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Computational Couture

01. Introduction

I was really excited about this week. This week was one of the reasons I signed up for Fabricademy in the first place, and I was looking forward to exploring how it could be combined with textiles, materials, and computational design, the idea of creating flexible structures, printing directly onto fabric, and translating digital geometries into physical materials.

However, the initial experiments did not fully meet my expectations. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the results, so I decided to continue exploring different designs and develop my design further rather than stop at the first prototypes.

This week became an opportunity to experiment with different printing materials, understand their behaviour, and use Rhino and Grasshopper to develop a more deliberate design.

02. Exploring 3D Printing Materials

2.1 Testing Different Filaments

I started by experimenting with different 3D printing materials, including PLA, ABS, and TPU.

I wanted to explore how the same pattern would behave when printed using different materials, and how their properties could influence the final result.

Each material offered a different direction for experimentation, from more rigid structures to flexible forms.

Testing different 3D printing materials

Initial experiments with different filaments and printed patterns.

2.2 Printing the Pattern

I used my pattern as a starting point for the material experiments, printing it with different filaments to observe the results.

Pattern printed using PLA

Testing the pattern using PLA.

Pattern printed using ABS

Testing the pattern using ABS.

Pattern printed using TPU

Testing the pattern using TPU.

These experiments were my first step towards understanding how the choice of material could affect the design, particularly when thinking about its potential application in textiles.

03. 3D Printing on Fabric

After experimenting with the filaments, I moved on to printing directly onto fabric.

I printed on fabric before at kais al rawi's masterclass,

Preparing fabric for 3D printing

Preparing the fabric for the printing experiment.

3D printing directly onto fabric

Experimenting with 3D printing directly onto a textile surface.

Result of the 3D printing on fabric experiment

The printed pattern integrated with the fabric.

This experiment allowed me to explore the relationship between the printed structure and the flexibility of the textile.

04. From Spirograph to Parametric

The spirograph was actually one of the concepts I had in mind when I decided to join Fabricademy. I was interested in exploring how these intricate, repetitive patterns could be generated digitally and eventually translated into physical forms using computational design and digital fabrication.

Spirograph design set

The spirograph: an analogue tool for generating complex geometric patterns through the movement of circles.

I started exploring the geometry behind these patterns and how to recreate them using Rhino and Grasshopper. This led me to hypotrochoids, hypocycloids, and epitrochoids — mathematical curves generated by the movement of one circle in relation to another. The classic spirograph toy uses these principles to create its characteristic looping patterns. [1]

Understanding the Geometry

Spirograph curve generated in Rhino

One of my first attempts to generate a spirograph-like curve in Rhino.

I found several resources that helped me understand the relationship between the mathematics, the curves, and their computational implementation.

  • Hypotrochoid — Wikipedia
    This was a starting point for understanding the mathematics behind the pattern. A hypotrochoid is traced by a point attached to a circle rolling inside a larger fixed circle. The radii of the circles and the distance of the tracing point from the moving circle's centre determine the resulting curve. The spirograph is a familiar physical example of this family of curves.

  • Epitrochoid / Hypotrochoid Curve — Grasshopper Forum
    This was particularly useful for connecting the mathematical concept to parametric modelling. The discussion includes a Grasshopper definition for generating epitrochoid and hypotrochoid curves, demonstrating how the geometry can be constructed computationally and explored through a node-based workflow. It also points towards other possibilities, including adapting the curves for CNC fabrication.

  • Hypocycloid — MathCurve
    This one was a treasure trove that I want to explore further. Beyond the basic curve, it presents different variations, properties, constructions, and relationships with other mathematical forms. I can already imagine returning to it to investigate how these geometries could be translated into different patterns, structures, and fabrication applications.

  • Hypotrochoid Animation with Python Turtle
    This resource connects the same mathematical principles to Python Turtle. Instead of constructing the curve through Grasshopper components, the pattern can be generated through code and visualised as a drawing process. This gave me another direction to consider: using a simple script to generate the curve and potentially connecting it to a digital fabrication workflow.

Building the Pattern in Grasshopper

Grasshopper definition for generating a spirograph pattern

My Grasshopper definition, using parameters such as the outer radius, gear divisions, and tracing distance to generate the curve.

I started building my own definition in Grasshopper, breaking the curve into smaller steps and connecting the mathematical parameters to the geometry.

The definition uses sliders to control variables such as the outer radius, gear divisions, and tracing distance. These values determine the movement of the tracing point and, consequently, the shape of the resulting curve. I also worked with the angular range and the number of points used to construct the curve.

Spirograph curve generated through Grasshopper

The generated curve in Rhino, showing how the parameters influence the resulting geometry.

What interested me was the possibility of treating the pattern as a system rather than a fixed drawing. By changing the parameters, I could explore different configurations and begin thinking about how the geometry might become a repeatable pattern or a physical structure.

This was also where I started connecting the initial idea to the objectives of Computational Couture: taking a mathematical system, building a parametric model, and exploring how it could be translated into a fabricated object.

My next step was to develop the curve further and prepare a pattern for 3D printing, using the printer not only to reproduce a digital design but also to investigate how the geometry behaves as a physical material.

05. Preparing the Design for Fabrication

Once the design was developed, the next stage was to prepare the geometry for 3D printing.

This involved preparing the model for export and fabrication, connecting the digital workflow in Rhino and Grasshopper with the printing process.

