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Rhinoceros 5

For Windows
User's Guide

RobertMcNeel&Associates,6/19/2015.

Table of Contents
SectionI:Workingin3-D

Introduction

TheRhinointerface

Rhinocommands

Startfromthemenu

Startfromatoolbaricon

Startfromthecommandline

10

Undoamistake

13

Thecommandwindow

14

Commandoptions

14

Repeatthelastcommand

14

Gethelpanytime

15

RhinoObjects

17

WhyNURBSmodeling

17

Points

17

Curves

18

Surfaces

18

Closedandopensurfaces

19

Trimmedanduntrimmedsurfaces

19

Surfaceisoparametricandedgecurves

21

Polysurfaces

22

Solids

22

Light-weightextrusionobjects

23

Polygonmeshobjects

23

SelectingObjects

25

Selectobjectswithwindows

26

Otherwaysofselecting

27

Sub-objectselection

29

NavigatingViewports

31

Viewportprojection

31

Viewportnavigation

31

Mousenavigation

32

Viewportdisplaymodes

32

Wireframe

33

Shaded

33

Othershadedmodes

34

Viewporttitle
Toactivatetheviewporttitlemenu
AccurateModeling

35
35
37

TheRhinocursor

37

Snaptotheconstructionplanegrid

37

Constraintheangleofmovement

37

iii

Table of contents

Snaptoexistingobjects

38

Persistentobjectsnaps

38

Specialcaseobjectsnaps

39

Cursorconstraints

39

Distanceconstraint

39

Angleconstraint

39

Distanceandangletogether

40

Elevatormode

40

SmartTrack

40

Coordinatesystems

41

Cartesiancoordinates

41

Right-handrule

41

Worldcoordinates

41

Constructionplanecoordinates

41

Relativecoordinates

42

CreateSurfacesfromCurves

45

Edgecurves

45

Extrudecurves

46

Loftcurves

48

Revolvecurves

49

Revolvecurveswitharail

52

Sweepalongonerailcurve

56

Sweepalongtworailcurves

58

EditCurvesandSurfaces

61

Join

61

Explode

61

TrimandSplit

61

Control-pointediting

61

Controlpointvisibility

61

Changecontrolpointlocations

62

Add,delete,orredistributecontrolpoints

62

Curveandsurfacedegree
Transforms-Move,Copy,Rotate,Scale
Move

62
65
65

Moveobjectsusingdistancevalues

65

Moveobjectsbydragging

66

Elevatormode

67

Copy

69

Rotate

73

Scale

77

Mirror

80

Array

83

Orient

83

CurveandSurfaceAnalysis
Measuredistance,angle,andradius

85
85

iv

Table of contents

Curveandsurfacedirection

85

Curvature

86

Visualsurfaceanalysis

86

Environmentmap

86

Curvatureanalysis

87

Draftangleanalysis

87

Edgeevaluation

88

Diagnostics

88

OrganizationandAnnotation

89

Layers

89

Groups

90

Blocks

90

Worksessions

90

Dimensions

90

Text

91

Leaders

91

Dots

92

Hiddenlineremoval

92

Notes

92

Render

93

Lights

93

Materials

94

Environment

95

GroundPlane

95

Render

96

SectionII:Tutorials

97

PullToy-SolidsandTransforms

99

Entercoordinates

99

Drawthepulltoybody

99

Drawtheaxlesandwheelhubs

102

Drawthelugnuts

104

Arraythelugnuts

105

Drawthetires

106

Mirrorthewheels

107

Drawtheeyes

109

Makethepullcord

114

Flashlight-RevolveCurves

125

Setupthemodel

125

Drawacenterline

127

Drawthebodyprofilecurve

128

Drawthelensprofilecurve

129

Buildtheflashlightbody

130

Createthelens

133

Headphone-Sweep,Loft,andExtrude
Createthespeakershell

135
136

Table of contents

Createthepaddingandcover

140

Createthemountingbracket

142

Createtheheadband

146

Roundtheheadbandends

151

Createthespeakerwire

157

Mirrortheheadphoneparts

161

Learnmore

163

Penguin-PointEditingandBlending

165

Thebody

165

Theeyes

173

Thebeak

179

Thefeet

186

Thetail

196

Thewings

199

Finishingtouches

204

Render

206

BoatHull-LoftandSweep

207

Layoutthehullcurves

208

Checkthecurvesforfairness

209

Fixthecurvature

209

Createthe3-Dcurves

210

Revisethecurves

212

Loftthehullsurfaces

215

Trimthebowandbottom

217

Buildthetransom

219

Addthedeck

226

Dragonfly-TraceImages

233

Drawthebody

233

Drawthehead

239

Blendtheheadandbody

247

Drawtheeyes

249

Shapethetail

250

Tracethewings

251

Drawthelegs

253

Finishingtouches

254

WrapText-Flowalongsurface

255

Makeasurface

255

Createtheobjectstowrap

256

Controltheobjectplacement

256

MechanicalPart-Blocks

261

Createsolidshapes

261

Drilltheholes

265

Copytheholes

267

Makea2-Ddrawing

270

Dimensionthe2-Ddrawing

270

vi

Table of contents

MechanicalPart-Layouts

273

Layoutviewports

274

Insertatitleblock

275

vii

Rhinoceros 5 User's Guide


Section I: Working in 3-D

Introduction
Modelingin3-Distheprocessofcreatingamathematicalrepresentationofanobject'ssurfaces.Theresulting
modelisdisplayedonyourscreenasatwo-dimensionalimage.Rhinoprovidestoolsforcreating,displaying,
andmanipulatingthesesurfaces.

The Rhino interface


TheimagebelowillustratessomeofthemajorfeaturesoftheRhinowindow.

Menu (1)
ThemenusgroupRhinocommandsbyfunction.
History window (2)
Thecommandhistorywindowdisplaysthepreviouscommandsandprompts.
Command prompt (3)
Thecommandpromptdisplayspromptsforthecurrentcommandactions,optionsforthecommandthat
youcanclick,andallowstypingcommandnamesandoptions.
Toolbars (4)
Toolbarscontaingraphicaliconsforinitiatingcommands.Manytoolbariconshaveasecondcommandthat
youcanaccessbyright-clickingtheicon.Thetooltipthatappearswhenyouhoverovertheicontellsyou
whattheleftandrightmousebuttondo.
To access the command on the first line
4

Clicktheiconwiththeleft mouse button.

To access the command on the second line


4

Clickthebuttonwiththeright mouse button.

Introduction

Viewports (5)
ViewportsdisplaytheRhinoworkingenvironment.
Panels (6)
Tabbedpanelscontainslayers,properties,andothersettings.

Rhino commands
Rhinoisacommand drivenprogram.Inotherwords,allactionsareactivatedbynamedcommandssuchas
Line,Box,orCurvatureAnalysis.
Tip:Toreadmoreaboutacommand,clickthered,underlinedcommandnamelink.
Commandsareaccessedthroughthemenus,orthetoolbars,orbytypingthecommandname.Inthenext
sections,youwillexploreusingthesemethods.Youmayfindonemethodeasierthananother.Thechoiceis
yours,andthereisnopreferenceforonemethodoveranother.
Intheexercises,youwilluseRhinoscommands,navigationtools,shadedmodes,render,andusesomebasic
objectmanipulation.
Tip:Tocancelacommandanytime,presstheEsckey.
In this session you will
4

Startacommandbychoosingfromthemenu.

Startacommandbychoosingfromatoolbaricon.

Startacommandbytyping.
To start your first Rhino model

1. StartRhino.
2. OntheFilemenu,clickNew.
3. IntheOpen Template Filedialogbox,selectSmallObjects - centimeters.3dmandclickOpen.

Start from the menu


MostRhinocommandsarearrangedinthemenus.
Start the Cone command
4

OntheSolidmenu,clickCone.

Introduction

Draw the cone


1. AttheBase of coneprompt,intheTopviewport,clickwiththemousetopickthecenterpointfor
thebaseofthecone.

2. AttheRadiusprompt,intheTopviewport,dragthemouseandclicktodrawtheconesbase.

Introduction

3. AttheEnd of coneprompt,intheFrontviewport,dragthemouseandclicktodrawthecones
point.

4. WatchwhathappensinthePerspectiveviewport.

Start from a toolbar icon


Toolbarsprovideagraphicalinterfacetothecommands.
To display a button tooltip, hover your mouse over the icon
4

Thecommandnamesthatareactivatedwiththeleftandrightmouseclicksdisplay.

Introduction

Start the Curve command


4

OnthetoolbardockedontheleftsideoftheRhinowindow,clicktheiconforControl point curve.

Introduction

Draw the curve

Introduction

1. AttheStart of curveprompt,intheTopviewport,clickthemousetostartthecurve.
2. AttheNext point...prompts,clickafewmorepointsintheTopviewport.

3. AttheNext point...prompts,movethemouseintotheFrontviewportandclickafewmorepoints.

4. AttheNext point...prompts,movethemouseintotheRightviewportandclickafewmorepoints.

5. Right-click,pressEnterorpressthespacebartocompletethecurve.

Introduction

6. CheckoutthePerspectiveviewport.

Admire your work


4

DragwiththerightmousebuttontorotatethePerspectiveview.

Start from the command line


Youcanstartacommandbytypingthecommandname.
Start the Sphere command by typing
4

Clickatthecommandprompt,andtypeSphere.

10

Introduction

Draw the sphere

11

Introduction

1. AttheCenter of sphereprompt,inthePerspectiveviewport,clickthemousetopickthecenter
pointforthesphere.

2. AttheRadiusprompt,inthePerspectiveviewport,movethemouseawayfromthecenterpoint,
andclickthemousetodrawthesphereandclick.

3. InthePerspectiveviewport,clickthedown-arrowontheviewport title,andonthemenu,click
Shaded.

12

Introduction

Undo a mistake
Ifyoudidsomethingyoudidnotwanttodo,youcanundoyouractions.
Undo a command
4

OntheEditmenu,clickUndo,orpresstheCtrlandZkeys.
Redo commands

OntheEditmenu,clickRedo,orpresstheCtrl and Ykeys.

13

Introduction

The command window


Thecommandwindowcontainsthecommandhistoryandthecommandprompt.
ThewindowisnormallydockedatthetopoftheRhinowindow,butyoucandockitatthebottomofthescreen
orfloatitjustlikeanytoolbar.Itisagoodideatodragthewindowsoitdisplaysatleastthreelinesoftext.
Thecommand promptiswhereyoucantypecommandnames,setoptions,enterdistancesandanglesfor
drawing,andreadthepromptsforthecommands.
Thecommandpromptdisplaysoptionsforthecommandinparentheses.Toactivateanoption,clicktheoption
withthemouseortypetheoptionnameortheunderlinedletterintheoption.
Optionsgiveyoualternatemethodsforusingthecommand.Promptsaremessagestoyoutoselectobjectsto
acton,toenterinformation,ortoenterapointonthescreen.Asyoustarttobuildobjects,promptsbecome
increasinglyimportant,sincetheytellyouwhattodonext.

Command options
Commandoptionschangehowacommandacts.Forexample,whenyoudrawacircle,thecircleisnormally
drawnontheactiveconstructionplane.TheCirclecommandhasseveraloptionsincludingVerticaland
AroundCurve.Commandoptionsappearinparenthesesattheprompt.
Touseacommandoption,clicktheoptionname,ortypetheunderlinedletteroftheoptionorthewholeoption
name.
Choose a command option
1. Atthecommandprompt,typeCircle.
2. TheoptionsfortheCirclecommandappear:
Center of circle(DeformableVertical2Point3PointTangentAroundCurveFitPoints)
3. Todrawacircleverticaltotheactiveconstructionplane,usetheVerticaloption.
ClickVertical,ortypeV.

Repeat the last command


ManytasksinRhinoarerepetitive.Youmightwanttomoveorcopyseveralobjects,forexample.Methodsfor
repeatingcommandsareprovided.
To repeat the last command
4

PresstheEnterkeywhennocommandisactive.

InadditiontopressingtheEnterkeyonyourkeyboard,youcanpresstheSpacebarorclickthe
right mouse buttoninaviewport.Theseallperformthesamefunction.
Note:
Somecommands,suchasUndoandDeletedonotrepeat.Instead,thecommand
priortothesecommandsisrepeated.Thispreventsyoufromaccidentallyundoing
toomanycommandsordeletingobjectsaccidentally.
Inaddition,youoftenwanttorepeatthecommandyouwereusingbeforeundoing
amistake.Youcandefinethelistofcommandsthatdonotrepeattosuityourown
wayofworking.

14

Introduction

Get help any time


TheRhino Helpfileisthemajorresourcefordetailedinformationonspecificcommands.
To get help on a specific command
4

TogetHelpforacommand,pressF1whilethecommandisrunning.

OntheHelpmenu,clickCommand Help.
TheRhinoHelpwilldisplayinadockablewindow.
ClickAuto-UpdatetodisplaytheHelptopicforthecurrentcommand.
TheHelpwindowappearswiththespecificcommandtopicvisible.

GotoRhino Helpforthemostup-to-dateHelpinformation.

Findtheanswerstofrequentlyaskedquestionsat:Rhino Support.
Tip:Formoreinformationaboutthemathematicalprinciplesinvolvedin3-Dmodeling,
see:www.mathopenref.com.

15

Rhino Objects
ThefundamentalgeometricobjectsinRhinoarepoints,curves,surfaces,polysurfaces,extrusionobjects,and
polygonmeshobjects.

Why NURBS modeling


NURBS(non-uniformrationalB-splines)aremathematicalrepresentationsthatcanaccuratelymodelany
shapefromasimple2-Dline,circle,arc,orboxtothemostcomplex3-Dfree-formorganicsurfaceorsolid.
Becauseoftheirflexibilityandaccuracy,NURBSmodelscanbeusedinanyprocessfromillustrationand
animationtomanufacturing.
NURBSgeometryisanindustrystandardfordesignerswhoworkin3-Dwhereformsarefreeandflowing;
wherebothformandfunctionisimportant.Rhinoisusedinmarine,aerospace,andautomobileinteriorand
exteriordesign.Makersofhouseholdandofficeappliances,furniture,medicalandsportsequipment,footwear,
andjewelryuseRhinotocreatefree-formshapes.
NURBSmodelingisalsowidelyusedbyprofessionalanimatorsandgraphicartists.Theadvantageoverusing
polygonmodelersisthattherearenofacets.Themodelscanberenderedatanyresolution.Ameshcanbe
createdfromthemodelatanyresolution.FormoreinformationaboutthemathematicsofNURBS,seeWhat
are NURBS?.

Points
Pointobjectsmarkasinglepointin3-Dspace.TheyarethesimplestobjectsinRhino.Pointscanbeplaced
anywhereinspace.Pointsaremostoftenusedasplaceholders.

17

Rhino Objects

Curves
ARhinocurveissimilartoapieceofwire.Itcanbestraightorwiggled,andcanbeopenorclosed.
Apolycurveisseveralcurvesegmentsjoinedtogetherendtoend.
Rhinoprovidesmanytoolsfordrawingcurves.Youcandrawstraightlines,polylinesthatconsistofconnected
linesegments,arcs,circles,polygons,ellipses,helices,andspirals.
Youcanalsodrawcurvesusingcurvecontrol pointsanddrawcurvesthatpassthroughselectedpoints.

CurvesinRhinoincludelines,arcs,circles,free-formcurves,andcombinationsofthese.Curvescanbeopenor
closed,planarornon-planar.

Surfaces
Asurfaceislikearectangularstretchyrubbersheet.TheNURBSformcanrepresentsimpleshapes,suchas
planesandcylinders,aswellasfree-form,sculpturedsurfaces.
AllsurfacecreationcommandsinRhinoresultinthesameobject:aNURBSsurface.Rhinohasmanytoolsfor
constructingsurfacesdirectlyorfromexistingcurves.

AllNURBSsurfaceshaveaninherentlyrectangularorganization.

18

Rhino Objects

Evenaclosedsurfacesuchasacylinderislikearectangularpieceofpaperthathasbeenrolledupsotwo
oppositeedgesaretouching.Theplacewheretheedgescometogetheriscalledtheseam.Ifasurfacedoesnot
havearectangularshape,eitherithasbeentrimmedorthecontrolpointsontheedgeshavebeenmoved.

Closed and open surfaces


Asurfacecanbeopenorclosed.Anopencylinderisclosedinonedirection.
Atorus(donutshape)isclosedintwodirections.

Trimmed and untrimmed surfaces


Surfacescanbetrimmedoruntrimmed.Atrimmedsurfacehastwoparts:asurfacethatunderlieseverything
anddefinesthegeometricshape,andtrimmingcurvesthatmarksectionsoftheunderlyingsurfacethatare
trimmedaway.
Trimmedsurfacesarecreatedwithcommandsthattrimorsplitsurfaceswithcurvesandothersurfaces.Some
commandscreatetrimmedsurfacesdirectly.

19

Rhino Objects

Theshapeofasurfaceisstilldefinedbyasetofcontrolpointsarrangedinarectangularpattern.

Sinceitcanbeimportantforyoutoknowifasurfaceistrimmed,thePropertiescommandliststhetrimmed
oruntrimmedstateofthesurface.SomeRhinocommandsworkonlywithuntrimmedsurfacesandsome
softwaredoesnotimporttrimmedNURBSsurfaces.
Trimmingcurveslieontheunderlyingsurface.Thissurfacemaybelargerthanthetrimcurves,butyouwill
notseetheunderlyingsurfacebecauseRhinodoesnotdrawthepartofthesurfacethatisoutsidethetrim
curves.Everytrimmedsurfaceretainsinformationaboutitsunderlyingsurfacegeometry.Youcanremovethe
trimmingcurveboundariestomakethesurfaceuntrimmedwiththeUntrimcommand.

Ifyouhaveatrimcurvethatrunsacrossasurface,thetrimcurveitselfdoesnothaveanyrealrelationshipto
thecontrolpointstructureofthesurface.Youcanseethisifyouselectsuchatrimmedsurfaceandturnits
controlpointson.Youwillseethecontrolpointsforthewholeunderlyingsurface.

20

Rhino Objects

Ifyoucreateasurfacefromaplanarcurve,itcanbeatrimmedsurface.Theillustratedsurfacewascreated
fromacircle.Thecontrolpointsdisplayshowstherectangularstructureofthesurface.

TheUntrimcommandremovesthetrimmingcurvefromthesurfacetogetbacktotheunderlyinguntrimmed
rectangularsurface.

Surface isoparametric and edge curves


Inwireframeview,surfaceslooklikeasetofcrossingcurves.Thesecurvesarecalledisoparametric curvesor
isocurve.Thesecurveshelpyouvisualizetheshapeofthesurface.Isoparametriccurvesdonotdefinethe
surfacethewaythepolygonsdoinapolygonmesh.Theyaremerelyavisualaidthatallowsyoutoseethe
surfaceonthescreen.Whenasurfaceisselected,allofitsisoparametriccurveshighlight.
Edgecurvesboundthesurface.Surfaceedgecurvescanbeusedasinputtoothercommands.

Isocurves (1), Edge curves (2).

21

Rhino Objects

Polysurfaces
Apolysurfaceconsistsoftwoormoresurfacesthatarejoinedtogether.Apolysurfacethatenclosesavolumeof
spacedefinesasolid.

