This video shows some on going research on how the Grasshopper plugin for Rhino can streamline the CNC milling fabrication process; specifically for 2D shape milling on a PADE spin-W 5 axis continuous CNC Work Center.  Special thanks to Matthew Spremulli (former University of Toronto Grashopper workshop attendee) and Greg Everett of the Airport Railings & Stairs Co. Ltd. located in Mississauga Ontario Canada for running the code on their 5-axis CNC mill. 

The original Grasshopper definition has been updated to write both the G-codes (which are the individual groups of numerically controlled functions called packets which tell the mill how and where to move) and the P-codes (which are the instructions that are read by the PADEeasy software to call up the packets in a specific order).  Both sets of codes are streamed automatically to .txt files and are automatically updated upon any changes in the definition or Rhino geometery.

More videos to come on surface milling and 5-axis milling techniques.

Team:
Parametric Modeling - Andrew Payne & Matthew Spremulli
CNC Milling - Greg Everett

Fabrication Tools:
Parametric Modeling Software - Grasshopper plugin for Rhino
CAM Manager - PADEeasy
CAM Controller - OSAI Controller
CNC Milling Machine - PADE spin-W 5 axis continuous CNC Work Center

Fabrication Shop:
Airport Railings & Stairs Co. Ltd. located in Mississauga Ontario Canada

SAN FRANCISCO, CA | INTERMEDIATE GRASSHOPPER WORKSHOP | September 13th, 2009 | 10:00am-5:00pm 

Open to all CCA students/faculty who are interested exploring new forms and shapes using generative algorithms, this one day workshop will cover a range of diverse topics with a focus on fabrication techniques.  We will look at the various ways that the graphical algorithm editor can facilitate traditional laser cutting methods and other fabrication tools available to the CCA students. 

This workshop is an extension of the spring Grasshopper workshop and will require a basic understanding of the plug-in (attending the spring workshop is not a pre-requisite).  All inquiries for the workshop can be sent to assistant professor, Andrew Kudless at akudless@cca.edu

BERKELEY, CA  | GRASSHOPPER + GIS WORKSHOP | September 19th-20th, 2009 | 9:00am-5:00pm

LOCAL CODE proposes a new paradigm in architectural design, systematically bringing place-based data to bear on automatic digital modeling and manufacturing, in order to leverage architectural intelligence to multiple, local settings. The work takes advantage of widespread existing research in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and parametric design, but is among the first the first to synthesize these two strands of thinking and technology to question basic assumptions about the architectural profession, and its role in shaping our changing human landscape. Look for work, including creative-commons licensed scripts and examples, to be distributed in late 2009 and 2010.

This workshop will aim to support the research seminar and thesis studio developed by assistant professor Nicholas de Monchaux.  The workshop is available (limited space) for UC Berkeley students and faculty.  Please contact demonchaux@berkeley.edu if you are interested in enrolling in the workshop.

LOCAL CODE is supported by the Berkeley Center for New Media (bcnm.berkeley.edu), UC Berkeley's Geospatial Innovation Facility, and a grant from the Hellman Family Faculty Fund.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA  | GRASSHOPPER WORKSHOP | September 26th-27th, 2009 | 9:00am-5:00pm

GRAPHIC THINKING is a rigorous investigation focused on the exploration of field structures which serve to establish dynamic relationships among multiple systems (social, political, ecological, economic, etc).  This research, led by T. David Fitz-Gibbon Professor of Architecture Robin Dripps, will examine how the Grasshopper plug-in can be used to create various forms of parametrically controlled field structures that might undergo a process of intervention and transformation that ultimately question the relationship between program, context, and environmental energies.  We will explore the different ways that generative modeling makes one think and how this thinking leads to other ways of working with the translation of idea to form.

This workshop will be open to graduate level architecture and landscape architecture students enrolled in the GRAPHIC THINKING course.  Please direct any inquiries to dripps@virginia.edu

In this video, we will walk through how to setup a Grasshopper definition that will write the G-code for surface milling on a 3-axis CNC milling machine.  When surface milling - the contouring engine is crucial.  For speed reasons, I found the C# contouring definition written by Giulio Piacentino works extremely well because it allows the user to specify a step distance (tool path offset).  After we have generated the contours (or tool paths) we can subdivide each curve, using the evaluate length component, to create a series of points which will guide the CNC mill head in order.   Because we now have data structures, we can weave formatted text strings that have been derived from the point data into a G-code that will work with the ShopBot CAM software.

As in the previous example, we have formatted our text strings to work with the opensource CAM software, Shopbot.  You can download a free version of the software here: http://www.shopbottools.com/controlsoftware.htm.

 You can also check out this video in HD after the jump.

Note: This video is for demonstration purposes only. Andrew Payne and LIFT architects will not be held responsible for any damages that might arise from using this method. Please consult your machine's operating manual before implementing this fabrication method.

