Design Explorer, an evolving open source design tool

Are you baffled with the many iterations that Grasshopper provides? Which ones are the good ones? Let Design Explorer help. Design Explorer is an interface that lets you visualize and filter groups of iterations.

CORE studio has been working on their Design Explorer, this open source tool for exploring design spaces on the web, for over a year. Now they recently posted a few blog posts explaining is history, goals, and functions. They follow up with a few examples of how Thornton Tomasetti and others are using Design Explorer in practice.

The first post introduces Design Explorer. The second post concentrates on its history and highlights a few projects within the AEC technology community. The third post focuses on how the tool is currently is used in practice by architects, engineers, and designers. Check them out...

Post 1: Announcement
Post 2: Natural History
Post 3: Use Cases

Level 1 Rhino Course in San Francisco

Level 1 Rhino 5 for Windows

February 24-26, 2017 (Friday-Sunday)

Arup | San Francisco

$695.00 per person

Join Maia Merav Holtzman, Authorized Rhino Trainer, for her upcoming Level 1 Rhino 5 for Windows course*. It will be at Arup's San Francisco office the weekend of February 24-26, 2017.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the vocabulary of the Rhino interface
• Understand the features of the Rhino interface
• Customize your tools
• Create basic objects
• Model using coordinate input, object snaps and SmartTrack tools
• Modify curves and surfaces with edit commands
• Use control point editing to modify curves and surfaces
• Analyze your model
• Render your model

*Please note, to attend this class, you will need to bring a laptop with Rhino 5 for Windows installed.

Sign up today!

Grasshopper-ARCHICAD Live Connection now available for Mac OS

GRAPHISOFT, a leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) software developer for architects, released its intelligent Grasshopper-ARCHICAD Live Connection for the Mac OS. Rhino and Grasshopper users can connect to ARCHICAD on both the Windows and Mac operating systems.

The Rhino-Grasshopper-ARCHICAD connection enables architects to leverage Rhino, Grasshopper, and ARCHICAD to fill the gap in the design process between the early stages and BIM.

Now, Mac users can also access this bidirectional live connection. With tools beyond seamless bidirectional geometry transfer, basic geometrical shapes can be translated into full BIM elements, while maintaining algorithmic editing functionality.

According to Robert McNeel, CEO of McNeel & Associates, "The development of Rhino and Grasshopper for Mac OS is a response to our customers around the world who wanted to work with our products on their favorite platform."

Peter Temesvari, Director of Product Management at GRAPHISOFT, says, "We're pleased to offer this revolutionary algorithmic design solution. Combined with the best architectural BIM solution, running on designers' most popular platform, it ensures the best design experience possible.

More information....

Download the free Grasshopper-ARCHICAD Live Connection for the Mac OS ...

Automated Diagramming with Grasshopper Webinar

Automated Diagramming – Driving Graphic Production with Grasshopper

Thursday, December 15, 2016 

9:30 am-11:30 am PST

Presenter: Andrew Heumann

This session will cover workflow for automating the production of high-quality graphics from Grasshopper, by manipulating Grasshopper’s graphic display, and automating screen captures and renderings, and even automatically populating design layouts, streamlining your workflow for capturing multiple views or design schemes.

About the presenter 

As a Design Technology Specialist at Woods Bagot, Andrew Heumann develops custom tools and workflow for design teams across the firm. Formerly the leader of NBBJ’s Design Computation team, he has written more than 15 plugins for Grasshopper (Human, the most popular, has had more than 20,000 downloads). Andrew has created many custom tools for design teams and practices, aiding in the management of project metrics, environmental and urban analysis, and façade design.

Register...

Rendering with KeyShot 6 and Rhino for Windows - Video by Simply Rhino UK

Simply Rhino UK has just published "Rendering with KeyShot 6 and Rhino for Windows - An Introduction". In this video tutorial Simply Rhino senior instructor Phil Cook introduces KeyShot for Rhino and runs through some basic renderings of a watch.

The starting point for the exercise is a Rhino model of a wrist watch. All the components are modeled as watertight solids and the component sets are on individual layers. For example, the hour, minute, and second hands are separated, as are the painted areas of the hands which will be rendered in a different material. By default, KeyShot applies materials on a per layer basis.

If you are a Rhino for Mac user, keep checking this page, since Simply Rhino UK will be producing a KeyShot for Rhino for Mac tutorial soon.

More info...

Video...

Job Opening at CHAM in London: Software Developer for RhinoCFD

Job Title: Software Developer
Job Level: Junior Level (1-2 years experience)
 
Position Description

CHAM is seeking a Software Developer for its CFD Applications Department at its Wimbledon office, in particular, to focus on the further development of its latest product, RhinoCFD, a plugin integrating CFD capabilities into Rhino.