Solids
Asolidisasurfaceorpolysurfacethatenclosesavolume.Solidsarecreatedanytimeasurfaceorpolysurfaceis
completelyclosed.Rhinocreatessingle-surfacesolids,polysurfacesolids,andextrusionsolids.
Asinglesurfacecanwraparoundandjoinitself.ExamplecommandsincludeSphere,Torus,andEllipsoid.
Controlpointscanbedisplayedonsingle-surfacesolidsandmovedtochangethesurface.

SomeRhinocommandscreatepolysurfacesolids.Pyramid,Cone,andTConeareexamplesofcommands
thatcreatepolysurfacesolids.
TheSolidPtOncommandturnsongrippointsforpolysurfaces,whichactlikecontrolpoints.

22

Rhino Objects

Light-weight extrusion objects


Light-weightextrusionobjectsuseonlyaprofilecurveandalengthasinputinsteadofthenetworkof
isocurvesnormallyneededforNURBSobjects.TheBox,Cylinder,Tube,andExtrudeCrvcommandscreate
extrusionobjects.Extrusionobjectscanbeclosedwithaplanarcaporopen.Theseobjectswillbeconvertedto
polysurfacesbysomecommandsifnecessarytoaddadditionalinformationforediting.

Polygon mesh objects


Becausetherearemanymodelersthatusepolygonmeshestorepresentgeometryforrendering,animation,
stereolithography,visualization,andfiniteelementanalysis,theMeshcommandtranslatesNURBSgeometry
intopolygonalmeshesforexport.Inaddition,theMeshcreationcommandsMeshSphere,MeshBox,
MeshCylinder,etc.,drawmeshobjects.

Note:
ThereisnoeasywaytoconvertameshmodelintoaNURBSmodel.Theinformation
thatdefinestheobjectsiscompletelydifferent.
However,Rhinohasafewcommandsfordrawingcurvesonmeshesandextracting
vertexpointsandotherinformationfrommeshobjectstoassistinusingmesh
informationtocreateNURBSmodels.

23

Selecting Objects
MostoperationsyouwilldoinRhinorequireyoutoselectoneormoreobjects.Objectscanbeselectedby
clickinganywhereontheobject.Clickawayfromtheobjecttodeselectit.Thismethodletsyouselectone
objectatatime.
To select additional objects
4

HoldtheShiftkeywhileclickingtheobjects.
To remove objects from the selection

HoldtheCtrlkeyandclicktheobjectsagain.
To cancel the selection

ClickawayfromtheobjectsorpresstheEsckey.
Practice selecting objects

1. OpenthetutorialmodelSelect Objects.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. InthePerspectiveviewport,clicktoselectthesphere.

25

Selecting Objects

3. HoldtheShiftkeyandselectthecylinder.
Thecylinderisaddedtotheselection.

4. HoldtheCtrlkeyandclickthesphereagain.
5. Clickawayfromtheobjects,orpresstheEsckey.
Theselectioniscanceled.

Select objects with windows


Anothermethodistomakeawindowselectionoracrossingselectiontoselectmultipleobjectsinone
operation.
Youcanclickinanopenareaofthescreenanddragtocreateaselectionwindow.Tomakeawindowselection
clickinanopenareaofthescreenanddragtotheright.Tomakeacrossingselectionclickinanopenareaof
thescreenanddragtotheleft.
Awindowselection,selectsallobjectscompletelyenclosedbythewindow.Acrossingselection,selectsall
objectsthatareenclosedbythewindoworanyobjectthewindowcrosses.
Toaddobjects,holdtheShiftkeywhilemakingawindoworcrossingselection.
Toremoveobjects,holdtheCtrlkeywhilemakingawindoworcrossingselection.

26

Selecting Objects

Practice window and crossing select


1. InthePerspectiveviewport,clickanddragawindowaroundthesphere.

2. InthePerspectiveviewport,holdtheShiftkeythenclickanddragawindowaroundtheboxand
thecylinder.
Thecylinderandboxareaddedtotheselection.

3. InthePerspectiveviewport,holdtheCtrlkeythenclickanddragacrossingovertheboxand
cylinder.

Other ways of selecting


Rhinohasmanycommandsandmethodsforselectingobjects.Youcanselectobjectbyname,layer,color,
type;bycapturingwithboundariesorcrossingfences;byvolumeshapes,bygroupnameandmanyothers.
ReviewthehelptopicSelection commands.

27

Selecting Objects

Practice selection by object type


1. Atthecommandprompt,typeSelAll.
2. TypeSelNone.
Thisclearstheobjectsfromtheselection.

28

Selecting Objects

3. TypeSelSrf.
Thisselectsallsurfaces.Inthiscase,onlythesphereisasurface.

4. TypeSelPolysurface.
Thisaddsallpolysurfacestotheselection.Inthiscase,thecylinderandboxarepolysurfaces.

5. PresstheEsckey.
Thisalsoclearstheselection.

Sub-object selection
Youcanselectsub-partsofobjectsforuseincommands,forexample,selectasurfaceedgetouseasinputfora
LoftorExtrudeCrvoperation.Theavailablepartsincludepolysurfacefaces;surfaceandpolysurfaceedge
curves;controlpoints;meshvertices,faces,boundaries,andedges;andobjectswithinagroup.Reviewthe
helptopicforSub-object selection.
To select parts of objects for use with other commands
4

PressandholdboththeCtrlandShiftkeysatthesametimeandclickanobjectpart.

29

Selecting Objects

Practice sub-object selection


1. InthePerspectiveviewport,presstheCtrlandShiftkeysandclickafaceofthebox.
2. PresstheDeletekey.

Thefaceoftheboxisseparatedfromtheboxsolidanddeleted.

30

Navigating Viewports
Theviewporttitlehassomespecialfunctionsformanipulatingtheviewport.
4 Clickthetitletomaketheviewportactivewithoutdisturbingtheview.
4

Dragtheviewporttitletomovetheviewport.

Double-clicktheviewporttitletomaximizetheviewport.Double-clickagaintorestorethesizetonormal.

Viewport projection
Viewportscanhaveoneofthreeprojections:parallel,perspectiveortwo-pointperspective.
Rightmousenavigationworksdifferentlyinthetwoviewportstyles.Inparallelviews,rightmousedragging
panstheview.Inperspectiveviews,right-mousedraggingrotatestheview.Intheusualfour-viewportlayout,
therearethreeparallelviewportsandoneperspectiveviewport.
Parallel
Parallelviewsarealsocalledorthogonalviewsinsomesystems.Inaparallelview,allthegridlinesare
paralleltoeachother,andidenticalobjectslookthesamesize,regardlessofwheretheyareinspace.

Perspective
Inaperspectiveview,gridlinesconvergetoavanishingpoint.Thisprovidestheillusionofdepthinthe
viewport.Perspectiveprojectionmakesobjectsfartherawaylooksmaller.

Viewport navigation
Rhinoseasynavigationhelpsyoutovisualizeyourmodel.
Thesimplestwaytochangetheviewistodragthemousewithrightbuttonhelddown.Thispanstheviewin
parallelviewsandrotatestheviewinperspectiveviews.
Youcanchangeyourviewinthemiddleofacommandtoseepreciselywhereyouwanttoselectanobjector
chooseapoint.
To zoom in and out
4

HolddowntheCtrlkeyanddragupanddownwiththerightmousebuttonhelddown.
Tip:Ifyouhaveamousewithawheel,usethewheeltozoominandout.

31

Navigating Viewports

Command

Key and mouse combinations


Inparallelviewports(forexample:Top,Front,andRight),dragwiththerightmousebutton.
Inperspectiveviewports,holdtheShift key,and dragwiththerightmousebutton.

Pan

Inparallelviewports(forexample:Top,Front,andRight),holdtheCtrlandShiftkeys,and
dragwiththerightmousebutton.
RotateView

Zoom

Inperspectiveviewports,dragwiththerightmousebutton.
HoldtheCtrlkey,anddragupanddownwiththerightmousebutton,orrotatethemouse
wheel.

Mouse navigation
Workingin3-Donacomputerrequiresvisualizingthree-dimensionalobjectsdrawnonatwo-dimensional
mediumthecomputerscreen.Rhinoprovidestoolstohelpdothis.
Dragwiththerightmousebuttontoeasilymanipulatetheviewstolookmodelfromvariousangles.Usethe
rightmousebuttonviewmanipulationsinbothwireframeandshadedviews.
To pan in a viewport
4

IntheTopviewport,dragthemousewiththerightmousebuttonhelddowntopantheview.
Restore a view

Ifyougetlost,thereareseveralwaystogetyourselfreoriented:
4 PresstheHomekeytostepbackthroughyourviewchanges.
4

PresstheEndkeytostepforwardthroughyourviewchanges.

Tosetyourviewsoyouarelookingstraightdownontheconstructionplane,usethePlancommand.

Tobringallyourobjectsintoview,usetheZoomcommandExtentsoption.

Practice rotating the view


1. ClicktheleftmousebuttoninthePerspectiveviewporttomakeitactive.
Anactiveviewportistheviewportwhereallyourcommandsandactionstakeplace.Theactive
viewportstitlehighlightssoyoucaneasilyseewhichviewportisactive.
2. InthePerspectiveviewport,dragthemousewiththerightmousebuttonhelddowntorotatethe
viewandseetheobjectsfromadifferentangle.

Viewport display modes


Youcanviewyourmodelinavarietyofwaysthatdependonyourownneeds.Wireframemodeusuallyoffers
thefastestdisplayspeed,shadedmodesoffertheabilitytoviewsurfacesandsolidswithshadingtohelpyou
visualizetheshapes.
Standardandcustomizedshadedmodesalloweasiervisualizationofsurfacesandsolids.

32

Navigating Viewports

Wireframe
InWireframemode,surfaceslooklikeasetofcrossingcurves.Thesecurvesarecalledisoparametric curves
orisocurves.

Isocurvesdonotdefinethesurfacethewaythepolygonsdoinapolygonmesh.Theyaremerelyavisualaid.
To set wireframe mode
1. ClickamousebuttoninthePerspectiveviewporttomakeitactive.
Anactiveviewportistheviewportwhereallyourcommandsandactionstakeplace.
2. Ontheviewporttitlemenu,clickWireframe.

Shaded
TheShadedmodes,(forexample,Shaded,Rendered,Artistic,andPen)displaysurfacesandsolidswiththe
surfacesshadedusingtheirlayer,object,orcustomcolor.Youcanworkinanyoftheshadedmodes.The
surfacesareopaqueortransparent.

33

Navigating Viewports

To set shaded mode


1. Ontheviewporttitlemenu,clickShaded.

Rotateyourviewbyholdingdowntherightmousebuttonanddraggingfromthebottomoftheview
towardthetop.
Youarenowundertheobjectslookingup.
Theconstructionplanegridhelpsyoustayoriented.Iftheobjectsarebehindthegrid,youarelooking
atthebottomoftheconstructionplane.
2. PresstheHomekeytoundoyourviewchanges.
Rendered
Renderedmodeshowstheobjectswithlightingandrendermaterialsapplied.

Other shaded modes


OtherdisplaymodesandcustomsettingsaredescribedintheRhinoHelp.

Artistic (left) and Pen (right) display modes.

34

Navigating Viewports

Viewport title
Theviewporttitlehassomespecialfunctionsforviewportcontrol.
4 Clickthetitletomaketheviewportactivewithoutdisturbingtheview.
4

Dragtheviewporttitletomovetheviewport.

Double-clicktheviewporttitletomaximizetheviewport.
Double-clickagaintorestorethesizetonormal.

To activate the viewport title menu


4 Right-clicktheviewporttitleorclickthedown-arrowonthemenutodisplaytheviewporttitlemenu.
Fromtheviewporttitlemenuyoucanmaximizetheviewport,pan,rotate,zoom,setoneofthe
standardviews,setaconstructionplane,setthecameraandtargetlocations,chooseashading
option,setthegrid,andopentheViewport Propertiesdialogbox.

35

Accurate Modeling
Thecursorcanalwaysmovefreelyinspace,butchancesare,youwillwanttorelateyourmodelingelementsto
theconstructionplanegrid,existingobjects,orcoordinatesinspace.Youcanrestrictthecursorsmovementto
thegrid,enterspecificdistancesandanglesfromapoint,snaptospecificlocationsonexistingobjects,and
enterCartesiancoordinatestolocatepointsin2-Dor3-Dspace.

The Rhino cursor


Therearetwopartsofthecursor:thecursor (1)andthemarker (2).Thecursoralwaysfollowthemouse
movement.
Themarkersometimesleavesthecenterofthecursorbecauseofsomeconstraintonitsuchasgridsnapor
ortho.Themarkerisadynamicpreviewofthepointthatwillbepickedwhentheleftmousebuttonisclicked.
Whenthemarkerisconstrained,inelevatormode,forexample,atracking line (3)alsodisplays.
Constraintsmoveyourmarkertoaspecificpointinspaceormakeitsmovementtrackaccordingtothe
constraintsoyoucanmodelaccurately.

Snap to the construction plane grid


Gridsnapconstrainsthemarkertoanimaginarygridthatextendsinfinitely.Youcansetthesnapspacingto
anyvalue.
ClicktheGrid Snappaneonthestatusbartoturngridsnaponandoff.
Tip:Toreadmoreaboutacommand,clickthered,underlinedcommandnamelink.

Constrain the angle of movement


Orthomodeconstrainsthemarkermovementorobjectdraggingtoaspecificsetofangles.Bydefault,thisis
paralleltothegridlines,butyoucanchangethis.Orthoissimilartotheaxislockfunctionfoundindrawingor
animationprograms.
ClicktheOrthopaneonthestatusbartoturnorthoonandoff.PressandholdtheShiftkeytotemporarily
toggletheorthomode.
Anothercommonusefororthoistoconstrainobjectdraggingtoaspecificaxis.

37

Accurate Modeling

Orthoisactiveafterthefirstpointforacommand.Forexample,afterpickingthefirstpointforaline,the
secondpointisconstrainedtotheorthoangle.

Ortho off (left); Ortho on (right).


Ifyouonlyneedadifferentangleforasingleoperation,angleconstraintisfastertouse.Enteraspecificangle
foroneoperationinsteadofchangingtheorthoangleandthenchangingitback.

Snap to existing objects


Object snapsconstrainthemarkertospecificpointsonanobject.WhenRhinoasksyoutospecifyapoint,
youcanconstrainthemarkertospecificpartsofexistinggeometry.Whenanobjectsnapisactive,movingthe
cursornearaspecifiedpointonanobjectcausesthemarkertojumptothatpoint.
Objectsnapscanpersistfrompicktopick,orcanbeactivatedforonepickonly.Multiplepersistentobjectsnaps
canbesetfromthestatusbar.Allobjectsnapsbehavesimilarly,butsnaptodifferentpartsofexisting
geometry.Inaddition,therearespecialobjectsnapsthatworkforonepickonly.

Persistent object snaps


Usepersistentobjectssnapstomaintainanobjectsnapthroughchoosingseveralpoints.Sincepersistent
objectsnapsareeasytoturnonandoff,youcansetthemandleavethemonuntiltheygetinyourway.You
canthensetadifferentoneorjustdisablethem.
Sometimesobjectsnapsinterferewitheachotherandwithgridsnaporortho.Objectsnapsnormallytake
precedenceovergridsnaporotherconstraints.
Thereareothersituationswhereobjectsnapsworkinconjunctionwithotherconstraints.Youwillsee
examplesofthisinthischapter.Formoreinformationincludingvideodemonstrations,seetheRhinohelptopic
Object snaps.
The Osnap control
TheOsnapcontrolisusuallydockedatthebottomofthescreen.

IftheOsnapcontrolisnotopen,clicktheOsnappaneinthestatusbar.

Clickacheckboxtoturnonanobjectsnap.

Rightclickacheckboxtoturnanobjectsnaponandturnoffallotherobjectsnaps.

Whenanobjectsnapisactive,movingthecursornearaneligiblepointonanobjectcausesthe
markertojumptothatpointandatooltiptoappear.
ThecheckboxesintheOsnapcontrolallowsingle-useoverridesforthepersistentobjectsnaps.

To suspend all persistent object snaps


4

IntheOsnapcontrol,clicktheDisablebutton.

To clear all persistent object snaps


4

IntheOsnapcontrol,clickDisablewiththerightmousebutton.

38

Accurate Modeling

To turn on one object snap and turn all others off with one click
4

IntheOsnapcontrol,right-clicktheobjectsnapyouwanttoturnon.

Special case object snaps


Complexobjectsnapsthatallowselectingmultiplereferencepointsoraddotheradvancedcontrols.Seethe
RhinohelptopicObject snapsformoreinformation.
ThesearealsoavailablefromtheOsnapcontrol.
To turn on complex object snaps
4

HoldtheCtrlkeyandhoverovertheOsnapcontrol.
Analternatesetofcontrolsappears.

Cursor constraints
Whenenteringpoints,youcanconstrainthemarkertoadistanceoranglefromthepreviouspoint.Onceyou
havesetthedistance,dragthelinearoundtoanyangle.Youcanalsousefurthersnapstopointthelineina
specificdirection.

Distance constraint
Duringanycommandthatrequirestwopoints,suchastheLinecommand,placethefirstpoint.Thenatthe
nextprompt,typeadistanceandpressEnter.
Themarkerwillbeconstrainedtothespecifieddistancefromthepreviouspoint.Dragthecursoraroundthe
firstpointandthenpickapoint.

Angle constraint
Angleconstraintissimilartoortho,butyoucansetanyangleanditisaone-timesetting.
The<symbolisusedbecauseitissimilartothesymbolusedingeometrytoindicateanangle.
Themarkerwillbeconstrainedtolinesradiatingfromthepreviouspointseparatedbythespecifiedangle,
wherethefirstlineisthespecifiednumberofdegreescounterclockwisefromthex-axis.Ifyouenteranegative
number,theanglewillbeclockwisefromthex-axis.

39

Accurate Modeling

Distance and angle together


Distanceandangleconstraintscanbeusedatthesametime.
1. Atthecommandprompt,typethedistance,andpressEnter.
2. Atthenextcommandprompt,typethe<characterandtheanglevalue,andpressEnter.

Elevator mode
Pickasecondpointtospecifythez-coordinateofthedesiredpoint.Itiseasiesttoseethisinadifferent
viewportorusethePerspectiveviewport.Dragthemousecursoraroundtoseethemarkermovevertically
fromthebasepointalongthetrackingline.
Pickthepointwiththemouseortypetheheightabovetheconstructionplane.Positivenumbersareabovethe
constructionplane;negativenumbersarebelowit.Youcanusefurtherconstraintslikecoordinates,object
snapsorgridsnapforthefirstpoint,andyoucanuseobjectsnapsfortheheight.

Tomovethemarkerintheconstructionplanez-direction,holdtheCtrlkeyandclickapointonthe
constructionplane,andthendragverticallyfromtheconstructionplaneandclicktopickapoint.
Thisconstraintiscalledelevatormode.Usingelevatormodetomoveyourpickpointverticallyfromthe
constructionplaneletsyouworkmoreinthePerspectiveviewport.

SmartTrack
SmartTrackisasystemoftemporaryreferencelinesandpointsthatisdrawnintheRhinoviewportusing
implicitrelationshipsamongvarious3-Dpoints,othergeometryinspace,andthecoordinateaxesdirections.
Temporaryinfinitelines(trackinglines)andpoints(smartpoints)areavailabletoobjectsnapsverymuchlike
reallinesandpoints.

40

Accurate Modeling

Youcansnaptointersectionsofthetrackinglines,perpendiculars,anddirectlytosmartpointsaswellas
intersectionsoftrackinglinesandrealcurves.Thetrackinglinesandsmartpointsaredisplayedforthe
durationofacommand.

