Robotics Atelier, testing the limits and potential of 3D printing

Sponsored by the Norman Foster Foundation, the third edition of the Robotics Atelier 2019 took place in Madrid, Spain, last November.

Ten students were awarded a scholarship from the Norman Foster Foundation Robotics Atelier. They came from diverse backgrounds, including architecture, arts and humanities, computational design, and digital fabrication.

The selected scholars explored new opportunities for combining emerging technologies with experimental fabrication processes:

• How can 3D printing become a reality? 
• How can 3D printing lead to more sustainable architecture? 
• How will robots influence the future of design processes and the built environment?

The workshop continued the ground-breaking innovations made possible by 3D printing within the architecture and construction industries, such as primarily focusing on prints made with recycled plastics recovered from the oceans.

The workshop included six seminars by accredited academic professors and industry professionals, several working sessions, group reviews, and one-on-one tutoring, as well as a guided tour of the Reina Sofía Museum and the Medialab-Prado.

The lectures and working sessions were also documented and recorded, to be included in the Norman Foster Foundation’s Archive, accessible to scholars and researchers around the globe.

See Norman Foster Foundation Atelier 2019—Robotics...

Vertical gardens in Archicad with Grasshopper

Build a vertical forest using Archicad and Grasshopper, with bushes and hanging plants objects on random balconies.

This tutorial uses Archicad 23, Rhinoceros 6, and Archicad-Grasshopper Connection 3007. It demonstrates using a definition in Grasshopper to define a skyscraper with random balconies and plants.

ArchiRADAR tutorial, The Vertical Forest Using Archicad and Grasshopper...

Construction & Robotics Master @ RWTH Aachen University

To lay the groundwork for its long-term vision of the construction site of the future, the Chair for Individualized Production at the Faculty of Architecture at RWTH Aachen University announces a new English-language Master’s programme in Construction Robotics (starting in April 2020). This programme will shape students in the innovative topics of digitalization and automation in the construction industry.

The main objective of the program is the development and use of automated machinery and robotics as the basis for innovative construction processes on construction sites. The graduates will be the trailblazers and innovation scouts for our society to invent new design and work environments for the design and construction of quality-driven, low-cost housing, waste and emission reduced low CO2 construction sites. They will be able e.g. to develop new methods to build and inspect buildings and infrastructure, work out concepts for a circular economy in the building sector, create minimal invasive construction scenarios for inner cities, and develop new materials and sustainable construction technologies for buildings and infrastructure.

The Master’s programme will combine physical prototyping of machinery and processes with virtual commissioning of construction sites and machinery in virtual simulation environments.

We believe, that only by combining the knowledge and expertise of different scientific fields, such as mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering and architecture, will we be able to comprehensively create a new digital construction environment and transform the means of constructing buildings. The Chair of Individualized Production invites Bachelor’s graduates from all these academic backgrounds to come together in Aachen for a highly interdisciplinary study programme in the field of Construction Robotics.

Get a feeling for the spirit of the new CR Master’s programme by watching this video!

An Archicad Grasshopper utility by Mesrop Andriasyan

"The Archicad+Grasshopper connection is not only about creating weird forms but also about enhancing workflow." Mesrop Andriasyan published an example to show that a system can be created and used to automate workflow.

See LinkedIn post...

Two new projects by Sterling Presser | architects-engineers

Sterling Presser | architects-engineers have been kind enough to share with the community their two latest projects, where Rhino was a critical tool for the geometry creation and fabrication:

Theatre entrance footbridge, Taiyuan, China
The Flowing Bridge

The Flowing Bridge is a unique infrastructure project designed as an entrance to an inner and outdoor theatre and as a strategic connection to the whole park. The bridge creates a landmark architecture and provides qualitative access to the performance. It is conceived as an invitation to the arts. And the whole composition is a sequence. 

Starting with the indirect path to the theatre, one discovers the water feature. The gentle curves harmonize with the landscape design and the theatre seating geometry.

The balustrades, as well, are a specific feature creating a visual and special effect. The surface is designed to be visually abstract using a moiré effect, which underlines the curved concept and provides surface effects that play with the natural light. It is realized by shifting two grids parametrically while still keeping the codes requirement with a minimum 110 mm between elements for safety. 

Project info here...

