GENERAL ADVICE: Patternation across Polysurface?

Hello,

I'm after a little general advice regarding the kind of strategy that is relevant when attempting to create any kind of continuous patternation across a Polysurface?

I understand that the ideal would be to work with a single surface from the outset, but I am in a position where I may not be in control of the definition of the geometry upstream - this is the kind of pattern that I am interested in creating:

But ultimately I would like to apply it to a polysurface which has geometry simliar to this, and has been created as a polysurface:

I have tried applying my initial definition to this kind of geometry but it is evident that each section of the poly surface is recognised as an individual surface.

Is this kind of thing possible at all, or are you generally limited to working on single-surfaces when it comes to creating continuous patterns?

Many thanks in advance for any guidance or advice.

Take CAre,

Jay.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by peter fotiadis on June 29, 2016 at 10:07am

Well ... although there's some ways to make (in some cases) a single surface out of a polysurface ... I would suggest the mesh approach as a general guideline.

That said Rhino is mostly a nurbs modelling app therefor is worth considering some Plan B: using a dedicated subdivision modelling app (like Modo) for doing business with meshes ... at the expense of departing from the so called parametric framework.

But in any case in real-life after a "conceptual" (preliminary) design phase ... the parametric way is long long forgotten.

Permalink Reply by Jay Canham on June 29, 2016 at 10:23am

Thanks Peter, I'm half understanding you reply ;)

Am I right in thinking that Weaver Bird is the right plugin to look at?

Thanks again for any help :)

Permalink Reply by peter fotiadis on June 30, 2016 at 12:18am

Well ... the main issue in parametric stuff is that in some moment you must figure out a real-life solution for your abstract topology (and having blobs in mind: avoid leaking envelopes).

PS: WB operates in meshes ... but finding the right mesh (say: Using things the likes of Evolute Tools Pro) this is another animal that has nothing to do with WB. On the other hand the contemporary trend is using quads (and up) for faceting blobs ... meaning that planarization is rather the biggest challenge these days.

Spend some time with Kangaroo if you intent to stay "within" the parametric bandwagon as "long as possible".

Advise: ALWAYS think bottom-to-top when doing blobs: BEFORE attempting something have in mind the candidate envelope/structural systems that MAY can cut the mustard (or probably not, he he).

Permalink Reply by David Stasiuk on June 29, 2016 at 10:29am

This discussion may help you.

Permalink Reply by Jay Canham on July 1, 2016 at 5:09am

Thanks guys.

David, I (think I?) ended up adopting a similar strategy as you suggested. The solution that I arrive at is not perfect but gives a close embodiment.

Strategy was to create as close a surface as possible to my polysurface, from a single clean surface; use that single surface to create my patternation on, extrude closed cylinders at normals to the points on my approximated single surface and cut the cylinders from my original polysurface.

Thanks again for all of your help.

Take Care,

Jay.

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