Waffle Macro

Here are two macros that automate some of the classical structural styles in today’s architectural geometry. They could be developed more to include joint details, however. It is a relaxing experience to study macros when the process doesn’t have algorithmic expressions (such as recursion, iteration, or conditionals). It is today’s subject in the first-year design computing course at İBU.

The first one requires at least two curves already present in order to define a lofted surface (to be “waffled”):

! ; Waffle Structure Macro 2
_-loft _pause _enter
_sellast
_setobjectname mysurface
_contour j y 0,0,0 10,0,0 2
_extrudecrv 0.2
_sellast
_extrudesrf 0.6
_sellast
_group
_setgroupname ribs1
_selnone
_-selname mysurface
_contour j y 0,0,0 0,10,0 2
_extrudecrv 0.2
_sellast
_extrudesrf 0.6
_sellast
_group
_setgroupname ribs2
_-selgroup ribs1
_-selgroup ribs2
_invert
_hide

The second macro below takes any object you’ve modeled before and puts a drape surface on it (to be “waffled” again). This one also practices the use of layers:

! ; Waffle Structure Macro 3
_setview w t
_drape _pause
;_-loft _pause _enter
_sellast
_setobjectname mysurface
_setview w p
_zoom s
_contour j y 0,0,0 10,0,0 2
_sellast
_group
_setgroupname ribs1
_selnone
_-selname mysurface
_contour j y 0,0,0 0,10,0 2
_sellast
_group
_setgroupname ribs2
_selnone
_-selgroup ribs1
_-selgroup ribs2
_pipe 0.2 _enter
_sellast
_-layer e RIBS _enter
_-changelayer RIBS
_-layer c RIBS f Default _enter
_selnone

It is surprising that in some cases mouse is almost not necessary for Rhino. The addition of a couple more statements to the selection of objects might even advance this technique more. Note that the Command List at the Help menu includes all available commands to macro.