6. Computational Couture¶

Lecture on October 21st, 2025 Global Instructor: Julia Koerner

Local Instructor: Rico - Blender, 23rd October 2025

Assignment¶

-Document the concept, sketches, references also to artistic and scientific publications Design a parametric model using Grasshopper3D and uploadthe rhino file + grasshopper files

-Learn how to use 3D printing techniques to print the 3D model in/on the chosen materials

-Document the workflow for exporting your file and preparing the machine and gcode to be 3D printed

-Upload your stl file with pictures at oscircularfashion.com

-Submit some of your swatches to the analog material library of your lab. (20cm *20cm aprox)

Research & Ideation¶

References & Inspiration¶

I wanted to start with the artists and patterns that inspired me this week, so I created this moodbaord.

Tools¶

Blender
3D printer
Fabric (lycra) 20X20 Fabric
Filament (PLA)

Process and workflow¶

Blender

Test 1¶

the100 by berrakokyar on Sketchfab

Test on Blender, Tutorial Architecture Topics, by Berrak Zeynep Okyar

Steps:

Test1 on Blender - folowing Architecture Topic tutorial, Berrak Zeynep Okyar

Create the base shape Add a circle (Shift + A → Mesh → Circle). Set Vertices to 3, Radius to 0.5 m, and Fill Type to N-Gon. You now have a filled triangle.
Create the center point Go to Edit Mode. Select the face and press I to inset slightly. Press S → 0 → Enter to collapse it. Select the three center vertices and merge them with M → At Center.

Connect the edges Switch to Edge Select (2). Select the three main edges and right-click → Subdivide. Select each midpoint with the center vertex and press J to connect them.
Create a vertex group Go to Object Data Properties. Under Vertex Groups, click + and name it OuterVerts. Select the three outer vertices and click Assign.
Duplicate to build the pattern Enable snapping and set it to Vertex. Press Shift + D to duplicate along X or Y. Move the copy up by 3 m and press Shift + R to repeat. Select all and press Ctrl + J to join them into one object.

Add shape keys Go to Object Data Properties → Shape Keys. Click + to add a Basis, then + again to add Key 1. With Key 1 selected, go to Edit Mode, select the center vertices, and move them down on Z by 0.2. Use the Value slider to morph between the two shapes.

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Scale similar vertices Select one center vertex and go to Select → Similar → Amount of Connected Edges. Add your saved vertex group by clicking Select. Switch to Edge Select mode. Set Pivot Point to Individual Origins. Press S → Shift + Z and scale slightly to create gaps. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

How to make your triangle 15 cm × 15 cm with 0.2 cm thickness in Blender

Set up your units • Go to Scene Properties (the globe icon). • Under Units: • Unit System: Metric • Unit Scale: 0.01 • Length: Centimeters
Adjust the object size • Select your triangle object. • Open the Item (N panel) on the right. • Under Dimensions, set: • X: 15.0 Y: 15.0 Z: 0.2

(This means the triangle is 15 cm wide, 15 cm tall, and 0.2 cm thick.)

Add thickness using the Solidify Modifier • With the triangle selected, go to Modifier Properties (wrench icon). • Click Add Modifier → Solidify. • Set these values: • Thickness: 0.2 cm • Offset: 0 • Click Apply to confirm the modifier.
Check the final dimensions • Press Tab to enter Edit Mode. • In the Item panel, confirm the object measures 15 × 15 × 0.2 cm.
Export as STL • Go to File → Export → Stl (.stl). • In the export panel on the right, enable: • Selection Only • Apply Modifiers • Scale: 1.00 • Choose the save location and click Export STL.

Test 2¶

This model inspired by my moodboard but also watched tutorial on Youtube.

Test1 on Blender - folowing Youtube tutorial, Berrak Zeynep Okyar

3d Model by Berrak Zeynep Okyar

Test 3¶

Parameter Grid — Full Step-by-Step Process (Blender Geometry Nodes)

Tutorial with FabricAcademy with RICO

1.Start a new Geometry Nodes setup 1. Open a new Blender file (default cube). 2. With the cube selected, go to the Modifiers tab (blue wrench icon).

Click New under Geometry Nodes.
You’ll now see two nodes: Group Input and Group Output, connected by a green wire.

• This green wire is essential — it connects the input geometry to the output.

• If you disconnect it, the cube disappears.

2.Rename the Geometry Node tree

At the top of the Geometry Node Editor, rename Geometry Nodes to Parameter Grid.

• This is the name of your node tree.

⸻

3.Add a Grid node

Make sure your cursor is in the Geometry Node Editor.
Press Shift + A, type Grid, and add the Grid node.
Connect Grid → Mesh to Group Output → Geometry.

