ShapeDiver & the AEC Industry: 6 Case Studies!

In the last twenty years, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries have experienced a significant transformation with new tools and design workflows. Among these, parametric design has emerged as a revolutionary approach, fundamentally changing how projects are conceived and executed.

One standout tool in the parametric design landscape is Grasshopper. Renowned for its innovative and explicit method of defining parametric design spaces, Grasshopper boasts a vibrant ecosystem of users and developers continually expanding its capabilities. This dynamic community ensures that Grasshopper remains at the forefront of design innovation.

Despite its powerful potential, integrating Grasshopper workflows presents particular challenges. In this article, ShapeDiver addresses some of these challenges by sharing six real-world success stories and solutions. These examples demonstrate how other AEC companies can effectively harness the power of Grasshopper, offering practical insights and strategies for overcoming common obstacles.

Read the full article...

New book by Abdulwahab Alosaj - CAD.GH Computational Aided Design Via Grasshopper

 

CAD.GH Computational Aided Design Via Grasshopper by Abdulwahab Alosaj

Abdulwahab Alosaj, instructor of architectural digital courses at Ajman University - UAE, just published a book on computational design. The comprehensive guide explains Grasshopper and its most essential plugins, including Kangaroo 2, Ladybug tools (Ladybug, Honeybee, Butterfly, Dragonfly), WASP, Fox, Anemone, BioMorpher, KUKA|prc for robotics, and the integration of coding by Python and C#, in addition to Grasshopper default tools (points, curves, surfaces, meshes, data, Galapagos).

CAD.GH Computational Aided Design Via Grasshopper is an essential guide for readers seeking to grasp and comprehend the potential of computational-aided design workflow by introducing the power of Grasshopper®, a visual programming language integrated with Rhinoceros®.

The book opens up a world of possibilities for groundbreaking design exploration. Through the lens of Grasshopper’s algorithmic design process approaches, the book provides design methods that enable the creation of complex geometries, dynamic patterns, and adaptive structures. These capabilities transcend the limitations of traditional CAD tools, empowering designers to envision and actualize concepts that were once considered unattainable.

From seasoned professionals to aspiring designers, this book equips readers with the skills and knowledge to harness the potential of Grasshopper and ascend on a transformative journey in computational-aided design. With its comprehensive approach and innovative insight, this resource promises to elevate design practices and inspire creative breakthroughs, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in the realm of architecture and beyond.

Get the book...

FTWkit The Footwear Kit for Rhino

Design better shoes, faster

FTWkit has combined the benefits of a unified software platform like Rhino with the specialised tools needed for the footwear industry. 

This integration optimises the entire footwear development process from 2D and 3D design to engineering and product pipeline management, including cost and material management.

With Jevero and Botcha, two FTWkit plugins, you can streamline your workflow, shorten the time to market, and reduce the complexity of managing multiple software programs without sacrificing the specific tools necessary for 2D and 3D shoe modeling and engineering.

• Jevero is a 2D footwear pattern engineering plugin for Rhinoceros. It allows you to create and modify patterns easily and efficiently, seamlessly integrating with Rhino and adding powerful parametric tools for smooth pattern development. Jevero supports all major file extensions on the market, including Crispin Engineer .shoe and .pat files, ensuring a quicker transition and support for your legacy files. 

• Botcha simplifies 3D footwear modelling, enabling users to model in 2D and remap in 3D with a vast array of efficient tools that make every designer’s life easier. With Botcha and Rhino, you can quickly create digital uppers, parametrically edit each part, and apply textures to the model. Flatten any object, apply texture and remapping, and easily create lacing and stitching. These features allow you to achieve stunning results to help sell your projects and products.

To know more about it, visit FTWkit.com

Rhino User Webinar: NodePen - Grasshopper on the Web

 

Rhino User Webinar

NodePen: Grasshopper on the Web

6 June 2024 at 3:00 pm (CEST)

NodePen is Grasshopper on the Web and is also perpetually unfinished. It has been in development since the earliest versions of Rhino Compute, and over the years, it has taken on many forms and attitudes on the problem of web-flavored Grasshopper. 

This webinar will be a more technical exploration of the history of the project's many revisions, detailing the goals, challenges, and successes. We will end with a demo of where things stand today and some of the latest thoughts on where things are going. Where does a project like this belong in a world with successful offerings like Grasshopper 2 and ShapeDiver? What has Speckle unlocked for the future of a collaborative "platform" for Grasshopper? And what unhinged things will Chuck say about a project he refuses to let die?

About the speaker:

• Chuck Driesler graduated with a B.Arch from Pratt Institute in 2019. He has worked on several technical teams within the AEC community, including HOK buildingSMART, WeWork, Pollination Tools, and Hypar. He recently moved to London and is currently a software engineer at Speckle.

