Interconnected Loops: Part 1

The interconnected wall stems from work originally proposed by Erwin Hauer, this example has been reworked in grasshopper and tested physically on a cnc milling machine. The definition is used to design panels which do not collide with each other.  It uses curves taken from rhino space to sweep2 a surface.  This surface is extruded; which creates a closed brep that is suitable for a difference component.  A cylinder is subtracted, then the piece is rotated 180 degrees to face the previous piece.  In this stage it is important to make sure that no edges are colliding, this can be done by adjusting either the curves or the radius of the cylinder.  My dimensions responded to the fact that I was cutting the object out of 2″ insulation foam, but all of the dimension can be controlled in the definition.

Interconnected Loop Tile Grasshopper File

Note:Version of Grasshopper Used-(Grasshopper 0.6.0059)

The aggregation of the module starts with a standardized grid; this grid is then distorted to create variation within the wall.  It could easily be linked to some kind of attractor point (as was intended).  The actual grasshopper definition of aggregation was borrowed from PinupSpace’s component population page.  The definition is very simple; all it requires is a subdivided mesh, preferably with some kind of color information embedded.  However, if you haven’t worked that out you can always just attach a Mesh Color component to your mesh, this will pattern your mesh with a color.  PinupSpace’s script basically just breaks your mesh up into its color coded parts and then applies the selected module using a simple box-morph.  I’ve included their video at the bottom of the page.

Part of what made this project such a learning experience was the fabrication portion of it.  Our material choice for the project was 2″ insulation foam.  This was mainly due to the contours that the router would need to cut.  Having never used the machine before, I had no idea what to expect in terms of accuracy.  I started with the preconception that the router would perfectly sculpt my 3d model.  This preconception was flawed in two respects, the first being that the router dropped every pass a slight amount in the z axis.  This meant you never really had a cut that was true to its digital counter part.  The second oversight was in the ability of the material to retain its rigidity after having half of it sculpted away.  A 2′x8′ sheet of foam does not stay flat after that much of it is stripped away.

-Liam Morrow

-Component Population On Mesh from Ted Ngai on Vimeo.