After mainly digital work, we fabricated a physical sample of a bike-frame construction.
Continue readingbike-frames
clustering of an inventory
Applying a clustering algorithm to an inventory of irregular unique objects can help to reduce the complexity involved in designing with such parts significantly. By dividing the inventory items into groups with similar characteristics, each group can then be represented by one “proto-part” instead, therefore reducing the amount of unique elements to be handled in setting up aggregation logics and the aggregation processes.
The decision about the number of different groups (Fig. 1) can be completely left to an algorithm (depending on various predefined – by the programmer – conditions) or be manually determined by the user/designer.
Cluster 1: Lattice shell
Taking advantage of the kinematic adaptability of bike frame patterns, gently curved structures can be created.
Continue readingCluster 1: Bike frame patterns
Comparison of 2D patterns from interconnected bike frames
Continue readingCluster 1: Bike frames revisited
Using entire bike frames connected at the standard bike joints, 2D lattices can be formed.
Continue readingCluster 1: Sommerville – multiple part types
Based on the Sommerville tetrahedron, part systems using multiple compatible types can be created that produce more differentiated complex aggregations.
Continue readingCluster 1: Sommerville system – edge based
Using an aggregation system based on regular Sommerville-tetra cells, bike frame clusters can be connected along edges.
Continue readingCluster 1: bike frames inside Sommerville-Tetrahedrons
Combining the concept of bike frames contained in cells with aggregation systems based on the Sommerville-type interconnected structures can be created.
Continue readingCluster 1: Space Filling (Irregular) Tetrahedra – Hill
While it is not possible to fill space with regular tetrahedra, there are – according to WOLFRAM – five known irregular space-filling tetrahedral cells, when mirror cells are excluded.
At first we looked at Hill’s tetrahedra and Izidor Hafner “Definitions of Hill’s Tetrahedra” on the Wolfram Demonstrations Project was very helpful in setting up our Grasshopper definitions.
Continue readingCluster 1: Rhombic dodecahedron panels
In an alternative concept for discrete aggregation systems that are based on packed volumes, parts could also be defined as individual faces of a solid.
This idea is studied using the faces of rhombic dodecahedrons that can be arranged as a space-filling tesselation.