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Rhinoceros (typically abbreviated Rhino or Rhino3D) is a commercial3D computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD) application software developed by Robert McNeel & Associates, an American, privately held, employee-owned company founded in 1980. Rhinoceros geometry is based on the NURBS mathematical model, which focuses on producing mathematically precise representation of curves and freeform surfaces in computer graphics (as opposed to polygon mesh-based applications).

Rhinoceros is used in processes of computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), rapid prototyping, 3D printing and reverse engineering in industries including architecture, industrial design (e.g. automotive design, watercraft design), product design (e.g. jewelry design) as well as for multimedia and graphic design.^[2]

Rhinoceros is developed for the Microsoft Windows operating system and macOS. A visual scripting language add-on for Rhino, Grasshopper, is developed by Robert McNeel & Associates.

Overview[edit]

Rhino Render Plugin. Rhino 3D Rendering with Enscape. Rhinoceros, also known as simply Rhino, is a 3D modeling tool developed by Robert McNeel and Associates (RMA). It is used by architects and designers from a number of different fields, from ArchViz to product design. Using Enscape as a Rhino render plugin is a great option for users who want. Rhino 6.0 is the result of an open development with Rhino 5 users and therefore totally stable. This also explains why it took McNeel more than five years to deliver an upgrade. They want to make sure that a new Rhino is stable and a big improvement. At RhinoCentre we work now for more than a year with Rhino 6 because it is much faster than.

Characteristics[edit]

Rhinoceros is primarily a freeform surface modeler that utilizes the NURBS mathematical model. Rhinoceros's application architecture and open SDK make it modular and enable the user to customize the interface and create custom commands and menus. There are dozens of plug-ins available from both McNeel and other software companies that complement and expand Rhinoceros's capabilities in specific fields, such as rendering and animation, architecture, marine, jewelry, engineering, prototyping, and others.^[3]

File format[edit]

The Rhinoceros file format (.3DM) is useful for the exchange of NURBS geometry. The Rhino developers started the openNURBS Initiative to provide computer graphics software developers the tools to accurately transfer 3-D geometry between applications. An open-source toolkit, openNURBS includes the 3DM file format specification, documentation, C++ source code libraries and .NET 2.0 assemblies to read and write the file format on supported platforms – Windows, Windows x64, Mac, and Linux.

Compatibility[edit]

Rhinoceros offers compatibility with other software as it supports over 30 CAD file formats for importing and exporting.^[4]

The following CAD and image file formats are natively supported (without the use of external plug-ins):

• DWG/DXF (AutoCAD 200x, 14, 13, and 12)
• SolidWorks SLDPRT and SLDASM
• SAT (ACIS, export only)

• RIB
• UDO
• CSV (export properties and hydrostatics)

The following CAD file formats are supported with use of external plug-ins:^[5]

• CGR

When opening CAD file formats not in its native .3dm file format, Rhinoceros will convert the geometry into its native format; when importing a CAD file, the geometry is added to the current file.

When Autodesk AutoCAD's file format changes (see DWG file format for more information), the Open Design Alliance reverse engineers the file format to allow these files to be loaded by other vendors' software. Rhinoceros's import and export modules are actually plug-ins, so they can be easily updated via a service release. Rhinoceros Service Releases (SR) are frequent and freely downloadable. Rhinoceros 5 SR10 can import and export DWG/DXF file formats up to version 2014.

Rhinoceros is also compatible with a number of graphic design-based programs. Among them is Adobe Illustrator. This method is best when working with a vector-based file. The user starts by saving the file, then, when prompted, saves as Adobe Illustrator (*ai). From there, the user can control the vectors created in Rhinoceros, which can be enhanced further in Adobe Illustrator.

3D printing[edit]

Rhinoceros 3D relies on a few plug-ins that facilitate 3D printing ^[6][7] and allows the export of .STL and .OBJ file formats, both of which are supported by numerous 3D printers and 3D printing services.

Scripting and programming[edit]

Rhinoceros supports two scripting languages, Rhinoscript (based on VBScript) and Python (V5.0+ and Mac). It also has an SDK and a complete plug-in system. One McNeel plug-in, a parametric modeling/visual programming tool called Grasshopper, has attracted many architects to Rhinoceros due to its ease of use and ability to create complex algorithmic structures.^[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Download Rhino 7 for Windows'. Robert McNeel & Associates.
2. ^'Rhino 3D 6 for Windows and Mac'. NOVEDGE. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
3. ^'Rhinoceros Resources'. rhino3d.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
4. ^'Index of import/export file types'. Rhinoceros Help. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
5. ^Thuilier, Félix. 'Rhino plug-ins to convert, import and export files'. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
6. ^'3D Print Button'. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
7. ^'3D Hubs 3D Printing plugin for Rhino'. Food4Rhino. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
8. ^'AEC Magazine - Rhino Grasshopper'.

