Food4Rhino

Orbi is a plug-in for Grasshopper that generates patterns parametrically with symmetry groups.

Orbi allows to select a symmetry group and define any geometry as the fundamental region of a pattern. The fundamental region is the smallest part that is repeated in a pattern.

In Orbi the shape of the fundamental region is displayed and used as drawing area for an input
geometry. The fundamental region can be freely arranged and oriented in space. Once the fundamental region and the symmetry group are defined, the corresponding pattern is generated automatically.

Orbi offers clusters for symmetries of all rosette groups, frieze groups, wallpaper groups and spherical groups. Each cluster has the name of the symmetry group in Orbifold notation.

In Orbi there is a cluster for each of the 40 symmetry groups which are sorted into four groups.

Rosette groups:            2
Wallpaper groups:        17
Spherical groups:         14
Frieze groups:              7

Typically the steps to generate a pattern are:
 
1.     Select a symmetry group and place the cluster of the group in Grasshopper.
2.     Feed a plane into the cluster for orientation and localization of the fundamental region.
3.     Display or bake the fundamental region.
4.     Draw or place any geometry in the fundamental region.
5.     Feed a geometry located inside the fundamental region into the cluster in Grasshopper.
6.     Set further input parameters of the cluster in Grasshopper.
7.     Generate the pattern and bake the geometry.

We welcome anybody who would like to join us in making Orbi better or expanding its functionality.