Skip to content

pyLattice ↔︎ Rhino/Grasshopper (GhPython)

Visualize and post-process pyLattice results directly in Grasshopper using a lightweight GhPython script.
This page explains installation, the expected JSON format, how to use the component, and how to troubleshoot.

Export lattice from pyLattice to Grasshopper

Generate a lattice in pyLattice and export it to a JSON file: 

from pyLatticeDesign.lattice import Lattice
from pyLatticeDesign.utils import save_JSON_to_Grasshopper

name_file = "design/"
name_lattice = "simple_BCC"

lattice_object = Lattice(name_file + name_lattice, verbose=1)

save_JSON_to_Grasshopper(lattice_object, name_file)

Construct component in Grasshopper and import the script

Use the provided GhPython script to create a Grasshopper component that reads the lattice JSON file and generates a voxelized mesh using the Dendro plugin. Remember to configure the path to your JSON file in the script.

The GhPython script is provided at: extras/grasshopper/pylattice_gh.py.

The component has the following structure (see image below): Grasshopper script

  • Inputs: a lattice name (pointing to a JSON export) nameLattice, a boolean to optionally cut the mesh cutCell.
  • Outputs:
  • lines: preview lines built from lattice nodes,
  • mesh: voxelized volume using Dendro,
  • vol: the volume of the resulting mesh (Rhino units³).

Requirements

  • Rhino 7 or 8, Grasshopper
  • Dendro plugin (for voxelization)
  • A lattice JSON file exported by pyLatticeDSO