arametric Design, in the history of architecture, has defined many rules for current designers and for future practitioners to follow. One of the strongest aspects that are prominent from this style is ‘geometry’. Arguably, there is nothing new about geometry and aesthetics forming the most prominent aspect of any style or era. The language of any style, in the long history of architecture, is visually defined by geometry or shape, beyond the principles that define the core of the style. In the distinguishable style of parametric architecture, geometry has played and is continuing to play an integral role. And with this fairly young style, there are many strings of myths and false notions associated.
The workshop aims to provide a detailed insight to ‘parametric design’ and embedded logics behind it through a series of design explorations using Rhinoceros & Grasshopper platforms, along with understanding of data-driven fabrication strategies. An insight to Computational Design and its subsets of Parametric Design, Algorithmic Design, Generative Design and Evolutionary Design will be provided through presentations, technical sessions & studio work, with highlighting agenda of using data into Hands-on fabrication of a parametrically generated design. A strong focus will be made on ‘geometry’ and ‘matter’.
// Methodology
Workshop has been structured to teach participants the use of Grasshopper® (Generative modelling plug-in for Rhinoceros) as a generative tool, and ways to integrate it with Hands-on Fabrication process. A strong agenda on ‘geometry’ and ‘matter’ will form the focus of the studio with design experimentation through computational & parametric techniques, culminating into a manually fabricated wall panel using understanding of data-driven design during the course of workshop.
Day 1 Topics / Agenda
Rhinoceros 3D GUI and basic use
Installing Grasshopper & plug-ins
Grasshopper GUI
Basic logic, components, parameters, inputs, numbers, simple geometry, referenced geometry, locally defined geometry, baking, etc.
Lists & Data Tree: management, manipulation, visualization, etc.
Design Experimentations with Geometry & Data
Understanding Data for Manual Fabrication
Day 2 Topics / Agenda
Design Experimentations with Geometry, Form, Matter
Data for effective numbering and strategizing during Manual Fabrication
Collaborative effort for Hands-on ‘making’ process
Analysis & Evaluation of Fabricated Geometry
Documentation…
ppresentazione di modelli per l’architettura ed il design, verso un apprendimento d' alto livello delle tecniche di modellazione parametrica 3D.
Il corso si svolgerà nei seguenti giorni:
Sabato 19/10 dalle 10.00 alle 19.00
Domenica 20/10 dalle 10.00 alle 19.00
Scadenza preiscrizione: 16/10
Contenuti
Durante questo corso, attraverso l' uso di tecniche avanzate di modellazione Nurbs,
si potranno costruire modelli tridimensionali complessi che permetteranno di comprendere le tematiche legate alle forme complesse dell’architettura.
Particolare attenzione verrà data allo studio delle superfici a doppia curvatura, alle superfici rigate e alle superfici sviluppabili, quest’ultime adatte alla creazione di manufatti rivolti alla produzione. Allo studio delle superfici sarà affiancata la logica della loro tassellazione, quindi il passaggio da entità continue ad entità discrete, indagandone il valore attraverso esercitazioni pratiche.
Per comprendere meglio le finalità pratiche della tassellazione verrà adoperata una plug-in integrativa specifica per questo tipo di operazione: Paneling Tools. Le lezioni pratiche saranno arricchite da brevi comunicazioni teoriche utili a perseguire l’obiettivo della costruzione di modelli complessi. Sintesi programma
Costruzione di superfici free-form facilmente editabili attraverso tecniche di sculpting ed una gabbia adeguata di punti di controllo;
Presentazione e spiegazione delle superfici a doppia curvatura, rigate, sviluppabili e loro pannellizzazione attraverso elementi lineari o tasselli piani;
Studio della tassellazione attraverso la plug-in Paneling Tools per lo sviluppo di tasselli tridimensionali complessi;
Modellazione di un'architettura complessa, costruita avvalendosi della anche della tecnica del morphing.
Preparazione della mesh e del file per il rendering.
Alla fine del corso, verrà rilasciato l’attestato di partecipazione ad un corso di Rhinoceros qualificato e certificato dalla casa sviluppatrice McNeel, valido anche per la richiesta di crediti formativi universitari.
Docente del corso
Il corso è tenuto da un docente qualificato, con riconosciuta esperienza universitaria, esperto in disegno e rappresentazione dell' architettura e del design ed istruttore McNeel:
Michele Calvano|_architetto, dottore di ricerca in rappresentazione architettonica specializzato nella modellazione matematica (Nurbs) e modellazione parametrica.
