ABB Mobility Grant - Robots in Architecture

The ABB Mobility Grant was initiated by ABB Robotics and the Association for Robots in Architecture to support individuals who are highly engaged in robotic applications in the creative industry. Three grants of 1000 USD each support the grantee’s travel and accommodation costs for Rob|Arch 2014.

Complete details here...

New RhinoMold 4.0

RhinoMold 4.0 has been released!

Analyze plastic parts and design injection molds directly in Rhino! See all the features at http://www.tdmsolutions.com/rhinomold.htm

SectionTools for Rhino 5 new release

Download and try the new release of SectionTools for Rhino 5.

SectionTools is a McNeel lab plugin available to all Rhino 5 users. SectionTools helps create dynamic 3D sections and 2D layouts that update with model changes. It includes many features to view and manipulate sections and output data.

Details and download…

Creative flat pack furniture

Final projects at FSU's Graduate Furniture Design

Professor Marlo Ransdell Ph.D., IDEC and her student Amanda Cleveland show us their final projects.

Graduate Furniture Design: Students were engaged for six weeks in designing and fabricating two full-scale furniture pieces constructed from one 4’x8’ sheet of 3/4” maple plywood.  Criteria for the project were: create two designs in Rhino software that could be CNC manufactured and flat pack shipped, have the ability to be constructed with little to no tools and hardware, and minimize material waste. Students were given no limit on the number of scale models to produce and had classroom access to all prototyping equipment (additive, subtractive, and laser) for small-scale prototype production.  All prototypes created were evaluated for form, function, and material application and photographed by students.  Final full-scale prototypes were developed on a 4’x8’ CNC router at the Facility for Arts Research at Florida State University and evaluated.

FAR-FSU is a certified RhinoFabStudio.

To see more projects of FSU's Graduate Furniture Design, click here.

Bongo 2 Service Release 1 now available

Bongo 2 SR1 is now available from:

http://www.rhino3d.com/download/bongo/2.0/commercial

This is the complete Service Release 1 build and includes a huge pile of bug fixes.

Enjoy!

AA Visiting School at Rome

Rome - IM/Material
Rome, Italy
Thursday – Saturday, January 16-25 2014
IM/Material, a workshop organized by the AA Rome Visiting School

This AA Rome Visiting School 10-day workshop encourages the observation of material elements and their use in architectural design featuring subconscious experiences, spatial voids, and virtual communities. Students will investigate modern materials and their digital fabrication by direct experience. They will work with algorithms and sensors that are able to recognize and respond to human feelings and attitudes. Students will feed novel expressions of void spaces into the Roman tradition featuring examples like the ancient catacombs and the Nolli map. Through augmented reality design the projects will open a window into a digital virtual world. By the end of the workshop students will unveil their interpretation of the material/immaterial form hidden in the real matter. 

The workshop is open to architecture, engineering, and design students and professionals worldwide.

Application
The deadline for applications is January 2, 2014.
Online applications: https://www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/ONLINEAPPLICATION/visitingApplication.php?schoolID=238
PDF application form request by email: visitingschool@aaschool.ac.uk

Faculty
Directors: Lorenzo Vianello and Arturo Tedeschi
Professors: Lawrence Friesen (Oxford Brookes University) and Ferdinand Fritz (University of Innsbruck)

Eligibility
The workshop is open to current architecture and design students, PhD candidates, and young professionals. Software requirements: basic knowledge of Rhinoceros or other 3D modeling software.

Venue
Galleria di architettura "Come Se"
via dei Bruzi 4
00185 Rome, Italy

Contact
Email: rome@aaschool.ac.uk
Web site: www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/VISITING/rome
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AARomeVisitingSchool?fref=pb&hc_location=profile_browser

Webinar: Rhino 5 for SketchUp Users

Rhino 5 for SketchUp Users
Thursday, December 19, 2013
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST






Join Rhino modeling expert Kyle Houchens of The Outside for a live webinar that will show you how to model in Rhinoceros 5 using the SketchUp-like methods of pulling faces and edges.

Kyle will sculpt a few models from basic solid primitives and faces. Using “push pull” techniques, split faces will be extruded into subtle details that add specific features on the model. He will utilize modeling aids like Gumball, sub-object selection, as well as commands like ExtractFace and SplitFace. He’ll also demonstrate Rhino's SolidTools collection of commands that will be used to create, array and manipulate openings, and much more!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Presentation will be approximately one hour and questions will be taken at the end. This presentation will be recorded. If you cannot make it, no problem. This webinar will be recorded and posted here by December 20th.

