Orca3D new release version 1.2.3

DRS Defense Solutions, AMTC announces the release of a new version of Orca3D. This new version (1.2.3), a free update to users, contains new features, feature improvements, and bug fixes. If you have been following the Work-in-Progress (WIP) process, you're already aware of many of them. Some highlights include: 

• Native support for 64-bit and 32-bit Rhino 5, as well as Rhino 4
• Optional Network Licensing
• OrcaInsertNet and OrcaRemoveNet commands to add or remove control net rows or columns while maintaining topology
• Improved Hull Assistant controls and user-definable section locations in Hull Assistants
• Hull Assistant for Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs)
• Export to ORC offset files
• Optional pre-float check can be run before hydrostatics are calculated, in order to review the model for errors
• Realtime sectional area curve display as the model is edited
• New OrcaStraightenPoints command to straighten groups of control points into a line, or the projection of a line
• Import/Export Stock Material Property files
• Support for blocks in Weight/Cost
• CSV output for resistance predictions
• Customization of report formats  

 

Buy Orca3D...

Download Orca3D Version 1.2.3...

Post a question to the Orca3D Forum... 

Seminar in Aveiro (Portugal): Rhino in Architecture and Engineering

Rhino3DPortugal, in cooperation with the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Aveiro (DECivil UA) and Unave (Association for research and training of the University of Aveiro), is promoting a seminar about Rhino, Architecture - Engineering - Design Advanced Modeling Tools, that will be held on the 29 February, 3:15 pm,  at the University of Aveiro, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auditorium 22.3.2. Free entrance limited to the available seats.

Cadwax Ring Wizard V 3.6

Cadwax Ring Wizard V 3.6 has been released.

This build is more stable and also includes a new pave tool to help hand place gemstones onto a surface.

Details and download...

Royal RhinoTerrain

At the recent Imagina trade show in Monaco, Claude Vuattoux (RhinoTerrain SARL CEO) had a big success presenting the new version of RhinoTerrain and the upcoming RhinoCity plug-in.

As the City of Monaco is one of the biggest customers of RhinoTerrain/RhinoCity, even Albert II, Prince of Monaco, was interested in learning more about the product.

RhinoCity will be released shortly after Rhino 5. It provides a set of tools for automatic texturing and creation of virtual cities from photogrammetry data (ESRI geodata, CityGML import/export...). It manages global geographical coordinate system (EPSG code). Automatic facades and roof buildings texturing is achieved with the use of vertical or oblique flight imagery and its aerotriangulation (Vexcel, Intergraph DMC, CityGml).

Click on the images to see them bigger...

RhinoGold 3.0 SR4 available

RhinoGold 3.0 SR4 has been released. This is a free service release for existing users and there's also a new eval.

Details and download...

RhinoNest for Grasshopper 0.4 announced

Optimize position and orientation of objects

TDM Solutions announces RhinoNest for Grasshopper 0.4.

Features include:

• Multisheet: Nesting with multi-sheet support.
• Nesting Report: New control to create a report.
• Douglas-Peucker: New control to reduce polyline using Douglas-Peucker algorithm.
• Supports Grasshopper 0.8.0066, 32-bit and 64-bit native.

See RhinoNest for Grasshopper 0.4 video...

Details and to download...

Uformia releases Symvol for Rhino

Symvol™ for Rhino - Community is a volumetric modeling system plugin. The user can think of clay or metal when working with Symvol. It means a volume is a piece of malleable material, not a collection of paper sheets glued together, as an equivalent analogy to existing modeling systems. Whatever is done during modeling, the volume created is always a valid solid object, unlike in traditional solid modeling, where objects can have cracks and other surface issues.

Symvol is useful for:

• 3D printing and digital fabrication

• Teaching the basics of modeling

• Rapid customization of designs and models

• Modeling of organic and fluid objects

• Jewelry design and fabrication

Buy Symvol for Rhino - Community...

Symvol videos...

EvoluteTools PRO workshop in London

Paneling and geometry optimization of freeform envelopes with EvoluteTools PRO

A compact, one day workshop.

When, where

26 (&27) of March 2012, SimplyRhinoTraining Classroom, London UK

Target audience

Professionals in the architectural and building industry

What participants can expect to learn in this workshop

Participants will be introduced to the principle of subdivision modeling and its generalization (combining different global and local subdivision rules). We will have an in-depth look at mesh optimization and how it can be applied for construction aware design of panelisations. Throughout the whole workshop EvoluteTools PRO 2.0 for Rhino will be used by the attendees for hands-on examples and exercises. Participants can bring their own designs (freeform surfaces) to be panelised.

