Spirorat Plugin

Project Summary

"Generate intricate, custom spirograph patterns digitally with [SPIRO]rat!"

The Project

[SPIRO]rat is a free plugin for Grasshopper, developed in collaboration with rat[LAB] Studio. It transforms the classic spirograph tool into a digital medium, allowing users to generate an infinite variety of epitrochoid and hypotrochoid patterns using Rhino3D and Grasshopper3D. These patterns can then be translated into spatial designs.

The Challenge

The primary challenge was converting the analog mechanics of a physical spirograph—rings, wheels, and gears—into a digital framework while giving users control over size, shape, and animated sequences. Ensuring that this digital tool accurately mimics the physical spirograph’s natural physics and mathematical relationships was critical.

The Solution

The [SPIRO]rat plugin digitizes the classic spirograph to help users better understand and manipulate its geometry. The plugin allows users to control parameters like the size of rings and wheels to produce unique, radially symmetric designs. It also supports animated sequences of patterns being drawn. By offering a computational approach, the plugin encourages a more precise and flexible design workflow.

Cost, Time, and Efficiency

[SPIRO]rat offers a fast, efficient, and free solution for creating intricate spirograph-based designs. Its computational design process significantly reduces the time and manual effort needed to create complex patterns.

Design Features

• Generate custom epitrochoid and hypotrochoid patterns.

• Fully adjustable parameters to control ring and wheel sizes.

• Animated drawing sequences to visualize the spirograph in action.

• Supports exporting data for further analysis and use in design.

Applications of XR Technology

While [SPIRO]rat itself doesn't use XR, it can be integrated into spatial design workflows where XR technology can be applied to visualize 3D patterns in augmented and virtual reality settings.

This project was done in collaboration with rat[LAB] Studio.