General Issues

Hey guys this will be my 1st post! I am truly grateful for grasshopper it is truly an amazing platform for so much. I would like to address the most common issues for people that are starting out.

1st off here are some grasshopper sites where you can find free .gh files from people that have worked with grasshopper for a while.

https://explodebreps.wordpress.com/grasshopper-definitions/

http://www.co-de-it.com/wordpress/code/grasshopper-code

Try have a look see how the .gh files are composed by going with the definition step by step. In order to do that remove preview from all by selecting entire definition and right clicking preview. Next just preview each component from 1st to last in order to see how the definition works.

Most common problems I have seen are:

When you need to work with curves go to curves, when you need to work with surfaces go to surfaces, when you need to work with meshes go to meshes. Biggest problems people are having is getting used to the idea of grasshopper as a platform for other programs. The tabs on top of grasshopper are seperate sections try to view them as such and all components related to any section is there look for them read what they do

SPM Vector and Locust / Agent control - the idea of being able to control points with forces telling them where to go to what to be attracted to what to seek out and what to avoid with determined boundaries is a nice simulation control tool for anyone that is willing to try it out.

Millipede - is a plug in for grasshopper that allows you to determine the properties of materials and use them with kangaroo to create an engine that could be used for calculating loads very practical for engineers.

Weaverbird - another amazing plug in with which you can for surfaces from points and manipulate them to suit your needs

Ladybug and Honeybee - look at the forum hot discussions about all components

I see grasshopper as a way to save your work. Imagine when you were still in bachelors. I bet some people saved some of their notes about certain stuff well in grasshopper you can save your entire workflow and manage it at will. Pretty soon there won't be a need for an architect, engineer or even a manager... (lets see how it goes) every persons definition of building a house or arrangement of rooms can be saved as .gh file

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by peter fotiadis on February 26, 2015 at 10:05am

Pretty soon there won't be a need for an architect, engineer ...

Are you talking about the Rise Of The Machine? (A.I. and the likes). If so according to my (accurate) predictions this gonna happen at precisely 8.45pm, August 2024.

Start digging (the deeper the better), he he.

best, Peter

Permalink Reply by Runnie on February 26, 2015 at 10:33am

@ Stoyan :

I totally agree with you that GH has changed how architecture works especially in the last couple of years. it has become one of the industry standard for architectural practice. I found GH is an amazing software and would love to see its integration with Rhino 6 soon.

however there is one thing that GH and Mcneel needs to tackle, simply because GH now is just "good" enough for concepting work. GH and Mcneel is very ambitious and they need to take down their "biggest?" rival Autodesk.

all the acceptable format for construction work and even government submission are BIM that is produced mostly by Autodesk. they are trying to make BIM (Autodesk version) Globalized through out architecture or engineer practice around the world.. so in case there is something happening to autodesk in the distance future, it will be very hard for GH to achieve that. but who knows, I hope I am wrong.

but I am very optimistic. I love Rhino and GH and I have big faith in them. salute to Mcneel team and David for making this fantastic opportunity for young architect to be noticed and connect the bridge between "technical" and "artistic" way of designing building.

not to mention this forum is so alive and direct help from david is perhaps the thing we would never find in any other forum.

@ peter : so Skynet is actually Mcneel??? :PPP

cheers :) RUnnie

Permalink Reply by peter fotiadis on February 26, 2015 at 2:46pm

so Skynet is actually Mcneel???

No: Skynet is you (and me and everybody else) - here's a small tribute to that (ancient Viz test with Microstation Nexus engine).

Permalink Reply by Runnie on February 26, 2015 at 11:55pm

the only thing missing in that picture is Arnold holding a machine gun. :P

by the way peter. one thing I am curious about. what software do you use for most of your rendering work? I know you are using various advanced BIM-integrated software,so interms of visualization, do you export your model to let say 3dsmax or Maya and then render it there or you use built in rendering engine in your software? (or perhaps you hv developed your own shaders for rendering? :P)

Permalink Reply by peter fotiadis on February 27, 2015 at 12:59am

SPAM ON:

I never export BIM models to anything outside the BIM umbrella (totally out of question for interoperability reasons:NEVER do that in real-life). Since my core BIM app is AECOSim I use the Nexus engine (under License from Luxology [Modo]). For fun/testing I use a variety of rendering engines (but Nexus beats them all).

SPAM OFF.

That said certain Bentley boys are not very happy with my rather strong affiliation with GH (but GH beats Generative Components hands down in certain areas).

BTW: Here's the future at precisely 8.46pm, August 2024.