Tapeworm. A script for creating developable surfaces.

Dear grasshoppers.

Some people have shown interest in my Tapeworm script, so I'm posting it here for anyone to try.

There are some notations inside the VB script explaining what is going on.

Basically, the script deals with the surface as if it were a long series of connected planar quads and then outputs the vertices of those flat surfaces as two lists of points. These points can be made into either polylines or interpolated curves, resulting in either a faceted or a smooth surface.

The two most important inputs for the script are "bend" and "twist". They should be lists of values that determine the curvature for each segment and the direction of this curvature. Please note that both lists should be equal in length. Also, the more values (steps), the more accurate the surface will be. The resulting surface should become single-curved (developable) and unroll to a straight strip.

Some photos and videos.

Good luck! Feedback is welcome.

Mårten Nettelbladt

Omkrets arkitektur

www.omkrets.se

The Geometry of Bending

Raw grasshoppers should be eaten with caution, as they may contain tapeworms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasshopper

Tags: bending, curvature, developable, single-curved, tapeworm, twisting

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Comment by Jasmeen on February 18, 2013 at 9:50am: I'm having the same issue I'm not able to open the Tapeworm v002 so I can not try the definition because it showing me error and completing the definition, I'm trying to input some VB script code. So if anyone knows please provide me with some instructions.

Comment by Maurizio Caudullo on August 20, 2012 at 5:05pm: hi, I downloaded the definition MN-tapeworm-script-v002.ghx, but it got an error. The interpolate command (intcrv) puts "insufficient vertices for a curve". why ? can you help me? thanks and thank you for sharing the definition.

Comment by PaUla on August 18, 2011 at 1:45am: thanks!!

Comment by Mårten Nettelbladt on August 18, 2011 at 1:32am: Dear Paula, the tapeworm definition should work in an empty Rhino file. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to make sure the endpoints meet, you'll have to adjust the bend and twist values until you get it right.

Comment by PaUla on July 20, 2011 at 9:08am: Dear marten, first thanks for share your knowledge with us.

I'm trying to bend a strip of plywood, for now rotating 180 the short edges of the strip. For that i have been looking to your definition Tapeworm v002, hoping that can help me. But as it doens't come with a rhino file i can get the whole idea, which are the inputs in Rhino (points basically) Any advice or lin where I could find more information. thanks!!! I'm an advance beginner