Searching for a strategy to embed these pipes into a connector

My learning process into grasshopper, I use to build some tools for my musicmaking (double bass), One of that is a transporter trolley.
With help from the forum and a lot of reading/video watching, I progress (in grasshopper and my trolley :slight_smile: ).

Now I have come to a point that I need to mount 4-5 pipes together in a nicely fitting object. (see image). The best I can think of now is to start with a sphere/footballshape and with solid diff subtract the pipes.

But I would rather give it a more “organic” view. So the shape of the (let’s call it) mount will be not bigger then needed. In my imagination a “well formed potato” :slight_smile: ) around it.

I am searching for examples/tutorials/directions how to approach this. THoughts:

  • Maybe I can connect the circles with lofts (and other surfaces) ?
  • Or is it possible to create a cloud of points in and around it, and use this as structure for a surface.
  • Or even other methods.

So no technical issues (yet), but maybe some links, ideas so I can explore some different routes.

Thank you all. Regards, Eef

Hi Eef,

For an organic mount, you could try:

  1. Multipipe: Creates smooth, organic connections between pipe centerlines.
  2. Shrinkwrap: Forms a tight mesh around your pipes.
  3. Isopod Plugin: Lets you create implicit surfaces in Grasshopper that can naturally flow around your pipes, great for an organic look.

If you share your model, it’ll be easier to help!

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Thank you. I will study these lines. And come back with a model (now what you see is result of x pages of grasshopper.
Best I can do now is just bake it (BWYS) “Bake what you See”

bastroll.3dm (335.6 KB)

ShrinkWrap result. (the patatoe :slight_smile: )

The Isopod seems to be a very nice approach, but I could not find (yet) a way to incorporate it into my drawing. More study needed there.

Meanwhile, it seems that the Multipipe is doing the job. Need more finetuning, but already fine for now. Thanks for your help