The Grasshopper Primer - Second Edition

This new revision is a much more comprehensive guide than the first edition, at almost 160 pages with over 70 new pages dedicated to creating your own customized scripting components.

Details and download...

PanelingTools New Release for Rhino 4.0 SR5

A new release of PanelingTools plug-in for Rhino 4.0 SR5 is available for download.

New Commands:

• ptSerializeObjects. Adds serializing tag or name to objects (points, curves, surfaces, etc) relative to:
• Selection order.
• World coordinates.
• User-defined direction.
• Reference surface.
• ptExtrudeEdges. Extrude paneling edges normal to a base surface or by a user-defined direction.
• ptOffsetEdges. Offset paneling edges using base surface.
• ptFinEdges. Fin paneling edges using base surface.

Added features:

• Added "Connect" option to offset points command to draw connecting lines.
• Added the ability to define more than one polyline in the 2d pattern manager per pattern.
• Labels for faces and edges have now a new prefix which is layer name.
• Changed the name of command ptRemoveOverlap to pCleanOverlap.
• Added overlap tolerance to ptCleanOverlap command that:
• Deletes grid points that are within tolerance in the u direction.
• Moves points within tolerance in v direction to overlap.

Bug fixes:

• Fix out of memory bug when reading older files. This was due to a bug in the file I/O of previous release. You may loose saved data when you open older data (such as patterns), but reading the file shouldn't cause an out of memory bug. If it does, load protect against PanelingTools (use PluginManager) before opening the file.
• Fix preview bugs in the 2d pattern manager.
• Fix a bug when loading PT scripting file for Monkey (.synaxml).

Grasshopper video tutorials

Brian James has posted some video tutorials to help you get started with Grasshopper.

Grasshopper VB Scripting Primer

Dr Patrick Janssen, Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore, is developing a Grasshopper VB Scripting Primer for his students. He has been kind enough to share it, but he is looking for your feedback on how it can be improved.

Details and download...

Structural Modeling and Analysis Tools

Jon Mirtschin is exploring new techniques and developing new tools for designing and analyzing structures. For example, one tool links Rhino and Grasshopper with structural analysis programs to explore shape and form.

Check out his blog and try some of his tools...

LinceoVR 3.0 for Rhino

Linceo VR 3.0 is real time rendering software with instantaneous camera matching for immediate contextualization of 3D models in the real world. LinceoVR 3.0 uses state-of-the-art lighting techniques to generate and display – in real time – exceptionally realistic images in computer graphics, using HDRI and OPENEXR lighting and Ambient Occlusion for realistic shadows.

What is new in 3.0...

Rhino Tips, Tricks, and Videos

Check out the latest videos by Brian James...

• How to model a smooth Y shape
• How to make patterns of objects
• Learn a few filleting techniques
• How to use Loft to make button shapes

RhinoScript Labs Update

The Labs version of RhinoScript contains additions and modifications to the version of RhinoScript included with Rhino 4.0 SR5.

RhinoScript is a scripting tool based on Microsoft's VBScript language. With RhinoScript, you can quickly add functionality to Rhino, or automate repetitive tasks.

Details and download...

Parametrics in Rhino?

Gijs de Zwart has posted an excellent example of how to use Grasshopper to parametrically drive design alternatives. You will find a detailed explanation, videos, and sample files on the RhinoCentre blog.