System Requirements:
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Sign up today!

RhinoAir 6.0 released by SiTex Graphics

SiTex Graphics has released RhinoAir 6.0 plugin for Rhino as a
companion to Air release 13.  New features in this release include:

• Support for the new Retexture application in Air 13 which provides realtime editing of materials as a post process 
• A new set of physically plausible surface shaders unifies the behavior of specular highlights and reflections 
• Faster global illumination 
• New shaders for producing carpet at render time 
• Simplified color controls based on the sRGB color standard 
• New lighting options including texture projection for spotlights and distant lights 
• A new menu interface with common commands 
• Improved extra output channels

Download demo...

RhinoAir 6.0 features...

Mesmerizing metalwork

Artist Anthony Howe is combining modern technology with traditional metalwork and ending up with intriguing kinetic sculptures.

He starts with computer models designed with Rhino. He cuts the design with a plasma cutter, then assembles the sculptures by hand. The computer work allows him to see how the sculptures will move before he goes through the work of actually building them.

Watch the video to get the full idea of the mesmerizing movement and to get a little insight into Anthony's thought and design process.

Anthony Howe video . . .

New GhPython with Node-in-Code™ and Multi-threading

Thanks to Steve and Giulio, a new version (0.6.0.3) of the GhPython scripting component for Grasshopper is available on food4Rhino.

Major new features:.

• Node-in-Code™: Almost every Grasshopper component is now callable in GhPython
• Multi-threading: Now easy for GhPython scripts to execute on multiple threads

Download here...

Rhino Teacher Training at Gulfstream Middle

Learn how to use 3D CAD modeling software to make your STEM classrooms come to life. Professional trainers from McNeel and RhinoFabStudio will introduce you to the main functions of Rhino and Grasshopper at GSM's RhinoFabStudio.

• Date: February 6-7, 2014
• Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Location: Gulfstream Middle School
• Address: 120 SW 4th Ave. Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
• Web site or map: http://www.gulfstreammiddle.com
• Proud sponsor: Type A Machines

The workshop is free for educators. Proof of status required.

Space is limited. Register now!

New to Rhino 5? Watch this before the class: Introduction to Rhino 5

To register, please contact Jessica Swanson.

Remember to join RhinoFabStudio too. 

.

Rhino 5 Service Release 7 Available

Rhino 5 Service Release 7 (SR7), built 7-Dec-2013, is now available.

Dozens of stability improvements and bug fixes are included in SR7.

Rhino will download Service Release Updates in the background and prompt you to install, or you can download manually.

Rhino and Grasshopper help save bees. You can too.

McGill University School of Architecture is encouraging both design and social responsibility. McGill University's architectural research students are designing the b-Shack,a highly innovative beehive observation and study center. The b-Shack is being designed in Rhino, fabricated and assembled by the students. The project simultaneously encourages this group of young students in architectural research to be responsible through the creation of a real world response to this plight of the bees.  It will provide promotional and infrastructural support to urban beekeeping communities, in particular, the non-profit Montreal’s collectives: Santropol Roulant and the McGill Apiary Association. The program will allow these groups of volunteer educators and amateur beekeepers to share their knowledge and interest in bees with the public, while engaging in bio resource engineering research initiatives focused on Colony Collapse Disorder. 

The b-Shack is raising $35,000 through a crowd funding campaign.

Details on the crowd funding and to contribute . . . 

New RhinoGold training web site

Learn 3D jewelry design with RhinoGold.

Included are more than 30 tutorials and guides, plus more than 

20 hours of free videos. There are even more is in the private 

registered user area.  

Get started now...

A new approach to recursion with Grasshopper: Loop

Loop is a simple component to iterate generative shapes with Grasshopper®.

For a better understanding of the loop capabilities, watch this video, get in touch with the Community at the Grasshopper site, or visit the blog.

Loop, developed by Antonio Turiello, is available on the food4Rhino site.

Rhino Teacher workshop in Belgium

The Université Catholique de Louvain and McNeel Europe invite you to a free Rhino Teacher Workshop that will take place on January 15-16, 2014.

