Grillage Fabrication

(A double-post from the Discussion section, but this post should probably live here...)

All,

I put together a utility definition to create a grillage (waffle) surface for laser cutter fabrication. Please feel free to use it (at your own risk...). I plan to make improvements to this base configuration in the future.

Features:

_Specify the uniform spacing for each of two (A = above, B = below) orthographic cut planes;
_Specify the rotation (angle) of the orthographic cut planes to the reference surface;
_Fine tune the start of A or B cut planes by shifting each independently;
_Specify rib height and notch thickness;
_Automated layout of the rib sections for fabrication including notches and labels;
_Visual 3D reference guide for construction;
_A "defaultGrillage" state has been saved under the "Solution" menu for quick start-up;
_A "generate_grillage_layout?" on/off toggle to allow for faster operation.

Limitations:

_The reference surface must always be shrunk;
_The grillage (for now...) is generated from a vertical extrusion downward. A surface with extreme geometry may not work well, if at all;
_If the outline of the reference surface is such that a section plane will cut the surface in two locations the automated layout will not function correctly;
_The notches are generated as rectangles with the intention that the user will want to cut the notches on a separate pass from the rib sections;
_Without any clusters, the canvas looks pretty scary. The resulting output of the definition is located all the way downstream (but should be clearly labeled).

View some screenshots from my album Gillage Making.

Download the definition file here: grillageFAB_v1.rar

Happy cutting.

-taz

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by taz on September 25, 2009 at 5:39pm

UPDATED Definitions:

Features:

_Specify the uniform spacing for each of two (A = above, B = below) orthographic cut planes;
_Specify the rotation (angle) of the orthographic cut planes to the reference surface;
_Fine tune the start of A or B cut planes by shifting each independently;

_Automated layout of the rib sections for fabrication including notches and labels;
_Visual 3D reference guide for construction;

_A "defaultGrillage" state has been saved under the "Solution" menu for quick start-up;
_A "generate_grillage_layout?" on/off toggle to allow for faster operation.

**NEW Features**

_Specify rib height and notch thickness independently for A and B cut planes (beam/girder style grillage);
_New definition for closed BReps with variable rib depths;

_Multiple cuts per section plane now possible;
_Sections where no intersections (notches) occur are automatically omitted;

_Pre-saved "input" and "output" views to more easily navigate the definition;
_New utility definition to trim notches from section curves if desired.

Limitations:

_Reference surfaces must always be shrunk;
_Surface grillages are generated from a vertical extrusion downward. A surface with extreme geometry may not work well, if at all;
_Reference BReps must be closed polysurfaces;
_Automatic labels for BReps may not always be located within the section curves.

Future Updates:

_Allow user defined cut plane spacing;
_Generate ribs normal to the reference surface (similar to the "Fin" command);
_Improve automatic labeling for BRep grillages.
_Suggestions?

View some screenshots from my album Gillage Making.

Definition Files:

gFAB_Srf_v2.rar
gFAB_BRep_v2.rar
gFAB_trimSections.rar

Permalink Reply by taz on October 2, 2009 at 8:13am

Minor update:

_BRep definition can now support sections with holes

Definition File:

gFAB_BRep_v2.1.rar

Permalink Reply by taz on October 12, 2009 at 5:26pm

UPDATED Definition:

Features:

_Specify the uniform spacing for each of two (A = above, B = below) orthographic cut planes;
_Specify the rotation (angle) of the orthographic cut planes to the reference object;
_Fine tune the start of A or B cut planes by shifting each independently;
_Specify rib height and notch thickness for A and B cut planes independently (beam/girder style (poly)Srf grillage);

_A "defaultGrillage" state has been saved under the "Solution" menu for quick start-up;
_Pre-saved "input" and "output" views to easily navigate the definition;

_Automated layout of the rib sections for fabrication including notching and labeling;
_Visual 3D reference guide for construction.

**NEW Features**

_All-in-one definition will work with (poly)Srfs or closed BReps, notch trimming included;
_User defined cut plane spacing;
_Labels will always be located within the section curves.

