91 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
91 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
# Catastrophe Theory — 3D Print Models
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## Project Overview
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This project generates 3D-printable STL models of surfaces from **catastrophe theory** — a branch of mathematics studying how small changes in parameters can cause sudden, discontinuous changes in a system's equilibrium state.
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Two surfaces are being produced:
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| Model | Catastrophe Type | Codimension | Potential |
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|-------|-----------------|-------------|-----------|
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| Cusp | Cusp catastrophe | 2 | x⁴ + ax² + bx |
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| Butterfly | Butterfly catastrophe | 4 | x⁶ + ax⁴ + bx³ + cx² + dx |
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---
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## The Mathematics
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Each surface is the **equilibrium manifold** — the set of all points where the system is in equilibrium. For a potential V(x), equilibria satisfy:
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> dV/dx = 0
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The 3D surface is swept over the control parameter space (a, b), with x (the state variable) as the third axis. Where the surface folds back on itself is the **bifurcation set** — the region where the system can catastrophically jump between states.
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### Butterfly Catastrophe
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- **Potential:** V(x) = x⁶ + ax⁴ + bx³ (with c=0, d=0 fixed)
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- **Equilibrium condition:** dV/dx = 6x⁵ + 4ax³ + 3bx² = 0
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- **Control space:** (a, b) swept over a 2D grid
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- **State space:** up to 5 real roots x at any given (a, b)
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- **Characteristic feature:** nested "butterfly wing" fold structure — more complex than the cusp, with additional inner fold lobes
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---
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## Files
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- `butterfly_catastrophe.py` — generates the butterfly surface STL
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- `butterfly_catastrophe.stl` — ready-to-slice output (ASCII STL, ~7,300 triangles)
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- `CLAUDE.md` — this file
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> A cusp catastrophe script also exists and was the starting point for this project.
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---
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## How the Generator Works
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1. **Root finding** — at each (a, b) grid point, all real roots of dV/dx = 0 are found using Newton-Raphson with dense initial seeding across the x range
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2. **Branch tracking** — roots are sorted and matched by branch index across adjacent grid cells
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3. **Mesh construction** — adjacent grid quads on the same branch are triangulated into a surface mesh
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4. **Base slab** — a flat rectangular base is added so the model is self-supporting on a print bed
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5. **ASCII STL output** — written as ASCII (not binary) for maximum compatibility with slicers and viewers
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---
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## Running the Generator
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```bash
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python butterfly_catastrophe.py
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```
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Output: `butterfly_catastrophe.stl`
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### Tuning Parameters (inside the script)
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| Parameter | Default | Effect |
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|-----------|---------|--------|
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| `grid` | `40` | Resolution of the (a,b) control grid — increase for finer mesh |
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| `a_vals` range | `(-2.5, 1.2)` | Range of control parameter a |
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| `b_vals` range | `(-2.5, 2.5)` | Range of control parameter b |
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| `x_range` | `2.2` | Search window for equilibrium roots |
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For a final high-quality print, increase `grid` to `80`–`100`. The default of `40` is optimised for STL viewer compatibility.
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---
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## 3D Printing Tips
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- **Orientation:** flat base down — no supports needed
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- **Layer height:** 0.15–0.20 mm for good surface detail
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- **Perimeters:** ≥ 2, as the fold regions are thin
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- **Scale:** ~120 mm along the a-axis makes a good desk model
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- **Material:** PLA or PETG both work well; the overhangs are gentle
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---
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## Dependencies
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```
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numpy
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```
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No other dependencies — STL writing uses Python's built-in `struct` module (binary) or plain file I/O (ASCII).
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