Week 1 - Laser Cutting

Designed a parametric pattern for laser cutting using Rhino and Grasshopper for MAT238 at UC Santa Barbara.

I first created a pattern using a Python code block in Grasshopper. This function allows you to specify different patterns based on the input to the function. The boundary for the generated pattern is determined by the points p1 and p2. I ran into errors with adding lines because the tutorial code was attempting to add lines where the starting point was the same as the ending point. I was able to fix this bug by editing a for loop, which made sure that each point was different from each other.

After writing a function to automatically generate the curves, I added an OffSetCurve in Grasshopper. This allows me to create a small offset so that the curves generated can be "united" by Illustrator later on to form cohesive patterns. With the configuration, I was able to make lots of curves and lines through Rhino.

Using Grasshopper, after I was satisfied with the preview of the lines made through the function, I baked the design into Rhino. As the picture above shows, there were many lines generated, which would be a key point later on in Illustrator

My initial design (left) did not have enough lines, which meant that when the design was "united" in Illustrator, there was no continuous cutout that could be made from the laser cutter

This caused me to edit my design to add more lines (through increasing the distance would be drawn between points). With the added lines, the amount of intersections was made more clear, and there was a continuous pattern that was made (right). After baking this new design into Rhino, I then set up the laser cutter to cut the lines. Overall, I was happy with the result of the laser cutting!