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Introduction to Rhino

Objectives

  1. Download and install Rhino
  2. Learn about the Rhino interface, viewports, toolbars, and panels
  3. Learn about the command line interface
  4. Learn how to draw 2d and 3d geometry
  5. Learn how to export 2d and 3d file formats

Download & Install

The first thing to do is download and install the Rhino application from the Rhino Website. Download the evaluation version to start. You get a full 90 day license. After the evaluation period you can purchase a $95 education license from CU bookstore. Make sure you are getting a license for the latest version of Rhino.

After installing, launch Rhino and sign into your McNeel account when prompted. You can find Rhino in the following locations:

  • macOS: Rhino will be located in Applications
  • Windows: Rhino will be located in the start menu

Getting Started

When you first launch Rhino, you will see a file menu with options to choose between recently worked on files or a list of templates. At first, its a good idea to choose a template with the units specified. For simplicity, this tutorial will be starting with the Small Objects - Millimeters template. Select the template and click New Model. This will create an empty document with the units set to Millimeters. To change the units at any other time, go to File > Settings > Units.

Viewports

  • Viewports (Top, Left, Right, Perspective)
  • Coordinates (X, Y, Z). X = Red, Y = Green, Z = Blue
  • Windows (Multiple Windows Open == Multiple Files Open)
  • Render Modes (Wireframe, Ghosted, etc)
  • Units - Changing Units, Grid (File > Settings > Units)
  • The Grid (File > Settings > Grid to change), Osnaps (Snapping options on bottom half of left sidebar)

Toolbars

  • Left Sidebar - Command Line, Osnaps
  • Right Sidebar - Layers, Object Properties
  • Buttons = Commands. Almost all buttons are tied to a command you can type in. Not all commands have buttons.
  • Menus / Sub-Menus (Little triangle icon on buttons)

Movement

  • Zoom (Two-finger pinch or mouse scroll wheel)
  • Zoom Select command ZS
  • Pan (Right click on touchpad or right mouse click)
  • Orbit
  • Gumball (Arrows for each direction X,Y,Z; Rotate handles; Scale handles)

macOS Tip: Turn off two-finger mouse zooming (but allow pinch zooming) by unchecking "Enable magic mouse gestures" under Rhino > Preferences > Mouse > Magic Mouse.

Helpers

Modeling Aids

  • The Command Line (Top Left) - Just type something...anything. See what happens! ESC to exit command.
    • Repeat last command with Right Mouse Button > Repeat Command.
  • Grid Snap
  • OSnap
  • SmartTrack
  • Gummball

Layers

  • Working with Layers (Right Sidebar)
    • Layer Name
    • Colors (RGB)
    • Hide / Show objects (Light Bulb on Layers; Hide / Show commands)
    • Active Layer (Radio Button) - This determines where you are creating new geometry.
    • Other Panels - Object Properties, Display Properties, etc

Drawing Geometry

  • Object Details (Selection) - See information about a selected object in the lower right sidebar.
  • Copy (CMD + C) / Paste (CMD + V)

2D Geometry

  • Points
    • Turn On/Off points on curve with PointsOn and PointsOff or F10 key.
  • Curves
  • Surfaces
  • Polycurves
  • Text
    • Explode text to get curves

3D Geometry

  • Surfaces
  • Polysurfaces
  • Solids
  • Isocurves - "Hidden" curves located on / making up surfaces. Toggle "Show isocurves" in the Object Properties panel to hide/show.
  • NURBS (Non-uniform rational B-spline) vs Mesh
  • Meshes - Quality or resolution = # triangles

Transform Commands

  • Copy
  • Move
  • Scale
  • Rotate

Manipulate Geometry

  • Explode, Join
  • Join vs Group
  • Trim
  • Selection - SelCrv, SelSrf, SelPts
  • Loft
  • Pipe

File Input / Output

  • Importing Files
  • Exporting Files
  • Common file types: 3DM, STL, OBJ, EPS, DXF
  • Exporting for fabrication
    • STL or OBJ - 3D Printing, CNC Milling
    • DXF, AI, EPS - Laser Cutting, Vinyl Cutting

Additional Commands

There are many commands available in Rhino. In addition to the commands we've talked about, the following commands are some of the most used. Check out the Rhino 7 Command List and Rhino 6 for Windows commands not in Rhino 6 for Mac to learn more.

  • PictureFrame
  • Contour
  • MeshtoNURB
  • Distance
  • Dim
  • Boolean commands
  • Hide / Show
  • Offset
  • DupBorder
  • ExtractWireframe
  • Text
  • TextObject
  • SelDup
  • ExtrudeSrf
  • Make2D
  • UnrollSrf
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