The Book of Five Rings is a parametric model that allows you to customize your own set of rings by entering parameters.  The 6 focal parameters are the Ring Size (interior diameter), the Ring Thickness, the Ring Width (interior surface), the Outer Surface Width, Outer Surface Placement (variable beveling), and the Hole Diameter.

While you can go into the parametric model and vary a lot more options, I choose these six to keep the model simple and to make sure that the variation range within the model would still allow the group to have a cohesive aesthetic.

The Title was taken from a book written in 1645 by the famous swordsman Miyamoto Mushashi.  He was a Japanese ronin who never lost a duel.  Into his elder years, he wrote the Book of Five Rings as a manual of how to understand and defeat your opponent.  He also founded a school, Niten Ichi Ryu, which is a two-sword fighting technique.  His teachings spoke of being adaptable and having variability.

Each of the rings is sized for each one of my five fingers. The parameters that were varied are indicated and I plan on making it an open source application that will be available on GitHub for anyone who wants to play with the code to make their own rings.  Also, Shapeways allows 3D printing in silver.  Which I also hope to look into as the summer progresses.

http://www.keithius.com/wp

Here is the Original Chair…

Here is a simplified version of the chair modeled in Rhino and Rendered in Keyshot.

Design Parameters:

1. Play with the number of legs

2. Alter the shapes of the legs.  Both base geometry and overall size.

3. Build on the “center explosion” and play with other types of configurations for the legs. (“imploding”, “falling rain”, multiple “explosions” and “drop and shatter”)

4. Different bounding shapes

Hello World…

Found this interesting looking article that I haven’t had the chance to read yet.  Figured I share it with you all.

Lost Amid the Algorithms

Ciao…