Parametric Furniture

Summary

For this assignment, I parametrically generated examples of furniture in Grasshopper, then 3D printed two at a miniature scale.

Task 1 - Parametric Designs

I loaded up grasshopper and began playing around with different ideas. Eventually I settles on doing a table (as opposed to a chair), as I was inspired by an example image present on the assignment description document. I also planned to laser cut small peices of acrylic to place on top of the eventual prints, to simulate a glass coffee table surface at the miniature scale denoted by the asisngment.

Using the PFrames and Loft components in Grasshopper, I created a generative and angular shape that I think would look great as a coffee table with a glass top.

I played around with the many parameters, including polygon radius and number of segements. When I liekd what I saw, I exported three versions.

ParFur1:

Task 4 Image 1

Task 4 Image 1

This first design consists of a three segmented polygon, the path of which is lofted by an 8 segmented polygon.



ParFur2:

Task 4 Image 1

Task 4 Image 1

The second design's base polygon has four segments instead of three, but the secondary lofted polygon has 6 instead of 8 segments.



ParFur3:

Task 4 Image 1

Task 4 Image 1

Lastly, this complicated design increases the base again, and the secondary polygon has enough segments to appear almost smooth.


Task 2 - 3D Printing

I chose designs 1 and 2 to 3d print for this final task.

Additionally, I laser cut some acrylic peices as the final touch to more closely resemble miniature furniture.

ParFur1:

Task 4 Image 1

Task 4 Image 1

Printed on my roommate's BambuLabs printer in his carbon fiber reinforced nylon (hence the terrible quality).



ParFur2:

Task 4 Image 1

Task 4 Image 1

Conclusion

The main challenges with this assignment arised as a result of the steep learning curve associated with Grasshopper. As someone who has never used Rhino or Grasshopper before this class, or any sort of parametrized system/ node-based programming environment, I found it difficult to get started. To even just set-up and display something as simple as these parametric examples, took many hours and lots of internet searching. Apart from that, I enjoy using this technology, and the intersection of creativity and programming will always excite me.