Using grasshopper to design simple 2d mechanisms

Grasshopper
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hi group

I have not used grasshopper but wanted to know if it can be used to design really simple mechanisms and linkages in 2d? (which will then move on to 3d)

I.e a simple door latch, where 2d shapes will be used to work out a design concept, and for it to be tested and developed, some shapes will need to push against and move others, some will need force or springs etc… also gravity needs to play a role on the design

is this possible in grass hopper?

and if so can anyone point me in the right direction of simple videos showing this in action in this way?

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This is possible with Kangaroo, but it’s not as user friendly as in mechanical CAD software where you can define proper constraints.

A complex linkage without collision:

This topic contains some simple examples:

Kangaroo linkages - Grasshopper / GH for Mac - McNeel Forum

In many situations you can solve the collisions in 2D which allows you to use just a curve collision goal instead of true solid collisions, which will be much faster…

Gear simulation - Grasshopper / Kangaroo - McNeel Forum

Rigid curve collide with offset - Grasshopper / Kangaroo - McNeel Forum

Have you used the search function yet?

Look for Kangaroo and curve collide / collision

2 Likes
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Thankyou martin

I too use other software like Autodesk and SpaceClaim Discovery, but they can be a bit OTT to set up and I like using Rhino for a lot of projects. Rhino has great 2d ability and freedom, which 2d can still play a role in complex mechanism design.
So it would be good to have solutions in Rhino if at all possible

I did have kangaroo when it first came out (so probably Version 1), but found it was not great and more of an animation output rather than a kinematic problem solver.
I think I still have the software disk and pack in a box somewhere :slight_smile:

but kangaroo does not look like it has developed much and doesn’t seem to have a website etc.. any more..

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Kangaroo is a native part of Rhino / Grasshopper. You do not need to install it separately. It has all the tools needed but as mentioned some of it can be tedious to set up.

Here’s an animation of a hinge I simulated with Kangaroo. A client uses the Grasshopper definition for collision detection of a special door.

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Thankyou Martin

I didn’t realise that it was built into grasshopper…. :slight_smile:

I want to learn Grasshopper (as well as learn python coding) but have not had a project or time to do so, perhaps I should now start to see what it can do…
now I know kangaroo is in grasshopper I will see if I can find tutorials that will assist.

I understand it is not straight forward like some others but Rhino has so many tools it is sometimes worth going the longer route just to keep learning in Rhino of the possibilities.

thankyou

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Nice work! What was the reason using Kangaroo? Kinematics look pretty straight forward, nothing a slider could not do. Am I missing something?

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The pivot point moves.

I think it could also be done using Bongo but I don’t have that available.

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https://www.food4rhino.com/en/app/linketix

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I think i may of mixed up kangaroo and bongo…… :joy::rofl:
it was bongo v1 I had, which seemed more of an animation package.. I didn’t get on with it but still have it in a box..