Docente ART (Autorized Rhino Trainer) - [vedi CV]
Info
Per ulteriori informazioni di carattere didattico sono a disposizione i seguenti contatti: Responsabile didattico: arch. Michele Calvano
Info mail: parametricart@gmail.com
cell: 340 3476330
…
make quad mesh usable with Kangaroo and with limited inputs parameters in order to simulate funicular structures like "Vaulted Willow" or "Pleated Inflation" from Marc Fornes and the Verymany.
Here is a first attempt script.
As inputs there are :
Lines_in, just lines, no duplicates, on XY plane could have Z values, but the algorithm works on a , on XY plane could have Z values, but the algorithm works on a flat representation.
Tolerance is used to glue lines when points are closer than tolerance
Width is the half width of the “roads” going through the network
Angle is the shape of the ends of the roads, 0° means flat end, 180° a totally rounded end
Deviation is the shift generating spikes or enabling to generate pleated geometry
N_u is the number of subdivision along the “roads”, image above with 3 subdivisions on the roads
N_u is the number of subdivision across the “roads”
Zbool if false everything is flat, if true the mesh is in 3d, best with angle = 180° or -180°
For the outputs there is the topology of the network (like Sandbox)
As outputs geometry are put on datatree, each branch represent a path on the road, above 3 paths, which are brep output.
Adding a diagonal there are now 4 paths so 4 branches
The mesh M goes with F which are fixed points, anchor in Kangaroo.
U and V are lines in datatree, there will be used as spring in Kangaroo, U above
This script could be used to draw sort of roads, like in here https://codequotidien.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/hemfunction/
But the primary purpose is to do that.
…
ature. By investigating the process of decay across various scales, we will formulate rules of generating decomposition as our design research area. These rules will evolve into design strategies for the creation and fabrication of a large-scale prototype. The design and fabrication process will be informed by the use of robotic fabrication techniques.
The three-week long programme is formulated as a two-phase process. During the two-week initial phase, participants benefit from the unique atmosphere and facilities of AA’s London home. The second phase, lasting for a week, shifts to AA’s woodland site in Hooke Park and revolves around the fabrication and assembly of a full-scale architectural intervention.
Prominent Features of the programme:
• Teaching team: Participants engage in an active learning environment where the large tutor to student ratio (5:1) allows for personalized tutorials and debates.
• Facilities: AA Digital Prototyping Lab (DPL) offers laser cutting, CNC milling, and 3d printing facilities. The facilities at AA Hooke Park allow for the fabrication of one-to-one scale prototypes with a 3-axis CNC router, various woodworking power tools, and robotic fabrication.
• Computational skills: The toolset of Summer DLAB includes but is not limited to Rhinoceros, Processing, Grasshopper, and various analysis tools.
• Theoretical understanding: The dissemination of fundamental design techniques and relevant critical thinking methodologies through theoretical sessions and seminars forms one of the major goals of Summer DLAB.
• Professional awareness: Participants ranging from 2nd year students to PhD candidates and full-time professionals experience a highly-focused collaborative educational model which promotes research-based design and making.
• Fabrication: According to the specific agenda of each year, a one-to-one scale prototype is fabricated and assembled by design teams.
• Lecture series: Taking advantage of its unique location, London, Summer DLAB creates a vibrant atmosphere with its intense lecture programme.
Eligibility: The workshop is open to architecture and design students and professionals worldwide.
Accreditation: Participants receive the AA Visiting School Certificate with the completion of the Programme.
Applications: The AA Visiting School requires a fee of £1964 per participant, which includes a £60 Visiting Membership fee. A deposit of £381 is required when registering with the online form. The deadline for applications is 20 July 2015. No portfolio or CV is required. Online application link:
https://www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/ONLINEAPPLICATION/visitingApplication.php?schoolID=325
Return train tickets between London-Hooke Park, accommodation & food in Hooke Park, and materials from Digital Prototyping Lab (DPL) are included in the fees.
Programme Directors:
Elif Erdine (AA Summer DLAB Director): elif.erdine@aaschool.ac.uk
Alexandros Kallegias (AA Summer DLAB Director): alexandros.Kallegias@aaschool.ac.uk
…
ange’ for its 2016 cycle, as a starting point to investigate principles of natural formation processes and interpret them as innovative architectonic spaces. These concepts are carefully interwoven with spatial, performance-based, and structural criteria in order to create full-scale working prototypes.
