Parametric Workflows with Blender: Animating Robots for Digital Fabrication

This workshop will explore several digital fabrication workflows using Blender. We will begin by introducing the fundamentals of Blender's interface and navigation to ensure all participants are comfortable with the softwareenvironment. We'll set up a workspace tailored for digital fabrication tasks and familiarize ourselves with Blender. We will export some manually generated toolpaths to get conformable with blender's main interface. Next, we'll delve into Geometry Nodes, Blender's powerful system for procedural and parametric modeling. We'll explore how node-based workflows can generate toolpaths, and we'll practice creating toolpaths for drawing and cuttingapplications using plotters and CNC machines.

We will then focus on 3D printing workflows. Starting with basic toolpath generation using Geometry Nodes to create optimized toolpaths for additive manufacturing. We'll address common 3D printing issues and constraints,ensuring that your designs are print-ready. The final part of our workshop will cover robotic fabrication workflows. We'll introduce Animaquina, a Blender addon for animating, simulating, and controlling robotic arms. You'll learn how to create multi-axis toolpaths suitable for robotic fabrication and understand the constraints and possibilities of working with robots. We'll also cover essential safety protocols and best practices in robotic fabrication.

Throughout the workshop, we'll emphasize the use of attributes within Geometry Nodes to tailor and customize your toolpaths. Students will work individually on a final project that integrates the techniques covered in theworkshop.