COMPAS FAB is a robotic fabrication plugin for the Rhino and Grasshopper environment, enabling advanced planning and control for industrial robots. This software package serves as a specialized extension for the COMPAS computational framework, specifically engineered to bridge the gap between digital geometry and physical robotic execution. It provides a robust set of tools for path planning, motion simulation, and control of industrial robotic arms within the CAD interface. The architecture is designed to handle complex fabrication workflows, allowing users to define kinematic chains, toolpaths, and collision-avoidance parameters directly within their parametric design environment. By integrating these capabilities, it facilitates the transition from abstract computational models to precise, machine-readable fabrication instructions for automated manufacturing processes.

The download is a 23.1 MB file containing .ZIP files.

Users integrate this plugin into their existing Rhino and Grasshopper workflows by installing the package to access specialized components for robotic control. Once loaded, the tools allow for the direct mapping of toolpaths to robotic kinematics, enabling simulation of motion before physical deployment. Professionals manage these operations through the Grasshopper canvas, leveraging the framework's native data structures to drive robot movement, ensuring that complex fabrication sequences remain parametrically linked to the underlying design geometry.

Ideal for research-led practices and academic institutions, this tool is essential for projects involving bespoke robotic fabrication, such as additive manufacturing, large-scale assembly, or complex material deposition. It is frequently employed in advanced architectural fabrication studios to automate non-standard construction methods. Professionals working on industrial design, digital prototyping, or innovative facade systems use this framework to streamline the transition from computational design to high-precision robotic production. It pairs effectively with standard Grasshopper plugins for structural analysis and environmental simulation to create fully integrated design-to-fabrication pipelines.