Knowledge Patterning!

I now realize that trying to model anything having to do with the City of Arts at this point in time is not going to work. So, building upon my experience in class last week (see above), I decided to keep working with the udf surface I created. As you can see above, the udf undergoes a abnormality around the center of the framework where it flips upside down - which I believe is why the red error shapes occurred on the left side. This was experienced whenever I tried to draw lines normal to a plane which was set up between the two frame curves for my surface udf (using the 4 points to define my square surface). It seemed that whenever the ratio along the curve reached 0.5, the shape would flip upside-down, then right itself again around 0.7. To correct this, I created a new surface between my two framework lines and then created a plane normal to that. I could then draw my lines normal to this plane without fear of having them flip on me.

So, once this was fixed, I created a new framework geometry based on a cone. I envisioned a drill bit that could extend fins out depending on the width of the hole needed, much like a belling bucket for digging caissons.



As you can see below, the fins on the cone extend out as they wrap around the framework. I was also able to play with how skinny or how wide the actual cone was, though the fins would always raise and lower between 0 to 10 ft. I also attempted to create an alternate udf surface where the fins extend along the framework instead of normal to it, but this did not work. After creating all new udf curve and surface files, as well as a new design file, the process ended in failure by having multiple error messages regarding loops and missing information, though I an confident I did not deviate from my previous successes. Also, if there is a way to modify the surface udf file and plug it back into the design file without re-creating all the associated files, I would like to know!!! Anyway Please see the below pics of the work that was completed (note that the geometry began to unravel as a added more curves and surfaces).

Week6 Check-in: City of Arts

For this week, I refreshed my ability to create curves through scripting as the tutorial directed. The execution of creating the curves went well, with no problems upon the point of running the script other than some naming issues which were quickly resolved.

Going forward, I would like to use this technique to model the City of Arts in Valencia, Spain by Santiago Calatrava. Looking at the skeleton of the structure, each member looks to be composed of a series of archways connected by smaller perpendicular arch windows.

Marina Bay Sands Modification

This weeks assignment was driven by the Marina Bay Sands project in Singapore. Specifically, the three towers (see attached picture) are shown in three different states, with the two slabs that make up the structure of each tower opening and closing together. The each part in the paramod model can open or close depending on the thickness value. Height is controlled by a function much like the tutorial, though in this particular project their are two vertical points of reference, one for each row of twin slabs orientate in a different direction opposite one another. The grid these shapes are based on can be adjusted, though the program was getting bogged down during 'filming' and would freeze up if any attempt was made to change reference points. Practically speaking (sort of), this model could act as a bridge which closes down to restrict traffic, or as a single development with each section in a different state of motion much like the Sands project.

Week 4 - Solar Chinmey's heating up!

The concept for this weeks assignment was the shape of the solar chimney. Placed on a grid of intersecting splines running diagonally, two separate geometries of power copies were utilized to create the array of shapes. The taller green shapes would intersect one another as the grid expanded vertically if it were not for the shallower tan shapes placed between them.

Using a grid based on diaganol splines allowed for points that could be isolated in groups of three, facilitating the geometry of the triangle much better than an orthogonal grid. The openings in the tops of the green and tan shapes are related to the length of the hypotenuse of each triangular outline. The same goes for the height of the green chimneys, however the height of the tan chimneys stay constant as to avoid rising up and intersecting the green ones.

In the placement of the first set of green shapes, the power copy function worked quite well. As the grid expands upwards though, the planes that the green shapes sit on tilt at varying degrees, causing conflict. As the shallower tan shapes were created to avoid this, the power copy function did not only ask for 3 points (as the green power copy function did), but asked for 3 points and 3 vertices. Though this did not prevent the work from getting done, it did make picking points twice as long as an activity, so it would be helpful to learn how to avoid this situation for future uses.