Using Grasshopper for assembly calculations

I found it interesting, instead of doing yet another boring Excel spreadsheet, to create a calculation sheet in Grasshopper.

This one calculates a pinned assembly according to the "Eurocodes-3" (steel structures).
The goal is to calculate plate thicknesses, axis diameter, and shape of gussets based on the previously calculated axial loading.
I could even use the result values to actually draw the assembly, but I'm not there yet.

First, I'd like my definition to give me the results in an appealing way.
For all the verifications, I would like to display a panel saying "OK" or "BAD", which would be respectively green or red depending on if it passed or failed.

Something like "conditional cell colors" in Excel.

Is this possible somehow ?

Cheers ?

At first, I'd like to

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by WT4 on August 12, 2009 at 7:05am

What component are you using to display your line diagrams

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 12, 2009 at 7:57am

It's the image sampler.
I'm using the 0.6.0018 beta ; you might have an earlier version which does not have this feature...

Permalink Reply by WT4 on August 12, 2009 at 8:16am

So you are using the image sampler just to show a picture? From my understanding the only input to this component are the coordinates where you want the r,g,b values

In answer to your querry, you could use the vb component to output the message you require depending on some design criteria

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 12, 2009 at 8:58am

Yes, just to show a picture.
It is needed to illustrate the calculation, and make it clear what the variables refer to.
I know, this is not an orthodox use of Grasshopper, but what the heck ?

I'll check out the VB component thing, and see if it's possible to color the panel depending on a boolean.

Thanks !

Permalink Reply by WT4 on August 12, 2009 at 9:30am

I hope that there might be more features that will be added to image display based components, e.g. the ability to choose which file is displayed depending on the result of some calculation etc. Like you I am using Grasshopper in a slightly unorthodox way. I am using it as part of a revision type session with our final year students who have done a 1 year industrial placement and might have forgotten some of the engineering fundamentals.

Permalink Reply by Olivier Suire on August 12, 2009 at 10:05am

I linked the image to another panel just for visual purposes ; there is no data transfer here.

What I wish for is a string panel that could display various texts, and have a background color depending on input values.

I also wish for a better "Integer and number display" as explained in the so-called discussion I started.

All this would also benefit the more orthodox usages of GH I think...

RSS