The three-week long programme is formulated as a two-phase process. During the two-week initial phase, participants benefit from the unique atmosphere and facilities of AA’s London home. The second phase, lasting for a week, shifts to AA’s woodland site in Hooke Park and revolves around the robotic fabrication and assembly of a full-scale architectural intervention.
Prominent Features of the programme:
• Teaching team: Participants engage in an active learning environment where the large tutor to student ratio (5:1) allows for personalized tutorials and debates.
• Facilities: AA Digital Prototyping Lab (DPL) offers laser cutting, CNC milling, and 3d printing facilities. The facilities at AA Hooke Park allow for the fabrication of one-to-one scale prototypes with a 3-axis CNC router, various woodworking power tools, and robotic fabrication.
• Computational skills: The toolset of Summer DLAB includes but is not limited to Rhinoceros, Processing, Grasshopper, and various analysis tools.
• Theoretical understanding: The dissemination of fundamental design techniques and relevant critical thinking methodologies through theoretical sessions and seminars forms one of the major goals of Summer DLAB.
• Professional awareness: Participants ranging from 2nd year students to PhD candidates and full-time professionals experience a highly-focused collaborative educational model which promotes research-based design and making.
• Robotic Fabrication: According to the specific agenda of each year, scaled working models are produced via advanced digital machining tools, followed by the fabrication of a one-to-one scale prototype with the Kuka KR150 robot.
• Lecture series: Taking advantage of its unique location, London, Summer DLAB creates a vibrant atmosphere with its intense lecture programme.
Eligibility: The workshop is open to architecture and design students and professionals worldwide.
Accreditation: Participants receive the AA Visiting School Certificate with the completion of the Programme.
Applications: The AA Visiting School requires a fee of £1900 per participant, which includes a £60 Visiting Membership fee. A deposit of £381 is required when registering with the online form. The deadline for applications is 11 July 2016. No portfolio or CV is required. Online application link:
https://www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/ONLINEAPPLICATION/visitingApplication.php?schoolID=392
Return train tickets between London-Hooke Park, accommodation & food in Hooke Park, and materials from Digital Prototyping Lab (DPL) are included in the fees.
For inquiries, please contact:
elif.erdine@aaschool.ac.uk (Programme Director)
alexandros.kallegias@aaschool.ac.uk (Programme Director)
…
cells was determined by a network of tubules that he termed the cytoskeleton
(the name comes from Cyto- meaning cell or hollow vessel)
This is another wireframe thickening tool, intended for 3d printing use.
In contrast to exoskeleton (which works on general line networks), this works exclusively on lines which form the edges of meshes. The additional connectivity information present in this case makes it possible to produce an output with all quads, and moreover, a quad mesh with all even valence vertices.
Because it works on a Plankton mesh, the input can be made of ngons. We can also input a triangular mesh, apply the dual operation, and then thicken the edges of the resulting polygon mesh. This works well in combination with the remeshing script I posted here, for getting approximately equal edge lengths. This can be used to quickly turn any closed mesh into a lightweight hexagonal (mostly - with a few pentagons and heptagons for curvature) frame structure.
The even valence quad mesh property of the resulting thickened mesh means we can also use the mesh direction-sorting and directional-subdivision tools from Kangaroo (described here).
When combined with Weaverbird's Catmull-Clark subdivision, this allows us to smooth the mesh, while also having control over how much 'webbing' occurs at the nodes:
from left to right we see:
2 levels of Catmull-Clark with no directional subdivision
1 level of directional subD, then 2 Catmull-Clark
2 levels of directional subD, then 2 Catmull-Clark
One could even combine the resulting surfaces with all sorts of relaxation, or developable strip unrolling...
The code is there for you to read, so feel free to experiment and make adjustments to it. Hopefully it is fairly self explanatory.
Please feel free to ask any questions or suggest improvements, or just show off anything you create using this.
and yes - because the input and output are both meshes, you can apply it recursively!
This script references version 0.3.0 of Plankton, which you can download here:
https://github.com/Dan-Piker/Plankton/releases/tag/v0.3.0
…
ttern with many panels is an assembly. an assembly is made of parts. The cardinal thing is that Rhino does not export a mesh in these formats but only surfaces or solids..and then one must remesh them in Abaqus.. I'm trying to export the mesh itself.
here are the supported file formats as Abaqus describes them:
Abaqus/CAE reads and writes geometry data stored in the following formats:
3D XML (file_name.3dxml)
3D XML is an XML-based format developed by Dassault Systèmes for encoding three-dimensional images and data. The format is open and extendable, allowing three-dimensional graphics to be easily shared and integrated into existing applications and processes. 3D XML files can be many times smaller than typical model database files. The 3D XML Player from Dassault Systèmes is required to view 3D XML files or to integrate them into business applications. You can also view 3D XML files in CATIA V5.
You can export viewport data from Abaqus/CAE in 3D XML or compressed 3D XML format. For more information, see “Exporting viewport data to a 3D XML-format file,” Section 10.9.5. You cannot import 3D XML into Abaqus/CAE.
Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit input files
Abaqus/CAE generates an input file when you submit a job for analysis. You can import input files into Abaqus/CAE. Abaqus/CAE translates the keywords and data lines in the imported input file into a new model; however, a limited set of Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit keywords is supported, as described in “Importing a model from an Abaqus/Standard or an Abaqus/Explicit input file,” Section 10.5.1. For more information on creating and submitting jobs, see “Basic steps for analyzing a model,” Section 18.2.1.
ACIS (file_name.sat)
ACIS is a library of solid modeling functions developed by Spatial, and most CAD products can generate ACIS-format parts. You can import ACIS-format parts, and you can export parts or the assembly in ACIS format. In addition, you can import and export sketches in ACIS format. For more information, see “Importing parts from an ACIS-format file,” Section 10.7.4; “Importing sketches,” Section 10.7.1; and “Exporting geometry and model data,” Section 10.9.
AutoCAD (file_name.dxf)
Two-dimensional profiles stored in AutoCAD (.dxf) files can be imported as stand-alone sketches. However, Abaqus/CAE supports only a limited number of AutoCAD entities, and you should use this format only if no other formats are available. For more information and details on the AutoCAD entities supported by Abaqus/CAE, see “Importing sketches,” Section 10.7.1.
CATIA V4 (file_name.model, file_name.catdata, or file_name.exp)
CATIA is a CAD/CAM/CAE software package marketed by IBM and Dassault Systèmes. You can import CATIA-format parts. You can also import an entire CATIA V4 assembly into the Abaqus/CAE assembly, or you can choose to import only selected part instances. For more information, see “Importing a part from a CATIA V4- or V5-format file,” Section 10.7.5; and “Importing an assembly from a CATIA V4-format file,” Section 10.7.13. You cannot export parts from Abaqus/CAE in CATIA format.
CATIA V5 Elysium Neutral File or Elysium Neutral Assembly File (file_name.enf_abq or .eaf_abq)
A translator plug-in is available for CATIA V5 that will generate a geometry file using the Elysium Neutral File (.enf) format or the Elysium Neutral Assembly File (.eaf) format. You can use Elysium Neutral Files to import CATIA V5 parts. In addition, you can use Elysium Neutral Files or Elysium Neutral Assembly Files to import an entire CATIA V5 assembly into the Abaqus/CAE assembly, or you can choose to import only selected part instances. For more information, see “Importing a part from an Elysium Neutral file,” Section 10.7.6, and “Importing an assembly from an Elysium Neutral file,” Section 10.7.14. You cannot export parts or assemblies from Abaqus/CAE in Elysium Neutral File or Elysium Neutral Assembly File format.
CATIA V5 parts and assemblies (file_name.CATPart or .CATProduct)
With the optional CATIA V5 Associative Interface add-on feature for Abaqus/CAE, you can import CATIA V5-format parts and assemblies. For more information, see “Importing a part from a CATIA V4- or V5-format file,” Section 10.7.5. You cannot export parts from Abaqus/CAE in CATIA V5 format.
I-DEAS Elysium Neutral File or Elysium Neutral Assembly File (file_name.enf_abq or .eaf_abq)
Abaqus provides a translator plug-in for I-DEAS that will generate a geometry file using the Elysium Neutral File (.enf) format or the Elysium Neutral Assembly File (.eaf) format. You can use Elysium Neutral Files to import I-DEAS parts. In addition, you can use Elysium Neutral Files or Elysium Neutral Assembly Files to import an entire I-DEAS assembly into the Abaqus/CAE assembly, or you can choose to import only selected part instances. For more information, see “Importing a part from an Elysium Neutral file,” Section 10.7.6, and “Importing an assembly from an Elysium Neutral file,” Section 10.7.14. You cannot export parts or assemblies from Abaqus/CAE in Elysium Neutral File or Elysium Neutral Assembly File format.
