Getting Started with Genoform

Getting Started __________________________________________________________________________________

Genoform

Version 2.002 Rel. 28 September 2011

Works with:  Rhino/Grasshopper  Inventor  SolidWorks

Version 2.0.0.2

www.genoform.com

by : Sivam Krish

What is Genoform ? ___________________________________________________________________________

Genoform is a CAD independent generative design method that will enable you to explore thousands of design possibilities based on your CAD model. It’s simple to use.

You first create a parametric CAD model driven by parameters. By changing the parameters you can change the designs.

Genoform extracts the driving parameters from your CAD design and generates random variations of it within minimum and maximum values. This min/max range is set by the creativity bar (they can also be set within grasshopper). As you will end up generating thousands of designs, you need to filter them. You can now do this according to your own criteria.

Version 2.0.0.2

www.genoform.com

by : Sivam Krish

Genoform (main)

1

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Mark as Like/Dislike

Explore

Set range of exploration

Set no of designs to generate

Click to generate

Shrink the UI

Genoform (main) is a stand‐alone software that communicates with your CAD package. All your design is done in CAD. Genoform induces your CAD to generate designs based on parameters that you set within your CAD program.

Genoform allows you to :

1. Generate as many designs as you like 2. Saves images of these designs for selection 3. Filter the generated designs

In short, it helps you explore design possibilities by letting you generate and select designs that you like for further exploration and refinement – based entirely on your CAD file.

Remember to create or open your CAD file first. You need to save it

before you start genoform main.

Version 2.0.0.2

www.genoform.com

by : Sivam Krish

Grasshopper / Rhino

2

First load the Genoform components into your Rhino>Grasshopper>Components Directory. You should then be able to see the Genoform components under the extra tab.

Main Genoform component: Need to drag and drop this once. This communicates to Genoform Main

Genoform slider : This works like a normal slider. You can set the min and max values

Filter components

Sample Grasshopper file

Once you have created the file you need to save the file first. Then open Genoform Main and press Generate

Version 2.0.0.2

www.genoform.com

by : Sivam Krish

Inventor & Solidworks

3

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Create a CAD model in inventor and save it. Then start Genoform Main. The filter values are set to mass, surface area and volume.

Should be easy to use.

Open your CAD file first and then launch genoform.

Version 2.0.0.2

www.genoform.com

by : Sivam Krish

4

Advanced Features

___________________________________________________________________________ Designs : Tabulates the creativity value and the parameter names and values.

The Min, Max values are set by the creativity bar, but can be overridden by the values you wish to set. You can do this, by typing in the desired values and by setting the Override value to 1.

Filter : Allows you to filter the designs by filter values. In inventor and Solidworks the filter values are pre-set to Geometry (based on build failure ) surface area and volume. In Rhino these 3 filter values many be manually set. But Rhino will not be able to detect geometry failures as it does not have a geometric kernel for detecting built failure. The like/unlike Colum values are set by the user. The pass fail is determined by anding the rest of the values.

Filter Values : are derived from the CAD package. The scroll bar can be used to set the pass fail range of the filter values.

Settings : the wilder range can be ticked to extend the creativity range beyond 100%

Version 2.0.0.2

www.genoform.com

by : Sivam Krish

Saving & Retrieving : You can save and retrieve the generated design data in XML or Excel format using the save and open buttons under the explore tab.

Stored Images : The generated images are stored in a folder in the same directory where your designs are stored.

Your Feedback :

It is very important to us.

Please share your designs and dilemmas in our user forums at www.genoform.com

Release notes :

TESTED √ Rhino 4 , Grasshopper Build 0.8.005, 8.0051 and Windows 7, Vista and XP √ SolidWorks 2010 (64 Bit) in Windows 7 √ Inventor 2010 (64 Bit) in Windows 7

Version 2.0.0.2

www.genoform.com

by : Sivam Krish