Outdoor theatre (3000 seats), Taiyuan, China

The Outdoor theatre in Taiyuan Park is designed within a wider vision along the main river and the surrounding landscape. It creates a point of focus for 3000 participants in outdoor performance within a natural landscape. The theatre within the landscape aims for a cultural heritage and a landmark along the river. The Theatre brings public together. The project creates a continuous flow and a unique centralized composition. It is like a ribbon weaving up and down along the elliptic profile and creating space for the program underneath and a slope for the seating area. The entrances are formed through intermediate low points between the leaves as an articulated point. The continuous ribbon anticipates and envisions the inner theatre along the river.

Project info here...

Announcing JSwan - easy JSON support for Grasshopper

Andrew Heumann, creator of human, Human UI, and MetaHopper, announced the release of jSwan to provide JSON serialization/deserialization for Grasshopper.

What is JSwan? JSwan is a set of Grasshopper components for working with JSON-formatted data. It’s designed to work intuitively with Grasshopper’s component logic and data structures. And it is open source. You can find the source and the documentation at http://github.com/andrewheumann/jswan 19.

JSON, Java Script Object Notation, is a lightweight format for storing and transporting data. It's often used when data is sent from a server to a web page. There are many reasons why you might use a JSON format inside Grasshopper. Here are a few:

• Interacting with the web: data from web services or APIs is often received or sent in JSON format.
• Translating Grasshopper/Rhino formatted geometry into a structured format any program can understand. C#, JavaScript, Python, and most other languages can read and author JSON data.
• Object Oriented Grasshopper. Construct custom object types by encoding them in JSON. Build your own reusable clusters that grab their relevant properties, rather than passing around many parallel data streams.

More information on Rhinoceros Forums Discourse...

Free Software by Design-to-Production

After developing software in-house for 12 years, Design-to-Production decided to give some of it away! To please developers and the general public alike, you can find two of our tools on food4Rhino – and there is more to come!

Clipping Box

Have you ever wanted to view only a specific part of your model? Rhino has a Clipping Plane, but what if this is not enough? Clipping Box allows to draw a box and clip the model along its bounds.

https://www.food4rhino.com/app/clippingbox

Code Listener

It is no secret that Rhino’s internal Python Editor is less powerful than the mighty RhinoCommon API. What if you could use Visual Studio Code and still run your Python code in a Rhino instance? Code Listener opens a link between Visual Studio Code and Rhino.

https://www.food4rhino.com/app/code-listener

About Design-to-Production

Design-to-Production is a consultancy for digital planning and building processes. Along with planning and coordination services for BIM and digital fabrication, they offer tailormade software tools for planning, fabrication, and productivity – from Rhino plugins to web apps and standalone software.

https://www.designtoproduction.com

Training for new ARTs at Appalachian State University

Dates: February 19-20, 2020
Time: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Place: Appalachian State University CAE - Center for Academic Excellence
Cost: $295


Course Description:
This course is for new Authorized Rhino Trainer (ART) candidates for NC, SC, GA, FL, and Latin America. It will concentrate on how to teach Rhino and how to make users more successful. We will not cover in detail each part of Rhino. However, the Level I and II guides will be the main reference.

Details.

Register.

Questions? please e-mail: Jackie Nasser

You may also be interested in becoming a RhinoFabStudio. 

What is RhinoFabStudio? A RhinoFabStudio™ (fabrication studio) is a small-scale digital workshop, certified by McNeel, with an array of Rhino and Rhino compatible software and computer-controlled tools and training. These tools cover the various leading-edge industrial methods and materials needed to design, analyze, and fabricate almost anything.

How to Rhino, new podcast for architects

How to Rhino has posted its first podcast!

This is the first episode of How to Start Learning Rhino with Lazar Djuric.

Lazar Djuric, an architect from Serbia, is joining the How to Rhino team with a focus on teaching architects how to use Grasshopper and implement it in the architectural workflow. Lazar has international experience as an architect and has worked for different offices in Europe and Asia.

How to start learning Grasshopper with Lazar Djuric - How to Rhino Podcast...

Dlubal RFEM Interfaces to Rhino and Grasshopper

The FEA program RFEM is a powerful software for quick and easy modeling, structural analysis, and design of 2D and 3D models consisting of member, plate, wall, folded plate, shell, solid, and contact elements. 

Rhino is for the computer-aided modeling of any objects (from the teapot to complete buildings). Due to the specialization in NURBS curves and surfaces, there are no limits to the shapes. In combination with the Grasshopper plugin, structures can be user-defined by using a clear, visual programming interface. The interfaces to Rhino and Grasshopper are implemented by default in RFEM. This makes the product package especially interesting for architects and engineers. 