Coordinate systems
Rhinousestwocoordinatesystems:constructionplanecoordinatesandworldcoordinates.Worldcoordinates
arefixedinspace.Constructionplanecoordinatesaredefinedforeachviewport.

Cartesian coordinates
WhenRhinopromptsyouforapoint,ifyoutypexandyCartesiancoordinates,thepointwilllieonthe
constructionplaneofthecurrentviewport.Formoreinformationaboutcoordinatesystemsandnumeric
constraints,seewww.mathopenref.com/coordinates.

Right-hand rule
Rhinofollowswhatiscalledtheright-hand rule.Theright-handrulecanhelpyoudeterminethedirectionof
thez-axis.Formarightanglewiththethumbandforefingerofyourrighthand.Whenyourthumbpointsin
thepositivex-direction,yourforefingerpointsinthepositivey-direction,andthepalmofyourhandfacesin
thepositivez-direction.

World coordinates
Rhinocontainsoneworldcoordinatesystem.Theworldcoordinatesystemcannotbechanged.WhenRhino
promptsyouforapoint,youcantypecoordinatesintheworldcoordinatesystem.
Thearrowiconinthelowerleftcornerofeachviewportdisplaysthedirectionoftheworldx-,y-,andz-axes.
Thearrowsmovetoshowtheorientationoftheworldaxeswhenyourotateaview.

Construction plane coordinates


Eachviewporthasaconstruction plane.Aconstructionplaneislikeatabletopthatthecursormovesonunless
youusecoordinateinput,elevatormode,orobjectsnapsorafewotherinstanceswhereinputisconstrained.
Theconstructionplanehasanorigin,x-andy-axes,andagrid.Theconstructionplanecanbesettoany
orientation.Bydefault,eachviewportsconstructionplaneisindependentofthoseinotherviewports.

41

Accurate Modeling

Theconstructionplanerepresentsthelocalcoordinatesystemfortheviewportandcanbedifferentfromthe
worldcoordinatesystem.

Rhinosstandardviewportscomewithconstructionplanesthatcorrespondtotheviewport.Thedefault
Perspectiveviewport,however,usestheworldTopconstructionplane,whichisthesameconstructionplane
thatisusedintheTopviewport.
Thegridliesontheconstructionplane.Thedarkredlinerepresentstheconstructionplanex-axis.Thedark
greenlinerepresentstheconstructionplaney-axis.Theredandgreenlinesmeetattheconstructionplane
origin.
Tochangethedirectionandoriginofaconstructionplane,usetheCPlanecommand.Presetconstruction
planes(WorldTop,Right,andFront)giveyouquickaccesstocommonconstructionplanes.Inaddition,you
cansaveandrestorenamedconstructionplanesandimportnamedconstructionplanesfromanotherRhino
file.
2-D construction plane coordinates
4

Atacommandprompt,typethecoordinatesintheformatx,ywherexisthex-coordinateandyis
they-coordinateofthepoint.

3-D construction plane coordinates


4

Atacommandprompt,typethecoordinatesintheformatx,y,zwherexisthex-coordinate,yisthe
y-coordinate,andzisthez-coordinateofthepoint.

Toplaceapoint3unitsinthex-direction,4unitsinthey-direction,and10unitsinthez-direction
fromtheconstructionplaneorigin,type3,4,10attheprompt.
Tip:Ifyouenteronlyx-andy-coordinates,thepointwilllieontheconstruction
plane.

Relative coordinates
Rhinoremembersthelastpointused,soyoucanenterthenextpointrelativetoit.Relativecoordinatesare
usefulforenteringalistofpointswheretherelativelocationsinsteadofabsolutelocationsofthepointsare
known.Userelativecoordinatestolocatepointsaccordingtotheirrelationshiptothepreviousactivepoint.
To use relative coordinates
4

Atacommandprompt,typethecoordinatesintheformatrx,ywherersignifiesthatthecoordinate
isrelativetothepreviouspoint.

For example
1. StarttheLinecommand.
2. AttheStart of lineprompt,clicktoplacethefirstendoftheline.

42

Accurate Modeling

3. AttheEnd of lineprompt,typer2,3,andpressEnter.
Thelineisdrawntoapoint2unitsinthex-directionand3unitsinthey-directionfromthelastpoint.

43

Create Surfaces from Curves


Acommonwayofworkingin3-Distodrawcurvesthatrepresentedges,profiles,cross-sections,orother
surfacefeaturesandthentousesurfacingcommandstocreatesurfacesfromthosecurves.

Edge curves
Youcancreateasurfacefromthreeorfourcurvesthatformthesidesofthesurface.
Create a surface from edge curves
1. OpenthetutorialmodelEdgeSrf.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickEdge Curves.
Tip:OpentheHelppaneltoreviewthehelptopicfortheEdgeSrfcommand.
3. Selectthefourcurves.

Objectschangetoyellowwhenyouselectthem.
Asurfaceiscreatedfromthecurvesthatformitsedges.

45

Create Surfaces from Curves

Extrude curves
Extrudingcreatessurfacesbytracingthepathofacurveinastraightline.
Create an extruded surface
1. OpenthetutorialmodelExtrude.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickExtrude Curve,andthenclickStraight.
Tip:OpentheHelppaneltoreviewthehelptopicfortheExtrudeCrvcommand.

46

Create Surfaces from Curves

3. Selectthecurve(1).

4. AttheExtrusion distanceprompt,dragadistancewithyourmouseandclick.

47

Create Surfaces from Curves

Loft curves
Loftingcreatesasmoothsurfacethatblendsbetweenselectedshapecurves.Thissurfacelookssimilartothe
Sweepacurvewithtworailsexample,butiscreatedwithoutrailcurves.Instead,theedgesofthesurfaceare
createdbyfittingsmoothcurvesthroughtheshapecurves.
Create a lofted surface
1. OpenthetutorialmodelLoft.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickLoft.
Tip:OpentheHelppaneltoreviewthehelptopicfortheLoftcommand.
3. Selectthethreecurves(1),(2),and(3),andpressEnter.

4. IntheLoft Optionsdialogbox,clickOK.

5. TrysomeoftheStyleoptionsandthenclickPreviewtoseethevariousloftstyles.

48

Create Surfaces from Curves

Revolve curves
Revolvingacurvecreatesasurfacebyrevolvingaprofilecurveaboutanaxis.Thisissometimescalledlathing.
Create a revolved surface
1. OpenthetutorialmodelRevolve.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. Inthestatus bar,clickOsnap.
3. IntheOsnapcontrol,clickEnd.
4. OntheSurfacemenu,clickRevolve.
Tip:OpentheHelppaneltoreviewthehelptopicfortheRevolvecommand.

49

Create Surfaces from Curves

5. Selecttheprofile curve(1)andpressEnter.

50

Create Surfaces from Curves

6. AttheStart of revolve axisprompt,snaptooneendoftheaxisline(2).

7. AttheEnd of revolve axisprompt,snaptotheotherendoftheaxisline(3).

8. AttheStart angle...prompt,selecttheFullCircleoption.

51

Create Surfaces from Curves

Revolve curves with a rail


Railrevolvecreatesasurfacebyrevolvingaprofilecurvearoundanaxiswhileatthesametimefollowingarail
curve.ThisisbasicallythesameasSweep Along 2 Rails,exceptoneoftherailsisacentralpoint.
Create a revolved surface with a rail curve
1. OpenthetutorialmodelRailRev.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickRail Revolve.
Tip:OpentheHelppaneltoreviewthehelptopicfortheRailRevolvecommand.

52

Create Surfaces from Curves

3. Selecttheprofilecurve(1).

53

Create Surfaces from Curves

4. AttheSelect rail curve...prompt,selecttherailcurvetherevolvewillfollow(2).

54

Create Surfaces from Curves

5. AttheStart of RailRevolve axisprompt,snaptoanendpointoftheaxisline(3).

6. AttheEnd of RailRevolve axisprompt,snaptotheotherendoftheaxisline(4).

55

Create Surfaces from Curves

Sweep along one rail curve


Sweepingcreatesasurfacewithcrosssectionsthatmaintaintheinitialorientationoftheshapecurve(s)tothe
pathcurve.
Create a sweep surface
1. OpenthetutorialmodelSweep1.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickSweep 1 Rail.
Tip:OpentheHelppaneltoreviewthehelptopicfortheSweep1command.

56

Create Surfaces from Curves

3. Selecttherailcurve(1).

4. AttheSelect cross section curves ...prompt,selectthecross-sectioncurve(2),andpressEnter.

5. IntheSweep 1 Rail Optionsdialogbox,clickOK.

57

Create Surfaces from Curves

Sweep along two rail curves


Usingtworailsforasweepcreatesasmoothsurfacethroughtwoormoreshapecurvesthatfollowtwocurve
rails.Therailsalsoaffecttheoverallshapeofthesurface.Usethiscommandwhenyouwanttocontrolthe
locationoftheedgesofthesurface.
Create a sweep surface with two rail curves
1. OpenthetutorialmodelSweep2.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickSweep 2 Rail.
Tip:OpentheHelppaneltoreviewthehelptopicfortheSweep2command.
3. Selectthefirstrailcurve(1).

58

Create Surfaces from Curves

4. AttheSelect second rail...prompt,selectthesecondrailcurve(2).

5. AttheSelect cross section curvesprompt,selectthetwocross-sectioncurves(3)and(4),and


pressEnter.

6. IntheSweep 2 Rails Optionsdialogbox,clickOK.

59

Edit Curves and Surfaces


Theeditingoperationsinthissectionbreakobjectsapart,cutholesinthem,andputthembacktogether.
Someofthesecommandsconnectcurvestocurvesorsurfacestosurfacesorpolysurfacesandbreaka
compositecurveorpolysurfaceintoitscomponents.
Thecommands:Join,Explode,Trim,andSplitapplytocurves,surfaces,andpolysurfaces.
TheRebuild,ChangeDegree,andSmoothcommandsaltertheshapeofacurveorsurfacebychangingits
underlyingcontrolpointstructure.
Inaddition,objectshavepropertiesthatareassignedtothemsuchascolor,layer,renderingmaterial,and
otherattributesdependingontheobject.ThePropertiescommandmanagestheseproperties.

Join
TheJoincommandconnectscurvesorsurfacestogetherintooneobject.Forexample,apolycurvecanconsist
ofstraight-linesegments,arcs,polylines,andfree-formcurves.TheJoincommandalsoconnectsadjacent
surfacesintoapolysurface.

Explode
TheExplodecommandremovestheconnectionbetweenjoinedcurvesorsurfaces.Forpolysurfaces,thisis
usefulifyouwanttoediteachindividualsurfacewithcontrolpoints.

Trim and

Split

TheTrimandSplitcommandsaresimilar.Thedifferenceiswhenyoutrimanobject,youselectthepartsto
removeandtheyaredeleted.Whenyousplitanobject,allpartsareleft.
TheSplitcommandwillsplitasurfacewithacurve,surface,polysurface,oritsownisoparametriccurves.
TheUntrimcommandremovesasurfacestrimmingcurve,withanoptiontokeepthecurvesoyoucanreuseit.

Control-point editing
Youcanmakesubtlechangesintheshapeofacurveorsurfacebymovingthelocationofitscontrolpoints.
Rhinooffersmanytoolsforeditingcontrolpoints.SomecommandssuchasRebuild,Fair,andSmoothoffer
someautomatedsolutionsforredistributingcontrolpointsoveracurveorsurface.Othercommands,suchas
controlpointdraggingandnudging,MoveUVN,andHBarletyoumanuallycontrolthelocationofindividualor
groupsofcontrolpoints.

Control point visibility


Toeditcurvesandsurfacesbymanipulatingcontrolpoints,usethePointsOncommandtoturnthecontrol
pointson.
Whenyouarefinishedwithcontrol-pointediting,usethePointsOffcommandorpressEsctoturnthemoff.

61

Edit Curves and Surfaces

Controlpointsofpolysurfacescannotbeturnedonforediting.Editingthecontrolpointsofpolysurfacescould
separatetheedgesofthejoinedsurfacescreatingleaksinthepolysurface.

Change control point locations


Whenyoumovecontrolpoints,thecurveorsurfacechanges,andRhinosmoothlyredrawsit.Thecurveor
surfaceisnotdrawnthoughthecontrolpointsratheritisattractedtothenewpositionsofthecontrolpoint.
Thisallowstheobjecttobesmoothlydeformed.Whencontrolpointsareon,Rhinostransformcommandscan
manipulatethepoints.Youcanalsorebuildsurfacestoaddcontrolpointsandredistributethem.

Add, delete, or redistribute control points


Addingcontrolpointstoacurvegivesyoumorecontrolovertheshapeofthecurve.Manipulatingcontrol
pointsalsoletsyouremovekinks,makecurvesuniform,andaddorsubtractdetail.TheDeletekeyerases
curvecontrolpoints.Thischangestheshapeofthecurve.

Curve and surface degree


Apolynomialisafunctionlikey=3x3 2x+1.The"degree"ofthepolynomialisthelargestpowerofthe
variable.Forexample,thedegreeof3x3 2x+1is3;thedegreeofx5 +x2 is5,andsoon.NURBSfunctions
arerationalpolynomialsandthedegreeoftheNURBSisthedegreeofthepolynomial.FromaNURBSmodeling
pointofview,the(degree1)isthemaximumnumberof"bends"youcangetineachspan.
Forexample:
Adegree-1curvemusthaveatleasttwocontrolpoints.
Alinehasdegreelessthan1.Ithaszerobends.

62

Edit Curves and Surfaces

Adegree-2curvemusthaveatleastthreecontrolpoints.
Aparabola,hyperbola,arc,andcircle(conicsectioncurves)havedegreelessthan2.Theyhaveonebend.

Adegree-3curvemusthaveatleastfourcontrolpoints.
AcubicBzierhasdegreelessthan3Ifyouarrangeitscontrolpointsinazig-zagshape,youcangettwobends.

63

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale


Transformschangethelocation,rotation,numberandshapeofwholeobjectsbymoving,mirroring,arraying,
rotating,scaling,shearing,twisting,bending,andtapering.Thetransformcommandsdonotbreaktheobjects
intopiecesorcutholesinthem.

Note:Forallofthefollowingexercises,theimageswerecapturedusingShadedmodedisplay.
Move
UsetheMovecommandwhenyouwanttomoveanobjectacertaindistanceorifyouwanttouseobject
snapstoplaceanobjectaccurately.

Move objects using distance values


TheMovecommandrequiresafromandtolocation.
Youcanpicktheselocationsonthescreenortypecoordinatesatthecommandprompt.

Practice moving objects


Theobjectofthisexerciseistomoveanobjectfromaspecificlocationontheobjecttoalocationinthe
coordinatesystem.
1. Startanewmodelusinganytemplate.
2. DrawaSphereofanysizeanywhereonthescreen.

3. Selectthesphere.
4. StarttheMovecommand.

65

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

5. AtthePoint to move fromprompt,withtheCenterobjectsnapon,movethemousearoundthe


edgeofthesphereuntiltheCentooltipdisplaysandclick.

6. AtthePoint to move toprompt,type0,0,0.


Thespheremovestothe0,0,0coordinatepoint.

Tip:Simplytyping0isashortcutforthecoordinates0,0,0.

Move objects by dragging


Thequickestwayistoclicktheobjectanddragit.Rhinoprovidestoolsformakingdraggingobjectsaccurate.
Youcandragobjectsinanyviewport.Objectsnapswillhelpalignobjectstoeachother.

Practice dragging objects


1. OpenthetutorialmodelDrag Objects.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
2. IntheOsnapcontrol,turnontheCenterobjectsnap.

66

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

3. InthePerspectiveviewport,clicktheconeatthebottomedgeandpauseuntiltheCenterobject
snaptooltipdisplays.

4. Dragtheconeuntilthecenterofthecone'sbaselinesupwiththetopsurfaceofthecylinderandthe
Centerobjectsnapforthecylinder'stopfacedisplays.

5. Releasethemousebuttontoplacethecone.
6. IntheFrontviewport,dragtheconetothetopofthecylinder.
WatchwhathappensinthePerspectiveviewport.
Therearemanytimeswhenyouhavetowatchwhatishappeninginotherviewportstoaccurately
placeyourobjects.

Elevator mode
YoucanpresstheCtrlkeytomoveobjectsinthez-direction.Thisiscalledelevator mode.
Elevator modeislikeOrtho,exceptthemovementisverticaltotheactiveconstructionplane.
TopracticeusingtheCtrlkeytomovevertically,youaregoingtomovetheboxtoalocation5unitsabovethe
centerofthesphere.
UsingelevatormodetomoveobjectsverticallyletsyouworkmoreinthePerspectiveviewport.

67

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

Move the box vertically


Note:
Forthefollowingimages,Shade-highlight selected surfaces and
polysurfaceshasbeenturnedon.
(Options>View>DisplayModes>Shaded>Objects>Selection)
1. TurnOrtho off.
2. OntheTransformmenu,clickMove.
3. InthePerspectiveviewport,rotatetheviewsothesphereistowardthefront,andselectthebox.

4. AtthePoint to move from...prompt,turnontheEndobjectsnapandclickacornerofthebox.

5. AtthePoint to move toprompt,turnontheCenterobjectsnap,holddowntheCtrlkey,andclick


thecenterofthesphere.
6. ReleasethemousebuttonandtheCtrlkeyandstarttodragthebox.
7. Atthecommandprompt,type5.

68

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

Copy
TheCopycommandmakescopiesofobjects.
SometransformcommandslikeRotate,Rotate3D,andScalehaveaCopyoption.Thisletsyoucreateacopy
oftheobjectasyourotateorscaleit.

69

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

Practice copying objects

70

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

1. OntheTransformmenu,click Copy.
2. InthePerspectiveviewport,useacrossingwindowtoSelecttheconeandthecylinder.

3. AtthePoint to copy fromprompt,clickanywhereintheTopviewport.

4. AtthePoint to copy toprompt,clickwhereyouwantthefirstcopy.


Zoominoroutifyoulike.

71

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

5. AtthenextPoint to copy toprompts,clickotherplacestomakesomecopiesofthebox.


Whenyouhaveenoughcopies,pressEntertoendthecommand.

72

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

Rotate
TheRotatecommandrotatesanobjectinrelationtotheconstructionplanearoundacenterpoint.

Rotate an object
1. OpenthetutorialmodelRotate-Scale.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.

2. OntheTransformmenu,clickRotate.

73

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

3. IntheTopviewport,selectthegreenhalf-cylinderasshownintheillustrationbelow.

74

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

4. AttheCenter of rotation...prompt,withtheEndobjectsnapon,clickthelowerleftcornerofthe
box.

5. AttheAngle or first reference point...prompt,checktoseethatOrthoisturnedon,dragthe


cursortotherightandclick.

6. AttheSecond reference point...prompt,toggleOrthoonoroffdependingonwhetheryouwant


torotatetheboxin90-degreeincrementsortorotateitfreely.

75

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

7. Dragthecursoruptorotatetheboxasshownintheillustrationbelow,andclick.

76

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

Scale
TheScalecommandsgiveyoucontroloverthedirectionofthescale.Youcanre-sizeobjectsuniformlyinone,
two,orthreedirections,orscaleanobjectwithadifferentscalefactorineachdirection.