EvoluteTools PRO is an advanced Rhino plug-in providing access to powerful paneling and geometry optimization tools for freeform surfaces with a user friendly interface. Participants will receive a 15-day evaluation license of EvoluteTools PRO to further explore its capabilities.

Workshop presenter

Arch. Florin Isvoranu, Evolute GmbH

Complete details and registration...

Lisbon workshop: a Living System

Lisbon workshop: a Living System
7-11 March
29 March - 1 April

The workshop A Living System involves three partners: VitruviusFablab-ISCTE.IUL, FabLabEDP, and Rhino3DPortugal. The main goal is to explore digital technologies and their contribution to solve some of the new challenges presented to the society and architecture in Portugal. With technological developments, tools once limited to not creative areas begin to be part of the everyday life of students in University Architecture Laboratories and change its design processes. The architecture design methods are changing rapidly with the introduction of CAD-CAM software. In recent years, new software has been available for 3D representation and digital fabrication, creating new ways of interacting with the computer and architecture. Contemporary architecture in its various scales, seeks greater flexibility, adaptability, and interactivity taking into account both the means and goals of kinetic systems. Thus, it is essential to the creative industry players to acquire new knowledge about the latest technological innovations and how they can solve some of the problems and challenges of today’s society.

The workshop will explore the use of Grasshopper, Firefly, and Arduino as creative and technical tools in all the design process, to simulation and prototype 3D interactive architecture solutions.

The theoretical and practical workshop (64 hours) taught in English and Portuguese, will be composed of two modules: (1) LS_01: Firefly +Grasshopper + Arduino and Scale Model Fabrication; (2) LS_02: Design Studio – Discursive Wall.

This workshop is for students and professionals from different areas, (architecture, design, fine arts, engineering, music, and programming) who are interested in the design process: from ideation to prototyping. The participants will generate scale models.

Details and registration...

Digital Crafting, Massana Arts School (Barcelona)

Digital Crafting, Massana Arts School

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The new realm of digital arts and crafts: a cambrian explosion of processes from traditional techniques through digital crafting, at Massana, the best fine arts school of Barcelona.

Venue
Dates: March 1, 2012 to June 28, 2012
Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Schedule: 17:00 to 20:30
Place: Escola Massana
C/Hospital, 56 08001 Barcelona
Metro: Liceu


Enrollment
On-line enrollment
934422000
Duration: 105 hours
Credits UAB: 7
Price: 652,5€+100€ enrollment
Pre-enrollment: 20.1-30.1
Enrollment: 9.2-18.2

Teachers
Pep Tornabell, digital fabrication researcher
Enrique Soriano, material geometry researcher

Goals
Application of the digital design and fabrication techniques through tools (software) and technologies (hardware) with the goal to provide an introduction of those tools within the creative and executive process of the different design and arts fields.

The course starts from a generic technical and theoretical explanation, focusing on the development of a personal project which will explore the student specific field.

Target
Students and professionals from fields:

• Technical (architecture, engineering)
• Artistic (graphic design, industrial design, fashion design, communication design, jewelry)
• Applied arts (sculpture, painting, printmaking)

Strategies
In the new technological paradigm, adapting the new fabrication tools (hardware+software) to master a subject or field, enables the expansion of possibilities, the control, the complexity and the richness of the generation and fabrication process.

Technologies
Each project will develop the material properties of its research (paper, wood, metal, leather, felt, ceramic, textiles). It will explore in parallel its numerical control:
Cutter/engraver (laser or mechanic)
Fressadora CNC (Numeric Control)
FDM (Fused Depostion Modeling)
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)

Tools
Generative modeling (Rhino, Grasshopper)
Material behavior (processing)
Mesh refinement (MeshLab)
G-code (Machine programming language)

Details and registration...

New RhinoFabLab at SCAD in Savannah

We'd like to introduce you to SCAD/Jewelry and Objects located in Savannah, GA, on the Savannah College of Art & Design campus.  Join us in welcoming SCAD/Jewelry and Objects to our growing group of Authorized RhinoFabLabs.

What is a RhinoFabLab?
A RhinoFabLab™ (fabrication laboratory) is a small-scale digital workshop, certified by McNeel, with an array of Rhino and Rhino compatible software and computer controlled tools and training. These tools cover the various leading-edge industrial methods and materials needed to design, analyze, and fabricate almost anything.

Generative Jewelry Design webinar, Feb 17

You may have seen our recent announcement for the Generative Jewelry Design with Rhino 5 (beta) and Grasshopper presentation.  For those unable to get to New York City for the live presentation, we will be broadcasting the session via GoToWebinar.  Sign up now!

Friday, February 17, 2012
11:00 am-12:30 pm (Eastern)

Join presenter Andres Gonzalez as he explains what Generative Jewelry Design with Rhino is and why it's a "must have" for jewelry designers using Rhino.