Preparing the model for 3D printing

Preparing the geometry for fabrication.

Slicing the model before printing

Preparing the model in the slicing software.

Fabrication Workflow

  1. Develop the geometry in Rhino and Grasshopper.
  2. Prepare the model for fabrication.
  3. Export the geometry in a format suitable for 3D printing.
  4. Import the model into the slicing software.
  5. Configure the printing parameters according to the material and design.
  6. Fabricate the model and document the results.

The specific printer, slicing settings, and fabrication details will be added alongside the corresponding experiments.

06. Results and Further Exploration

Although I was excited about the possibilities of combining 3D printing with textiles, the first experiments did not give me the results I had hoped for.

Rather than considering these experiments as a finished outcome, I decided to continue exploring the materials and develop the design further.

The process moved between material testing and computational design, allowing me to investigate the possibilities of combining printed geometries with textile structures.

Collection of 3D printing experiments

A collection of the material and printing experiments developed during the week.

Developed design and physical prototype

The developed design and its physical outcome.

08. Fabrication Files & References

Design Files

  • Rhino model: week06-design.3dm
  • Grasshopper definition: week06-design.gh
  • 3D printing file: week06-design.stl

Materials Explored

  • PLA
  • ABS
  • TPU
  • Fabric used for the printing experiments

Software

  • Rhino
  • Grasshopper
  • Cura slicer

References

[1] Hypotrochoid — Wikipedia
[2] Epitrochoid / Hypotrochoid Curve — Grasshopper Forum
[3] Hypocycloid — MathCurve
[4] Hypotrochoid Animation with Python Turtle

1. Objective

weekly assignment

Check out the weekly assignment here or login to your NuEval progress and evaluation page.

2. References, research & inspiration

2.1 Quick how-tos

remove chapter 2.1 after use

Uploading images

  1. Remember to credit/reference all your images to their authors. Open source helps us create change faster together, but we all deserve recognition for what we make, design, think, develop. Use the caption and reference system examples you see in the template.

  2. Resize and optimize all your images. Images are optimised in size with resolution 72dpi, a good max width for full screen is 800px and passed through tinypng for final optimisation.

  3. Remove tips when you don't need them anymore!

How-to use footnotes for references or fabrication files

  1. Fabrication files are a necessary element for evaluation. You can add the fabrication files at the bottom of the page and link them as a footnote. This was your work stays organised and files will be all together at the bottom of the page. Footnotes are created using 1 (without spaces, as shown in Step 1 & 2, and referenced as you see at the bottom of this page) You can reference the fabrication files to multiple places on your page.

  2. Referenced footnotes are important for crediting work of others, within your documentation.

  3. If you are using footnotes for both, make sure to not mix them up, work with the numbering to keep things organised

How-to compress a PDF BEFORE uploading it:

Use a compressor when uploading a PDF, you can use online tools such as ilovepdf or smallpdf

How-to encode a VIDEO BEFORE uploading it:

Use a video encoder when uploading a video it needs to be well compressed, you can download tools such as Handbrake or online tools such as this Video Converter

How-to ZIP/compress a large Fabrication file:

To zip a file on Windows, right-click the file or folder, select "Show more options," choose "Send to," then "Compressed (zipped) folder." watch On a Mac, select the file or folder and choose "Compress" from the context menu. watch

get inspired!

Check out and research alumni pages to better understand how to document and get inspired

Add your fav alumni's pages as references

describe what you see in this image, see code to adjust width and alignment

"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. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua."

describe what you see in this image

centered image with credits/reference

Caption for the left image

Caption for the right image


Unable to display PDF file. Download instead.
  • Video references: Vimeo (only when not yours)

Sound Waves from George Gally (Radarboy) on Vimeo.

  • Video references: Youtube (only when not yours)

3. Tools

4. Process and workflow

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. "

describe what you see in this image

How-to use footnotes for fabrication files

Fabrication files are a necessary element for evaluation. You can add the fabrication files at the bottom of the page and link them as a footnote. This was your work stays organised and files will be all together at the bottom of the page. Footnotes are created using 1 (without spaces, as shown in Step 1 & 2, and referenced as you see at the bottom of this page) You can reference the fabrication files to multiple places on your page.

4.1 Step 1

This model 3 was obtained by.. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

4.2 Step 2

The laser cut nesting 2 was created using.. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

4.3 Step 3

...

5. Results

Results & documentation
  • Don’t forget to document the outcome including:
  • Upload the photos & files on oscircularfashion
  • Final result
  • Photos from different stages
  • Videos of movement or interaction, show how a material moves, something was assembled or the interactive
  • Include measurements or a reference object to give a sense of size
  • Describe the (material) properties or what you made
  • Comparison between attempts, if you did multiple experiments or generated multiple files before fabricating / deploying. You can use a table as shown in week 4

6. Weekly reflection & critical thinking

  • What did I learn? What did I personally find interesting or surprised me?
  • What would I do differently? If something "failed" do I know how else to tackle it now?"
  • How does this connect to my final project or my learning trajectory?
  • What are implications and possible applications, think also from the ethical or environmental aspect, how it could connect to your practice and project?

NuEval — final step

Go to NuEval and fill in the checklist, when not complete notify your instructor.

7. Fabrication files & References

  1. File: 3D model ↩↩

  2. File: Grasshopper definition.. ↩

  3. Reference: Author; Title; Source; year ↩