Design and Production of Parametric Structure Through Grasshopper

Abstract

In recent decades it has been witnessed a great development of parametric design and digital fabrication. This development has brought about a radical change in the way of thinking, conceiving, developing and materialising product design and architecture, opening up a new range of possibilities. Parametric design makes it possible to combine different disciplines such as mathematics, descriptive geometry, drawing and programming. This fact enables to develop ideas in which geometry plays a fundamental role, obtaining high level of precision and an unprecedented degree of complexity. Furthermore, digital manufacturing through CNC equipment provides accurate production of unique and non-standardised components, equalling in speed and cost to those of mass production. This contribution describes the parameterised design of a wooden structure, whose surface is generated according to dependency relations under mathematical equations. The parameterisation allows the modification of variables such as the size of the artefact, or the mathematical principle ruling the surface, among others parameters. The generated code can be adapted to different scenarios, materials and geometries, providing a wide range of final design possibilities, and so the automatic nesting of the plans. In this work is also described the manufacturing process for a specific design through the use of water jetting machinery.