Scale the prism


1. Selecttheprismshape.

2. OntheTransformmenu,clickScale,andthenclickScale 3-D.

77

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

3. AttheOrigin point...prompt,clickthecorneroftheprismasshownintheillustrationbelow.

Theoriginpointisthebasepointfromwhichtheobjectwillbescaled.Itislikeananchorpoint.The
objectwillgroworshrinkaroundthispoint.
Toscaleanobject,youmustfirstshowanoriginalsize,andthenshowanewsize.Dragthecursor
andclickanotherpointontheobjecttoshowtheoriginalsize,andthendragthecursorandclick
againtoshowthenewsize.

78

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

4. AttheScale factor or first reference point...prompt,clickthecorneroftheprismasshownin


theillustrationbelow.
Thisestablishesthefirstreferencepoint.

5. AttheSecond reference point...prompt,dragthecursor.


Theobjectgrowstheamountyoudragthecursor.
6. Clicktosetthesecondreferencepoint.

Enter a number to set the scale factor


4

Tomaketheobjecttwiceitsoriginalsize,atthecommandprompt,type2.

Tomaketheobjecthalfitsoriginalsize,atthecommandprompt,type.5.

Scale an object to a specific size


4

Tomaketheprisminthisexample2.35unitsalongtheoriginalside,attheSecond reference
pointprompt,atthecommandprompt,type2.35.

79

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

Mirror
Inthisexercise,youaregoingtopracticeanotherbasiceditingcommand:Mirror.TheMirrorcommand
makesareverse-imagecopyoftheobject.Objectsaremirroredacrossalinethatyoudrawinaviewport.

Mirror an object
1. OpenthetutorialmodelMirror Objects.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.

2. OntheTransformmenu,clickMirror.
3. Onthestatusbar,turnOrtho on.

80

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

4. Selecttheobject.

81

Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

5. AttheStart of mirror plane...prompt,intheToporFrontviewport,clicktotherightofthefaceas


shownintheillustrationbelow.

6. AttheEnd of mirror plane...prompt,dragthelinetowardthebottomofthescreen,andclickto


endthemirrorline.

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Transforms - Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale

Array
TheArraycommandscopyobjectsintoevenlyspacedrowsandcolumnsoraroundacircle.

Orient
TheOrientcommandscombinemoveorcopy,scale,androtateoperationstohelpyoupositionandsize
objectsinonecommand.

83

Curve and Surface Analysis


SinceRhinoisamathematicallyaccurateNURBSmodeler,toolsthatprovideaccurateinformationaboutthe
objectsareprovided.

Measure distance, angle, and radius


Someanalysiscommandsprovideinformationaboutlocation,distance,anglebetweenlines,andradiusofa
curve.Forexample:

Distancedisplaysthedistancebetweentwopoints.

Angledisplaystheanglebetweentwolines.

Radiusdisplaystheradiusofacurveatanypointalongit.

Lengthdisplaysthelengthofacurve.

Curve and surface direction


Curvesandsurfaceshaveadirection.Manycommandsthatusedirectioninformationdisplaydirectionarrows
andgiveyoutheopportunitytochange(flip)thedirection.
TheDircommanddisplaysthedirectionofacurveorsurfaceandletsyouchangethedirection.
Theillustrationshowsthecurvedirectionarrows.Ifthedirectionhasnotbeenchanged,itreflectsthedirection
thecurvewasoriginallydrawn.Thearrowspointfromthestartofthecurvetowardtheendofthecurve.

TheDircommandalsodisplayssurfaceu-,v-,andnormaldirection.Surfacenormalsarerepresentedby
arrowsperpendiculartothesurface,andtheu-andv-directionsareindicatedbyarrowspointingalongthe
surface.Closedsurfacesalwayshavethesurfacenormalspointingtotheexterior.
TheDircommandcanchangetheu-,v-,andnormal-directionsofasurface.Thisdirectioncanbeimportantif
youareapplyingtexturestothesurface.

85

Curve and Surface Analysis

Curvature
Curveanalysistoolsletyouturnonagraphshowingthedirectionperpendiculartothecurveatapointandthe
amountofcurvature,displayacurvaturecircle,testthecontinuitybetweentwocurvesandtheintervalsof
overlapbetweenthetwocurves.
TheCurvatureGraphcommanddisplaysacurvaturegraphoncurvesandsurfaces.Thelinesonthegraph
representadirectionperpendiculartothecurveatthatpoint.Thelengthofthelineindicatesthecurvature.

Visual surface analysis


Visualsurfaceanalysiscommandsletyouexaminesurfacestodeterminesmoothnessasdeterminedbyits
curvature,tangency,orothersurfaceproperties.ThesecommandsuseNURBSsurfaceevaluationand
renderingtechniquestohelpyouvisuallyanalyzesurfacesmoothnesswithfalsecolororreflectionmapssoyou
canseethecurvatureandbreaksinthesurface.

Environment map
TheEMapcommanddisplaysabitmapontheobjectsoitlookslikeasceneisbeingreflectedbyahighly
polishedmetal.Thistoolhelpsyoufindsurfacedefectsandvalidateyourdesignintent.
Thefluorescenttubeenvironmentmapsimulatestubelightsshiningonareflectivemetalsurface.

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Curve and Surface Analysis

Curvature analysis
TheCurvatureAnalysiscommandanalyzessurfacecurvatureusingfalse-colormapping.Itanalyzes
Gaussiancurvature,meancurvature,minimumradiusofcurvature,andmaximumradiusofcurvature.

TheZebracommanddisplayssurfaceswithreflectedstripes.Thisisawaytovisuallycheckforsurface
defectsandfortangencyandcurvaturecontinuityconditionsbetweensurfaces.

Draft angle analysis


TheDraftAngleAnalysiscommanddisplaysbyfalse-colormappingthedraftanglerelativetothe
constructionplanethatisactivewhenyoustartthecommand.
ThepulldirectionfortheDraftAngleAnalysiscommandisthez-axisoftheconstructionplane.

87

Curve and Surface Analysis

Edge evaluation
GeometryproblemssuchasBooleanorjoinfailurescanbecausedbyedgesonsurfacesthathavebecome
brokenoredgesbetweensurfacesthathavebeenmovedthroughpointeditingsotheycreateholes.Anedgeis
aseparateobjectthatispartofthesurfacesboundaryrepresentation.
TheShowEdgescommandhighlightsalltheedgesofthesurface.

Apolysurfacemaylookclosed,butthePropertiescommandmaytellyouthatitisopen.Someoperationsand
exportfeaturesrequireclosedpolysurfaces,andamodelusingclosedpolysurfacesisgenerallyhigherquality
thanonewithsmallcracksandslivers.
Rhinoprovidesatoolforfindingtheunjoinedornakededges.Whenasurfaceisnotjoinedtoanother
surface,ithasnakededges.UsePropertiescommandtoexaminetheobjectdetails.Apolysurfacethathas
nakededgeslistsasanopenpolysurface.UsetheShowEdgescommandtodisplaytheunjoinededges.
Otheredgetoolsletyousplitanedge,mergeedgesthatmeetend-to-end,orforcesurfaceswithnakededges
tojoin.Youcanrebuildedgesbasedoninternaltolerances.Otheredgetoolsinclude:

SplitEdgesplitsanedgeatapoint.

MergeEdgemergesedgesthatmeetendtoend.

JoinEdgeforcesunjoined(naked)edgestojoinnearbysurfaces.

RebuildEdgesredistributesedgecontrolpointsbasedoninternaltolerances.

Diagnostics
Diagnostictoolsreportonanobjectsinternaldatastructureandselectobjectsthatmayneedrepair.The
outputfromtheList,Check,SelBadObjects,andAudit3dmFilecommandsisnormallymostusefultoa
Rhinoprogrammertodiagnoseproblemswithsurfacesthatarecausingerrors.

88

Organization and Annotation


Rhinooffersaidstoorganizingyourwork:

Layers

Groups

Blocks

Worksessions

Eachmethodoffersadifferentapproachtomodelorganization.Usinglayersletsyouassignalayerdesignation
toobjects.Groupsassociateobjectssotheycanbeselectedasone.Blocksletyoustoreandupdatean
associationofobjects.Worksessionsletyouworkonapartofaprojectwhileusingothermodelsintheproject
asreferences.
Rhinoalsoprovidestheabilitytoaddnotationtoyourmodel.Theseappearasobjectsinthemodel.

Dimensions

Leaders

Textblocks

Adifferentformofnotationalwaysdisplaysfacingtowardstheviewplane.

Annotationdots

Arrowheads

Inaddition,youcanaddNotestothemodel.Notesdonotappearinthemodel,butdisplayinaseparate
window.

Layers
Layersareawayofgroupingobjectsandapplyingcertaincharacteristicstoallobjectsthathavethatlayer
assignment.Therearetwomentalmodelsyoucanusewhenyouthinkoflayerstheycanbethoughtof
eitherasastoragelocationfortheobjectsorasawaytoassignasetofcharacteristicsorpropertiesto
objects.
Layerstatesincludealayername,thecolorusedtodisplaytheobjects,andtheon/offandlocked/unlocked
statusofalltheobjectsonalayer.Objectsonlayersthatareoffarenotvisibleinthemodel.Objectsonlocked
layerscannotbeselectedbutcanbesnappedto.Objectsarealwayscreatedonthecurrentlayer.Thislayer
assignmentcanbechangedlater.
Toaccomplishthemostcommontasksrelatedtolayers,clicktheLayerpaneinthestatusbartodisplaythe
popuplayerlist.Youcansetthecurrentlayer;changetheon/off,locked/unlockedstate;andthelayercolor.In
addition,right-clickthelayernametocreateanewlayer,renamealayer,deletetheselectedlayer,select
objectsontheselectedlayer,changeobjectstotheselectedlayer,andcopyobjectstotheselectedlayer.
AccomplishmoredetailedlayermanagementwiththeLayerspanel.Right-clicktheLayer panetoopenthe
Layerspanel.TheLayerspanelsetsthecurrentlayer,locksandunlockslayers,turnslayersonandoff,
changesthelayercolorandsetsthelayerrendermaterial.Youcancreatenewlayers,deletelayers,move
layersupordowninthelayerlist,filterthelayerlist,setthecurrentlayertomatchanobjectinthemodel,
changeobjectstoaselectedlayer,selectalllayers,andinverttheselection.
TheSelLayercommandselectsallobjectsonalayer.

89

Organization and Annotation

Groups
Agroupisacollectionofobjectsthatselectasoneformoving,copying,rotating,orothertransformsand
applyingpropertiessuchasobjectcolor.Groupingobjectsassignsagroupnametoeachobjectthatisdisplayed
asapartofitsproperties.Objectswiththesamegroupnamebelongtothesamegroup.

Groupgroupsobjectsforselection.Agroupcancontainoneormoresub-groups.

Ungroupdestroysthegroup.

SetGroupNamechangesthenameassignedbydefault.Namingdifferentgroupstothesamename
combinesthosegroupsintoone.

AddToGroupandRemoveFromGroupaddandremoveobjectsfromgroups.

SelGroupselectsgroupsbyname.

Blocks
Ablockisanotherwayofassociatingobjectstogethertoformasingleobject.TheBlockcommandcreatesa
blockdefinitioninthecurrentmodel.TheInsertcommandplacesinstancesofthisblockdefinitioninyour
model.Youcanscale,copy,rotate,array,andotherwisetransformblockinstancesinthemodel.Ifyoueditthe
blockdefinition,allinstancesoftheblockarechangedtothisnewdefinition.Blockscanstreamlinemodeling,
reducemodelsize,andpromotestandardizationofpartsanddetails.
Multipleinstancesofablockcanbelocated,scaled,androtatedintoamodelwiththeInsertcommand.Block
definitionsarecreatedwiththeBlockorInsertcommand.Materialsandotherobjectpropertiesonblock
instancesaredeterminedbythecomponentobjects.
Explodingablockinstanceplacestheblockgeometryusingtheinstancelocation,scale,androtation.To
redefineablock,usetheBlockEditcommand,toeditthegeometry.
TheBlockManagercommanddisplaysadialogboxthatlistsalltheblockdefinitionsinthemodel.Usethe
Block Managerdialogboxtoviewblockproperties,exportablockdefinitiontoafile,deleteablockdefinition
andallitsinstances,updateablockdefinitionfromafile,findoutwhatblocksarenestedinotherblocks,and
countthenumberofblockinstancesinthemodel.

Worksessions
TheWorksessioncommandletsmanyusersworkonalargeprojectbymanagingmanyfiles.Eachusercan
editadifferentfileintheprojectandatthesametimeseetherelatedportionsoftheproject.Byrefreshingas
needed,eachusercanseethecurrentversionoftherelatedfilesintheprojects.Onlyoneusercanhaveafile
openforediting,butmanyuserscanseeit.
Rhinoworksessionsletyouattachexternalfilestoyourcurrentworkenvironment.Attachedgeometrycannot
beedited(Move,Scale),butitcanbeusedforinputtocreationcommands(Copy,ExtrudeCrv).

Dimensions
Youcandimensionobjectsinyourmodel,withyourchoiceoffont,unitsdisplay,decimalprecision,textand
arrowsize,andtextalignment.Afterdimensionsareplaced,youcanselectalldimensions,editdimensiontext,
turncontrolpointsontomovedimensionelements,anddeletedimensions.Youcanplacehorizontal,vertical,
aligned,rotated,radial,diameter,andangledimensions,textblocks,leaders,andcreatea2-Dhiddenline
drawing.
Dimensionsarenotassociative.Changingyourgeometrywillnotupdatethedimensionunlessthedimension
wasdrawnwithhistoryenabled.Changingthedimensionwillnotupdateyourgeometry.
TheDimcommandplaceshorizontalandverticaldimensionsdependingonthedirectionyoupickthepoints.

90

Organization and Annotation

Dimensionsarecreatedusingthecurrentdimensionstyle.Createnewdimensionstylestocontroltextsize
andfont,andotherdimensionproperties.UsethesettingsintheDocument Propertieswindowtocreate
newstylesandsetthepropertiesofexistingstyles.

Text
TheTextcommandplacesannotationtextinyourmodel.

Leaders
TheLeadercommanddrawsanarrowleader.

91

Organization and Annotation

Dots
TheDotcommandplacesatextdot.
Dotsarealwaysparalleltotheview.Dotsaredisplayedinthelayercolor.Dotsizeisconstantonthescreen.As
youzoominandout,thedotdisplaysthesamesize.

Hidden line removal


TheMake2Dcommandcreatescurvesfromtheselectedobjectsassilhouettesrelativetotheactiveview.The
silhouettecurvesareprojectedflatandthenplacedontheworldx,y-plane.
Thecommandoptionscreatethe2-Ddrawingfromthecurrentview,currentconstructionplane,createafourviewlayoutusingUSorEuropeanprojectionangles,setlayersforthehiddenlines,anddisplaytangentedges.

Notes
TheNotescommandprovidesameansofstoringtextinformationinyourmodelfile.Youcantypeinformation
directlyintotheNotestextbox.IfyouleavetheNotes boxdisplayedwhenyouclosethemodelfile,itwill
displaythenexttimethefileisopened.

92

Render
Inadditiontoshadedpreviews,Rhinoprovidesfull-colorrenderingwithlights,transparency,shadows,
textures,andbumpmapping.
Objectswillrenderwhiteuntilyouaddrendercolor,highlight,texture,transparency,andbumps.These
attributesarecontrolledthroughthePropertiespanel,Materialpage.

Theprocessneededtorenderscenesconsistsoffourbasicsteps:

Addlighting

Assignmaterials

Setuptheenvironmentandgroundplane

Render

Althoughthestepsdonothavetobedoneinthisorder,usingthismethodseemstomakesettingupascene
moreefficient.Toimprovequality,repeatthesestepsuntiltheimagelooksrighttoyou.

Lights
IneveryRhinorenderingtherearelightsourcesthatRhinousestocalculatehowtheobjectsaretobe
illuminated.Ifyoudonotaddanylightsourcestoyourscene,thedefaultlightisused.Thedefaultlightisa
directionallightwithparallelraysthatactsasthoughyouhavealampshiningoveryourleftshoulder.

93

Render

Add indoor lights or

sun

InsertSpotlights,Directional Lights,Linear Lights,Point Lights,orRectangular Lights.

OrturnontheSun.

Materials
Materialsspecifythecolor,finish,transparency,texture,andbumpforusebytherenderer.

Assign materials to layers


1. IntheLayerspanel,selectoneormorelayernames,andclickintheMaterialcolumn.
2. IntheLayer Material dialogbox,setupmaterialproperties.
Assign materials to objects
1. Selectanobject.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickObject Properties.
3. InthePropertiespanel,Materialpage,setupmaterialproperties.

94

Render

Environment
Environmentsdescribethespacearoundthemodel.Thisspaceisreflectedinobjectsandcanprovideoverall
lighting.

Set up the rendering environment


Therenderingpropertiesincludeenvironmentsettingslikebackgroundcolorandimage.
1. OpentheEnvironment Editorpanel.
2. Setupenvironmentproperties.

Ground Plane
Thegroundplaneprovidesaninfinitehorizontalplatformfortheimagethatstretchestothehorizoninall
directionspositionedatadefinedelevation.Agroundplanerendersmuchfasterthanusingasurfaceasa
background.Anymaterialcanbeassignedtothegroundplane.

Turn on a ground plane


1. OpentheGround Planepanel.
2. Setupgroundplaneproperties.

95

Render

Render
Renderandsaveanimage.
Render and save the image
1. OntheRendermenu,clickRender.
2. IntheRender Window,ontheFilemenu,clickSave As.

96

Rhinoceros 5 User's Guide


Section II: Tutorials

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms


Thistutorialdemonstratesusingsolidprimitivesandsimpletransforms.
Youwilllearnhowto:

Entercoordinatestoplacepointsexactly.

Drawafree-formcurveandpolygon.

Createapipealongacurve.

Useapolararraytocopyobjectsinacircularpattern.

Extrudeacurvetocreateasurface.

Useplanarmode.

Enter coordinates
Whenyoupickapointwiththemouse,thepointliesontheconstruction planeoftheactiveviewportunless
youuseamodelingaidsuchasobjectsnaporelevator mode.WhenRhinopromptsforapoint,youcanenter
x-,y-,andz-coordinatesinsteadofpickingapoint.Eachviewporthasitsownconstructionplaneonwhichitsx-
andy-coordinateslie.Thez-coordinatefortheactiveviewportisperpendiculartothex-yplane.
Thegridisavisualrepresentationoftheconstructionplane.Theintersectionofthedarkredandgreenlines
showsthelocationoftheoriginpoint(x=0,y=0,z=0)ofthecoordinatesystem.

Draw the pull toy body


Thisexerciseusesx-,y-,andz-coordinatestoaccuratelyplacepoints.Whenyouaretotypecoordinates,type
themjustastheyareshowninthemanual.Theformatisx,y,z.Forexample,type1,1,4.Youmusttypethe
commas.Thissetsthepointatx=1,y=1,andz=4intheactiveviewport.
Wheneveryoutypepoints,lookinallviewportsatwherethepointisplacedsoyoucanstartgettinganideaof
howcoordinateentryworks.
Tip:Paycloseattentiontotheviewportrequiredineachinstruction.

99

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Start the model


1. BeginaNewmodel.
2. IntheOpen Template Filedialogbox,selectSmall Objects - Centimeters.3dm,andclick
Open.
Draw an ellipsoid
1. TurnonOrtho.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickEllipsoid > From Center.
3. WiththeTopviewportactive,attheEllipsoid centerprompt,type0,0,11,andpressEnter.
Thisplacesthecenterpointoftheellipsoidatx=0,y=0,andz=11.Lookatthepointinthe
Perspectiveviewport.
4. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,type15,andpressEnter.
5. Movethecursortotherighttoshowthedirectionandclick.

6. AttheEnd of second axisprompt,type8,andpressEnter.

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Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

7. Movethecursoruptoshowthedirectionandclick.
Thissetsthewidthoftheellipsoid.

8. AttheEnd of third axisprompt,type9,andpressEnter.


Younowhaveaneggshapethathasdifferentdimensionsinallthreedirections.

9. Rotatetheperspectiveviewportsoyouarelookingalongthex-axisasillustrated.
TurnonShadeddisplaymodeinthePerspectiveviewport.

101

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Draw the axles and wheel hubs


Theaxlesandwheelhubsarecylinders.Theaxlesarelong,thincylinders,andthewheelhubsareshort,fat
cylinders.Youaregoingtomakeoneaxleandonecompletewheel.Youwillthenmirrorthecompletewheelto
theotherside.Youcantheneithermirrororcopythecompleteaxleandwheelsettothefrontofthetoy.
Create the axle
1. OntheSolidmenu,clickCylinder.
2. WiththeFrontviewportactive,attheBase of cylinderprompt,forthelocationofthecylinder's
center,type9,6.5,10,andpressEnter.

3. AttheRadiusprompt,type.5,andpressEnter.
4. AttheEnd of cylinderprompt,type-20,andpressEnter.

102

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Create a wheel hub


1. OntheSolidmenu,clickCylinder.
2. WiththeFrontviewportactive,attheBase of cylinderprompt,type9,6.5,10,andpressEnter.

3. AttheRadiusprompt,type4,andpressEnter.
4. AttheEnd of cylinderprompt,type2,andpressEnter.

103

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Draw the lug nuts


Youwillmakethelugnutsbyextrudingahexagonalpolygoncurve.
Create a hexagon
1. OntheCurvemenu,clickPolygon > Center, Radius.
2. AttheCenter of inscribed polygon ( NumSides=4 )prompt,type6,andpressEnter.
3. IntheFrontviewport,attheCenter of inscribed polygonprompt,type9,8,12,andpress
Enter.
Thiswillplacethepolygonrightonthesurfaceofthewheelhub.
4. AttheCorner of polygonprompt,type.5,andpressEnter.
5. IntheFrontviewportdragthecursorasillustrated,andclicktopositionthehexagon.

Make a solid from the polygon


1. Inanyviewport,selectthehexagonyoujustcreated.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickExtrude Planar Curve > Straight.
3. AttheExtrusion distance prompt,noticethecommand-lineoptions.Settheoptionsasfollows:
Direction-usedefault
BothSides=No
Solid=Yes
DeleteInput=Yes
ToBoundary-usedefault
SplitAtTangents=No
SetBasePoint-usedefault
Iftheoptionisnotsetaslistedabove,clicktheoptiontochangeit.

104

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

4. AttheExtrusion Distanceprompt,type-.5(Noticethenegativenumber.Ifyoutypeapositive
numberatthispoint,thenutswillbeburiedinthewheelhub.Youwantthemtostickout.),and
pressEnter.

Array the lug nuts


Tocreatethelugnutsonthefirstwheel,youaregoingtouseapolar(circular)array.Anarrayisasetofcopies
ofanobject.Youcontrolhowthecopiesaremade.Apolararraycopiestheobjectsaroundacentralpoint.The
objectsarerotatedastheyarecopied.
Array the nuts around the center
1. Selectthelugnut.
2. OntheTransformmenu,clickArray >Polar.
3. WiththeFrontviewportactive,attheCenter of polar arrayprompt,usetheCenobjectsnapto
snaptothecenterofthehub.

4. AttheNumber of elementsprompt,type5,andpressEnter.
5. AttheAngle to fill <360>prompt,pressEnter.

105

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

6. AtthePress Enter to acceptprompt,checkthepreview,andpressEnter.

Draw the tires


Thetiresareasolidformcalledatorus,whichlookslikeadonut.Whenyouaredrawingatorus,thefirstradius
istheradiusofacirclearoundwhichthetubeisdrawn.Thesecondradiusistheradiusofthetubeitself.
Todrawthetires,youwilldrawthecenterofthetorustubeabitlargerthanthediameterofthewheelhub.
Thetubeitselfisslightlylargerthanthehub.Thismakesitdipintothehub.

106

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Create a torus for the tires


1. OntheSolidmenu,clickTorus.
2. IntheFrontviewport,attheCenter of torusprompt,type9,6.5,11,andpressEnter.
Thisplacesthecenterofthetorusatthesamepointasthecenterofthewheelhub.

3. AttheRadiusprompt,type5,andpressEnter.
Thismakestheradiusofthetorustubeoneunitbiggerthanthewheelhub.
4. AttheSecond radiusprompt,type1.5,andpressEnter.
Thismakestheinnerdimensionofthetorustube.5unitssmallerthanthewheelhub.

Mirror the wheels


Nowthatyouhaveawholewheelcreated,youcanusetheMirrorcommandtocreatetheotherthree.
Mirror the wheel to the other side
1. IntheTopviewport,useawindowtoselectthewheelasillustrated.
2. OntheTransformmenu,clickMirror.

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Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

3. AttheStart of mirror planeprompt,type0,0,0,andpressEnter.

4. AttheEnd of mirror planeprompt,withOrthoon,dragtotherightintheTopviewportas


illustratedandclick.

Mirror the front wheels and axle


1. IntheTopviewport,useawindowtoselectthewheelsandaxleasillustrated.
2. OntheTransformmenu,clickMirror.

108

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

3. AttheStart of mirror planeprompt,type0,0,0,andpressEnter.

4. AttheEnd of mirror planeprompt,withOrthoon,dragdownintheTopviewportasillustrated


andclick.

Draw the eyes


Youaregoingtodrawasphereforaneyeandasmallersphereforthepupil.

109

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Create an eye using a sphere


1. OntheSolidmenu,clickSphere > Center, Radius.
2. AttheCenter of sphereprompt,intheTopviewport,type-12,-3,14,andpressEnter.

3. AttheRadiusprompt,type3andpressEnter.

110

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Create the eye pupil


1. RepeattheSpherecommand.
2. AttheCenter of sphereprompt,intheTopviewport,type-13,-4,15,andpressEnter.

3. AttheRadiusprompt,type2andpressEnter.

111

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Mirror the eye


1. IntheTopviewport,useawindowtoselecttheeyeasillustrated.
2. OntheTransformmenu,clickMirror.

3. AttheStart of mirror planeprompt,type0(thisisashortcutfortyping0,0,0),andpressEnter.

112

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

4. AttheEnd of mirror planeprompt,withOrthoon,dragtotheleftintheTopviewportas


illustratedandclick.

113

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Make the pull cord


Tomakethecord,youaregoingtodrawafreehandcurveusingelevatorandplanarmode.Whenthecurveis
complete,usethePipecommandtomakeitathicksolid.
Set up the view
1. Zoomoutinalltheviewports;youaregoingtoneedsomespacetowork.
2. Onthestatusbar,turnPlanarmodeon,andturnOrthooff.
3. IntheOsnapcontrol,clickDisabletoturnoffallobjectsnaps.

114

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Create the pull cord at the front of the toy

115

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

1. OntheCurvemenu,clickFree-form > Control Points.

116

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

2. AttheStart of curveprompt,intheTopviewport,holdtheCtrlkeytoactivateelevatormode
andclicknearthefrontendofthebodyellipsoid.

117

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

3. MovethecursortotheFrontviewport,dragthemarkerneartheendoftheellipsoid,andclick.

118

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

4. AttheNext pointprompt,clicktotheleftoftheellipsoidintheTopviewport.

Planarmodekeepssuccessivepointsatthesameconstructionplaneelevation.Planarmodecanbe
overriddenwithelevatormodeorobjectsnaps.WatchthecurveintheTopandFrontviewports.

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Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

5. AttheNext pointprompt,useelevatormodetoaddanotherpointintheTopviewport.

6. AttheNext pointprompts,turnoffPlanarmodeandclickseveralmorepointsintheTop
viewporttocreateacurvedline.

NoticethatthepointsareprojectedtotheTopconstructionplane.

120

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Make the cord handle


1. DrawanEllipsoidwiththeDiameteroptiontorepresentahandleattheendofthecurve.
2. AttheStart of first axisprompt,usetheEndobjectsnaptopicktheendofthecordcurve.
3. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,type10tosetthelength,andpressEnter.

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Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

4. Dragthedirectionsoitlinesupwiththecordcurveandclicktosetthedirection.
Thisdoesnothavetobeveryaccurate.

5. AttheEnd of second axisprompt,type4,pressEnter,anddragtosetthedirection.

6. AttheEnd of third axisprompt,type2,andpressEnter.

122

Pull Toy - Solids and Transforms

Thicken the curve with a pipe


1. Selectthecurveyoujustmadeatthefrontofthepulltoy.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickPipe.
3. AttheStart radiusprompt,type.2,andpressEnter.
4. AttheEnd radiusprompt,pressEnter.
5. AtthePoint for next radiusprompt,pressEnter.
Thepipewillbethesamediameterforthefulllengthofthecurve.

123

Flashlight - Revolve Curves


Creatingsurfacesfromcurvesandjoiningthesurfacestogetherallowsyoumuchgreaterfreedom.
Thistutorialintroducestheconceptofdrawingcurvesandonemethodofcreatingsurfacesfromthosecurves.

Youwilllearnhowto:

Drawfree-formcurvesbasedonanexistingobject.

Editcontrolpoints.

Revolvesurfacesaroundanaxis.
Revolvingcurvesisagoodmethodforcreatingtubularshapeslikevases,wineglasses,andchairlegs.

Youaregoingtouseabasicflashlightasaguidefordrawingthecurvesyouwillneedforthenewmodel.Using
thebasicflashlightgivesyouaframeofreferencefordecidingaboutthesizeandshapeoftheobject.
To get started
4

OpenthetutorialmodelfileFlashlight.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.

Set up the model


Youaregoingtotracearoundtheoldflashlight.Tomakethiseasier,youwilllocktheobjects.Whenobjectsare
locked,youcanseethemandsnaptothem,butyoucannotselectthem.Thiskeepstheobjectsfrom
interferingwhenyouwanttoselectthingscloseby.Youcanstilluseobjectsnapstosnaptolockedobjects.You
willthencreatesomecurvesandrevolvethemtomakethenewflashlight.

125

Flashlight - Revolve Curves

Lock the flashlight objects


1. Selectalltheobjects.
PresstheCtrland Akeystoselectalltheobjectsinthemodel.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickVisibility > Lock.

126

Flashlight - Revolve Curves

Draw a centerline
Drawaconstructioncenterlinethroughthecenteroftheoldflashlight.
Draw the construction centerline
1. OntheCurvemenuclickLine > Single Line.
2. AttheStart of lineprompt,usetheCenterobjectsnaptoplacethestartofthelineatthecenter
oftheflashlightbase.
3. AttheEnd of lineprompt,turnOrthoon,anddrawthelinethroughtheexactcenteroftheold
flashlight.

127

Flashlight - Revolve Curves

Draw the body profile curve


Youaregoingtodrawaprofilecurvethatyouwillusetorevolvetocreatetheflashlightbody.Aprofilecurve
definesacross-sectionofonehalfofthepart.
Draw the body curve
1. Onthestatusbar,clicktheLayerpaneandmakethelayerFree Form Bodycurrent.
2. OntheCurvemenu,clickFree-Form > Control Points.
3. AttheStart of curveprompt,intheFrontviewport,startdrawingacurvearoundtheflashlight
bodyasillustrated.

UsetheEndobjectsnaptostartthecurveattheendoftheconstructioncenterline.
UsetheNearobjectsnaptoendthecurveontheconstructioncenterline.
Startingandendingthecurveexactlyonthelineisimportantsothatlaterwhenyourevolvethe
curvetocreateasolid,therewillbenogapsoroverlappingparts.
Whendrawingthecurve,useOrthotocontrolthefirsttwo(1and2)pointsandthelasttwopoints
(3and4)onthecurve.Ifthefirsttwopointsandthelasttwopointsareplacedinastraightline,the
curvewillstartandendtangenttothatline.

4. Whenyouhaveplacedthelastcontrolpoint,pressEntertofinishdrawingthecurve.
Toplacethelasttwopointsinastraightlinewitheachother,useGrid Snap,Ortho,or
Perpendicularobjectsnap.

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Flashlight - Revolve Curves

Draw the lens profile curve


Makeanotherprofilecurveforthelens.
Create the lens
1. OntheCurvemenu,clickFree-Form > Control Points.
2. AttheStart of curveprompt,intheFrontviewport,placethefirstcontrolpointofthelens
profile.
UsetheNearobjectsnaptostartandendthecurveontheconstructioncenterline.
Placecontrolpointsintheupperpartofthelenscurvesoitcrossesthebodyprofilecurve.

Get the old flashlight out of your way


1. OntheEditmenu,clickVisibility > Unlock.
2. Selectalltheobjectsexceptthetwoprofilecurvesyoujustdrewandtheswitchsphere.
3. OntheEditmenu,clickVisibility > Hide.

129

Flashlight - Revolve Curves

Build the flashlight body


Tomakethebody,youwillrevolvetheprofilecurve360degrees.Youwillusetheendpointofthecurveand
orthotoestablishtherotationaxis.

130

Flashlight - Revolve Curves

Create the flashlight body

131

Flashlight - Revolve Curves

1. OntheSurfacemenu,clickRevolve.
2. AttheSelect curve to revolveprompt,selectthebodyprofilecurve.
3. AttheStart of revolve axisprompt,usetheEndsnaptosnaptooneendoftheprofilecurve.

4. AttheEnd of revolve axisprompt,turnOrthoon,andspecifytherevolveaxislineasillustrated.

5. IntheStart angle...prompt,clicktheFullCircleoption.

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Flashlight - Revolve Curves

Create the lens


Nowrevolvethelensprofilecurveinthesamewayasthebody.
Revolve the lens profile curve
1. OntheSurfacemenu,clickRevolve.
2. AttheSelect curve to revolveprompt,selectthelensprofilecurve.

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Flashlight - Revolve Curves

3. AttheStart of revolve axisprompt,useEndobjectsnaptolocatetheendpointofoneofthecurve


profiles.

4. AttheEnd of revolve axisprompt,turnOrthoon,anddrawtherevolveaxislineasillustrated.

5. IntheStart angle...prompt,clicktheFullCircleoption.

134

Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude


Thistutorialdemonstratescreatingsurfacesfromprofilecurvesusinglofts,sweeps,andextrudes.
Youwilllearnhowto:

Usesub-objectselectiontopre-selectobjectsforacommand.

Createasurfacefromaplanarcurve.

Loft,revolve,sweep,andextrudesurfaces.

Capplanarholestocreateasolid.

Drawahelixaroundacurve.

Matchcurveends.

Createsolidpipes.

Mirrorobjects.

Uselayers.

Useobjectsnaps.

To open the headphone model.


4

OpenthetutorialmodelfileHeadphone.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.

135

Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Create the speaker shell


Thespeakershelliscreatedusingaloftedsurface,aone-railsweep,asolidextrusionofaplanarcurve,anda
surfacefillet.Theresultinggeometryisjoinedintoonesolid.
Loft curves to create a surface
Onewaytocreateasurfaceistouseexistingcurvesasaguide.Whenloftingthroughcurves,thecurves
areusedasaguideforcreatingasmoothsurface.
1. TurnonShadedmodeinthePerspectiveviewport.
2. Selectthethreecircularcurves,withacrossingselectionasillustrated.

3. OntheSurfacemenu,clickLoft.
4. AttheDrag seam point to adjustprompt,notethedisplayofthecurvedirectionarrowsatthe
seampoints,andpressEnter.
Inthismodel,theyarenicelylinedupforyou,soyoudonotneedtoadjustthem.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

5. IntheLoft Optionsdialogbox,clickOKtocreatetheloft.

Extrude the surface edge


Extrudetheloftedsurfaceedgeinthecentertomakeamagnethousing.
1. HoldtheCtrland Shiftkeystoselectthesurfaceedgeatthecenteroftheloftedsurface.
Tip:
SelectingobjectswiththeCtrland Shiftkeysiscalledsub-object selection.
HoldtheCtrland Shiftkeys,andclicktoselectpolysurfacefaces;surfaceand
polysurfaceedgecurves;controlpoints;meshvertices,faces,boundaries,andedges;
andobjectswithinagroup.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickExtrude Planar Curve > Straight.
3. AttheExtrusion Distanceprompt,type-2(noticethenegativenumber)andpressEnter.
Thismakesasolidcylinderforthemagnethousingthatistwounitsthickandextendsinthenegative
directionfromtheoriginalsurfaceedge.

Extract the bottom surface


Thecylinderyoujustcreatedisanextrusionobject(solid).Toremovethebottom,extracttheface.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

1. HoldtheCtrland Shiftkeys,andclicktoselectthebottomface.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickExtract Surface.

3. AttheSelect surfaces to extractprompt,selectthesurfaceasillustratedandpressEnter.

4. PresstheDeletekey.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Fillet the edge of the cylinder surface


1. OntheSolidmenu,clickFillet Edge > Fillet Edge.
Thecurrentradiussettingshouldbe1.
2. AttheSelect edges to filletprompt,selecttheedgeatthetopofthecylinderpressEnter.

3. AttheSelect fillet handle to editprompt,pressEnter.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Join the surfaces


Surfacesthatshareanedgecanbejoinedintoapolysurface.Youwilljoinallthesurfaces.Sincethefaces
aresometimeshardtosee,usetwoviewportstoselectthemall.
1. Selectthesurfaceandthepolysurface.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickJoin.
Tojoinsurfaces,youmustselectsurfacesthatareadjacenttoeachotherandtheedgesmustmatch.

Create the padding and cover


Sweepacurvearoundtheedgeofthespeakerconetocreatethepaddingaroundtheedgeofthespeaker.
Reset the view
1. OntheViewmenu,clickZoom > Zoom Extents All.
2. HideorDeleteallofcurvesusedfortheloft.
Sweep a curve along one rail
1. HoldtheCtrlandShiftkeys,andclicktoselecttheloftsurfaceouteredge.
2. HoldtheShiftkeyandselecttherailcurveatthetopofthespeakerasshown.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

3. OntheSurfacemenu,clickSweep 1 Rail.

4. IntheSweep 1 Rail Optionsdialogbox,clickOK.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Make a surface from planar curves


Filltheareaatthebaseofthepaddingwithaplanarsurfacecreatedfromtheedgeofthesweep.
1. HoldtheCtrland Shiftkeys,andclicktoselectthesurfaceedgeofthespeakerconeasillustrated.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickPlanar Curves.
Aplanarsurfaceiscreatedatthebaseofthepadding.

Create the mounting bracket


Thenextpartisthebracketthatholdsthespeakertotheheadband.Sincethespeakerunitiscomplete,you
canturnitslayeroffandmaketheBracketlayercurrent.
Reset the layers
1. Onthestatusbar,clicktheLayerpane.
2. MakeBracketthecurrentlayerandturnonBracket Shape Curves.
Turnallotherlayersoff.
Reset the view
4

OntheViewmenu,clickZoom > Zoom Extents Alltozoominonthebracketshapecurvesinall


viewports.
Extrude a curve into a solid

Useaplanarcurvetocreateasolidshape.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

1. Selecttheclosedcurve.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickExtrude Planar Curve > Straight.

3. AttheExtrusion distanceprompt,type-1andpressEnter.

Fillet the edges


Roundthesharpedgeswithafillet.
1. OntheSolidmenu,clickFillet Edge > Fillet Edge.
2. AttheSelect edges to filletprompt,type.2andpressEnter.
3. AttheSelect edges to filletprompt,clickChainEdgesandselectthefrontedgeofthebracket.
Theentireedgeofthesolidshouldhighlight.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

4. PressEntertoclosethatedgeselection.

5. AttheSelect edges to filletprompt,clickChainEdgesandselectthebackedgeofthebracket.


6. PressEntertoclosethatedgeselection.

7. PressEntertofinishtheedgeselection.
8. AttheSelect fillet handle to editprompt,pressEnter.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Create a tubular surface from the shape curves


1. Selectthecurveatthetopofthebracket.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickPipe.
3. AttheStarting radiusprompt,type.3andpressEnter.
Beforetypingtheradius,setthecommand-lineoptionstoCap=FlatandThick=No.
4. AttheEnd radiusprompt,pressEnter.
5. AtthePoint for next radiusprompt,pressEnter.

For the second tube


1. Selectthecurveatthebottomofthebracket.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickPipe.

3. AttheStarting radiusprompt,type.2,andpressEnter.
4. AttheEnd radiusprompt,pressEnter.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

5. AtthePoint for next radiusprompt,pressEnter.

Create the headband


Theheadbandconsistsofaseriesofellipsessweptalongapath.
Reset the layers
1. Onthestatusbar,clicktheLayerpane.
2. MakeHeadbandthecurrentlayerandturnonHeadband Shape Curves.
Turnallotherlayersoff.
Reset the view
4

OntheViewmenu,clickZoom > Zoom Extents Alltozoominontheheadbandshapecurvesinall


viewports.
Create an ellipse perpendicular to a curve

1. TurnOrthoon.
2. OntheCurvemenu,clickEllipse > From Center.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

3. AttheEllipse centerprompt,clickAroundCurve.

4. AttheEllipse centerprompt,snaptoanendpointoftheheadbandcurve.
UsetheEndobjectsnap.
5. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,type0.5,andpressEnter.
6. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,dragthecursorinthex-directionandclick.

7. AttheEnd of second axisprompt,type2,andpressEnter.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

8. AttheEnd of second axisprompt,dragthecursorinthey-directionandclick.

Array a curve along a path


1. Selecttheellipse.
2. OntheTransformmenu,clickArray > Along Curve.
3. AttheSelect path curveprompt,selectheadbandcurve.

4. IntheArray Along Curve Optionsdialogbox,underMethod,settheNumber of itemsto3.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

5. UnderOrientation,clickFreeform,andclickOK.

Scale the ellipse


Scalethecenterellipsetomakeitlarger.
1. Selectthecenterellipse.

2. OntheTransformmenu,clickScale > Scale 1-D.


Scale1Dstretchesanobjectinonedirection.
3. AttheOrigin pointprompt,inthePerspectiveviewport,snaptothecenterofselectedellipse.
4. AttheScale factor or first reference pointprompt,type2,andpressEnter.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

5. AttheScale directionprompt,dragthecursorinthey-directionandclick.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Sweep along one rail


1. Selectthecurves.
2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickSweep 1 Rail.

3. AttheDrag seam point to adjustprompt,examinethedirectionandseampointsofthecurves


tomakesuretheyarenottwisted,andpressEnter.
4. IntheSweep 1 Rail Optionsdialogbox,clickOK.

Round the headband ends


Usethesameellipsethatformedthefirstcross-sectioncurvefortheheadbandtocreatearoundedendforthe
headband.Startbysplittingtheellipseinhalf.
Reset the view
1. OntheViewmenu,clickZoom > Window.
2. InthePerspectiveviewport,zoominontheleftendoftheheadbandyoujustcreated.
Split the ellipse in half
1. Selecttheellipse.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickSplit.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

3. AttheSelect cutting objectsprompt,clickthePointoption.


4. TurnonQuadrantobjectsnap.
5. AtthePoint to split curveprompts,snaptothetwoquadrantsatthenarrowaxisoftheellipse.

6. AtthePoint to split curveprompt,pressEnter.


Theellipseissplitintotwohalves.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Create a surface of revolution


1. Selectlefthalfoftheellipse.

2. OntheSurfacemenu,clickRevolve.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

3. AttheStart of revolve axisprompt,snaptotheendoftheellipsehalf.

4. AttheEnd of revolve axisprompt,snaptotheotherendoftheellipsehalf.

5. AttheStart angle...prompt,type0,pressEnter.
6. AttheRevolution angle...prompt,type180,pressEnter.
Aroundedsurfaceiscreatedattheendoftheheadband.

7. Repeatthesestepsfortheothersideoftheheadband.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Mirror the rounded end


1. Selecttheroundedend.

2. OntheTransformmenu,clickMirror.
3. AttheStart of the mirror planeprompt,type0.
4. AttheEnd of the mirror planeprompt,dragthemirrorlineinthey-directionasillustrated.

155

Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Join the surfaces


1. Selectthesurfaces.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickJoin.
Threesurfacesjoinintoonepolysurface.

156

Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Create the speaker wire


Useaseparatelayertocreatethespeakerwire.
Reset the layers
1. Onthestatusbar,clicktheLayerpane.
2. MakeWire Shape CurvesthecurrentlayerandturnonWire.
Turnallotherlayersoff.
Reset the view
4

OntheViewmenu,clickZoom > Zoom Extents All.


Make the helix

1. OntheCurvemenu,clickHelix.
2. AttheStart of axisprompt,clickAroundCurve.
3. AttheSelect curveprompt,selectthelongfree-formcurve.

4. AttheRadius and start pointprompt,type1andpressEnter.


Thissetstheradiusforthehelix.
5. AttheRadius and start pointprompt,setTurns=30andNumPointsPerTurn=8.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

6. AttheRadius and start pointprompt,intheRightviewportdragthecursortotheleftandclick.

Reset the view


1. OntheViewmenu,clickZoom > Window.
2. InthePerspectiveviewport,zoominontheleftendofthehelixyoujustcreated.
Match and join the helix to the end curves
1. OntheCurvemenu,clickCurveEdit Tools > Match.

2. AttheSelect open curve to change - pick near endprompt,selectneartheleftendofthehelix.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

3. AttheSelect open curve to match - pick near endprompt,selectnearthelowerendofthe


verticalcurve.

4. IntheMatch Curvedialogbox,underContinuity,clickTangency,underPreserve other end,


clickPosition,andclickJoin.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

5. Repeatsteps3through6fortheotherendofthehelix.

Create the speaker wire


1. Selecttheextendedhelicalcurve.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickPipe.
3. AttheStarting radiusprompt,type.2andpressEnter.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

4. AttheEnd radiusprompt,pressEnter.
5. AtthePoint for next radiusprompt,pressEnter.

Create the second wire


1. Selectthecurveatthetopleft.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickPipe.
3. AttheStarting radiusprompt,type0.1andpressEnter.
4. AttheEnd radiusprompt,pressEnter.
5. AtthePoint for next radiusprompt,pressEnter.

Mirror the headphone parts


Mirrorthepartstocreatethepartsfortheothersideoftheheadphones.
Reset the layers
1. Onthestatusbar,clicktheLayerpane.
2. Turnonalllayers.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

Reset the view


4

OntheViewmenu,clickZoom > Zoom Extents All.

Delete all the shape curves


1. PressEsctodeselecteverything.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickSelectObjects > Curves.
3. PresstheDeletekey.
Mirror the left half of the headphones
1. IntheFrontviewport,windowselecttheobjectsasillustrated.
(Selectthespeaker,bracket,smallwire,androtatedellipse.)

2. OntheTransformmenu,clickMirror.
TheMirrorcommanddependsonwhichviewportisactive.Itusestheconstructionplaneinthe
activeviewporttodefinethemirrorplane.Themirrorplaneisperpendiculartotheconstruction
plane.Twopointsdefinethelineinthisplaneaboutwhichtheselectedobjectsaremirrored.

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Headphone - Sweep, Loft, and Extrude

3. AttheStart of mirror planeprompt,type0,0.


Thisisthefirstpointofthemirrorline.

4. AttheEnd of mirror planeprompt,turnonOrtho,anddragthemirrorlinestraightupandpick.

Learn more
ForavideotutorialshowingamoresophisticatedmodelingmethodforaheadphonesetusingRhino'sGumball
feature,see:Modeling stereo headphones.

163

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending


Thistutorialdemonstratespoint-editingtechniquesincludingmovingandscalingcontrolpointsandadding
knotstosurfacestoincreasecontrol.Inaddition,youwilluseblendstocreatesmoothtransitionsbetween
surfaces.
Youwilllearnhowto:

Rebuildsurfacestoaddadditionalcontrolpoints.

Insertknotsinasurfacetoaddcontrolpointsinaspecificlocation.

Editsurfacecontrolpointstodefineashape.

Scalecontrolpointstochangetheobjectshape.

Useobjectsnapsprojectedtotheconstructionplane.

Orientanobjectonasurface.

Createsmoothblendsbetweensurfaces.

Rendered with Penguin renderer by Jari Saarinen.

The body
Ifyoulike,opentheexamplemodel,Penguin.3dm,andtrytomatchtheshapesasyouarebuildingthe
model.Experimentwithyourownshapes,too.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
Thebodyandheadarecreatedfromonesphere.Theshapeisformedbymovingthecontrolpointsinthe
spheretocreatethehead.

165

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Draw a sphere
4

IntheTopviewport,usetheSpherecommandtodrawaspherewitharadiusof10units.

Rebuild the sphere


4

UsetheRebuildcommandtoaddmorecontrolpointstothesphere.
IntheRebuild Surfacedialogbox,setthePoint countintheUandVdirectionsto8andthe
DegreeintheUandVdirectionsto3.
CheckDelete input.
ClickOK.

166

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Turn control points on


4

UsethePointsOn (F10)commandtoturnonthespherescontrolpoints.Lookinalltheviewports
atthestructureofthecontrolpoints.
Thenextstepwillchangethisstructuresotheinfluenceofmovingthecontrolpointsdoesnotextend
overthewholesphere.

167

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Insert knots
4

UsetheInsertKnotcommandtoinserttwoknotsinthesphereintheareawhereyouwantthe
neck.
Inserttheknotsintheu-directiononlyasillustrated.

Examinethecontrolpointstructureafterinsertingtheknot.

Repositioncontrolpointstocreatetheindentationfortheneckandtoreformthebodyshape.

168

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Flatten the bottom


1. IntheFrontviewport,selectallthecontrolpointsinthelowestrowsofthesphere.

UsetheSetPtcommandtomatchthemtothebottompolepointintheworldz-directiononly.
2. IntheSet Pointsdialogbox,checkSet Z,cleartheSet XandSet Ycheckboxes,andclickWorld.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

3. Dragtheselectedcontrolpointsup.

Thiswillalignalloftheselectedcontrolpointstothesamez-value(upinFrontviewport),flattening
thesurface.

170

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Drag points
4

SelectrowsofcontrolpointswithawindowanddragthemupordownintheFrontviewportto
shapethebody.

UseWireFramedisplaymodeifyoufinditeasiertoselectcontrolpointsinwireframeviews.

171

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Scale points
1. SelectrowsofcontrolpointswithawindowintheFrontviewport.
2. IntheTopviewport,usetheScale2Dcommandtomovethemcloserorfartherawayfromthe
centralpoint.
TopickthebasepointfortheScale2DcommandusethePointobjectsnapwithProjectturnedon.
Thiswillscalethepointsparalleltotheconstructionplane.WatchtheFrontviewporttoseethe
changesinthebodyshapeasyoumovethecontrolpointsclosertoandfartherfromthecenter.

ExperimentwiththeProjectsettingintheOsnapcontroltoseehowitworks.
Youwillbeabletoseethetrackinglineprojectedtotheconstructionplaneintheviewports.
Matchtheexamplemodeloruseyourownshape.

172

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

3. Dragindividualgroupsofcontrolpointstomakethebodyslightlyflatterinthefrontneartheneckas
illustrated.

The eyes
Theeyeisanellipsoidshapethatisorientedontothesurface.

173

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Create the eye

174

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

1. IntheTopviewport,starttheEllipsoidcommand.
Placethecenterpointanywhere.

175

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

2. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,type1.1toconstrainthedistancefromthecenterpointtotheend


oftheaxisto1.1units.
Dragthecursortotherightandpick.

176

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

3. AttheEnd of second axisprompt,type1.1toconstrainthedistance.


Usingtheseconstraintshascreatedacircularellipsoidwhenseenfromthetop.
DragthecursorupordownintheTopviewportandpick.

4. AttheEnd of third axisprompt,type.5,pressEnter.

Orient the eye on the surface


1. SelecttheeyeellipsoidintheToporPerspectiveviewport.
2. StarttheOrientOnSrfcommand.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

3. AttheBase point...prompt,intheTopviewport,pickthecenteroftheellipsoid.

4. AttheReference point for scaling and rotationprompt,pickanypointtotherightorleftofthe


eyeellipsoid.
Theexactlocationisnotimportant.

5. AttheSurface to orient onprompt,selectthepenguinbody/head.


6. IntheOrient on Surfacedialogbox,clickOK.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

7. AtthePoint on surface to orient toprompt,movethecursorontotheheadtowhereyouwant


toplacetheeyeandclick.

Mirror the eye


4

UsetheMirrorcommandintheFrontviewporttocreatethesecondeye.

The beak
Thebeakisanotherellipsoidthatyoucanedittochangetheshape.

179

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Create the basic beak shape

180

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

1. IntheTopviewport,starttheEllipsoidcommand.
Placethecenterpointanywhere.

181

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

2. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,type3toconstrainthedistancefromthecenterpointtotheendof


theaxistothreeunits.
Dragthecursortotherightandpick.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

3. AttheEnd of secondaxisprompt,type2toconstrainthedistance.
Usingtheseconstraintscreatesacircularellipsoidwhenseenfromthetop.
DragthecursorupordownintheTopviewportandpick.

4. AttheEnd of third axisprompt,type1,pressEnter.

183

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Shape the beak

184

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

1. Turnonthebeak'scontrolpoints(F10).
IntheFrontviewport,selectthelowerrowofpointsanddragthemup.

185

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

2. Selecttherowofpointsinthetopcenteranddragthemdowntoshapethebeak.
TryusingtheNudgekeys(Alt+Arrowdirectionkeys)tonudgetheselectedpoints.

Move the beak


4

Movethebeakintoposition.

The feet
Thefeetarecreatedusinganotherellipsoid.Knotsareaddedtohelpcreatethewebbedtoes.

186

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Draw the beginning ellipsoid

187

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

1. IntheFrontviewport,starttheEllipsoidcommand.
Placethecenterpointanywhere.

188

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

2. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,type1toconstrainthedistancefromthecenterpointtotheendof


theaxistooneunit.
Dragthecursorupandpick.

3. AttheEnd of secondaxisprompt,type3toconstrainthedistance.
IntheTopviewport,dragthecursorupandpick.

4. AttheEnd of third axisprompt,type3,pressEnter.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Rebuild the ellipsoid


4

UsetheRebuildcommandtoaddmorecontrolpointstotheellipsoid.
IntheRebuild Surfacedialogbox,setthePoint countintheUandVdirectionsto8andthe
DegreeintheUandVdirectionsto3.
CheckDelete input.
Insert knots to create the webbed feet

UsetheInsertKnotcommandtoinsertfourknotsintheellipsoidasillustrated.

SettheSymmetrical=On.
InserttheknotsintheV-direction.

190

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Scale the points from the center

191

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

1. Selectcontrolpointsasillustrated.

Usewindowandcrossingselectionstoselectthecontrolpointsonboththetopandbottomofthe
ellipsoid.

2. UsetheScale2Dcommandtoscalethecontrolpointsoutfromthecenterofthefoot.
UsethePointobjectsnaptosetthebasepointofthescaletothecenterpointoftheellipsoid.
Dragthepointstomakethewholefootabouttwicethesizeoftheoriginalellipsoid.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Move the foot into position


4

UsetheMovecommandtomovethefootunderthepenguinbody.
Rotate the foot out

UsetheRotatecommandtorotatethefootoutslightly.

Mirror the foot


4

UsetheMirrorcommandtocreatethesecondfoot.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Create a cutting plane


1. Selectthefeet.
2. IntheFrontviewport,usetheCutPlanecommandtomakeaplanarsurfacethatpassesthrough
thefeetasillustrated.

TheCutPlanecommandmakesaplanethatpassesthroughtheselectedsurfacesalongthelineyou
draw.

Trim and

Join the feet and the plane

1. Trimthebottomsofthefeetoffwiththeplaneasthecuttingobject.
2. Trimtheexcessplanefromoutsidethefeet.

194

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

3. Jointheplanepartsandthefeet.

195

Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

The tail
Thetailisanotherellipsoid.Itisjoinedtothebodywithasmoothblendsurface.
Create the tail shape
4

DrawanEllipsoidthatis4unitslong,3unitswide(Topviewport),and1.5unitstall(Front
viewport).

Position the tail


4

MoveandRotatethetailinposition.

Union the tail and body


4

UsetheBooleanUnioncommandtotrimandjointhetailandthebodyshapes.
Thetransitionbetweenthetailandbodyisratherabrupt;soreplacethiswithasmoothblend
surface.
Todothis,youmustfirstcreateagapbetweenthetwopartsfortheblendsurfacetofill.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Pipe the intersection


4

UsethePipecommandtocreateacircularsurfacearoundtheedgebetweenthebodyandtail.
AttheSelect curve to create pipe aroundprompt,selecttheedgebetweenthetailandthebody.
AttheRadius for closed pipeprompt,type.4.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Trim the body and tail with the pipe


1. UsetheTrimcommandtotrimboththebodyandthetailsurfacesinsidethepipe.
2. AttheSelect cutting objectsprompt,selectthepipe,andpressEnter.

3. AttheSelect object to trimprompt,selectthebody/tail,andpressEnter.


Tip:Pickontheisocurveoredgethatyoucanseeinsidethepipe.

Tip:
WiththeSetObjectDisplayModecommand,setthepipetoawireframeor
ghosteddisplaymodesoyoucanseetheedgebetweenthebodyandthetail.
Ifyouselectthewrongpart,undowithintheTrimcommandandtryagain.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Blend between the tail and body


4

UsetheBlendSrfcommandtocreateasmoothsurfacebetweenthetailandthebody.

Join the body and tail


4

Jointheblendandtailtothebody

The wings

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Create the base wing shape


4

DrawanEllipsoidthatis2unitslong,2unitswide(Topviewport),and6.5unitstall(Front
viewport).

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Rebuild the wing


1. UsetheRebuildcommandtoaddmorecontrolpointstotheellipsoid.
IntheRebuild Surfacedialogbox,setthePoint countintheUandVdirectionsto8andthe
DegreeintheUandVdirectionsto3.
CheckDelete input.

2. Dragcontrolpointstocreatetheshape.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Bend the wing to the body


1. UsetheBendcommandintheFrontviewporttobendthetopofthewingshapetowardthebody.
AttheStart of spineprompt,intheFrontviewport,picknearthebottomofthewing.
AttheEnd of spineprompt,picknearthetopofthewing.
AtthePoint to bend throughprompt,dragthetopofthewingtowardthebody.

2. Iffurtherpositioningisneeded,usetheRotateandMovecommandstoplacethewing.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Mirror to the other side


4

UsetheMirrorcommandtocreatetheoppositewing.

