Shapeshifter (no X-file) Chest

As my Grasshopper and Rhino 3D studies progress, I have set another goal: to create a type of chest of drawers – or, more precisely, a whole range of them in one definition, from the size of a bed table to that of a tall-boy (or semanier).

This is possible in Grasshopper due to the nature of the entry data (input): either a so called number slider, in which case a dimension (e.g. width, depth, height) can be changed manually by adjusting the slider, or alternately, the dimensions can loop through a range of numbers automatically.

In the following definition (see video below), I used both methods: the width, depth and height are looping through a range while the face frame width and baseboard height are adjusted via number sliders. The number of drawers, the drawer heights and number of pulls are calculated based on the input dimensions.

The definition (the technical term for algorithm in Grasshopper) can be applied – with minor changes – to any type plan section: cabinet, circular, bowfront, bombée, demi-lune or arbalete, etc. My final definition turned out more complex than I expected! To paraphrase some giants of history: I didn’t have enough time to make it simpler!

As I write this, I am struck by other ways in which we can use Grasshopper definitions to create cabinetry shapes but, as usual, time is short and more “uncharted” Grasshopper components beckon. Grasshopper has as many as 835 components organized into 60 panels and – albeit enjoyable – learning by doing is a painstaking and slow endeavour. Between my spirograph definition and the current shapeshifter, I have tried 99 out of the 835 existing components in the Grasshopper plug-in. I’m on my way!