Limitations:

_(poly)Surface grillages are generated from a vertical extrusion downward. A surface with extreme geometry may not work well, if at all;
_It... now... works... a... bit... slower... (I'm working on that...).

View some screenshots from my album Gillage Making.
If anyone is interested in the definition organization there is a definition layout guide in the album.

Definition File: gFAB_v3.rar

Permalink Reply by Pete W on October 15, 2009 at 12:28am

Thanks. It's definitely slower, but it's nice having everything in one definition.

Permalink Reply by sadrakhosravan on February 23, 2015 at 12:18pm

hi my friend, i can't download it!!!!

Permalink Reply by Danny Boyes on February 23, 2015 at 12:29pm

Ning no longer allows rar files. If you go to the end of this discussion you will find a link to Taz's website Fancywires where the ghx is located. Warning this is an old thread and the definition may have components that have been replaced and newer ways of achieving the same results.

Permalink Reply by sadrakhosravan on February 24, 2015 at 7:07am

thank you

Permalink Reply by taz on October 23, 2009 at 7:45am

NEW Definition:

[g]rillage [Rad]ial [FAB]rication [v]ersion 1.1

Features:

_Specify uniform vertical (N = iNside) spacing and radial (T = ouTside) sections for perpendicular cut planes;
_User defined vertical spacing and radial angles;
_Fine tune the start elevation of the N cut planes by shifting;
_Fine tune the center location of the T cut planes by shifting;
_Fine tune the start section of the T cut planes by rotation;

_A "defaultGrillage" state has been saved under the "Solution" menu for quick start-up;
_Pre-saved "input" and "output" views to easily navigate the definition;

_Automated layout of the rib sections for fabrication including notching, labeling and notch trimming;
_Visual 3D reference guide for construction.

Limitations:

_Works only with closed BReps;
_Center of radial grillage must be located outside the BRep or within a hole (temporary or otherwise) through the BRep;

// CUSTOM ANGLE WARNING //

_GH may cut custom sections in an unpredicted order. As a result some notches may not end up on the correct half of the corresponding T section. Check your output before trimming the notches.

View some screenshots from my album Gillage Making.

Definition File:

gRadFAB_v1.1.rar

====================================================================

UPDATED Definition:

[g]rillage [FAB]rication [v]ersion 3.1

Automated labeling should work much quicker now...

Definition File:

gFAB_v3.1.rar

Permalink Reply by taz on October 28, 2009 at 7:56am

Minor update:

gRadFab_v1.2.rar

Fixed the glitch. The center of the radial grids needs to be located within the BRep. I'm working on updating so the center can move outside the BRep for fan-like cut patterning.

gFAB_v3.2.rar

Fixed a small boo-boo with the labeling.

Permalink Reply by Maurice Martel on November 23, 2009 at 2:46pm

Dear Taz,
Your function is awsome, its nicely done.

I have a surface wich is going up (complex surface).
Do you have an idea of how I could make it to divide properly following the direction of the surface?

Thank you so much
Maurice

Attachments:

Surface.JPG, 244 KB

Permalink Reply by taz on November 24, 2009 at 8:38am

Maurice,

You can offset your surface manually and create a closed polysurface (BRep).

See this discussion:

Rib Builder Help.

Permalink Reply by Maurice Martel on November 24, 2009 at 4:16pm

Taz,
I don't really get it... sorry
You mean I have to make a "solid" surface at the begining or instead of the extrusion! I've tried it but the problem is that the extrusion of the members are not in the normal of my surface...
Its also offseting in the wrong direction...weird.
What do you think?
I have tried also a couple of definitions:

One based on a geometry made in rhino. My main problem was that I was making the notches directly on the object (not lied down) and it was making a problem because they were not in the same exact plane as the ribs. I've attached that file if you want to take a look.

The other is a divided surface but it makes the same exact problem...damn... notches.

Thank you so much
Maurice

Attachments: