Orca3D - New Work-in-Progress

Orca3D is a marine design and analysis plugin for Rhino 4.0 from the Advanced Technology Center at DRS C3 Systems, Inc. All Rhino users are invited to try the fourth Work-in-Progress (WIP) release.

Orca3D currently includes tools for hull modeling and fairing, as well as intact hydrostatics and stability. This WIP includes speed/power prediction for planing hulls, offset tables, greatly improved lines plans, and many other enhancements and bug fixes.

Details and download...

'MatchProperties' added to Rhino Labs Tools

The Rhino Labs Tools plug-in contains miscellaneous tools that you might find useful. Who knows, some of these tools might even make it into the next release...

ConvertDots - converts text dots to either points or text objects.
DupDimStyle - duplicates dimension styles.
FindText - finds text in the document.
HideLayersInDetail - similar to Rhino's HideInDetail command, only it hides all objects on a layer.
ImportDimStyles - imports dimension styles from another .3dm file.
MatchCrvDir - matches the direction of selected curves.
MatchProperties - matches object, material, and texture properties.
ModifyRadius - changes the radius of arcs and circles.
MoveGripsInside - moves the grips of a planar curve inside of a closed planar boundary.
MoveInside - moves a planar curve inside of a closed planar boundary.
ReplaceBlock - replaces a block with another block definition.
RevCloud - creates revision cloud curves.
Revert - reverts to the previously saved document.
SelDimStyle - selects dimensions based on their style.
SelHatch - selects hatch objects.
SelNonManifold - selects non-manifold surfaces and polysurfaces
SelRenderColor - selects objects by their diffuse render color (Rhino renderer only).
SplitCrv - splits a curve into multiple pieces.
SuperExplodeBlock - explodes blocks into component objects (including any nested blocks).
SynchronizeRenderColors - synchronizes an object's material color with its display color.
UnjoinEdge - unjoins selected polysurface edges. Won't unjoin seams in closed surfaces.
VertexColorCreator - generates mesh vertex colors based on a meshes texture.
VPoint - sets the viewing direction for parallel-projected views.

Details and download...

Zoo 4.0 runs as Windows Service

Zoo 4.0 build 3-Aug-2008 now runs as a Windows Service.

The Zoo service starts automatically when the server is restarted, and does not require a user to be logged in.

License information is migrated automatically from previous versions of the Zoo, so there should be no additional configuration required to install and run this new release.

The console for monitoring the Zoo is virtually identical to the older console, but has additional buttons for starting and stopping the Zoo service.

Download now...

VisualARQ for Rhino Beta 3

VisualARQ new web site goes live with a new beta.

New in Beta 3:

• Walls: New command VA_WallReverse reverses the wall direction; the start point becomes the final point, the inner part becomes the outer part, and vice versa.
• Doors and Windows: They can have any trimming profile curve thanks to the profile from curve option.
• You can define the style to use a block for the model (3D) and another block for the plan view (2D). Blocks must have the block lower center as the insertion point.
• Columns: They can have any trimming profile curve thanks to the profile from curve option.
• Memory usage from VisualARQ internal objects has been optimized.

Download here...

Rhino and RhinoGold Seminars

3D Technics Systems, Inc is offering one-day seminars on Rhino and RhinoGold. They will be demonstrating the software packages and how they can be used in conjunction with the SolidScape T76 and Roland JWX 30 milling machines for the jewelry industry.

Dates and locations are following:

• Monday, September 15
  3D Technics Systems, Inc
  416 Meridian Road SE, Unit 4B
  Calgary, AB T2A 1X2
  (866) 202-0480
• Wednesday, September 17
  Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver
  645 Howe Street
  Vancouver, BC V6C 2Y9
  (604) 733-4272
• Thursday, September 18
  Red Lion Hotel
  1415 5th Ave
  Seattle, WA 98101
  (866) 202-0480

For additional details or to register, contact 3D Technics Systems

Kindergarten Teacher

After completing one day of Rhino commercial training, Adam (age 5) is determined to teach Rhino to all of his fellow kindergarten students at Mary Evans Elementary, Allen TX.

In the Theaters

Scott Schneider at New Deal Studios has been kind enough to take time from his busy production schedule to share some of their Rhino work on the new Rhino film & set gallery.

RhinoScript.org

Another great resource for Rhino scripting.

Check it out...

Help getting started with V-Ray

Professional render specialist Gijs de Zwart, well known for his Advanced Rendering Tutorial, CD, offers two free V-Ray scenes to help you get started with V-Ray.

Details and download...

Aaron Taylor Harvey - Rhino user

Aaron Taylor Harvey is a 3rd year Master of Architecture student at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. He has been using Rhino and Bongo with the Labs technical drawing plug-in.

Check out his work...

Updated BoxEdit Labs Plugin Available

The BoxEdit plugin for Rhino 4 will allow you to numerically size, scale, position, and rotate objects based on their bounding box. This plugin requires Rhino 4 SR3 or greater.

Details and download...

Rhino 4 SR4 released

Rhino 4 Service Release 4 (7-Aug-2008) is now available for download. To download:

• Start Rhino 4.0 and click Help->Check for Updates or
• Visit http://download.rhino3d.com/whatsnew.asp?rel=380

Rhino 4 SR4 includes many stability improvements and crash fixes, plus dozens of other bug fixes.

More details...

RhinoScripting workshops

Thanks to Pablo Herrera's up-to-date RhinoScripting workshop schedule, here is what is coming in August through November:

• Summer shop series
  LAN Live Architecture Network
  IaaC Institut d’Arquitectura Avançada de Catalunya
  BARCELONA. 08-22 August, 2008
  Instuctores: Luis Fraguada, Monika Wittig, Shane Salisbury, Mariano Arias-Diez.
  Informes y formulario de Inscripción PDF
• RhinoScript workshop
  McNeel USA
  SEATTLE. 26-27, August, 2008
  Instructor: David Rutten
  Details HTML
• Atelier RhinoScript pour professionnelsMcNeel Europa
  PARIS. 22-23 September, 2008
  Instuctor: Marc Fornes
  Informes HTML
  Formulario de Inscripción HTML
• RhinoScripting (Visual Basic Script) and digital fabrication
  BARCELONA. 07-11 November, 2008
  Instructor: Workshops Factory Team
  Detailed theme and program will be published shortly. Keep your schedule open.

Teacher Training in August

3-D modeling workshop for design, drafting, graphics, and technology educators

Learn how you can add 3-D modeling to your design and design communication curriculum without burdening your students with yet another software product. You'll be able to focus on teaching design while your students take advantage of the latest 3-D modeling technology.

Aug 11-15
Ontario High School, Mansfield, OH
Aug 12-15
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Aug 15-16
Del Valle High School, Del Valle, TX
Aug 19-20
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

More details...

New reverse engineering tools for Rhino

This new RhinoResurf (Reverse Engineering plug-in) for Rhino converts a point cloud or mesh to a NURBS surface(s). Features include:

• NURBS fitting with specified tolerance.
• Controllable surface smoothness. G1 continuity transition.
• Powerful ability to fit large scale point cloud/mesh to a single face.
• Easy to use. Just one or two button clicks.

Details and eval download...

Using Photoshop CS3 with Rhino

Desktop Engineering Online outlines Kyle Houchens' process for quickly developing the Hot Wheels models using Photoshop CS3 Extended, Rhino, and a Cintiq tablet.

Read more...

Rhino 4.0 SR4 Final Release Candidate Available

Rhino 4.0 Service Release 4 will be released on Monday August 11, 2008. SR4 will be available via Check for Updates on that day, and we will also begin production of a new batch of Rhino 4.0 CDs.

There has been a lot of testing on SR4 and we're confident that it's a major improvement over SR3. Please Download Rhino 4.0 SR4 now, and let us know if you experience any problems.

New in Rhino 4.0 SR4:

• CurveThroughPt: Control points and edit points can now be selected as input.
• SelMappingWidget: New command - Selects the texture mapping widget. Enhanced Features:
• Sweep1: Road-like Top is now "session sticky" and reverts back to Freeform between sessions. Bug Fixes:
• Crashes and instability problems fixed, including:
• Crash during open, save, or import on some newer ACER computers.
• BackgroundBitmap: When a background bitmap file was deleted, Rhino could crash on startup.
• CPlane
• Export
• ExtractControlPolygon
• Join: An intermittant crash in the code that joins curves has been fixed.
• Open:LWO: Crash opening Lightwave files.
• Paste: Holding Ctrl+V to paste objects caused Rhino to close.
• Toolbar command crashed Rhino on Vista Home Basic OS.
• Dozens of other bug fixes and enhancements. For a complete list and to download, visit http://download.rhino3d.com/whatsnew.asp?rel=379

Curve Piping Updated - Rhino Labs

Curve Piping, a free Labs Rhino 4.0 plugin, allows you to convert curves to meshes for rendering and rapid prototyping. Use the Object Properties "Curve Piping" option to change the radius, accuracy, end-cap type, and several other parameters on curves. The plugin requires an RDK-compliant renderer to work.

New:

• Flat and extended caps
• ExtractPipedCurve commands to obtain the curve pipe mesh for use in other render engines or for rapid prototyping.

Details and download...

Edge Softening Updated - Rhino Labs

Edge softening allows you to fake filleted or chamfer edges on meshes for rendering. Use the Object Properties "Edge Softening" option once the plug-in is installed to change the radius. The plug-in requires an RDK-compliant renderer to work.

New:

• Chamfer option
• ExtractSoftenedEdgeMesh command to obtain the edge softened mesh for use in other render engines or for rapid prototyping.

Details and download...