evolute. blog
behind the scenes
MADE magazine recently published an article about the complex geometry of freeform architecture and the challenges associated with building it. It is worth reading, furthermore the Magazine is very interesting for any designer and architect, published by the UK Materials Knowledge Transfer Network, the magazine seeks to bring together product designers and materials developers to improve innovation and competitiveness for UK businesses. All issues of MADE magazine are freely available if you join the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network.
We recently added a user image gallery to our webpage for people to showcase their paneling studies created with either EvoluteTools PRO or EvoluteTools Lite. This could serve as inspiration for everyone and also demonstrate some of the features of our plugins. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to share your studies, either as photorealistic renderings , built work, or just technical images of meshes.
Starting in March we are launching a new series of Workshops focusing on rationalizing complex freeform envelopes using EvoluteTools PRO. The main target groups for these workshops are professionals in the Architectural and Building Industry, however the application of EvoluteTools PRO goes beyond these industries and reaches Product Design and Manufacture, or other fields that deal with complex geometry – ex. Optics, Naval/Marine Industry, Aeronautics and many more. The Workshops are a compact 1 day setup co-organized with reputable Rhino trainer and reseller SimplyRhino. If interested, hit the link for more information.
Glass on Web, a portal dedicated to the glass industry with directories and fresh news, recently published an article on Evolute’s Paneling of the Eiffel Tower Pavilions.
Recently we adjusted our product line-up in order to make our software products more accessible and focused. Standing out is the freely available EvoluteTools Lite, a compact Swiss Army Knife for paneling freeform surfaces and geometry optimization. The free Rhino plugin is ready for download via the already well known Food4Rhino platform. EvoluteTools Lite comes with no strings attached: unlimited mesh size, no costs and no patents. It has already proven its impressive optimization capabilities in projects like the [d_pod], a temporary exhibition pavilion designed by Pavilion Architecture (pictured below). Using EvoluteTools Lite we were able to produce an optimized paneling solution for the [d_pod] within minutes, and this is not an overstatement or marketing exaggeration, it is the real deal. After the paneling solution was generated, the bigger brother – EvoluteTools PRO stepped in and allowed us to generate a solid structure model via RhinoScript.
EvoluteTools Lite should not be missing from the arsenal of a designer, architect or engineer. It is not only fast but the mesh subdivision and polymesh support make it an extremely handy tool for paneling freeform surfaces and optimizing the panel layouts for production and aesthetic constraints.
We started the day at the Cutting Edge facilities again, trying to hard to finish the Corian panels in this short amount of time. Kevin’s team spent a few hours of the night continuing work, programming the machines and outputting more finished panels. The foundations will probably be ready this afternoon, once we have all the panels we will do a general mock-up fit-out, grab some tools and head for Robofold to start assembly on site.
CNC machining for the Corian former above.
Thermo-forming single curved Corian strips above.
Kevin and a part of his team will be working into the night, trying to get more panels done for tomorrow. Thursday is assembly day at Robofold, we will work at Cutting Edge in the morning and then move everything on site and start putting the pieces together. The fabrication takes quite a long time, first the cnc machines need programming, the MDF framing needs preparation and stacking for accommodating higher curvatures, the formers have to be machined, the unfolded developable strips are cut flat and then put on the formers under heat and pressure so they take the correct shape. After they have the correct shape they need some edge finishing. We have over 50 single curved panels in total, quite a big task. I have to mention that the Cutting Edge team is doing some extraordinary work, we and our workshop participants are trying to help as much as possible but the machining and thermo-forming times are quite long, we hope to pull it through. Stay with us !
So it is Day 3 of the EvoluteTools+Corian workshop, day 3 is fabrication day, we have all the workshop attendants at Cutting Edge right now, helping with the Corian forming. Last night we worked late trying to send as much data to Kevin at Cutting Edge so they can prepare for fabrication. We are a bit short on time, the machines are running at maximum, delivering MDF jigs which are used to thermo-form the single curved strips of white Corian.
We are pleased to announce our participation in the Shape to Fabrication workshops and conference. Evolute teamed up with experienced Corian processor Cutting Edge, offering the workshop attendants an exciting opportunity to design and build the seating area of a theater room, over four days of intensive iterative design and assembly. Workshop participants will use EvoluteTools for optimizing freeform surfaces for production constraints, gather knowledge and experience in Corian processing, interface and exchange ideas with the other groups in the event over four days of hard work. We would be happy to have you onboard, seats are limited though so register early!
As a US reseller of our products and services, Jonathan visited us this summer in order to collect more knowledge about how and what we work with. As an architect, entrepreneur and all around good guy he is always interested in fascinating geometry aspects, as evidenced in the presentation he held at TU Wien. His contagious passion and excitement for geometry can be clearly seen in his work and the collection of mathematical models available on shapeways. Recently Jonathan kicked off the sales of EvoluteTools in US with a heavy introductory discount, if you are considering buying the plugin, now it is the time to do it. Check out the Formpig website.