Parametric design software for optimized 3D-printed foundation molds.
Scawo3D and Skeno had access to a printer capable of handling complex geometries, but generating each 3D model manually was too time-consuming for bespoke foundation molds.
We built a parametric modelling workflow, so a user can input geometry parameters and receive a file ready for print. With our structural engineering experience, we were also able to integrate structural requirements directly into the geometry generation.
Scawo3D and Skeno want to deliver a mold for foundations that can reduce the casting operations on site from 2 to 1 per foundation, that can be carried and assembled without the use of cranes, and that can reduce material usage. The foundation concept is currently being tested with a large Danish contractor and consulting firm.
We helped Scawo3D and Skeno with structural engineering, product development, and software development. Our software is Grasshopper-based and takes a few input parameters, then provides a full watertight mesh that can be sent directly to the printer. To make the script robust, we use a combination of meshes controlled by distance functions and voxel-based Boolean operations. This setup avoids the usual tolerance issues you would encounter when trying to create this kind of geometry.