In this video, I will explain how to setup a Grasshopper definition that will write the G-code for 2D shape milling on a 3-axis milling machine.  G-codes are the codes that position the tool and do the actual work, as opposed to M-codes which manages the machine.  Actually, there are a whole host of different codes that can be written to control a CNC mill, however G-codes are what we are most interested in for this definition as it will allow us to streamline our fabrication process by sending the parametric data from Grasshopper directly to a CNC mill.

In this example I will be writing the tool path information for a 2D Vornoi Pattern generator, originally written by Sang Hoon Yoon.  You can find his vornoi diagram definition on his site www.sac3.blogspot.com.  This video explains how to use your data-structure (trees) to help weave together various text strings which control how the CNC mill head will operate.

I have formated the text strings to work with the open source ShopBot CAM software.  This software is excellent for many reason, not least of which is the fact that it's free and has a large online help community... much like Grasshopper.  It also allows the user to preview the cut even if their computer isn't connected to an actual CNC mill which can come in handy while testing out your cuts.  Syntactically, ShopBot part files are setup slightly differently from traditional G-code which harkens back to the days when cutting files were stored on punched tape and it's format was optimized for brevity.  You can find a lot of helpful resources on how to setup ShopBot part files in their Programming Handbook. 

You can check out this video in HD after the jump.

Note: This video is for demonstration purposes only.  Andrew Payne and LIFT architects will not be held responsible for any damages that might arise from using this method.  Please consult your machine's operating manual before implementing this fabrication method.

I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching a 3-day fabrication workshop at the University of Toronto from July 17th-19th.  The first two days of the course will be set up to teach the fundamentals of the software plugin and we will work through a diverse range of topics.  However, the third day will be focused on the construction of a full scale urban intervention where we will be using Grasshopper to facilitate the fabrication of a full scale prototype.  We will examine Toronto's existing urban infrastructure, namely it's post and ring bicycle lock system, and develop a parasitic design that can be modified for each site's unique characteristics (such as volumetric dimensions (length, width, height), bike lock spacing, screening systems and solar orientation, and acoustical response.  We will also be using a 5-axis CNC Mill (PADE Spin-W) capable of machining 1.2m in the z-axis and roughly a 2.5m x 2.5m x-y bed-size. 

I'd like to thank Matthew Spremulli and Valentina Mele for helping organize the event.  The workshop is open to University of Toronto students only and is currently sold out.  I will be posting more about the workshop and some fabrication shots very soon.  Stay tuned!

Update 21 July: Below are a few screenshots from the workshop hosted at the University of Toronto this past weekend.  We really covered a lot of ground and the images below display an amazing amount of progress made for students who were completely new to the software system (after just 2 days).

A huge congratulations goes out to Wu Di (aka Woody) and his team of translators for taking on the arduous task of translating the entire 160 pages of the Grasshopper Primer (second edition) into the Chinese language.  Months of hard work went into this translation and it is our hope that this printing will help spread information about this powerful software plugin to mainland China and across the world.  Wu Di has graciously offered to answer any questions you may have about this edition and you can reach him by his email address wudiwudi1212@gmail.com or at the Chinese 3D forum website http://g.shaper3d.cn.

Source Files:
The Grasshopper Primer_Chinese Edition.pdf (size: 6.3mb - right-click and select 'Save Link As' - adobe acrobat needed)
Primer Source Files (size: 193k - right-click and select 'Save Link As' - this is a collection of definitions and Rhino files needed to complete the examples in the primer)

After a monumental effort from Rhino specialist Atsuo Nakajima, the Grasshopper Primer has been translated into Japanese.  The tutorials found in the Japanese edition have been written to work with plugin version 0.6.0012 and will match the first set of chapters in the second edition (English version).  These tutorials primarily deal with getting familiar with the plugin interface and will walk new users through the process of creating beginning and intermediate level definitions.  For now, the main difference between the two editions is that the advanced chapters dedicated to VB scripting and creating your own custom components can only be found in the English edition.  Personally, I am extremely excited about this release, as it is a fantastic addition to the growing community dedicated to helping people around the world help understand this amazing tool.  Should you have any questions about this version, please feel free to contact Atsuo at the address below.

