Generative 3d modeling for 3d printing workshop by parametric | art at Budapest 3D Printing Days

A brand new generation of architects and designers started using mathematical algorithms to articulate new aesthetic artifacts, be it generative visuals, data-driven visualizations or parametric models for digital fabrication like 3 printing, in most cases, all roads will lead back to computational geometry. Computational geometry describes complex 3-dimensional forms and aesthetic processes in the form of mathematical algorithms as executable code.

 

© parametric | art

If you are interested in generative geometries and digital fabrication methods, come and join us from June 5-7 at the Budapest 3D Printing Days organized by Design Terminal in Budapest. It’s going to be the most prominent 3d printing event in Central Eastern Europe, the 3-day-long event provides talks, workshops, roundtable discussions by industry experts, a pitch event and exhibition of 30 Central-Eastern Europe-based 3D printing related companies

 

© parametric | art

The goal of the event is to build bridges between the  emerging  Central Eastern European 3D printing communities. With the wide variety of topics the organizers try to touch various applications of 3D printing from industrial to desktop usage, opportunities in education and health and more. The team of Design Terminal has developed a special program for professionals who want to learn and/or want to start with 3D printing, but don’t know where to start,  as the applications for this technology are so broad. The conferences will cover the past, present, and future of the Central Eastern European 3D printing scene presented in text, image, and video. The best way to understand 3D printing is to see it in action, so the lectures and workshops will showcase the countless possibilities of 3D printing technology and try to explain beyond the hype and illustrate exactly where 3D printing is in 2014 in Central Eastern Europe – and where it’s headed in the near future.

© parametric | art

 

© Design Terminal

The event provides 30 regional exhibitors, 6 workshops,  +20 speakers and  3 locations in the heart of Budapest. Beside the local players, most of the exhibitors are coming from various countries of the CEE region, such as the Poland-based Zmorph. Vendors will showcase their creations, ranging from art and human body part reproductions, to life-size industrial prototypes, wearable art and fashion.
Budapest 3D Printing Days will also stand as a great place to network, connect and engage with other businesses that are exploring 3D printing. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet investors, discover opportunities, promote your brand and learn all about this incredible technology in the heart of the Hungary’s capital. Our education sessions will allow companies to interact with the next generation of designers and technologists as they begin their journey to adulthood.
Also, there will be some high profile speakers like David Lakatos from Formlabs, who sold his previous company to Dropbox or Marcelo  Coelho, a research affilate at MIT Media Labs, who was earlier involved in the Hyperform 4D Printing project.

© Design Terminal

The workshop will be concerned with the development and optimization of a 3d printed generative sculpture using Rhino and Grasshopper combined with Meshlab, and iterative and or evolutionary methods are to be used for system optimization. Participants will get a bigger view about the methodology of parametric design and algorithmic modeling and its usage in architecture, design, landscape, jewelry, fashion and urban scale. It is intended for professionals and students with a minimum experience in 3D modeling.

 

© parametric | art

 

The workshop is to introduce candidates to the new field of generative design and parametric 3d modeling. It is intended for Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers and all CAD specialists, who want to experiment with forms and realize them on a desktop 3d printer. They will experiment with digital 3d modeling and 3D printing technologies, resulting in the creation of some 3D printed generative jewelry or sculptures.

 

© parametric | art

We will start with introduce the participants with the basics of 3D modeling with NURBS and meshes, then it will shift rapidly into the algorithmic design technics and its potential in design and digital fabrication, like 3d printing. Finally the workshop will try to give a hints about the area of scripting  and programming for designers.

 

© parametric | art

The 3d tools which will be taught in this course are Rhino + Grasshopper and Meshlab; and we will optimize our 3d models for 3d printing using Netfabb Basic, Meshmixer and Repetier/Slic3r.

© parametric | art

All software is available for a free download as a trial or is completely free/open-source.

 

© parametric | art

Rhinoceros is a powerful 3D modeling software frequently used in 3D fabrication, because of its easy-to-use NURBS 3d modeling interface and useful CAM support.
(download link)

© parametric | art

 

Grasshopper is a useful plug-in, a powerful Rhino add-on to create elaborate parametric forms. It’s an increasingly popular tool among architects and designers, as an easy tool for creating shapes based on complicated math. (download link)

 

© parametric | art

“For designers who are exploring new shapes using generative algorithms, Grasshopper® is a graphical algorithm editor tightly integrated with Rhino’s 3-D modeling tools. Unlike RhinoScript, Grasshopper requires no knowledge of programming or scripting, but still allows designers to build form generators from the simple to the awe-inspiring.”(grasshopper3d.com)

 

© parametric | art

 

Meshlab

MeshLab is an open source, portable, and extensible system for the processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes. 
The system is aimed to help the processing of the typical not-so-small unstructured models arising in 3D scanning, providing a set of tools for editing, cleaning, healing, inspecting, rendering and converting this kind of meshes.
(download link)

 

© parametric | art

Meshmixer

© parametric | art

Autodesk Meshmixer is a free tool for making crazy-ass 3D stuff without too much hassle. Or boring stuff too. You decide. It is an effective tool for generating custom tree-like support structures. Download it and give it a whirl!

Netfabb

© parametric | art

Netfabb Basic is a freeware for handling of files on stl-format. The freeware includes Advanced Model Browsing, STL Fixing and Part Analysis, Measurement and Quality Management. The freeware also include a Basic Slicing module and give you first steps into the 3D printing and data preparation.
(download link)

Slic3r

© parametric | art

Slic3r is the tool you need to convert a digital 3D model into printing instructions for your 3D printer. It cuts the model into horizontal slices (layers), generates toolpaths to fill them and calculates the amount of material to be extruded.
(download link)

Pronterface/Repetier

© parametric | art

Pronterface and Repetier are free 3D printer controller software for RepRap 3D printers. Pronterface (and Printrun) are pure python 3d printing host software and this way they’re completely open-source. If you have a 3d printer, you need to feed it with data. Slice the  the models into thin slices and compute a path for printer head. This is done by a slicing software, which converts the model into g-code, the language your printer speaks. The 3d printer host software sends the g-code to your 3d printer. (download link)

 

© parametric | art

Participants need their own laptop with the suggested tools installed. The attend is free, but you need to register here. See you at the Budapest 3D Printing Days next week!

If you missed it, there is a 3D modelling for 3d print competition connected to the event, called ‘What to print in 3D?’. I’ve already submitted a project of mine, you can vote for it by clicking on the image here and hit the ‘Like’ button under the photo in the Facebook gallery. Thanks;)

© parametric | art