Boolean Union the wings and the body


4

Totrimthewingholesandthewing,selectbothwingsandthebodyandusetheBooleanUnion
command.
Pipe the intersection

UsethePipecommandtocreateacircularsurfacearoundtheedgebetweenthebodyandeach
wing.
AttheSelect curve to create pipe aroundprompt,selecttheedgeoftheholeinthebodyorthe
edgeofthewingsurface.
AttheRadius for closed pipeprompt,usearadiusofabout.6.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Trim the body and wing


1. UsetheTrimcommandtotrimthebodyandwingsurfacesinsidethepipesurfaces.
2. Deletethepipesurfaces.

Blend between the body and wings


4

UsetheBlendSrfcommandtocreateasmoothsurfacebetweeneachwingandthebody.

Join the body and wings


4

Jointheblendsandwingstothebody

Finishing touches
Tofinishthepenguin,splitthefrontpartofthebodysoadifferentmaterialcanbeappliedtoit.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Draw a trim curve


4

IntheRightviewport,drawaCurvefromthebeakdowntothebottomasillustrated.

Split the body with the curve


4

UsetheSplitcommandtosplitthebodysurfacewiththecurve.

Thisallowsadifferentcolorforthefrontofthebody.

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Penguin - Point Editing and Blending

Join the body parts


4

UsetheJoincommandtojointhebody(exceptthefront),thetail,andthewings.

Render
Renderingcreatesarealisticpictureofyourmodelwithcolorsyouassign.Theserendercolorsaredifferent
fromthelayercolorsyoumightbeusing,whichcontrolthedisplayinwireframeandshadedmodes.
Set up the view
4

UsetheRendereddisplaymodetosettheviewportrenderedmode.
Assign materials

1. Selectthebody.
2. StartthePropertiescommand.
3. InthePropertieswindow,clicktheMaterialicon.
4. SetAssign material by,toObject.
5. UnderBasic Settings,clicktheColorswatch.
6. IntheSelect Colordialogbox,selectacolorforthebody.
7. SettheGloss finishtoabout40.
8. Selecttheotherpartsandapplymaterialsinthesameway.

206

Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep


Thistutorialdemonstratesclassicboathullloftingtechniquesusingtypicalplanandprofilecurves.Theclassic
hullshapeisbasedonadesignfromanoldBoat Builders Handbookmagazine.Manydesignssimilartothisare
availableovertheInternet.
Youwilllearnhowto:

Create3-Dcurvesfroma2-Dlinesdrawing.

Rebuildandsimplifythecurves.

Useanalyticaltechniquestoensurefairness.

Loftsurfacesfromthecurves.

Rhinoisusedbymarinedesignersinmanysegmentsoftheindustry.Formoretutorialsandinformationabout
marinedesign,seetheRhinowebsiteatwww.rhino3d.com.

Note:
Theimagesinthistutorialuseadisplaysettingtochangethecolorofthebackofthe
surfaces.

Front face (1) , backface (2). Yellow arrows indicate surface normal direction, and
green color indicates surface backface.
Thisletsyouseewhichwaythenormaldirectionoftheobjectfaces.SearchtheRhino
HelpforBackface settings.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Marine Terms Used in this Tutorial


Sheer
Thefore-and-aftcurvaturefromthebowtothesternofashipsdeckasshowninsideelevation.
Chine
Theintersectionofthebottomandthesidesofaflatorv-bottomedboat.
Transom
Theplankingformingthesternofasquare-endedboat.
Fair
Themeaningoffairismuchdebatedinthemarineindustry.Noonecandefineit,buttheyknowwhenthey
seeit.Althoughfairingasurfaceistraditionallyassociatedwithhullsurfaces,allvisiblesurfacesonanyobject
canbenefitfromthisprocess.InRhino,thefirstcueforfairnessinasurfaceisthespacingofthesurfacedisplay
isocurves.
Thereareothercharacteristicsoffaircurvesandsurfaces.Althoughacurveorsurfacemaybefairwithout
exhibitingallofthecharacteristics,theytendtohavethesecharacteristics.Ifyoukeeptheseinmindwhile
modeling,youwillendupwithabetterfinalproduct.
Theguidelinesforcreatingafairsurfaceinclude:

Usethefewestpossiblecontrolpointstogetthecurveshape.

Usethefewestpossiblecurvestogetthesurfaceshape.

Lay out the hull curves


Thehulllineswerecreatedbytracingtheoriginalplansusingabackgroundbitmap.Thefirststepistocheck
thelinesforfairnessbeforecreatingsurfacesfromthem.

Thedesignerslinesareillustrated.Thesheerandchinehavebeenextendedattheforwardandaftendsto
accommodatetheloftingprocess.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Start the Model


4

OpenthetutorialmodelfileVictory.3dm.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
ThelinesarelaidoutonthePlanlayerandtheProfilelayer.

Check the curves for fairness


SelecteachofthedesignerscurvepairsinplanandprofileandusetheCurvatureGraphcommandto
determineifthecurvesarefair.Inthiscase,thefilehastheoriginalcurvesthatweretracedfromthe
backgroundbitmap.Theyarenot"fair."Inotherwords,thecurvesdonotsmoothlytransitionfromoneendof
thesheertotheother.Ifanycurveisnotfair,adjustpointstomakeitfair.Startwiththesheer(thecurveat
thetopofthehullshape).Ithasthebiggestimpactontheappearanceofthevessel.
Check curvature
1. Selectthecurvesyouwanttocheck.
2. UsetheCurvatureGraphcommandtodisplayitscurvaturegraph.
Theillustrationshowsthecurvaturegraphappliedtothetwo-dimensionalsheerinprofile.

Thecurvaturegraphshouldbecontinuousandexhibitthecharacteristicsdesiredforthecurve.Whenthe
curveisconcavedownward,thegraphwillbeabovethecurve.Conversely,concaveupwardcurveswillhave
theirgraphsbelowthem.Thepointofinflection(wherethecurveisneitherconcaveupwardnordownward)is
indicatedwherethegraphcrossesthecurve.
Fix the curvature
Beforedoinganypointeditingtomakethecurvesfair,rebuildthecurvestoremoveexcesscontrolpoints.
SelecteachcurveandusetheRebuildcommandtoreducethenumberofpointsandsetthedegree.Donot
usemorepointsthanyouabsolutelyneed.
UsetheCurvatureGraphcommandtocheckthecurvesagainforfairness.Ifthecurvaturegraphisstillnot
satisfactory,movethecontrolpointsuntilyouhaveasmoothgraph.Proceedwiththerestofthecurvesinthe
modeltobecertaintheyarefairbeforebeginningtosurfacethemodel.
Rebuild the curves
1. Selectthesheercurve.
2. StarttheRebuildcommand.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

3. IntheRebuild Curvedialogbox,changethePoint countto6andtheDegreeto5.

Create the 3-D curves


Sofar,youhavebeenworkingwithtwo-dimensionalcurves.Inordertoloftthesurfaces,theseplanarcurves
willbeusedtocreatetothree-dimensionalcurvesandtheplanarcurvescanbediscarded.
Withthe3D Lineslayercurrent,selecttheprofileandplanviewrepresentationsofeachcurve.Usethe
Crv2Viewcommandtocreatethethree-dimensionalcurvethatcombinesthex-,y-,andz-coordinatesofthe
two-dimensionalcurves.Thetwo-dimensionalcurvesmustbeplanarforthiscommandtowork.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Create the three-dimensional curves


1. Setthe3D Lineslayercurrent.
2. Selecttheplanandprofilerepresentationsofthesheercurve.

3. StarttheCrv2Viewcommand.
Thethree-dimensionalrepresentationofthatcurvewillbecreated.

4. Whenyouaresatisfiedthatthepropercurvewascreated,deleteorHidethetwo-dimensional
representations.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

5. RepeattheCrv2Viewcommandforthechinecurve.

Revise the curves


Fortheloftprocesstoworkonthebottompanel,itcannotcometoapoint.Theloftedshapemustbe
rectangular.Thisiswhythecurvesareextendedbeyondthecenterline.Thecurvescanbeloftedintoa
rectangularsurfacethatcanthenbetrimmedback.ThecurvesintheVictorymodelarealreadyextendedfor
youexceptforthebottomcenterlinecurve.
Copy the centerline curve
Wearegoingtouseacopyofthecenterlinetocreateanewextendedcurveforloftingthehullbottom.
1. CopythecenterlineusingtheInPlaceoption.
2. Hidethecenterline.
Shorten the centerline
1. Selectthecenterline.
2. StarttheSubCrvcommand.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

3. AttheStart of curveprompt,usingtheEndobjectsnap,clicktheaftendofthecenterline.

4. AttheEnd of curve...prompt,usingtheMidpointobjectsnap,clickthemiddleofthecurve.

Extend the centerline


1. StarttheExtendcommand,andattheSelect boundary objects...prompt,pressEnterfor
dynamic extend.
2. AttheSelect curve to extend...prompt,settheTypetoSmoothandselectthecenterlinenear
theforwardend.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

3. Drawthecurvesoitalignsnicelywiththechineandsheercurvesintheplanviewasillustrated.

Thiscreatesanewbottomcurvetouseforthesurfaceloft.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

4. Turnonthecontrolpoints(F10)tocheckthecurve.

Loft the hull surfaces


Nowthatyouhavecreatedasetofedgecurvesforthesideandbottom,createloftedsurfacesfromthese
curves.Startbyloftingthebottomsurface.Onceyouhavefinishedit,useitsupperedgeasthecurvefrom
whichtoloftthesidepanel.
Toloftthebottompanel,selectthetwoedges(chineandcenterline)andusetheLoftcommand.Inthiscase,
besuretoselectthenewcenterlineyoucreatedinthepreviousstep.
Loft chine and centerline
1. Selectthechineandcenterline.
2. StarttheLoftcommand.
3. IntheLoft Optionsdialogbox,underCross-section curve options,selectRebuild with...,and
setthecontrolpointcountto15,clickOK.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Loft the side and bottom


1. Selectthesurfaceedgeandthesheercurve.
Tip:HoldCtrl+ Shifttoselecttheupperedgeoftheloftsurface.
2. RepeattheLoftforthesidepanel.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

3. IntheLoft Optionsdialogbox,underCross-section curve options,selectRebuild with...,and


setthecontrolpointcountto15,clickOK.

Trim the bow and bottom


Whenyouhavesuccessfullycreatedboththesideandbottomsurfaces,constructabuttockone-halfinchoff
thecenterlineandtrimbothsurfacestothisbuttock.Todothis,intheTopviewport,drawalinelongerthan
thehullandone-halfinchtotherightofcenterline.

217

Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Draw a trim line


1. IntheTopviewport,drawaLinealongthecenterline(x-axis)thatislongerthanthehull.

2. IntheTopviewport,offsettheline1/2inchtowardthehullsurfaces.

Thiscreatesacurvethatwillbeusedinthenextstep.Wewantasmallgapdownthecenterofthe
boatbetweenthetwohalvesforakeel.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Trim the side and bottom to the trim line


4

Usingtheoffset curve,Trimthebottom(1)andside(2)asillustrated.

Build the transom


Likeallsurfacesinthistutorial,thetransomwillbebuiltwithasurfacelargerthanthefinishedsurfaceand
thentrimmedtothehull.
Tomakesurethereisenoughsurfaceareatotrim,Extendthetransomcenterlinebyafootortwobothabove
thesheerandbelowthecenterline.Trimthehullsurfaceswiththetransomcenterline.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Extend the centerline


1. WiththeProfilelayeron,starttheExtendcommand.
2. AttheSelect boundary objects or enter extension length. Press Enter for dynamic
extendprompt,pressEnter.
3. AttheSelect curve to extendprompt,intheFrontviewport,settheTypetoNatural,and
selectnearthetopofthetransomcenterline.

4. AttheEnd of extensionprompt,selectapointabovethecurrenttopofthetransomcenterline.

5. AtthenextSelect curve to extendprompt,selectnearthebottomofthetransomcenterline.


6. AttheEnd of extensionprompt,selectapointbelowthecurrentbottomofthetransomcenterline,
pressEnter.

220

Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Trim and

Join the hull surfaces

1. Selectthetransomcenterline.

2. StarttheTrimcommand.
3. SetUseApparentIntersections=Yes.
4. IntheFrontviewport,attheSelect object to trimprompt,selectthehullsideandbottom
surfacesaftofthetransomcenterline.

5. Jointhehullbottomandside.
Mirror the hull surfaces
IntheRightorTopviewport,Mirrorthetwohullsurfacesaboutthecenterline.UsetheEdgeSrf
commandtocreatesurfacesbetweenthetwohullhalves.
1. Selectthetwohullsurfaces.
2. StarttheMirrorcommand.
3. IntheTopviewport,attheStart of mirror planeprompt,type0,pressEnter.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

4. AttheEnd of mirror planeprompt,withOrthoon,dragthemirrorplanealongthex-axis,and


click.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Create the keel surface


1. StarttheEdgeSrfcommand.
2. AttheSelect 2, 3, or 4 curvesprompt,selectthetwoinneredgesofthehullbottomalongthe
keel.

3. RepeattheEdgeSrfcommand.
4. AttheSelect 2, 3, or 4 curvesprompt,selectthetwoinneredgesofthehullsidesalongthekeel
atthebow.

Tip:Theorderyouselectthesurfaceedgesdetermineswhatdirectionthekeelsurfacefaces.

Extrude the surface


Tocreatethetransomsurface,Extrudethetransomcenterline.

223

Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

1. IntheFrontviewport,selecttheextendedtransomcenterline.

2. StarttheExtrudeCrvcommand.
3. AttheExtrusion distanceprompt,setthecommand-lineoptionBothSides=Yes.
4. InthePerspective,Top,orRightviewport,dragtheextensionbeyondthehullsurface.

Trim the transom


Trimthetransomsurfacewiththehullandalinefromthehulledges.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

1. Drawalinebetweenthetwoafthulltopedges.
2. StarttheTrimcommand.

3. AttheSelect cutting objectsprompt,selectallofthehullsurfaces,includingthekeelsurfaceand


thelineatthetopofthehull,pressEnter.

4. AttheSelect object to trimprompt,selectthetransomsurfaceoutsideofthehulllinesand


surfaces,pressEnter.

Thetransomisnowcomplete.

225

Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Check for errors


1. Joinallofthesurfaces.
2. UsetheShowEdgescommandtocheckthatthejoinwassuccessful.
Displaythenakededges.Nakededgesaresurfaceedgesthatarenotjoinedtoothersurfaces.Inthis
case,theonlynakededgesshouldbetheonesyouexpectaroundtheoutsideofthehullsurfaces
notthosebetweenthesurfaces.
Whenyouhaveyoursurfacesbuiltandjoined,andhavenounjoinededges,lookatthesurfacewith
thecurvatureanalysistools.

Add the deck


Thelaststepistocreatethedecksurface.Intheprofilelines,twocurvesdescribethesilhouetteofthedeck
curve.Youwillusethiscurvetocreatethedeck.

UsetheProjectcommandtoprojecttheverticallinetothesideofthehull.Thislinewillactasamarkerforthe
endofthecurve.IntheFrontviewport,drawacurvefromtheendofthedeckcenterlinecurvetotheendof
theprojectedcurveononesideofthehull.UsePlanarmodetokeepthecurveplanar.Placethefirstthree
controlpointsusingOrthotokeepthemlinedupatthecenter.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Project the vertical deck edge to the hull


1. Selectthehullandtheverticalline.
2. IntheFrontviewport,usetheProjectcommandtoprojectthecurvetothehull.
Thecurvewillprojecttobothsidesofthehull,soyoucandrawyourcross-sectioncurveoneither
side.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Draw the cross-section curve


1. ClickthePlanarpaneinthestatusbartoturnonPlanarmode.
2. IntheRightviewport,usetheCurvecommandtodrawacontrolpointcurvefromthetopendofthe
deckcenterlinecurvetothetopofthecurveprojectedtothehull.
UseOrthotoplacethefirstthreecontrolpointsinastraightline.

UsetheEndobjectsnaptoplacethelastpointatthetopoftheprojectedcurveonthehull.
3. UsetheCurvatureGraphcommandtocheckthecurve.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Create the deck surface


1. UsetheSweep2commandtocreatethedecksurface.
2. AttheSelect rail curvesprompts,selectthecenterlinecurveandthehulledge.

3. AttheSelect cross section curvesprompt,selectthecross-sectioncurveyoucreatedfromthe


deckcenterlinecurvetotheprojectedcurveonthehull,pressEnter.

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Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Mirror the deck


1. UsetheMirrorcommandtocopythedecksurfacetotheotherside.
AttheStart of mirror planeprompt,intheTopviewport,type0,pressEnter.
2. AttheEnd of mirror planeprompt,intheTopviewport,dragthemirrorplanewithOrthoon.

Fill in the missing surface


4

UsetheEdgeSrfcommandtocreatethesmalltriangularsurfaceatthetipofthebow.

230

Boat Hull - Loft and Sweep

Join the parts


4

SelectallofthesurfacesandusetheJoincommandtocreateasinglepolysurface.

231

Dragonfly - Trace Images


Thistutorialdemonstrateshowtogetstartedmodelinganobjectusingphotographsasreferencematerial.
Youwilllearnhowto:

Traceanimagetocreateprofilecurves.

Createcross-sectioncurvesforloftingtheprofiles.

Editcontrolpointstochangeasurfaceshape.

Starting images.

Finished model.

Note:Thetopandsideviewsareactuallyofdifferentspecimensofthisdragonfly.Inthesideview,thewingsarefolded
up.Wewillbeusingthesideviewimageonlytodrawtheside
viewcurvesofthebody.
Draw the body
Sincethedragonflyissymmetricalinthetopview,andthemodelisnotgoingtobeascientificreproduction,
traceonesideofthedragonflyandmirrorthecurvetotheotherside.Forthesideview,drawtwocurvessince
theprofileisnotsymmetrical.Thenwewillloftcrosssectioncurvestomakethebody.Theheadwillbemade
separately.
Thetailandbodywillallbemadeinonepiece.Thetailisactuallyseveralsegmentsthatflex.Ifyouwere
makingananimationorascientificmodel,youprobablywouldwanttodividethedragonflyintosmaller
surfaces.
Start the model
1. BeginaNewmodel.
2. IntheTemplate Filedialogbox,selectSmall Objects - Millimeters.3dm,andclickOpen.

233

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Draw a reference line


4

IntheTopviewport,usetheLinecommandtodrawareferenceline50 millimeterslongstarting
at0,0,0.
Place the top view image

1. StartPictureFramecommand.
2. FindtheimagefileDragonFly Top.jpg,andplacetheimageintheTopviewport.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
Usethereferencelinetosetthelengthofthepictureframeimage.

Move the image into place


4

UseobjectsnapstoMovetheimagefromthemidpointoftheleftside(Mid)totheconstruction
planeoriginat0,0,0.

234

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Place the side view image


1. StartPictureFramecommand.
2. FindtheimagefileDragonFly Side.jpg,andplacetheimageintheFrontviewport.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.
Usethereferencelinetosetthelengthofthepictureframeimage.

3. Using Ortho, dragtheimagedownintheFrontviewportuntilthereferencelinematchesthe


centerofthedragonflybody.

Prepare the view


4

Hidethesideviewpictureframe.

235

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Draw the outline curve


4

IntheTopviewport,usetheCurvecommandtodrawanoutlineofthetophalfofthedragonfly
body.
Useasmanycontrolpointsasyouthinkarenecessaryforthedetail.
Drawonlyuptotheneck.Youwillbecreatingtheheadanotherway.