• Shortcut: select the grid node and press Shift + Alt + Left Click to auto-connect.

You should now see a flat grid in the 3D Viewport.

⸻

4.Switch to Wireframe View

In the 3D Viewport, go to the shading icons in the top-right.
Click the one with grid lines (the Wireframe view).
You can now see all grid divisions clearly.

⸻

5.Create parameters for Grid size and subdivisions

In the Grid node, you’ll see:

• Size X, Size Y, Vertices X, Vertices Y.
Drag the small gray dot next to Size X into an empty socket on Group Input.
Connect Size Y to the same dot as Size X (to keep the grid square).
Drag the dot next to Vertices X into a new empty socket on Group Input.
Connect Vertices Y to the same dot as Vertices X (to keep subdivisions even).

6.Rename the exposed parameters

Press N in the Geometry Node Editor to open the side panel.
Under Group Sockets, rename:

• Size X → Grid Size

• Vertices X → Subdivisions

You’ll now see Grid Size and Subdivisions in the Modifier panel under Parameter Grid.

⸻

7.Test the parameters

Set Grid Size = 15 (this makes a 15 cm × 15 cm grid).
Set Subdivisions = 30 (this adds 30 divisions per side).
The grid should now appear larger and denser.

⸻

8.If your Group Input/Output boxes disappear

Select the object in the Outliner to make sure it’s active.
If still missing:

• Delete the current object (X → Delete).

• In the 3D Viewport, press Shift + A → Mesh → Cube.

• Open the Geometry Node Editor and click New again.

• You’ll get new Group Input and Group Output boxes.

Add a Grid node and reconnect it as before.

⸻

9.Add a OBJECT

In the 3D Viewport, press Shift + A → Mesh → Circle
You’ll now have two objects in the Outliner:

• Cube (your grid)

• Circle

Rename them for clarity:

• Rename Cube → Grid

With the circle selected, press S to scale it smaller (so it fits on the grid).

⸻

10.Keep the node tree visible (Pin it)

When you click on Circle, the Geometry Nodes editor goes blank because it has no modifier.
To keep your node tree visible:

• In the Geometry Node Editor header, click the push pin icon next to the node tree name (Parameter Grid).

• Now the node tree will stay visible no matter which object is selected.

⸻

11.Add “Instance on Points” node

Click back on the Grid object.
In the Geometry Node Editor, Shift + A → Search → Instance on Points.
Place it between the Grid node and the Group Output node.
Connect:

• Grid → Mesh → Instance on Points → Points

• Instance on Points → Instances → Group Output → Geometry

⸻

12.Instance a Cube on the Grid 1. Drag a new connection from Instance on Points → Instance, and search Cube.

You’ll now see cubes appear on every vertex of your grid.
To make them smaller:

• Select the cube node and set Scale X, Y, Z = 0.1.

⸻

13.Replace Cube with Circle

In the Outliner, drag the circle object into the Geometry Node Editor.
This creates a new Object Info node labeled “circle .”
Connect Object Info → Geometry to Instance on Points → Instance.
You’ll now see many small circles heads placed on every intersection point of your grid.

⸻

14.Adjust View

Switch the 3D Viewport shading from Wireframe to Rendered Preview to see the result clearly.
You should now see an organized array of monkey heads across the parameterized grid.

Reference:Fabricacademy Blender Tutorial 2025-2026

Test 4¶

3D Models¶

the 100

the100 by berrakokyar on Sketchfab

3D Printer¶

We used a basic 3D printer; it melts the filament, extrudes it layer by layer, and then lets it cool and solidify.

Machine parts of a 3D printer example by Berrak Zeynep Okyar

-Easy and Quick Assembly: It comes with several assembled parts; you only need about 2 hours to assemble 20 nuts well.

-Advanced Extruder Technology: Upgraded extruder greatly reduces plugging risk and bad extrusion; V-Shape with POM wheels makes it move noiseless, smoothly, and durable.

Safety Protected Power Supply: Only needs 5 minutes for the hotbed to reach 110℃.

Software to 3D Printing¶

We use 2 different 3D Printer in Biolab Lisboa.

First printer for 3d printing on lycra fabric. We used ULTIMATED CURA program for 3D Printer.We were printing in PLA filament.

First sample used this 3d printer and CURA program.

Test on 3d printer :

Test on fabric :

Second printer for 3d printing.We use program for 3D Printer.

Results¶¶

The100 on Lycra

Even though I made several designs, we couldn’t print most of them due to issues in the 3D printing stage. So I decided to follow Rico’s tutorial step by step and start with this one.

We printed 100 circles on lycra, which took 5 hours and 40 minutes.

Starting with something basic turned out to be the best approach for the first trial.

In BLENDER