If you're in New York and would like to attend the session at FIT, you must RSVP to Dana Buscaglia.  Names will need to be submitted to security to gain access to the campus.

Questions? Contact Jackie Nasser at (305) 513-4445.

Details....

VisualARQ 1.5 available

VisualARQ 1.5 is now available to download. Owners of VisualARQ are encouraged to download and install VisualARQ 1.5. This is a free service release for all VisualARQ users.

What’s new in 1.5?

• Rhino 5 (32 and 64-bit) support.
• Real-time plan views (video).
• New display mode Hidden.
• Control points in slabs (video).
• Improved object and style editor dialog.
• Walls can be extended to roofs and slabs.

VisualARQ 1.5 fixes all known bugs. There are also several enhancements. See the complete list in What’s new.

Details and download...

V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino workshop in Barcelona

V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino workshop
March 19-20, 2012
Barcelona (Spain)

Organized by La Tienda del CAD, SMD and Flying Architecture, with Matúš Nedecký as the instructor, this is an essential workshop both for beginners and existing users of V-Ray for Rhino. The new functions of V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino will be covered as well.

Details and registration...

Geometry Gym - BIM and Model Exchange to/from Rhino/Grasshopper

Geometry Gym provides tools for architects and engineers, streamlining workflow processes for improved productivity and designs. Powerful parametric and generative modeling of structures is enabled by using plug-ins for Grasshopper and Rhino. Development is progressing for BIM model generation, manipulation and exchange using neutral formats such as IFC and CIS/2, particularly for projects that aren't flat and orthogonal.

Computational Geometry commands and functions (also useful to designers in industries other than architecture) are also provided in the plug-in StructDrawRhino. Tessellation (polygon packing), geodesic domes, mesh relaxation, minimal surfaces, and others are included. And you'll find worked examples of these used in architecture for projects such as the Beijing Water Cube or British Museum Great Court roof on the Geometry Gym blog.

Read the recent magazine article "The intelligent IFC Importer for Rhino" (in French)...

Seatec Marine trade show

February 8-10 - Seatec - Carrara, Italy

Seatec is an international exhibition of technology, subcontracting, and design for boats, mega yachts, and ships.

To see what's new in Rhino, Orca3D and RhinoParametrics, visit the NDAR Booth (D-857).

RhinoPiping 0.9.4

RhinoPiping is a new plugin, developed by NAVINN Software, for creating piping networks in a 3D environment and forwarding information to people working in engineering offices, purchasing, subcontracting, manufacturing, assembly, and testing.

RhinoPiping 0.9.4 has been released. See the release notes and download the beta version.

Badger 1.0, the batch renderer for Rhino - Released!

Hi all!

We've just put the finishing touches to Badger—the batch renderer plugin for Rhino. You can download a trial version from here:

http://www.badger3d.com

It's designed to work with all Rhino-compatible renderers, and it's great for setting up overnight render jobs without scripting using V-Ray or Maxwell—or one of the other plugins. There are lots of features.

Anyway, wander over and give it a try. At the very least, let us know what's missing!

Cheers,
The Badger development team

Gallery of Installations

Come and see the new Installations Gallery on the Grasshopper web site. Be inspired by the many projects from around the world.

Go to the Installations Gallery…

* If you would like to share photographs of your Grasshopper generated installation, we invite you to submit a gallery image to the Grasshopper site and add the tag “installation”.

Got spare change?

Michiel Cornelissen designs his projects in Rhino. Here is another fun project from his collection. And with 111 five-eurocents you can make one for yourself!

Details . . .

RhinoGold training in NYC

Learn RhinoGold and take advantage of this 3D technology specifically designed for jewelry.  CadBlu has organized a four-day class being held later this month.

Dates: February 13-16, 2012
Location: CadBlu, Inc, 37 W 28th St, 9th Floor, New York, NY, 10001
Details and registration: Call (212) 481-8700 or email

Sign up today!

Spring Challenge 2012 workshop in Vienna

Spring Challenge 2012
Feb 13-18
University of Applied Arts Vienna

IOA Spring Challenge is an international design workshop intended for architecture students interested in exploring integrated digital design and fabrication within the teaching environment of the Institute of Architecture at the University of Applied Arts.

Details...

Grasshopper workshops in Italy

New Grasshopper workshops and Computational Design Masters have been announced in Italy:

• February 6-8 - Grasshopper Livello 1 - Torino
• February 9-10 - Plug-It Grasshopper workshop - Rome
• February 22-26 - Advanced Grasshopper "Ecologic Patterns" - Milano
• March 1-4 - Built In Rhinoceros - Rome
• Starts May 17 - Master INARCH - Rome 

Check here all Grasshopper workshops...

