- Rhinoceros 3D
-
Rhinoceros 
Developer(s) Robert McNeel & Associates Stable release 4.0 SR9 / March 9, 2011 Operating system Windows (2000/XP/Vista), Apple OS X in development phase Type 3D computer graphics License Proprietary Website http://www.rhino3d.com/ Rhinoceros (Rhino) is a stand-alone, commercial NURBS-based 3-D modeling tool, developed by Robert McNeel & Associates. The software is commonly used for industrial design, architecture, marine design, jewelry design, automotive design, CAD / CAM, rapid prototyping, reverse engineering as well as the multimedia and graphic design industries.[1][2]
A model created in Rhino, illustrating free-form NURBS surfaces (Rendered in Flamingo)
Rhino specializes in free-form non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) modeling. Plug-ins developed by McNeel include Flamingo (raytrace rendering), Penguin (non-photorealistic rendering), Bongo, and Brazil (advanced rendering). Over 100 third-party plugins are also available. There are also rendering plug-ins for Maxwell Render, V-ray and many other engines. Additional plugins for CAM and CNC milling are available as well, allowing for toolpath generation directly in Rhino.
Like many modeling applications, Rhino also features a scripting language, based on the Visual Basic language, and an SDK that allows reading and writing Rhino files directly. Rhinoceros 3d gained its popularity in architectural design in part because of the Grasshopper plug-in for computational design. Many new avant-garde architects are using parametric modeling tools, like Grasshopper. [3]
Rhino's increasing popularity[citation needed] is based on its diversity, multi-disciplinary functions, low learning-curve, relatively low cost, and its ability to import and export over 30 file formats, which allows Rhino to act as a 'converter' tool between programs in a design workflow.
Contents
Development
Rhino was originally distributed as a free, closed-source, open beta. A broad community of users whose input debugged and added features to the program developed as a result.
The development is on-going; version 4.0 Service Release 9 is the most recent[4] with version 5.0 expected in 2011.[5] Development of a Mac OS X version in progress http://www.irhino3d.com; Beta version on request. Rhino owners can download the latest beta versions and participate in the development process. Free trial versions are available for download.
File format
The Rhino file format (.3DM) is useful for the exchange of NURBS geometry. The Rhino developers started the openNURBS Initiative to provide computer graphics software developers the tools to accurately transfer 3-D geometry between applications. An open-source toolkit, openNURBS includes the 3DM file format specification, documentation, C++ source code libraries and .NET 2.0 assemblies to read and write the file format, on supported platforms (Windows, Windows x64, Mac, and Linux). The McNeel Wiki has more current information.
See also
- 3D modeling
- Zebra striping
- Grasshopper 3D
References
- ^ Feature Article - 3D Modeling and Rendering for the Rest of Us - 09/04
- ^ Rhino 4.0 - Robert McNeel & Associates (Rhino 4.0)
- ^ "AEC Magazine - Rhino Grasshopper". http://aecmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=293&Itemid=32.
- ^ Rhino 4.0 Service Release 9 Now Available
- ^ Modeling tools for designers
External links
CAD software Free and Open Source Freeware freeCAD - DraftSightProprietary AutoCAD - Bricscad - CATIA - DeltaCad - MicroStation - NX - Pro/ENGINEER - Rhinoceros 3D - Solid Edge - SolidWorks - TurboCAD - VariCAD - Autodesk Inventor - T-FLEX CADCategories:- 3D graphics software
- Computer-aided design software
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