Atsuo Nakajima
151-0063 Tomigaya 1-6-9 A-1 Bldg, 2F
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
(tel) 81-3-5790-8431 (fax) 81-3-5790-8432
(email) nakajima@applicraft.com
URL:http//www.applicraft.com http//www.rhino3d.co.jp

Source Files:
The Grasshopper Primer_Japanese Edition.pdf (size: 5.0mb - right-click and select 'Save Link As' - adobe acrobat needed)
Primer Source Files (size: 193k - right-click and select 'Save Link As' - this is a collection of definitions and Rhino files needed to complete the examples in the primer)

Due to the success of the introductory workshop this past weekend, I will be teaching a one day advanced Grasshopper workshop on Friday, June 12th from 9:30am-5:30pm at Forward Design Office.  This class will build upon the techniques explored during the first workshop (does not require you to have taken the first workshop) and will require a working knowledge of the software.  This class will begin to address how Grasshopper can be used as an integral part of the entire building design and fabrication process.  To this end, we will be working on a series of examples that will demonstrate how we can create parametric models that will compliment a number of different modes of fabrication, ie. CNC mill, laser cutter, area calculations, panel systems, formatting information for custom spreadsheets, etc.  If you are interested in signing up for this class, please email jeffrey@fwdoffice.com.  Cost $250.00 per peson and open to students and professionals (laptops required).

Location: Forward Design Office 758 East Colorado Blvd, Suite 210  Pasadena, CA 91101 

I will be teaching a one day Grasshopper Training Class on May 24th, 2009 (note the date change from previous posting) from 9:00am-5:00pm at Forward Office Design (Thank you to Jeffrey Kim for setting it up!)  The class will be geared to beginners/intermediate levels with no prior knowledge of Grasshopper needed.  If you are interested in signing up for for the class please email jeffrey@fwdoffice.com Cost $250.00 per person and open to students and professionals (laptops required).

Location: Forward Design Office 758 East Colorado Blvd, Suite 210 Pasadena, CA 91101

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The FLUX exhibition opened last night at the California College of Arts and we had an incredible turnout.  The exhibition explores contemporary architecture and design through its relationship with changes in design technologies such as parametric modeling, digital fabrication, and scripting.  Over 40 projects are featured in the exhibition through drawings, photographs, and specially made models that explore the techniques and processes presented in the projects.  Eight topics dealing with the geometric and performative aspects of the projects are explored: Stacked Aggregates, Modular Assemblages, Pixelated Fields, Cellular Clusters, Serial Iterations, Woven Meshes, Material Systems, Emergent Environments.  I was brought in as a parametric modeling and complex geometry consultant to write a Grasshopper definition that would generate the form, ribs, plexi-glass panels, and all of the connection details.  These would in turn be flattened in Rhino so they could be sent directly to the CNC mill.  Final fabrication started just 2 weeks before the opening and because all of the details had been controlled in the parametric model, each of the 4 modules could be constructed in just two and half hours.    

Director of Architecture, CCA: Ila Berman
Project Design and Fabrication: Kory Bieg, Andre Caradec, Andrew Kudless
Parametric Design Consultant: Andy Payne
Sponsors: K Bieg Design, Studio Under Manufacture, Solid Thinking
Photos courtesy of Kory Bieg

The second edition of the Grasshopper Primer is out and it wouldn't have been possible without the tremendous contribution from Rajaa Issa.  Rajaa is a developer at Robert McNeel and Associates and is the author of several other Rhino plugins including ArchCut and the ever popular PanelingTools.  This revision provides a much more comprehensive guide than the first edition, weighing in at almost 160 pages with over 70 new pages dedicated to creating your own customized scripting components.

This printing coincides with two events; the first being the new release of Grasshopper version 0.6.0007 which proves to be a giant upgrade to the already robust Grasshopper platform. Existing users will find subtle, and some not so subtle changes to how data is stored in the current version; making some previous definitions outdated or even unusable.  It is the hope that this primer will help new and existing users navigate many of the changes to the software system. The second event that overlaps with this publication is the conference titled FLUX: Architecture in a Parametric Landscape that is being held at the California College of the Arts. The event explores contemporary architecture and design through its relationship with changes in design technologies such as parametric modeling, digital fabrication, and scripting. Among other things, the event will consist of an exhibition and a series of workshops dedicated to parametric software systems.

Source Files:
The Grasshopper Primer_Second Edition.pdf (size: 10.7mb - right-click and select 'Save Link As' - adobe acrobat needed)
Primer Source Files (size: 193k - right-click and select 'Save Link As' - this is a collection of definitions and Rhino files needed to complete the examples in the primer)

You can download the latest verson of Grasshopper (v.0.6.0059) from the forum.  Here is a link: Grasshopper Version 0.6.0059

Below are some of the in-progress shots for the FLUX Exhibition which will open on March 30th at 8:30pm at the San Francisco campus of the California College of the Arts. The school is located at 1111 Eighth Street, San Francisco, CA.

Director of Architecture, CCA: Ila Berman
Project Design and Fabrication: Kory Bieg, Andre Caradec, Andrew Kudless
Parametric Design Consultant: Andy Payne
Sponsors: K Bieg Design, Studio Under Manufacture, Solid Thinking
Photos courtesy of Kory Bieg