Main Tasks

• Build upon and improve RhinoCFD, optimizing all aspects of the program, from the menu systems and general interface to the underlying physics and how they are displayed in the Rhino environment.
• Ready the plugin for integration with Rhino 6.
• Begin the integration project with Grasshopper 2.
• Provide support to clients and agents.

Qualifications

• MSc or above in Computational Science, Systems Engineering, Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering or related field
• Experience with the following programming languages: C#, .NET framework, C++
• Solid CAD knowledge and experience, in particular with Rhino
• 1-2 years of experience using and developing software/plugins
• Knowledge of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Desirable:

• Experience using Rhino and Grasshopper
• Knowledge of FORTRAN
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative team environment

CHAM offers a competitive salary and benefits package to the successful applicant. Applicants are invited to send a current CV and cover letter outlining their unique qualifications for this position to HR@cham.co.uk with the subject heading Software Developer Application – (Your Name).

CHAM accepts direct applications only and does not process submissions via agencies.

RhinoCFD Beta 2 and video series by CHAM - Computational fluid dynamics in Rhino

CHAM has announced the release of RhinoCFD Beta 2, with many bug fixes and improvements from the first Beta version.

New features include:

• Ability to use INFORM to change your case setup
• Free surface models for use in naval, jewelry, and industrial applications
• Cylindrical-Polar meshes
• Streamlined menu system

The trial period for Beta testing has also been expanded, so feel free to try the full plugin free until January 6.

CHAM is also launching a new video series called RhinoCFD Basics. These short clips illustrate the basic concepts of CFD and how to apply them within RhinoCFD so that you can get the most out of your simulations.

Download RhinoCFD Beta2 from food4Rhino...

RhinoCFD Basics video series...

NVIDIA Iray for Rhino Webinar by Rüdiger Raab - December 15, 10 am-11 am CET

NVIDIA Iray for Rhino Webinar

Thursday, December 15, 2016 

10 AM-11 AM CET

Presenter: Rüdiger Raab

On December 15th, McNeel Europe will cohost the webinar NVIDIA Iray for Rhino with the NVIDIA crew.

By attending this webinar, presented by the NVIDIA Iray expert Rüdiger Raab, you will learn about the advantages of visualizing your design in Rhino using photoreal and interactive rendering.

Iray for Rhino delivers a new level of quality when it comes to creating a realistic-looking image of your models. Being an interactive renderer integrated to the Rhino viewport, Iray facilitates judging the look of your design so you can create previews and render high-quality imagery in no time.

The webinar will show you how quickly results can be achieved, the philosophy behind the workflow, and how easy it is to render with Iray.

Register now...

About Rüdiger Raab

Rüdiger has been with NVIDIA ARC for more than 10 years. Having a background in 3D animation, modeling and rendering, he has been with the Iray for Rhino project from its very beginning. His focus lies in rendering, material workflow, and UI design. He is maintaining the Iray for Rhino Youtube channel and the NVIDIA Iray for Rhino forum, providing content to all users seeking information and learning resources for Iray and Iray for Rhino.

How to use VR in your design process

How can augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) be useful in a design practice? What is its potential? What are the problems? At the NewSchool of Architecture and Design's Symposium on Computational Processes in Architecture and Design, Casey Mahon, Director of Design Technology at Carrier Johnson + Culture, discussed this. He focused on the way we use immersive environments and gestural controls in their practice.

In immersive environments, we can inhabit our designs at true scale with Oculus headsets, a phone, and other tools.  We can create, iterate, and evaluate the space through the headset. We can walk through the project. The platforms let designers visualize 3D spatial conditions virtually, at full scale.

Casey also demonstrates mapping geometry and interaction with hand gestures using Grasshopper.

Watch the You Tube video Immersive Environments and Gestural Modeling... 

LutraCAD: Orthotics and insoles design in Rhino

LutraCAD offers specifically developed software for designing insoles/orthotics.

LutraCAD was established by bundling specialized knowledge, technology, and skills. This software is a wonderful tool for foot specialists. Designed with the user experience in mind, the software includes:

• Manager that bundles client information, notes and files
• 2D-package for designing insoles/orthotics with CAD software
• 3D-package as expansion with 3D scan technique 

User friendly

Everyone can work with LutraCAD! With the simple steps, an insole/orthotic can be designed quickly and easily. LutraCAD offers three different user levels, each containing different functions. You can choose the user level that best serves you.

Personal library

LutraCAD features an extensive library, containing various insole/orthotic patterns and elements. Easily add personal elements, patterns and even complete insoles or orthotics of your own. This makes the design process faster and more efficient.

Download LutraCAD from food4Rhino...