2009/03/01

Ruled Surfaces #2: Generate Ruled Surfaces from a surface-UV-grid for Lasercutting (Grasshopper)

This is my version of something i have seen on www.liftarchitects.com. In addition to their solution, i come up with the possibility to choose my own vector for loft-rulings. I use one C# script component for the separation of lofts, along with another which just lets me choose between three methods (see below) of providing a generic list of vectors defining the directions of rulings, before they are passed through the component based on the status of an integer-slider. I didn't find an easier way to do this, although the script itself is piece of cake ;)


rulings are parallel to global z-direction (developable)


an appropriate ruling-direction can be chosen explicitly (developable)


rulings are surface-normals. general ruled surfaces. (non-developable)

Note that the third variant, the one based on surface normals, consists of non-torsal ruled surfaces, which in general are non-developable, meaning that they cannot be projected to a plane without distortion, and one will get some irregularities when trying to produce the structure this way.



What i didn't add yet is a method for the production of vertical slots at intersections of struts, but since i am going to lasercut such a construction soon, i will have to add it within the next days. I'm also planning to add a fourth method which will average rulings for each loft individually. This could come in handy if the input-surface is not too twisted. Watch out for that.

16 comments:

  1. Dear Heinz,
    it is amazing you found the way to do it...as I had scripts that just got the ribs on the x-y directions but was not useful for ruled surfaces...and your method seems great! is there a way I can download your script?!it would be so useful as I am preparing a modle to lasercut and its all made up of ruled surfaces!!! thanks!!! my email is benedetta.gargiulo@gmail.com
    betty xxx

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  2. Hi Heinz.
    Exactly above person,
    I need that GH definition....
    Please send me, too.
    jskim@hanssum.com
    thank you. :-)

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. hey, I just wondering if I can have a copy. thank u.
    eporras@evolutiva.biz

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Heinz.
    Exactly above person,
    I need that GH definition....
    Please send me, too.
    waxmastermind@gmx.de
    thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey looks great!
    can you please share the GH definition?
    mail it here ivan.kiryakov2@gmail.com
    this will be great
    thanks

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  7. any plans to share the definition?

    afscott@scad.edu

    ReplyDelete
  8. I need GH definition, please... :)
    lmaffiodo@gmail.com
    thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. is there a possibility to accuire this script?

    wojcicki.mateusz@gmail.com

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  10. amazing, can i have a copy of the script?
    youseeitsme@gmail.com
    thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. any chance you could send me the GH definition?

    thanks


    omid.mk@hotmail.com

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  12. brilliant!!! is there any chance you could post up the GH definition please?

    thank you very much

    long.tran@mac.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Heinz,
    we designed a parametric wall, where we also had to solve these problems.
    Take a look to our blog:
    http://x-blur.blogspot.com
    or see it in real at Kunsthalle Vienna in course of the archdiploma 2009 - exhibition, if you like ;-)

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  14. Can you please send me the GH file please?
    tzar87@libero.it
    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Heinz,
    I am a learner at grasshopper as of now.
    trying to export a free form furniture to laser cutting format
    plz can u send me or suggest me for this..!!
    thanks
    udayan
    jain.udayan@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Heinz
    Can you please send me the GH file please?

    phi03c@yandex.com

    thanks

    ReplyDelete