External links[edit]

• Official website
• The History of Rhino – notable project milestones.
• Rhinoceros 3D's channel on YouTube
• Food4Rhino – apps for Rhino and Grasshopper.
• Rhino News, etc. – the official blog.

Rhino 6

This is a big step forward for Rhino 5.0 users as McNeel & Associates work on it since 2012.

The official information from McNeel & Associates about Rhinoceros 6.0:

• Test Rhinoceros 6.0 yourself for 90 days. This is a fully functional demo version.

• Rhino 6 for Mac will hopefully be released later this year. Rhino 6 will then be the same for both Mac and Windows operating systems. You buy one Rhino 6 and decide yourself on which operating system you like to install it.
• Current Rhino for Mac users can already download and use the free Rhino 6 for Mac “Work In Progress” (WIP) version. Then you are also able to save and open files in Rhino 6 format.
• New Rhino for Mac users or people who like to purchase an extra license, can preferably purchase a Rhino 6 for Windows license and convert it to a Rhino 5 for Mac which will fluently update for free to a Rhino 6 for Mac when it becomes available. This is the cheapest solution as you don’t need to buy an upgrade to Rhino 6 at a later time. It works like this:
  • Then download, install and validate this license on a Windows computer. We can do this for you at RhinoCentre if you like.
  • After that you generate here your Rhino 5 for Mac license key for free. This is only possible with a validated Rhino 6 license.
  • And finally download and install your Rhino 5 for Mac.

Rhino 6.0 is the result of an open development with Rhino 5 users and therefore totally stable. This also explains why it took McNeel more than five years to deliver an upgrade. They want to make sure that a new Rhino is stable and a big improvement. At RhinoCentre we work now for more than a year with Rhino 6 because it is much faster than Rhino 5. Especially with huge 3D files and processing large AutoCAD drawings like general arrangement plans in the maritime industry..

As we work extensively with Rhino at RhinoCentre in projects for our clients, we have a clear idea where Rhino excels and where it is still disappointing. Due to our extensive contact with clients we also have a clear vision where clients can make big improvements in using Rhino in their workflow.

Grasshopper

Visual scripting with Grasshopper is now fully integrated in Rhino 6 and makes Rhino much more intelligent. At RhinoCentre we work with Grasshopper since 2008. Grasshopper makes it possible to script Rhino commands without the need for programming by typing code in for eaxmple Python. This makes programming with Grasshopper so easy for people who are visually oriented like many designers.

• Design concepts that are flexilbe parameterized for design studies. See for example our free script for generating ship hulls or the script for a design of a bridge.
• Stupid repetitive work can also be automated. For example, it would take a lot of time and effort to model the planks of the lapstrake hull of a Viking ship. Not to mention editing this 3D model when the hull shape has changed. Now the script does all the boring work for me.

Presentations

We also use Rhino a lot for internal or external presentations. Especially in the design- and engineering phase there is often little time to put a lot of effort in it. Therefore we often just make a few screenshots instead of a starting up a time consuming render procedure. In Rhino 6 we found big improvements in creating very attractive images in little time:

• The new display pipeline of Rhino makes the viewports faster and more attractive. It is now also GPU based:
  • Zooming, panning and rotating is much faster with large 3D models and heavy AutoCAD drawings.
  • The ‘realtime rendered viewport’ is much more attractive for making presentations with a screenshot or the default Rhino render. That is why there is less need to work with a render plugin. We experience in our projects that creating quick presentations take less time and look more professional.
• New tools to manipulate a render mesh to make it look more realistic. As a surface in Rhino often doesn’t have a thickness, it is now very easy to add thickness to the render mesh. This makes it appear much more realistic. Other features are for example edge softening which also adds realism to objects as rounded edges result in a glossy appearance. And yes, this is very noticable!
• Quickly create screenshots in a flexible way with the renewed _ViewCaptureToFile command.
• The default Rhino Render now creates much more attractive images. This makes it less necessary to use a render plugin like Flamingo or V-Ray.

2D documentation

Rhino 6 offers much more functionality for making 2D drawings. This is especially interesting for companies who like to avoid using AutoCAD and still need workshop drawings.

• Many more features for annotations.
• Make2D is programmed from the ground up again and therefore much faster and more stable. This is especially interesting for those who need 2D drawings out of larger and more complex 3d models.

Cloud Zoo license management

With the “Cloud Zoo”, you’re able to use Rhino 6 anywhere in the world. Simply install Rhino 6.0 on every computer that you need and connect it with the “Cloud Zoo”.

• This is interesting for companies when employees also work from home or abroad.
• A license never gets lost again. This is what we often experience with our clients.

Last but not least: Modeling

Rhino 6 License Key

• Many existing modeling commands offer more functionality or they are more flexible.
• The result of some modeling commands is editable afterwards or they update automatically. This is the case with fillets for example.
• Add data to curves, surfaces etc. Finally it is possible in native Rhino to add meta data to Rhino objects. This makes Rhino models more functional. For example the type of material or the surface finish can be added to the object description.