through the native domain or through a “Reparameterized” domain that forces both dimension’s bounds to be 0.0 and 1.0. The current value at which this navigation is possible is called the UV Coordinate.

This Surface Primer constructs surfaces and their unrolled counterparts allowing user interaction as well as generating live visual feedback.

Download the Grasshopper Definition (version 0.6.0019) from modeLab.

Lines, Polylines, and Curves can be described both geometrically and numerically.

The numeric description of any of these geometry types can be understood as the “Parameter Space” of the curve. This space is one dimensional and not necessarily tied to the Euclidean space of the modeling environment but is always tied to the topology of the curve. The bounds of this space is called the “Curve Domain” which can be navigated numerically through the native domain or through a “Reparameterized” domain that forces the bounds to be 0.0 and 1.0. The current value at which this navigation is possible is called the “t” value or “parameter.”

This Curve Primer constructs curves and their unrolled counterparts allowing user interaction as well as generating live visual feedback.

Download the Grasshopper Definition (version 0.6.0019) from modeLab.

Vectors are an abstract non-geometrical data type that describe direction and magnitude in space.

Similar to Points, Vectors are composed of three parts. For Vectors these parts are distances, not coordinates, and are described as: {deltaX, deltaY, deltaZ}. Vectors exist anywhere in space because they are abstract and are not tied to a location until they have been anchored. Once anchored to a Point, Vectors can be visualized (typically done with arrows). Using a Summation operation with the Anchor Point and Vector, we can find the Vector’s Terminal Point or tip.

This Vector Primer constructs a vector by component delta values allowing user interaction as well as generating live visual feedback.

Download the Grasshopper Definition (version 0.6.0019) from modeLab.

Digital Tracery Fabrication
The ambition of the seminar was to interrogate digital prototyping as a working method and form of research that differs from classical “iconic” models of representation.  Working within two parallel forms of inquiry – the design/fabrication of laser cut wood models and the analysis of selective readings – the potentials of contemporary digital modeling was exposed as a speculative practice that embraces iterative making as “design intelligence”.  Critical to this method was the scalability of the prototyping process – each consecutively scaled model raises questions about material performance and constructional specificity.

Students were asked to independently analyze a particular flowering plant with an emphasis on organizational and geometric characteristics.  From their research, students attempted to trap, or intensify a particular trait(s) of their plant through notation drawing and detail modeling by developing simple modules of assembly and building complexity from the bottom up. Working in teams, students tested multiple design variations by fabricating ¼”=1’-0” scale jointed lattices and ¼ full scale joint details using a 18”x32” laser cutter. The intent was to limit the size of the components that form the lattices, so students would have to confront the economies of assembly and structure, while still maintaining the effects of continuity and lightness.

The pedagogical heuristic of the model traces a line through research in two ways: 1. as a tool for conceptual thinking – both the drawing as model and the model as prototype marries the “cognitive-perceptive with the figurative-operative”, 2. as a working method to unlock material and structural performance – the scalability of the prototyping process becomes a rehearsal for the realities of one-to-one construction.

The model based approach emphasized the development of part to whole relationships through jointed assemblies and privileged expressive tectonics as a means to confront scale and simulate the exigencies of construction. Although 3D printing has proven itself to be powerful tool to visualize complex form, its use was discouraged because its lack of materiality and its tendency to produce smooth surfaces with no tectonic differentiation.  The laser cutter was the tool of choice because by default, assemblies have to be made of modules.  The limitations of the tool also demands that 3D form be geometrically constituted from sheet stock with a restricted size.  Tectonic innovation using off-the-shelf materials was privileged over new material technologies.

One project from the seminar was selected for fabrication as a full scale installation to be installed in the gallery at the School of Architecture in November, 2009.  A team of two students have done an independent study over the summer to rationalize the geometry of the analogue model by building a parametric digital model in Rhino Grasshopper.  This has allowed the team to refine the geometry globally while maintaining the part to whole jointed relationships of the components.  A ¼ full scale model has been assembled from laser cut pieces to test the structural and construction sequence of the installation before full scale CNC fabrication proceeds in October.

Credits
Lawrence Blough and Aaron White, Faculty
Chelsea Lipham and Laura Wikesberg, Students
Ronnie Parsons and Gil Akos, Digital Consultants

UPDATE

Digital Futures Workshop Series
Pratt Institute
School of Undergraduate Architecture
2009.09.28
Maya SubD Workshop I

Overview -
-Differences between Meshes and Nurbs
-What subD’s are and why we use them
-SubD surface Workflow(s)

Modeling in Maya –
-Maya Basics
Configuring Interface and settings
Navigating in Maya
Icons, Drop down menu, hotbox, shortcut keys
Tool Locations

-Polygon mesh modeling
Mesh primitive creation
Mesh editing & modifiers

-SubD modeling
SubD primitive creation
Converting meshes to subD
SubD editing & modifiers

Mesh modeling in Rhino3D & Grasshopper-

-Rhino Mesh Basics
Configuring settings
Mesh primitives
Meshes from surfaces
Mesh editing and modifiers
Mesh mapping and deformers

-Meshes in grasshopper
Translate a component into grasshopper
Mapping a parametric mesh component to a surface.
Applying Data from an Image

-Preparing for Export
Unifying mesh normals
Joining meshes and Welding
Export selected as .OBJ

Importing Files into Maya-
Importing .OBJ files
Troubleshooting Geometry
Exporting for rendering/3D printing

Downloads:

documents:

pdf

digital files:

rhino

obj

maya

image maps

grasshopper