The geometry is imported into the commercial CAD-Software “Rhinoceros”. An especially programmed parser interprets the data of the model now closer defined by the set of construction parameters and creates the physical elements to be produced. First, the geometric data is rebuilt, following, the actual construction data is calculated and visualized. The polygonal cell elements are offsets of the cell edges, customized by selecting inner and outer radii as well as edge curvature. 

The scripts automatically create and arrange the necessary cutting plans for the machines. Each polygonal element, a so called “frame”, is rotated into an even plane, necessary milling offsets for the machine paths are automatically calculated and added. A second procedure builds up the geometry for the frame connectors. It also generates the cutting plans needed for the production of the several hundred individual frame connectors, each one shaped in an individual angle derived by the geometry of the overall structure.

left image variant 1, right image variant n

rhino : step cd 1 > generate construction model

rhino : step cd 2  > rotate shapes into even plane

rhino : step cd 3  >  generate connectorsrotate shapes into even plane

igs export

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import to SurfCam

transfer to cnc–machines

CAM cutting plans

material frames: 49.73sqm

material connectors: 4,80sqm

number of frames: 111

number of connectors: 1368

average milling

time for one frame: 8-9 minutes

average laser cutting

time for one connector: 70-80 seconds

total milling time: 34 hours

hours of assembly: 16 hours