[SPIRO]Rat
Grasshopper plugin for creating spirographs in collaboration with rat[LAB] Studio
TAGS:
GRASSHOPPER, COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN
An infinite number of patterns can be generated through this plugin using Rhino3D and Grasshopper3D which can be translated into spatial formations.
Year
2019-2020
Team
Praneet Mathur & rat[LAB] Studio (Sushant Verma, Darshi Kapadia)
Languages
Visual Basic
Platforms
Grasshopper3D
What is it about?
The spirograph is a classic tool that consists of a ring and a wheel. The wheel in placed inside the ring. After the pen is placed inside one of the holes present on the wheel, it is made to rotate with the help of the ‘teeth’ present on the edges of the ring and a wheel – much like a gear. The wheel rotates on its own axis while revolving around the center of the ring. This motion generates radially symmetric patterns. One can create different patterns with different sizes of ring and wheels.
[SPIRO]rat is a free plugin for Grasshopper (plugin for McNeel Rhinoceros3D). It generates Epitrochoids and Hypotrochoids by representing the motion of the pen in a classic spirograph.
The Challenge
The challenge with [SPIRO]rat’s development was translating the natural physics and mathematics of the spirograph tool to a digital equivalent. This digital spirograph had to behave like it’s physical equivalent, allowing complete control to the user over it’s various parameters and even enabling animated sequences of the pattern being drawn.
01 The spirograph is a classic tool that consists of a ring and a wheel. The wheel is placed inside the ring.
02 After the pen is placed inside one of the holes present on the wheel, it is made to rotate with the help of the 'teeth' present on the edges of the ring and a wheel - much like a gear.
03 The wheel rotates on its own axis while revolving around the center of the ring. This motion generates radially symmetric patterns.
The plugin needed to enable the user to create different patterns with different sizes of ring and wheels.
The Solution
[SPIRO]rat plugin reflects and encourages this workflow of computational design processes. It takes the idea of a classic tool and digitalizes it for better understanding and control of the outcome.
The tool not only gives patterns as outputs but also possibilities of parameters to get desired patterns and data corresponding to generated pattern. This helps understand the mathematical relationship between parameters.
Once the basic relationships are understood one can explore with customized patterns and shapes. The workflow strongly encourages more control over the generated design
Use cases
So what can you use spirorat for? The possibility of use cases is unlimited but here we provide a few use cases to stimulate your imagination!
01
For students -> Understanding how spirographs can be used to create symmetrical geometries.
02
For designers, architects -> Using spirorat as a design tool to create spirographic patterns on 3D designs.
This project was done in collaboration with rat[LAB] Education. Learn more about the Project at rat[LAB].
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