Complete details and registration...

Rhino User Webinar: Integrating Rhino in the Design Process of a Floating Offshore Wind Platform

 

Rhino User Webinar
Integrating Rhino in the Design Process of a Floating Offshore Wind Platform

5 June 2024 at 4:00 pm (CEST)

This webinar aims to provide an overview of how Rhino is integrated into Saitec’s workflow during the design process of a floating offshore wind platform. The presentation will showcase the parametric script developed in-house using RhinoScript module, and introduce the detailed 3D model that represents the "as-built" status of DemoSATH. Saitec will also give some feedback on the advantages of using this software against others and its capabilities.

Saitec Offshore Technologies, founded in 2016 as a spin-off of Saitec Engineering, is an engineering company specialized in floating offshore wind related services. It has developed SATH technology (Swinging Around Twin Hull), a competitive and cost-efficient concrete floating solution. In 2023 Saitec achieved a major milestone by putting into operation DemoSATH, the first floating offshore wind turbine connected to the grid in Spain.

About the speakers:

• Oriol de Quintana holds an MSc in Civil Engineering from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), specializing in Maritime and Offshore structures. He joined Saitec in 2023, and he has been involved in the platform design.
  
  
• Mikel Baliño is a BIM modeler with extensive experience in large-scale projects in the industry and energy sectors. He has honed his skills in 3D modeling through completion of an Autodesk BIM master's program.

Complete details and registration...

food4Rhino webinar: Qubu Ultralight for Daylight analysis (30 May 2024 at 5 PM CEST)

food4Rhino webinar: Qubu Ultralight for Daylight analysis
30 May 2024 at 5 PM CEST

We want to introduce the newest release of Qubu Ultralight, the first of Qubu's Grasshopper plugins.

Qubu Ultralight is high-speed, and easy-to-use software, designed for the Direct Sunlight and indirect Daylight Factor evaluation of buildings and urban zones. It can seamlessly integrate into the regular design processes of sustainable and compliant buildings.

During the webinar, we will discuss how and why to use Ultralight in Grasshopper to achieve accurate and faster daylighting analysis, aligning with Qubu's mission to help architects and real estate developers create better, faster, and more sustainable residential buildings.

Within one hour, we will set up a proper scene for simple, fast, and accurate daylight analysis with Ultralight for Designers. We will measure Direct sunlight and Daylight factor in multiple apartments, evaluate and interpret the results, and discuss advanced measurements and evaluations that can be performed with Ultralight for Specialist.

Speaker:

Ján Pernecký is the co-founder and CTO at Qubu. He is an architect, dedicated computational designer, and educator. Before Qubu, he co-authored the discrete assembly toolkit for Grasshopper, Monoceros, and the swarm simulation tool Boid. In 2014 he founded one of the first online resources for Grasshopper tutorials, the research Grasshopper Sessions.

Free registration...

Previous food4Rhino webinars recorded here...

Previous "Rhino User" webinars recorded here...

Rhino 8 – Sun and Sky Render by SimplyRhino UK

Sun and Sky Render for Architectural Interior

This beginner-level video, created by Phil Cook from Simply Rhino UK, demonstrates how to create an interior architectural visual in Rhino 8 using the built-in Sun and Sky system and Rhino’s Raytrace render engine.

1. How to apply library and custom materials

The video begins by introducing a method of setting up the interior perspective view by controlling Rhino’s camera widget before applying library and custom materials to scene elements.

2. Connecting the sun and sky

Phil then looks at setting up the Sun as a direct illumination source and replacing the default environment with the Physical Sky model to connect the sun and sky.

3. Raytrace Render Engine

The final rendering is created with the Raytrace render engine. Phil outlines how to use post effects to improve the exposure and how to export a transparent background so that the color-ramp sky can be easily replaced with a photographic image in subsequent editing.

Complete details and video by SimplyRhino UK...

Drakon - new jewelry plugin

From the ashes of Panther rises Drakon

Drakon builds upon Panther's legacy, offering an enhanced user experience, an expanded toolset, and a range of new features that will take your jewelry design to the next level. From precise gem settings to streamlined modeling processes, Drakon is designed to exceed your expectations.

Take advantage of the Release Promotion with a 35% discount valid during the beta period.

Complete info and download...

