Project #1 Laser Cut

I used grasshopper and rhino to create a pattern that I could use as a stencil. Then used the laser cutter to cut the pattern.

It was difficult with no knowledge of programming to get through the tutorial. I was typing in code commands, now knowing what they really meant, so when I ran into a problem it was hard to troubleshoot without help. But I dug in and found answers and eventually made a design that I could export to ai.

I didn’t understand what the AB node was and it never connected to my offset curve nodule

In ai, I felt more comfortable making adjustments because it’s a program I know well. After pathfinder unite, I filled in the positive space so I could better imagine what was being cut away, then I manually adjusted some lines. I felt that my lines were too thin and in hindsight I would have offset to 1.5 or 2. Instead of 1.

I didn’t really know the dimension I was working in in rhino. Because I couldn’t find a ruler function. But I was able to scale it to size in illustrator.

I then was finally able to cut on the laser cutter! I'm happy with the design and like the idea of using rhino, grasshoper and then illustrator to add my personal touches. The final result reminded me of a blend of lace or cobwebs, I can use it as is and paint it, or i can use it as a stencil to use multiple times in my work.

View of rhino, by first creating two points, then using the number slider tool in python to increase the points we see in the grid

I had trouble finding the delauney edges tool, but after searching the internet for an answer, I realized that it lived under the 'mesh' tab and found it there.

As I worked I had many 'error' messages in my python codes, It was too abstract for me, as it was my first time. But asking questions of peers helped.

For some reason, the offset curve wouldn't work for awhile. I did eventually get it to connect, but the connection with the A-B node never worked. Despite that, I still created nice lines and I offset my lines by 1, before exporting to an ai file

In Ai, I first used the pathfinder tool to 'unite' all lines into one big shape. I then filled it with green to see what my positive space was. I adjusted some shapes with my white arrow and also deleted the super tine holes that I knew wouldn't cut well in the laser cutter.

I liked going in by hand in adobe illustrator afterward, because I'm more familiar with that program and I could make the design off balance and create asymmetry...adding a human touch.