minimal surfaces

i have been a Generative Components user for a long time and only an occasional grasshopper user. but i have been using it more and though i would start to port my C# libraries over. the first one is a minimal surface generator. i will release it as soon as i get 2 bugs worked out.

here are some screen shots. the calculations are fast enough for real time feedback which is good.

the plugin takes 4 boundary curves and stretches a minimal surface between them (think of the 4 curves as wires you dip in soap like frei otto)

after i finish this i may port over a plugin that can read maya nParticles in real time and display them as point clouds with all the extra data (acceleration, speed, size, color...)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Pauline on February 27, 2010 at 2:56pm

I am currently in a studio class which is working with minimal surfaces, and I am looking forward to a plugin which will make more variations. I have been trying to do this for so long, I cant wait for the release!

Permalink Reply by tensional calculous on March 20, 2010 at 6:55am

thanks for sharing! it really helps a lot! looking forward your coming components!

Permalink Reply by Jon Mirtschin on March 21, 2010 at 5:19am

Also possibly of interest, I've been playing around with exposing my plug-in code to Grasshopper for determining minimal surfaces. Mine works on meshes, and assumes at present that any free edges (edge with a single face) are restrained. I just uploaded files to my blog (http://geometrygym.blogspot.com ) for Costa Minimal Surface, and will add a few
other examples. Options for restraining nodes, or nodes to curves can be added reasonably quickly if it's of interest.
Cheers,

Jon

Permalink Reply by robert cervellione on March 28, 2010 at 7:46am

do you have to pay for the main plug-in for this to run?

Permalink Reply by Jon Mirtschin on March 28, 2010 at 11:43am

Hi Robert,

I'm offering a free trial to everyone to test and try the tools. After that, if you're using the plug-in for commercial purposes, then I've been charging for the use of the tools as a service license. If you're a student/academic, then with some proof I'm hoping to retain the tools as a free service.

Cheers,

Jon

Permalink Reply by Leonardo Ali on February 18, 2017 at 1:40pm

Hi Jon

Does this plug-in work to be able to create a Schoen P Surface too?

Permalink Reply by Jon Mirtschin on February 18, 2017 at 2:22pm

Well, it can create a mesh representation of it. See if this helps.

Attachments:

170219 schoen p.gh, 17 KB

Permalink Reply by robert cervellione on March 28, 2010 at 7:52am

all i have updated the minimal surface plugin. there are now 2 options. 1 is the original 4 curves and the new one is 2 curves. you can use either 2 open or 2 closed curves. for example if you use two circles you get a catinoid

Permalink Reply by to] on March 28, 2010 at 8:41am

hi robert
thanks for your efforts.. it is really great to get minimal surface inside GH
i tested your plugin and i get wrong results (i run the same solution on rhino membrane - left one)
so u0 u1 are describing semicircles

Permalink Reply by Jon Mirtschin on March 28, 2010 at 9:59am

Interesting test case. Do you mind posting a RhinoMembrane result so I can try testing my result? Else here's 1 result, grasshopper definition available from the Costa Minimal Surface post on http://geometrygym.blogspot.com

Attachments:

sdr arc polycurve extruded.3dm, 79 KB

Permalink Reply by to] on March 28, 2010 at 10:14am

hi Jon and Robert
thanks for your fast replies
attached the membrane solution

Attachments:

100328_minimal_srf_semicircle_sol.3dm, 86 KB

Permalink Reply by Jon Mirtschin on March 28, 2010 at 11:07am

Thanks for that, looks like I also have some testing and improving to do, I've got the right shape but not as small an area mesh. I'll post back when I get a closer answer.