Food4Rhino

Xylinus Overview
Xylinus allows for novel control of 3D printers, generating G code directly from native Rhino and Grasshopper geometries including solids, surfaces, and curves. It has tools for printers based on FDM filament extrusion, pneumatically-controlled syringes, ink-jet, and DLP Stereolithography.

The Xylinus Workflow
Printer control is defined by a combination of elements--input geometry, printer configurations, and a print component. Some print components use curves as an input to directly define the printers path of travel. Others use more volumetric geometry for and perform slicing operations similar to more conventional 3D printing software.
The configuration components collect and pass on the relevant information about the printer. There is a different config tool for each type of printing (filament, DLP, syringe). The config tool outputs these items individually and as a bundle. Most inputs in Xylinus can accept the specific config setting or the bundle. Ones you have established the settings for your printer, it can be saved as its own user object for future use. If you would like to make modifications to some of the settings, this can be done with the config tool; simple input the bundled data and then input data for the specific setting you want to change. All blank setting will use the input bundled data.

Open for Expansion
The configuration components make the plug-in adaptable to a wide range of printers, including custom-built machines with unique additions and M-codes. This project has been developed for bioprinting, but is useful for a wide range of research-based applications and creative hands-on use of 3D printers. In keeping with the spirit and many benefits of the open-source 3D printing movement, where possible, Xylinus is written as "user objects" which are open to the user to explore and even modify if needed.

About the Name "Xylinus"
This plug-in is named after Glucanobacter xylinus a bacteria that produces a fine microbial cellulose fiber. It is the portion of the Kombucha SCOBY that produces the pellicle that many artists, designers, and scientists are now exploring as a biomaterial with several compelling properties. G. xylinus produce a thin filament, not unlike a 3D printer, making it an ideal bug to serve as the namesake of a plug-in designed for bioprinting and other novel forms of 3D printing.  

Download
Xylinus is available to download for free. Contributions to the project are welcome, however. This can take the form of monetary donations, helping with debugging, and extending these tools. Everything is written as an unlocked "User Object" so the entire plug-in is open for you to