Grasshopper Level 2, 17-19 June 2024 (McNeel Europe)

 

Grasshopper Level 2

Online Workshop

Tutor: Ping-Hsiang Chen

17-19 June 2024

10 AM-5 PM CEST

Hosted on Zoom by McNeel Europe

Ping-Hsiang Chen, a former computational designer at Zaha Hadid Architects, leads a three-day Grasshopper Level 2 online course. This hands-on experience explores computational geometry and parametric design principles. After the completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

1. Have an in-depth understanding of data structure

2. Work between different geometry types such as NURBS, Mesh, and SubDs

3. Understand use cases of mesh geometry

4. Optimize workflow using blocks and caches

5. Work with layers, material, and views in your Rhino document

Day 1

• Review Computational Geometry and Complex Geometry
• Advanced Data Structure (Branch and Path Manipulation)
• Data Grouping, Partition, Classification and Culling
• Data Sorting, Sets
• Conditional Statements
• Custom Patterns and Domain

Day 2

• Mesh Modelling Introduction
• Mesh Subdivision and Topology Reconstruction
• Mesh Optimization with ShrinkWrap
• Introduction to Blocks
• Create Block Attributes
• Reference External Blocks

Day 3

• Point Cloud Data Type
• Introduction to Content Cache
• Query Information from Rhino Document
• Model Layer and Object Introduction
• Model View Introduction

Course requirements: This course is for Grasshopper users with an intermediate level in Rhino. We welcome people from cross-disciplinary backgrounds in architecture, product design, jewelry design, engineering, fabrication, art, and more.

Online course fees: EUR 395,- (+VAT); full-time students and university teachers get a 50% discount (proof of status required). Please note that we will confirm your seat after your payment has cleared.

Maximum number of participants: 25. If there is no quorum, the course will be canceled 15 days before.

Course language: English

Educational seats are limited. Sign up now by contacting Verena!

International Rhino User Meeting Wroclaw (7 June 2024) - Early Bird tickets until May 15th

Fab Foundation Poland, in collaboration with McNeel Europe, is happy to announce:

International Rhino User Meeting Wroclaw
7 June 2024

A full day of talks by expert designers (product, footwear, jewelry, marine, computation...), architects, engineers, educators, and the Fab Foundation and McNeel staff. 

Exhibitor area: Learn more about the latest tools, plugins, and integrations from our coolest industry partners.

Networking cocktail: Connect with fellow Rhino enthusiasts during our networking cocktail featuring avant-garde DJs in the beautiful city of Wroclaw!

Preliminary Agenda and Early Bird tickets (all inclusive)...

See previous Rhino User Meetings...

*Call for Speakers: Do you have a groundbreaking project or design & fabrication workflow to share? Seize the opportunity to contribute to our community-driven agenda as a speaker. Contact us to nominate yourself or recommend a colleague for consideration.

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Fab Foundation Poland is also organizing a professionally oriented series of masterclasses in parametric design. 

Masterclasses will be held every second weekend at the Fab Institute (Łokietka 12c, 50-243 Wroclaw, Poland). They will start with the basics, proceed through modeling with Anemone (iteratively) and Kangaroo (simulation), and end with advanced scripting classes in Python and C#. Please check the whole schedule.

ShapeDiver's App Builder: Build web applications entirely from Grasshopper

Build web applications entirely from Grasshopper

Grasshopper users can now design and build parametric web applications with the new App Builder in ShapeDiver.

Have you ever used Human UI, UI+, or any of the wonderful interface plugins to build custom interfaces for presentations and sharing with non-technical colleagues? While those tools are great, they remain limited in some contexts:

• How do you share the user-friendly interface with users who do not own a Rhino license?
• How do you give access to the application without sharing the Grasshopper definition?
• How do you make the application accessible through all types of devices, including mobiles?

The new App Builder components solve all these issues at once. They allow the skeleton of a web application to be specified directly inside Grasshopper. After uploading the file to ShapeDiver, you can open and interact with the web application where the interface is parametrically controlled through the logic you defined in Grasshopper!

The App Builder already allows defining all traditional form inputs (sliders, value lists, toggles, file inputs, etc.), as well as formatted text outputs driven by the parametric algorithm and even image widgets. Of course, the online 3D viewer is at the center of it all.

Learn more from Mathieu Huard's post on LinkedIn...

RhinoLands: BIM for Landscape Design

We're thrilled to announce the release of RhinoLands 6, the latest upgrade to the landscape design solution built on Rhino (8 and 7). 

RhinoLands includes the power of Rhino and all landscaping tools and BIM features of Lands Design with an easy installation and a unique interface.

RhinoLands is used in landscape architecture, green infrastructure, forestry, urban planning, CG art...

• Maximize Your Project with BIM/LIM
• Dynamic Terrain and Grading Tools
• Extensive Plant Database in 3D/2D
• Dynamic 2D Documentation
• Enhance Your Design Workflow with Parametric Design
• Bring Your Project to Life
• Improved Interoperability

 Complete details...