IGES (file_name.igs or .iges)
The Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) is a neutral data format designed for graphics exchange between computer-aided design (CAD) systems.
You can import IGES-format parts, and you can export parts in IGES format. In addition, you can import and export sketches in IGES format. For more information, see “Importing a part from an IGES-format file,” Section 10.7.7;“Importing sketches,” Section 10.7.1; and “Exporting geometry and model data,” Section 10.9.
The IGES-format allows for many interpretations, and most of the parts that you import into Abaqus/CAE using IGES-format will need to be repaired before you can use them. Thus, it is recommended that you try to use another format, if possible.
Output database (output_database_ name.odb)
An output database contains the data generated during an Abaqus/Standard or Abaqus/Explicit analysis. You can import parts from an output database in the form of orphan meshes. An orphan mesh part contains no feature information and is extracted from the output database as a collection of nodes, elements, surfaces, and sets. If the output database contains multiple part instances, you can select the part instances to import. Abaqus/CAE imports each part instance as a separate orphan mesh part. You can import either the undeformed or the deformed shape. If you import the deformed shape, you can specify the step and the frame from which to import.
To verify the quality of the orphan mesh, you can display the orphan mesh part in the Mesh module and select MeshVerify from the main menu bar. In addition, you can use the Mesh module to change the element type assigned to the mesh and to edit the original mesh definition. For more information, see “Importing a part from an output database,” Section 10.7.12; “What can I do with the Edit Mesh toolset?,” Section 46.1; and “Assigning Abaqus element types,” Section 17.5.
You can also import a model from an output database. The model that is imported will contain orphan mesh parts representing each of the undeformed part instances in the output database along with an orphan mesh representation of the undeformed assembly. The model will also contain any sets, surfaces, materials, section definitions, and beam profiles that were defined in the output database. For more information, see “Importing a model from an output database,” Section 10.5.2.
Parasolid (file_name.x_t, file_name.x_b, file_name.xmt_txt, or file_name.xmt_bin)
Parasolid is a library of solid modeling functions developed by UGS. A variety of CAD products can generate Parasolid-format parts, such as NX, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, FEMAP, and MSC.Patran. You can import Parasolid-format parts. You can also import an entire Parasolid assembly into the Abaqus/CAE assembly, or you can choose to import only selected part instances. For more information, see “Importing a part from a Parasolid-format file,” Section 10.7.9; and “Importing an assembly from a Parasolid-format file,” Section 10.7.15. You cannot export parts or assemblies from Abaqus/CAE in Parasolid format.
Pro/ENGINEER Elysium Neutral File or Elysium Neutral Assembly File (file_name.enf_abq or .eaf_abq)
Abaqus provides a translator plug-in for Pro/ENGINEER that will generate a geometry file using the Elysium Neutral File (.enf) format or the Elysium Neutral Assembly File (.eaf) format. You can use Elysium Neutral Files to import Pro/ENGINEER parts. In addition, you can use Elysium Neutral Files or Elysium Neutral Assembly Files to import an entire Pro/ENGINEER assembly into the Abaqus/CAE assembly, or you can choose to import only selected part instances from the assembly. For more information, see “Importing a part from an Elysium Neutral file,” Section 10.7.6, and “Importing an assembly from an Elysium Neutral file,” Section 10.7.14. You cannot export parts or assemblies from Abaqus/CAE in Elysium Neutral File or Elysium Neutral Assembly File format.
STEP (file_name.stp or .step)
The STandard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP ISO 10303–1) is designed as a high-level replacement for IGES that attempts to overcome some of the shortcomings of IGES. The STEP AP203 standard is designed to provide a computer-interpretable representation of a mechanical product throughout its life cycle, independent of any particular system.
You can import STEP-format parts, and you can export parts in STEP format. In addition, you can import and export sketches in STEP format. For more information, see “Importing a part from a STEP-format file,” Section 10.7.10; and“Exporting geometry and model data,” Section 10.9.
STEP-format parts are similar to IGES-format parts in that most of the parts that you import into Abaqus/CAE using STEP-format will need to be repaired before you can use them. Thus, it is recommended that you try to use another format, if possible.
VDA-FS (file_name.vda)
The Verband der Automobilindustrie Flachën Schnittstelle (VDA-FS) surface data format is a geometry standard developed by the German automotive industry. Both VDA-FS and IGES files contain a mathematical representation of the part in an ASCII format; however, the VDA-FS standard concentrates on geometry information. Additional information covered by the IGES standard, such as dimensions, text, and colors, is not stored in a VDA-FS file.