More information about the RFEM interface to Rhino and Grasshopper...

AXOLOTL - Volumetric Modeling in Grasshopper

AXOLOTL provides a set of components for volumetric modeling in Grasshopper. 

The components are organized in groups. A typical workflow is to choose objects from PRIMITIVES, combine them using Boolean operations from COMBINATIONS, add further MODIFICATIONS as necessary, and finally visualize the distance object using a component from the MESHING tab.

Download AXOLOTL from food4Rhino...

Karamba3D in Revit via Rhino.Inside

Check the latest Karamba3D post on LinkedIn on how it can be used in Revit via Rhino.Inside...

Another supercar by Phil Frank

Phil Frank, designer of the legendary Saleen S7, is working with Factory Five on a supercar prototype. The F94 implements an ambitious project to transition composite shaping from the traditional hand-made mold plugs and tools to a digital process.

Want to know more? F9R Concept Supercar Update...

Peregrine - Optimization plugin for Grasshopper

Peregrine is a powerful new structural layout optimization plugin for Grasshopper, the popular algorithmic modeling environment built into the Rhino modeling software. 

Use Peregrine to rapidly identify highly efficient (minimum volume) frame topologies for any given set of loads, supports, and material properties. 

A technology preview version of Peregrine is now freely available to download from food4Rhino...

MDL-IES Materials inside Iray for Rhino

Is adding lighting to your interior Rhino scenes difficult and time-consuming, resulting in the need for endless scene adjustments? Especially if you need to produce visual output quickly and also provide precise lighting system detail as part of the documentation requirements?

Then using Rhino and the Iray for Rhino plug-n could be the solution you are looking for, with the introduction of MDL-IES material based light sources where:

• Real-world light fittings become much simpler to work with.
• Light sources can be accurately assigned any surface or shape element.
• The creation of Rhino block light fitting libraries is streamlined.

These features significantly simplify the setup and installation of accurate real-world lighting systems, not only for lighting designers but also for interior and retail designers, architecture groups, and the many other building industry sectors who all need to produce accurate photoreal visuals, along with installation detail for the project documentation system.

For much more information on these features and real-world examples of the output type created, check out these videos:

1. Introducing MDL-IES Materials inside Iray for Rhino 
2. MDL-IES Materials and a Retail Store Project:
3. MDL-IES Materials and a Harbour Front Development

Rhino in Revit, exploring a new workflow

Paul Wintour, founder of Parametric Monkey, introduced one of their latest tutorials:

"Rhino to Revit Workflow is by far one of the most visited tutorials on Parametric Monkey. But with the release of Rhino.Inside, a whole range of new interoperability possibilities now exist. We've been working with our clients to integrate Grasshopper scripts with Revit, and developed this quick tutorial to help them get up and running."

More information on the Rhino.Inside Revit tutorial...

2Shapes for Rhino - New jewelry plugin

From the founder and product manager of RhinoGold, Rafael del Molino, and 2Shapes team, the new 2Shapes for Rhino is "the most intuitive jewelry design and fabrication software on the market".

"2Shapes for Rhino aims to solve all the design needs we have learned over the past 15 years, helping jewelers from all over the world".

"One of the most powerful features is the intuitive parametric. It allows us to change any property of our design, from finger size, gem, profile, including the thickness of prong. For us, simplicity is a must; for that reason, you don’t need to worry about complexities and focus on the results, the perfect design!"

Learn more at https://www.2shapes.com/rhino

Shape to Fabrication 2020 | Hackathon & Conference | London

*Postponed till 2021

SimplyRhino UK announces Early Bird Tickets for Shape to Fabrication 2020 | Hackathon & Conference | April 17-22.

Join us for the 8th iteration of our popular AEC focused conference in Stratford, London.

The Shape to Fabrication conference focuses on cutting-edge technology, innovative construction with applications in architecture, engineering, and design. Our speakers are shaping the future, working at the intersection of technology and design innovation, unafraid to push technology and engineering to new heights.

We live in an unprecedented time. An age where buildings are moving, jewelry is printed, clothes are sprayed on, facades are folded by robots and cars are made of textiles. We are proud to present to you the first to use such pioneering technologies to create these magical experiences.

Discover the latest approaches in digital fabrication and computational design from an international panel of presenters – Architects / Engineers / Fabricators / Artists.

New for 2020 - the Shape to Fabrication Hackathon hosted by CORE (Thornton Tomasetti) at Grimshaw Architects, London.