Orca3D new WIP version 1.2.2

Leveraging the power of Rhino for the naval architect

This new version (1.2.2) of Orca3D contains several new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Some highlights include:

• Hydrostatics and Stability: By default, the Pre-float check is run each time hydrostatics are calculated to review the model for errors. This option can be disabled.
• Hydrostatics and Stability: Real-time hydrostatics and Sectional Area Curve will now update when an entire surface is moved (when the move is complete).
• Weight and Cost: If the user attempts to edit the weight/cost properties associated with a block instance, a message is provided that only the weight/cost properties associated with the block definition can be edited.
• Hull Design: Improved performance of Orca section calculation when dragging many objects.
• Licensing: Implemented a newer version of the Licensing libraries, allowing self-service activation through a user website for cases where Internet activation is not possible because the computer where Orca3D is installed does not have Internet access.
• Units Fixes: Fixed bug in unit conversion values for metric mass density units other than kg/m^3.
• OrcaMove Fixes: Fixed OrcaMove ghosting and an incorrect real-time sectional area curve behavior, in which one move caused two sectional area curve updates.
• PIAS Export Fixes: Modified PIAS section export to meet the requirement of positive transverse coordinate (regardless of whether port/stbd is modeled). Added logic to join station segments by filling in gaps with straight line segments.
• Hydrostatics: Fixed a bug in the scriptable version of the OrcaHydrostatics command when using the TransformModel command option. Fixed a bug in which undoing a surface manipulation while real-time hydrostatics/sectional area curve was active did not cause a hydrostatics/sectional area curve update.

This WIP will expire on March 1st. Either the final version of Orca3D 1.2 will be released before then, or a new WIP will be released.

Buy Orca3D...

Download Orca3D WIP 1.2.2...

Post a question to the Orca3D Forum... 

RhinoTerrain and RhinoCity at Imagina Monaco

Image: Lyon Courly

RhinoTerrain and RhinoCity at Imagina Monaco
February 7-9

RhinoTerrain will be exhibiting at Imagina Monaco trade show (AEC Informatique, Stand 43-49).

Don't miss the presentation of the new RhinoTerrain version for Rhino 5 64-bit beta and a sneak preview of RhinoCity, a new plug-in for automatic texturing and creation of virtual cities from photogrammetry data (ESRI geodata, CityGML import/export...).

EvoluteTools 2.0 PRO and Lite

EvoluteTools 2.0 has been released and there are now two different versions:

• EvoluteTools PRO is an advanced paneling and geometry optimization tool for freeform surfaces with a user-friendly interface. Established computational tools from Evolute's core software library, as well as groundbreaking technology from our cutting edge research results, provide you with functionality not offered by any other system.
   
• EvoluteTools Lite is a free Rhino plugin for the intuitive design of panelizations using multiresolution mesh modeling and mesh optimization. Meshes can be optimized for closeness to a reference surface, fairness (smoothness) of its polylines, and several other goals. No strings attached: no cost, no mesh size restrictions, and no patents.

Complete details and download...

Online Grasshopper training in February

Join us next month for our first round of online Grasshopper training sessions.  The courses are for design professionals who are looking to efficiently learn concepts and features of Grasshopper at an accelerated pace in an instructor-led online environment.

February 21-24 - Intro to Grasshopper (conducted in Spanish)
** This session has been canceled.  New dates will be scheduled.  **

February 28-March 2 - Intro to Grasshopper (conducted in English)
Details and registration... 

Acoustics with Grasshopper

Guillaume Meunier has posted a Grasshopper definition which imitates acoustic raytracing in Rhino. Explore the progression of acoustic waves in a 3D space by controlling results through ray density, distribution angle, and time from origin.

For details and a sample…

Rhino + Grasshopper presentation in Miami

Generative Architectural Design - Rhino + Grasshopper presentation
Miami Dade College - Room 7128
Wednesday, February 1
7:00pm-8:30pm

For designers who are exploring new shapes using generative algorithms, Grasshopper® is a graphical algorithm editor tightly integrated with Rhino’s 3D modeling tools. Grasshopper requires no knowledge of programming or scripting, and yet, it allows designers to build form generators from the simple to the awe-inspiring.

Come and see the latest on Rhino 5 and Grasshopper during a presentation by the director of RhinoFabLab, Andres Gonzalez.

For more information, please contact Jackie Nasser or call (305) 513-4445.

There is no charge to attend this event.

New architecture video tutorials

As part of the UCL faculty, Jose Sanchez would like to share a series of online videos on Rhino modeling in architecture: Modeling the LF-ONE by Zaha Hadid.