Linking Digital Hanging Chain Models to Fabrication

Abstract

The paper traces the development of a digital hanging chain modeler in Java inspired by Antonio Gaudi’s physical hanging chain models. More importantly, it demonstrates how fabrication schemas for physical mockups of the digitally simulated hanging chain can be linked to the real time form finding simulation. Fabrication output is an integral part of the iterative process and not a post-design process. The current implementation is still limited and currently requires programming for reconfiguration. The paper proposes the link of form-finding and fabrication finding and lays out several examples and first steps of how to do so (Fig. 1).