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

Using Rhino, you will be guided through a series of hands-on exercises that highlight 3D modeling concepts. You will also learn how Rhino is used to render models for visualization, translate 3D models to CAM products for manufacturing or prototyping, and export 3D models into 2D CAD or graphics programs.

• When: January 15-16, 2014 (9h30-17h30)
• Where: Université Catholique de Louvain in Tournai (Belgique)
  Faculté d'architecture, d'ingénierie architecturale, d'urbanisme (LOCI)
  Chaussée de Tournai, 7
  B-7520 Tournai (Ramegnies-Chin)
• Instructor: Vanessa Steeg, Rhino Training Specialist
• Program: Rhino Level 1 training
• Language: French
• Registration: Fully booked This workshop is free of charge for educators. Contact jean-pierre.couwenbergh@uclouvain.be with a proof of educational status.
• Required software and material: Bring your laptop with Rhino 5 installed (an Eval can be downloaded from www.rhino3d.com/eval) and a printed copy of the Level 1 Training Guide.

Behind the Snow Queen at Victoria's Secret

Victoria's Secret has presented its annual catwalk fashion show since 1995, each year more of an extravaganza. This year there were 18 different pairs of angel wings, part of a recurring theme, but the buzz was the Snow Queen's 3D printed wings.

Designed by architect Bradley Rothenberg, the wings were 3D printed in the Shapeways factory in New York City. To precisely fit model Lindsay Ellingson, a 3D scan was made of her. Shapeways 3D printed the fractal snowflakes and organized the snowflakes into a garment. Adjustments were made where the snowflakes shifted from small textile-like to become larger structural snowflakes. Rhino and Maya were mainly used for this part of the project. Then for the appropriate sparkle and festivity, the snowflakes were festooned with millions of Swarovski crystals.

The fashion show will air on December 10th on CBS.

Interview with Bradley Rothenberg . . . 

Mechanical Rhinoceros Vicenza

Mechanical Rhinoceros Vicenza
Scuola Arte e Mestieri della Camera di Commercio di Vicenza (Italia)
Dec 13, 2013

Come join this free event where expert users will talk about how Rhino is being used in mechanical design and engineering, including customization (Grasshopper, Python), manufacturing (robots, CAM), interaction with Kinect, Karamba GH add-on, rapid prototyping, etc.

Attendance is free, but due to limited space registration is needed (contact Edoardo Negrizzolo - negrizzolo@cpv.org).

The language of the presentations will be Italian.

Program and details (in Italian)...

Robots and alcohol. What is next?

Once again, Sigrid Brell-Cokcan and the Robots in Architecture team have found yet another interesting use for Rhino, Grasshopper, and a robot.

Watch the video...

Commonwealth Games’ baton designed with Rhino/Grasshopper

In the creation of The Commonwealth Games’ baton latticework, 

4c Design used Rhino and Grasshopper.  

The Queen's Baton is currently on its 190,000 km, 288-day journey
around the 70 nations of the Commonwealth before its arrival in
Glasgow on July 23, 2014, for the opening ceremony of the Games.

Queen's Baton design and manufacturing...

Queen's Baton and Grasshopper...

Webinar: Successful Jewelry Modeling with Rhino 5

Novedge, LLC, Authorized Rhino Dealer, has just announced a new webinar in their line-up. Sign up today and reserve your spot!

Successful Jewelry Modeling with Rhino 5
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
11:00AM Pacific
Register here! - Space is limited; registration is required.

Join presenter, Maia Merav Holtzman, Authorized Rhino Trainer, for a presentation on jewelry modeling techniques and commands for Rhino 5. She will cover the step-by-step creation of a model for rapid prototyping and casting, using the precision modeling necessary to accurately follow a 2D dimensioned spec sheet for 3D production.

The webinar is free and will last about 1 hour, including the Q&A session.

Details...

ALGODeQ International Programming Competition

ALGODeQ: ALGOrithmic Design Quest

This international competition is a call for methods and forms that inspire hope and dreams through new technology, creative logic, and aesthetic intuition. Its purpose is to encourage the development of new design methods for better architecture and better cities. This competition will recognize computer programs that make outstanding contributions to algorithmic design, and outstanding works of architecture created by means of such programs.

The competition consists of two categories:

• QP Category: For original computer programs created by the applicant that embody algorithmic design.
• QA Category: For outstanding works of built architecture, designed by using an original computer program that embodies algorithmic design.