You can import VDA-FS-format parts, and you can export parts in VDA-FS format. For more information, see “Importing a part from a VDA-FS-format file,” Section 10.7.11; and “Exporting geometry and model data,” Section 10.9.
VDA-FS format parts are similar to IGES-format parts in that most of the parts that you import into Abaqus/CAE using VDA-FS format will need to be repaired before you can use them. Thus, it is recommended that you try to use another format, if possible.
VRML (file_name.wrl)
Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is the ISO standard for displaying three-dimensional images in a web browser or a stand-alone VRML client. It is an open, platform-independent, vector-based, three-dimensional modeling language that encodes computer-generated graphics to allow them to be shared easily across a network. VRML-format files can be many times smaller than typical model database files. A special plug-in viewer, such as Cortona or Cosmo, is required to view VRML files.
You can export viewport data from Abaqus/CAE in VRML format or compressed VRML format. For more information, see “Exporting viewport data to a VRML-format file,” Section 10.9.4.
…
rp edges fairly well, but since it has such kinetic behavior, seemingly optimized for speed on small test systems, it doesn't give the most uniform mesh, most of the time. If you take the dual of the triangular mesh, you see lots of squares and octagons.
I also had to rely on MeshMachine to refine Cocoon marching cubes organic surfaces, since the refine component of Cocoon blows up even worse than MeshMachine, which it is black box based on, with five completely undocumented parameters.
So I searched for many days for various scriptable libraries, all of them in C++, and not only did few work well as software, they gave lots of squares too, meaning they are poor at dividing up a surface evenly, since those four triangles per square dual shape are so small of an area. I want something more like a beehive or a fly's eye.
The standard library for geometry out there is CGAL, and it would be nearly impossible for most Grasshopper users to install it, since there are no binaries of the latest versions, and you have to compile several smaller libraries as you spend upwards of many full days searching forums for answers to errors in just installing it. And who knows how good of meshes it makes? I can only test it in C++, fairly easy enough, and may be able to compile a remeshing function that I can call from the command line which I can upload as a working binary, that will write the output to disk. That means I could call it from Python, anybody could, since Python is so simple. But what I can't do after the installation is get Python bindings to work on Windows. That's just broken completely.
The breakthrough, after struggling through truly terrible Windows utility programs, was finding OpenFlipper, a geometry plug-in development platform. It even has a Grasshopper-like nodal editor to build scripts, but that's so far limited. The normal scripting commands are easy to pick up on though, so I wrote Grasshopper wrappers for three remeshing strategies that result in no squares or even octagons and above, only pentagons, hexagons and septagons in the resulting dual of the triangle mesh. I used Python to write an input mesh to disk as an STL, then I create an OpenFlipper script on the fly, also written to disk, then I have OpenFlipper run and I read in the resulting STL file back into Python and spit out a Rhino/Grasshopper mesh again. It briefly brings up the GUI of OpenFlipper then closes it to put you back in Grasshopper, since the command-line-only option seems to be broken and this allows all commands to run, not just blind capable ones.
The Python scripts are simple enough to modify on your own to add more OpenFlipper commands.
Just download the Windows program here, the "Staging" version being the desired beta version with more features:
https://www.openflipper.org/download/
Install it in the normal Programs Folder. In the future you will have to edit the path in Python with updated OpenFlipper version numbers, in line 35 below. [See troubleshooting posts below about right clicking on Rhino.exe and OpenFlipper.exe to set the Compatibility tab checkbox in Properties to "Open this program as administrator." and to also check that OpenFlipper's directory matches what's in the Python code that you can view by double clicking the Python component on the Grasshopper canvas.]
None of the three strategies automatically preserves hard edges, so for those the adaptive strategy is often best.
Use Weaverbird Dual to gain quick access to this blissfully better distribution of cells on a surface than the "alien slime" of random Voronoi diagrams.
These will not smooth out original large facets from crude meshes, so subdivide those first using Weaverbird. I included a source meshing group, to apply to NURBS polysurfaces, too, since OpenFlipper won't import surfaces, only meshes.
Such ideal meshing that lack tight little square areas in the dual will also afford highest quality 3D tetrahedral meshes. I ported Tetgen to Grasshopper too, in the past, for that, and that also affords 3D polyhedral cells.…
Added by Nik Willmore at 9:22am on October 6, 2017