SLS:compacting many items into small volume

by Rickenbilly

Jul 31, 2010

Hi, Working on a file with many, many small objects. Like rice in a box, but then ricegrains in different sizes! Is there a tool/function in Rhino/Max/Grasshopper that separates all this small individual pieces on ± 2 mm. distance from each other for a very compact but not connected SLS volume. Thanks, Rickenbilly regards, ton
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  • taz

    Some type of sphere packing might be the easiest solution.

    Create a dense packing of spheres based on the "size" of your largest piece (say bounding box + 1 mm offset) and use GH to translate all your pieces into the packing configuration.

    Aug 3, 2010

  • taz

    For different sized sphere radii:

    http://tobesch.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/sphere-packing-in-grasshopper/

    http://object-e.net/?p=568

    Aug 3, 2010

  • Rickenbilly

    Hi all! I have tried Rhino 'nest' and woks quite good for me. Thanks for the advises.

    R.

    Aug 14, 2010