More about ALGODeQ:
The Quest...
The Guidelines...
Registration...

Important dates:

• November 4, 2013 - Competition announced
• December 9, 2013 - End of inquiry period... get your questions in now!
• December 23, 2013 - Application period starts
• February 3, 2014 - Registration deadline
• March 31, 2014 - First stage application deadline

Details...

The Essential Mathematics - Third Edition

We are pleased to announce the release of the third edition of the “Essential Mathematics for Computational Design”. The text introduces to design professionals the foundation mathematical concepts necessary for effective development of computational methods for 3D modeling and parametric design. Included are more than 70 Grasshopper samples and tutorials.

Download...

Change moods, change clothing colors -- there's an app for that!

Photography: Oscar Carmona

Barcelona-based textiles and technology design studio, Jorge & Esther, with the help of Rhino, have combined fashion and technology to create a mini clothing collection that playfully adapts to changes in your life.

Lüme is a daily wear collection made of simple black garments. The uniqueness is the tiny, flexible LEDs embedded in the fabric. They shine out through the detailing in the fabric layers in a soft glow, changing as you wish.

You control the built-in LEDs by a smartphone app. Depending on the event, location, or mood, you can change the LED colors to match another garment or accessory. Or change colors in time to the beat of music. Or just adjust the clothing color according to the weather.

Elizabeth and Luis Fraguada, the designers, used Rhino for the drawing of the digitally fabricated (laser cut) pieces where the illumination occurs. They now use Rhino extensively for the garment pattern drafting and archiving.

Jorge & Ester are currently taking orders for custom pieces from interested clients. Plans are to eventually produce small runs (approximately 100 pieces of each garment) of the current collection of three pieces:  jacket, tunic, and open-backed dress. The laser cut piece within each garment can be customized to another pattern, such as polka dots, flowers, lines, etc.

More information on the Lüme collection ...

Woodpecker for timber fabrication

Woodpecker, developed by designtoproduction, is a plugin for Grasshopper that enables users to extend their parametric models into fabrication.

It offers several Grasshopper components that can turn input geometry into fabrication data in BTL (Building Transfer Language) format, a free standard for timber fabrication that offers a wide range of timber processing, including 5-axis contours. It is notably not machine-specific, can be read by LignoCam and other CAM software, and is usually created by timber-specific CAD software such as cadwork or SEMA.

Download Woodpecker now from food4Rhino...

RhinoCAM 2014 + Rhino 5 = What's New Webinar

MecSoft will be releasing RhinoCAM 2014 soon! This includes lots of new features and enhancements to MILL and ART as well as new modules for TURN and NEST.  Join us for a free webinar to see how MecSoft's integrated CAM software for Rhino just got better!

When: Friday, November 22, 2013, 8:00 am (Pacific Time)

Register now...

deCode Grasshopper, Kuala Lumpur

deCode Grasshopper (de-fə-ˈni-shən)

Organized by McNeel Asia, Kuala Lumpur

Explore Grasshopper definitions, read, understand and create your own definitions. Go beyond Rhino with Grasshopper parametric modeling capability and experience how Grasshopper can turn your ideas into reality.

Date: November 15, 2013 (Friday)

Time: 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Venue: Starbucks TTDi, Kuala Lumpur

Free admission – Seats are limited - Pre-registration is required.

To register, contact WK Lim.

*Bring your laptop/notebook computer with Rhino 5 and Grasshopper installed.

Details...

SimpleMat - material editor for V-Ray for Rhino

SimpleMat, developed by Riccardo Gatti, is the simplest and fastest material editor for V-Ray for Rhino:

Download it now from food4Rhino...

New EvoluteTools PRO features

EvoluteTools PRO is used by the industry's most reputable companies to turn high-end, breathtaking free-form designs into cost effective, real world structures faithful to the initial design intent. Award winning designs like KREOD, the highly prestigious Eiffel Tower Pavilions, the Baku Funicular stations, the Beaublanc Stadium, or the CCV are just a few of the many projects made possible with EvoluteTools PRO.

Ever-growing, robust and versatile, the Rhino plug-in now packs new features for your delight. The 64-bit compatibility, cylinder fitting, developable lofting, panel repetition maximization and node axis optimization are just a few of the most requested functions available now.

• EvoluteTools PRO - Developable lofting
  Lofting of developable strip surfaces between pairs of curves.
   