Visit www.shapetofabrication.com for more information, announcements so far, and STF ticket options.

New Rhino 7 Grasshopper SubD component tutorial

This tutorial goes through the basic manipulation of SubD components in both Rhino and Grasshopper and how to quickly edit freeform geometry.

Rhino Grasshopper SubD tools are currently available only in Rhino 7 WIP version. Our discourse site covers more discussion on this.

Tutorial by How to Rhino...

Parametric Design Workshop - LAVA Berlin

Parametric Design Workshop

Jan 18-26, 2020 - LAVA Berlin

Are you interested in gaining parametric competency to push your design skills to the next level? Are you ready to learn an exciting and powerful tool that will take your ideas and concepts to a whole new realm?

This Parametric Design Workshop will provide you with the necessary knowledge and ability to use Grasshopper, a free visual programming plugin in Rhinoceros. The workshop will also include a hands-on parametric project.

If you already know Grasshopper and would like to boost your parametric knowledge, then you can choose Option 2.

• Option 1: General Workshop for Beginners - 16 hours: Starts January 18, 2020

• Option 2: Intensive Workshop for Intermediates - 8 hours: Starts January 25, 2020

Complete details and registration...

Robotic Construction V1.0 workshop by DataForm Lab - London (UK)

Robotic Construction V1.0

Plexal, Here East, London UK

February 15 and 22, 2020

Aiming to demystify industrial robotics for construction, DataForm Lab is organizing the first of an upcoming series of workshops on robotic construction to bring professionals in the AEC industry closer to advanced fabrication technologies. 

During Robotic Construction V1.0, participants will be taught a fully digital workflow from form generation of a complex facade to the parametric control of the robot and the fabrication of the individual components. Robotic hot wire cutting will be used as the fabrication method, and the constraints and possibilities of the process will be investigated to demonstrate the key relationships inherent to material, process, and form. The workshop will be structured as two days of intensive teaching and robotic fabrication, complemented by a professional development evening event and a public presentation and networking event.

Learn more...

Using Conveyor to streamline Rhino into Revit

As an architect or builder, often you must use a variety of software platforms to complete your design.

Two common tools used are Rhino 6 and Revit. Rhino 6 for geometry and computational design. Revit for building information modeling.

To connect these together, Nathan Miller and Proving Ground have created Conveyor, a custom software development kit (SDK) for creating direct connections between Rhino and Revit. This SDK enables these tools to directly connect for intelligent digital workflows with minimal overhead.

Use Conveyor to:

• Connect Rhino 6 and Revit without the need for intermediary software.
• Translate Rhino 6 data and geometry into true BIM elements with Revit.
• Coordinate changing data and geometry across Rhino 6 and Revit.
• Import complex meshes as useful elements for Revit production.

More information and demo on LinkedIn...

Parametric Modulations workshop in London - January 15-17, 2020

Parametric Modulations workshop

London (UK)

January 15-17, 2020

Parametric design in architecture history has defined many rules for current designers and future practitioners. One of the most prominent aspects of this style is geometry. There is nothing new about geometry and aesthetics forming the most prominent aspect of any style or era. In the long history of architecture, the language of any style is visually defined by geometry or shape, beyond the principles that define the core of the style. In parametric architecture, geometry has played and is continuing to play, an integral role in the style. And with this fairly young style, there are many strings of myths and false notions associated.

Organized by MaterialDriven, and led by Global Visiting School, an offshoot of rat[LAB] EDUCATION, this unique 3-day workshop provides a detailed insight into parametric design and the embedded logic behind it, through a series of design explorations using Rhinoceros and Grasshopper platforms, along with an understanding of data-driven design strategies. 

Complete details and registration...

Roar with Panther

Panther—The first Rhino and Grasshopper plugin to fulfill your ultimate design needs in just a few clicks. A new era of jewelry design brings intelligent models ready for user interaction anytime. Adjust your settings from any part of the model and it will be completely readjusted without compromising your design. Plus, it removes the repetitive tasks and skips the obvious modeling steps. Yet, it's always available with a complete description of the materials used within your design to prepare the manufacture or help the sale. Every single step is considered for full optimization.

Panther combines the most versatile jewelry builders with an Interactive Gallery bringing premeditated parts to go into the construction of the final piece. The software controls give the most accurate adjustments on weight, measures, number of gems, gem sizes, and everything else involved. Finally, it provides you with the perfect rendering for display.

Download your free trial today at www.panther3d.com...