Mirror the curve


4

IntheTopviewport,usetheMirrorcommandtocopythecurvearoundthereferenceline.
Thephotographshowsthatthedragonflyisnotsymmetricalaboutitscenterline.However,since
yourdragonflywillbestylized,itdoesnotmatterinthiscase.Youcanchoosethelevelofaccuracy
youneed.

Show the side view image


4

UsetheShowcommandtoshowtheside-viewpictureframeobject.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Bend the curve


4

IntheFrontviewport,usetheBendcommandtobendthecurvesdownatthetailtomatchthe
bendinthebodycurveinthatview.

Trace side-view body


4

IntheFrontviewport,usetheCurvecommandtotracethebodyoutlineusingtwocurves,one
abovethereferencelineandonebelowthereferenceline.
Maximizetheviewportandzoomin.Pickasmanypointsasyouneedtocreatethecurves.Usemore
pointswhenroundingacornerandfewerpointsforastraightsection.

Prepare the view


4

Hidethepictureframeobjectsandthereferenceline.

237

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Create the body surface


4

UsetheCSeccommandtocreatecross-sectionprofilecurvesthroughthetop,bottom,andside
curves.
Drawasmanycross-sectioncurvesasyouneedtomaintainthedetail.Youwillbeabletosee
whetheryouhaveenoughcurveswhenyouloftthesurfaceinthenextstep.Ifyoudonothave
enoughcurvestomaintaintheshapeinanarea,addmoreandretrythesurfaceloft.

Loft the body


1. Selectallthecross-sectioncurvesyoujustcreated.
2. UsetheLoftcommandtocreateasurfacethroughthecross-sectionprofiles.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Draw the head


Drawtheheadwithanellipsoidandmovethecontrolpointsaroundtodeformthehead.Theeyesarealso
ellipsoids.Theneckisasurfaceblend.

239

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Draw the head

240

Dragonfly - Trace Images

1. UsetheEllipsoidcommandwiththeDiameteroptiontostarttheellipsoidintheFrontviewport.

241

Dragonfly - Trace Images

2. UseElevator Modetopositionthefirstpoint.
AttheStart of first axisprompt,pressandholdtheCtrlkeyandintheTopviewportclicknearthe
sideofthehead.

242

Dragonfly - Trace Images

3. IntheFrontviewport,movethecursoruptothecenteroftheheadinthesideviewandclick.

243

Dragonfly - Trace Images

4. AttheEnd of first axisprompt,turnonOrthointheTopviewport,clickattheothersideofthe


head.

244

Dragonfly - Trace Images

5. AttheEnd of second axisprompt,drawpickapointintheFrontviewporttoestablishthehead


sizefromfronttoback.
WatchthepreviewintheTopviewporttochecktheoverallsize.

6. AttheEnd of third axisprompt,pickapointintheFrontviewportatthetopofthehead.

Note:Drawingtheellipsoidinthisorderandusingtheseviewportsis
importanttogetthepolesoftheellipsoidintherightplaceforthenextstep.

245

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Rebuild the ellipsoid


4

UsetheRebuildcommandtoaddmorecontrolpointstotheellipsoid.
Setthepointcountto16intheu-directionand10inthev-direction.

246

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Drag control points to shape the head


1. UsethePointsOncommandtoturnoncontrolpointsfortheellipsoid.

2. IntheTopviewport,selectanddragpointsonbothsidesoftheellipsoidtowardthebacktodeform
thehead.

3. IntheRightviewport,dragthemiddletworowsofpointsdown.

Blend the head and body


Theneckisablendsurfacebetweentheheadshapeandthebody.First,youaregoingtotrimtheheadshape
tomakeanopening.

247

Dragonfly - Trace Images

Trim the neck


4

IntheFrontviewport,drawlinesasillustrated,andusetheTrimcommandtotrimtheheadand
bodyshapeswiththelines.

Blend the neck and body


4

UsetheBlendSrfcommandtomakeablendsurfacebetweentheheadandbody.
Besuretheseamsarealignedandthedirectionarrowspointthesameway.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Draw the eyes


Theeyesaresimpleellipsoids.
Draw the base ellipsoid
4

UsetheEllipsoidcommandtodrawtheeye.
Basethesizeandpositionontheimages.

Position the eye


4

UsetheOrientcommandortheMoveandRotatecommandstoadjustthepositionoftheeye.

Mirror the other side.


4

UsetheMirrorcommandtocopytheeyetotheotherside.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Shape the tail


Theendofthetailhasaroundedshapecutoutofit.UseaBooleantomakethisshape.
Cap the body
1. Ifnecessary,extendthetailsectionbyturningonthecontrolpointsanddraggingthemtomatchthe
bitmap.
2. UsetheCapcommandtomakethebodyintoasolid.
Draw a cutting cylinder
4

UsetheCylindercommandtodrawasolidcylindersoitcutsthroughthetailasillustrated.

Boolean the tail


4

UsetheBooleanDifferencecommandtocuttheendoutofthetail.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Trace the wings


Thewingsaresolidscreatedfromclosedcurves.Thelegsarecreatedbytracingapolylinedownthecenterofa
legandusingapipesurfacetomakeaseriesoftubesaroundthepolyline.
Draw the outline curve
4

IntheTopviewport,usetheCurvecommandtotracethewingsononesideofthedragonfly.

Extrude the curve to make a solid


4

MakethecurvesintothinsolidswiththeExtrudeCrvcommand.
Setthecommand-lineoptionSolid=YestoYes.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Move the wings into position


4

PositionthewingsonthebackwiththeMovecommand.
Consultthesideviewimageofthedragonfly.Thefrontwingisslightlyhigherthanthebackwing.

Mirror the wings to the other side


4

UsetheMirrorcommandtocopythewingstotheotherside.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Draw the legs


Thelegsarepipedpolylineswithdifferentradiiatthestartandendofthepipes.
Draw the base polyline
1. IntheTopviewport,usethePolylinecommandtotracedownthecenterofthelegs.
2. EditthecontrolpointstopositionthelegsintheTopandFrontviewports.
Youwillhavetouseyourimaginationalittleforthissincethetwopicturesdonotshowthelegsofthe
sameinsect.
Pipe the legs
4

UsethePipecommandtodrawthelegsaroundthepolylines.

Refertothebackgroundpicturetodeterminethestartingandendingdiameterofthepipe.
Mirror the legs
4

UsetheMirrorcommandtocopythelegstotheotherside,ordrawdifferentlegsfortheotherside.

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Dragonfly - Trace Images

Finishing touches
Foraddedrealism,addcolor,reflectivity,andtransparency.
Render the model
4

Addmaterialsandtexturesandrender.

254

Wrap Text - Flow along surface


Thistutorialdemonstrateswrappingtextsolidsandotherobjectsonacylinder.Theseobjectscouldbeusedto
trimholesinthecylinder.
Youwilllearnhowto:

Createtextassolidobjects.

Wraptheobjectstoasurface.

Make a surface
Forthisexample,createasimplecylinder.Onceyouhavelearnedthebasictechnique,youwillbeabletouse
othertypesofsurfaces.Rememberthattrimmedsurfacesmaintaintheirbasicrectangularshape.This
underlyingshapewillaffecttheplacementofthetext.
Create a cylinder
4

InthePerspectiveviewport,usetheCylindercommandwiththeVerticaloptiontocreateasolid
cylinder.

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Wrap Text - Flow along surface

Create the objects to wrap


Thesesolidobjectswillbewrappedonthecylindersurface.
Create the text
1. UsetheTextObjectcommandtocreateyourtextusingSolids.
Chooseafontthatisfairlylargeandblockyratherthanonewithmanyholesanddetails.
SettheHeightatabout1.5units.
SettheSolid thicknessto.1units.
2. Placethetextontheconstructionplanenearthecylinder.Thelocationisnotimportant.

Control the object placement


TheCreateUVCrvcommandgeneratestheplanarbordercurvesofasurfacethatcanbeusedasaguideto
orientyourtext.Usetheborderrectangletolayyourtextoutbeforere-applyingittothecylinder.The
rectanglethenisusedasareferencetoguidetheplacementoftheotherobjects.

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Wrap Text - Flow along surface

Create the UV curve


1. UsetheCreateUVCrvcommandonthecylindersidetocreatecurvesthatrepresenttheborderof
thesurfaceontheconstructionplane.
2. Selectthesideofthecylinder.
Arectangleiscreatedstartingat0,0ontheTopconstructionplane.

Position the text objects


4

UseMove,Rotate,andScaleorothertransformstoarrangethetextobjectsinsidetherectangle
justthewayyouwantthemtoappearonthecylinder.
Addanyotherdecorationcurvesyouwanttouse.

Create a reference surface


4

UsethePlanarSrfcommandtomaketherectangleintoasurface.
YouwillusethissurfacelaterasareferenceobjectfortheFlowAlongSrfcommand.
Extrude the decoration curves

1. Ifyouhavecreatedothercurves,selectthese.
2. UsetheExtrudeCrvcommandtothickenthedecorationstomatchtheletters.

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Wrap Text - Flow along surface

3. AttheExtrusion Distanceprompt,setSolid=Yes.
4. AttheExtrusion distanceprompt,type.1.

Wrap the lettering on the cylinder


1. Selecttheletteringandthedecoration.
2. StarttheFlowAlongSrfcommand.
3. AttheBase surfaceprompt,setRigid=No.

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Wrap Text - Flow along surface

4. Clicktherectangular planenearthe"lower-left"cornerasillustrated.

5. AttheTarget surfaceprompt,clickthecylinderneartheloweredgeoftheseamasillustrated.

Thetextanddecorationsolidswraparoundthecylinder.

NowyoucanusetheletterstocutthecylinderorBooleantheobjectstogether.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks


ThisexampleshowshowtouseRhinotomodelasimplemechanicalpart.
Youwilllearnto

Createextrusionobjects.

Booleandifferenceshapes.

Drillholes.

Createa2-Dlinedrawingfromthe3-Dshapes.

Dimensionthe2-Dlinedrawingandmodifydimensiontext.
Open the tutorial model
4

OpenthetutorialmodelfileToolblock.3dmandthenclickOpen.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.

Create solid shapes


StartbycreatingtwobasicsolidshapesfromtheprofilecurvesonlayersProfile-01andProfile-02.
Set up the layers
4

IntheLayerspanel,confirmthattheProfile-01layeriscurrent.
Extrude the profile curve

1. OntheSolidmenu,clickExtrude Planar Curve > Straight.


2. TurnontheEndobjectsnap.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

3. AttheSelect curves to Extrudeprompt,selecttheblueprofilecurve,andpressEnter.

4. AttheExtrusion distanceprompt,setthecommand-lineSolidandtheDeleteInputoptionsto
Yes.
5. Clicktheendofthemagentaconstructionline.

Theextrudedshapeisasolidbecauseitformsaclosedvolumeinspace.
Hide the solid
4

Selectthesolid,ontheEditmenuclickVisibility > Hide.


Set up the layers

IntheLayerspanel,makelayerProfile-02current.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

Extrude the profile curve


1. Selecttheredprofilecurve.

2. OntheSolidmenu,clickExtrude Planar Curve > Straight.


3. AttheSelect curves to Extrudeprompt,setthecommand-lineSolidandtheDeleteInput
optionstoYes.
4. AttheExtrusion distanceprompt,intheFrontviewport,dragtheextrusionabovetheheightof
thebluecurveandclick.

ThesolidappearsonthecurrentredlayerProfile-02.

263

Mechanical Part - Blocks

Show the solid


4

OntheEditmenuclickVisibility > Show.

Boolean the two solids


1. OntheSolidmenu,clickDifference.
2. AttheSelect surfaces or polysurfaces to subtract fromprompt,selectthebluesolid,andpress
Enter.
3. AttheSelect surfaces or polysurfaces to subtract withprompt,setthecommand-line
DeleteInputoptiontoYes.
4. Selecttheredsolid,andpressEnter.
Theresultwillbeanewsolidorpolysurface.Apolysurfaceisacollectionofsurfacesthatcanbeclosed
oropen.Asolidisacollectionofsurfacesthatisclosed.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

Drill the holes


Aconstructioncircleisalreadyinplaceforcreatingthefirsthole.
Make holes in the solid
1. Selectthegreencircleasshown.

2. OntheSolidmenuclickSolid Edit Tools > Holes > Make Hole.


3. AttheSelect a surface or polysurfaceprompt,selectthebluepolysurface.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

4. AttheCut depth pointprompt,dragtheholethroughtheupperportionoftheobject.

5. PickapointinFrontview.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

Copy the holes


Afteroneholeisdrilled,youcancopytheothers.
Copy the holes
Copythethreeremainingholesthatarealignedwiththepreviousholewiththiscommand.
1. IntheOsnapcontrol,turnonthePointobjectsnap.
2. OntheSolidmenu,clickSolid Edit Tools > Holes > Copy Holes.
Note:Copy HolesisactuallytheMoveHolecommandwiththecommand-line
CopyoptionsettoYes.
3. AttheSelect holes in one planar surfaceprompt,selectthefirsthole,andpressEnter.

4. AtthePoint to copy fromprompt,pickthepointobjectinthecenterofthefirstcircle.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

5. AtthePoint to copy to ( Copy=Yes ):prompt,pickthepointthatmakesthecenterofthenext


hole.

6. Repeatthisforthetwoholesthatareontheothersideofthepart.

Note:Donotusethepointinthecenterofthepart.

Create the round hole


Thecenterholeisdifferentinthatitdoesnotpassentirelythroughtheupperpartofthebluesolid.Thereis
noreferencecircletostartfrom.
1. OntheSolidmenu,clickSolid Edit Tools > Holes > Round Hole.
2. AttheSelect target surfaceprompt,selectthetopsurfaceofthebluesolid.

268

Mechanical Part - Blocks

3. AttheCenter pointprompt,setthecommand-lineoptionsasfollows:
Depth=0.5
Diameter=0.312
DrillPointAngle=180
Through=No
Direction=CPlaneNormal
4. Clickthepointobjectinthemiddleofthebluesolidtofinishcreatingthehole.

Test the solid


Theresultingpolysurfaceisaclosedsolid.Asoliddefinesaclosedvolumeinspace.TheProperties
commandwillreportifthispartisaclosedsolid.ThePropertiescommandwillgiveyouinformationabout
theopen/closedstatusoftheobject.
1. Selectthepart.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickObject Properties (F3).
3. InthePropertiespanel,clickDetails.
IntheObject Descriptionwindow,youwillfindthelistingtoconfirmthattheobjectisvalidand
closed.
Geometry:
Valid polysurface.
Closed solid polysurface with 23 surfaces.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

Make a 2-D drawing


TheMake2Dcommandgenerates2-Dlinesfromthe3-Dsolid.
Create a 2-D line drawing
1. Selectthepart.
2. OntheDimensionmenu,clickMake 2D.
3. Inthe2-D Drawing Optionsdialogbox,underDrawing layoutclick4 view (USA).
UnderOptions,checktheShow tangent edgesandShow hidden linesboxes.
4. ClickOK.

Dimension the 2-D drawing


Usingthe2-Ddrawing,adddimensionsforthepart.
Set up the layers
1. IntheLayerspanel,makeDimensionslayercurrent.
2. TurnoffalllayersexceptDimensionsandtheMake2Dlayers.
3. IntheLinetypecolumnfortheMake2D > hidden > lineslayer,clickContinuous.
4. IntheSelect Linetypewindow,selectDashed.

Set up the viewport


4

Double-clicktheviewporttitletomaximizetheTopviewport.
Dimension the part

1. OntheDimensionmenu,clickLinear Dimension.
2. IntheOsnapcontrol,turnontheEndobjectsnap;turnoffthePointobjectsnap.
3. AttheFirst dimension pointprompt,picktheupperleftcornerofthepart.
4. AttheSecond dimension pointprompt,picktheupperrightcornerofthepart.
5. AttheDimension locationprompt,pickalocationforthedimensionline.

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Mechanical Part - Blocks

6. Repeattogenerateaverticaldimensionontherightsideofthepart.

Chain dimension the part horizontally


1. OntheDimensionclickLinear Dimension.
2. AttheFirst dimension pointsetthecommand-lineContinueoptiontoYes.
Thiswillgenerateachainofdimensions.
3. AttheFirst dimension pointprompt,pickthelowerleftcornerofthepart.
4. AttheSecond dimension point,promptturnontheCenterobjectsnapandpickthecenterofthe
firstcircle.
5. AttheDimension locationprompt,pickbelowthepart.
6. AtthenextDimension locationprompts,continuepickingthecentersofthecircles.
7. Finishbypickingthelowerrightcornerofthepart,pressEnter.

271

Mechanical Part - Blocks

Chain dimension the holes vertically


4

Repeatthechaindimensionstocreateverticaldimensions.

Add radial dimensions


1. OntheDimensionmenu,clickRadial Dimension.
2. AttheSelect curve for radius dimensionprompt,selecttheholeonthefarright.
3. AttheDimension locationprompt,pickabovethepart.

4. Doubleclicktheradialdimensiontext,andinthetexteditbox,addthetextTyp. 5 Places.

272

Mechanical Part - Layouts


ThisexampleshowshowtouseRhinotomodelasimplemechanicalpart.
Youwilllearntocreatealayoutwithatitleblockforprinting.
Open the tutorial model
4

OpenthetutorialmodelfileToolblock.3dmandthenclickOpen.
Downloadthetutorialmodels.

273

Mechanical Part - Layouts

Layout viewports
Usealayouttoarrangethe2-Dlinesforprinter.
Add viewport tabs
1. OntheViewport tabs,clicktheAdd new tab ( )icon.
2. Onthemenu,clickNew Layout.

3. IntheNew Layoutwindow,selectthefollowing:
Orientation=Landscape
Width=11 inches
Height=8.5 inches
InitialDetailCount= 1
Page1willappearintheviewporttabs.

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Mechanical Part - Layouts

Insert a title block


Inthissectionyouwilladdatitleblockandre-sizethedetailtofit.
Set up the layers
1. IntheLayerspanel,maketheTitle Blocklayercurrent.
2. Confirmthatyouareinlayoutspace.
Insert the title block
1. OnEditmenu,clickBlock > Insert Block Instance.
2. Fromthenamelist,selectAnsi_A_TB.
3. UnderInsertion point,checkthePromptbox,andclickOK.
4. Selectthedetail.
Note:Clickonthedetailedgetoselectit.Makesurethedetailisnotactive.
5. OntheEditmenuclickControl Points > Control Points On (F10).

6. Dragthecontrolpointinthelowerleftcornertore-sizethedetailtofitinthetitleblock.
7. PresstheEsckeytoturnoffthecontrolpoints.
Lock the detail view
1. Selectthedetail.
2. OntheEditmenu,clickObject Properties (F3).
3. InthePropertiespanelontheDetailpage,underScale,settheinches on pageandinches in
modelto1.0.
4. ChecktheLockedbox
Thispreventsfuturepanningandzoomingsothedetailsstaysthecorrectsize.

275

Mechanical Part - Layouts

Add print widths


1. Inthestatusbar,right-clicktheLayer panetoopentheLayerpanel.
2. ClickDefaultinthePrintWidthcolumn,andsetthevaluestothefollowing:
Dimension=.35
TitleBlock=.5
Make2D>visible>lines=.70
Thelayoutviewdisplaysapreviewoftheprintwidthsastheywillappearontheprintedpage.

276

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