• EvoluteTools PRO - Panel fitting
  Approximation of surfaces with simplified surface types, e.g. cylinders, cones, and many more. Very extensive options exist.
   
• EvoluteTools PRO - Panel repetition maximization
  Clustering of flat panels (triangles, quads, ...), which lowers the number of unique panels, parts, etc.
    
• EvoluteTools PRO - Mesh statistics
  Evaluating diverse criteria related to the buildability and cost of surfaces panelised using flat panels, e.g.: Angles between panels, corner angles of panels, node torsion, edge lengths, distance from a reference surface, (un)planarity of panels, etc. This module can easily be customized.

Complete details here...

Rhino events in Vienna

ThreeKC has organized a series of Rhino events in Vienna:

• November 15 - "Rhino Basic/Get in Touch with Rhino" training
• November 20 - "3D Modeling and Rendering with Rhino & V-Ray and more"
• December 3 - “Product & Industrial Design” day

Follow the links to register...

4th Rhino User Meeting TU Graz report

The 4th Rhino Day at the TU Graz took place on the October 16th, 2013, with great success and an amazing international audience.

3D Base has been kind enough to write a brief report with photos.

Read the original report in German...
Or read the "Google translated" version in English...

4th Parametric Design Workshop Leipzig

4th Parametric Design Workshop Leipzig

December 5-9, 2013 

The workshop will be concerned with the development and optimization of a building using Rhino and Grasshopper-based tools, such as Karamba and iterative and or evolutionary methods are to be used for system optimization.

Limited rapid prototyping tools will be available for physical modelmaking (laser cutter, 3D plotter, CNC milling).

Work in groups with people from Leipzig's School of Architecture and international experts and students! Architects, designers, engineers, and other interested parties are welcome.

Solid working knowledge of Rhino and Grasshopper required. No scripting skills necessary.

Details and registration...

RhinoPython training in Paris

Rhinoforyou and Giulio Piacentino have organized a RhinoPython workshop in Paris (France) on December 9-10:

• December 9-10: RhinoPython 2-day Foundation (Language: English)

Check the program and register here (in French)...
Or contact j.hababou@rhinoforyou.com

Competition: Vehicles 3D Modeling

Humster3D studio, with the support of 3DArtist magazine and RebusFarm service, have started a competition on 3D modeling of vehicles. The competition is open to any works (even early ones) that have not been published anywhere before.

Rhino users are welcome. Join the competition now!

Rhino training in Los Angeles

Join Authorized Rhino Training Center, Design Rhino, for their upcoming Level 1 Rhino - Weeknights course. The next class begins on Tuesday, November 19th at 6:30PM.

Dates: November 19 - December 12, Tuesday & Thursday evenings (no class on 11/28)
Hours: 6:30PM-9:30PM
Price: US$695

Seats are still available.

Sign up today!

Triangle Mesh Completer now for Rhino 5

The Triangle Mesh Completer plugin is intended to fill gaps in triangle mesh models, especially in models obtained from scan data. The plug-in is able to repair seriously damaged models. It can not only fill holes of complicated shapes but is capable of connecting different boundaries of a specified model to restore its original topology. This ability is required if the model has one or several tunnel-like holes whose internal parts are lost, or if the model’s surface is represented by several isolated mesh pieces.

Learn more...

Download Triangle Mesh Completer...

Advanced Grasshopper webinar with David Rutten

Advanced Topics in Grasshopper with David Rutten
Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, November 6th

Title: Advanced Topics in Grasshopper with David Rutten
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am PST

Space is limited... sign up today!

Join David Rutten, Grasshopper developer, for a lively presentation and discussion of Advanced Grasshopper topics. Presentation will be approximately one hour with a time for Q&A at the end of the session.

If you are an experienced Grasshopper user, you will want to be part of this event. If you cannot make it, no problem. The webinar will be recorded and posted here by November 8th.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Please email Mary Fugier if you have any questions.

System requirements:
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Register here...

RhinoGold 4.0 SR 7 available

RhinoGold 4.0 Service Release 7 is available now!
SR 7 improvements to RhinoGold 4.0 include:

· Support for 3D printers

· Hollow Ring

· New 3D printers

· Clayoo 

· Head Studio

· Weight Metal

· Cutters in Line

· Dynamic Profile

· More bug fixes

Details...