How do you use Rhino?

[BobWarfield]

I design all my parts with it. Most are actually pretty simple and 2D would be adequate, but I like to visualize the interferences and such in 3D.

I then feed the Rhino drawings to OneCNC to do the CAM work, or I dimension and print them for manual machining.

I have also used it to draw electrical schematics. It's ok for that, but probably not optimal. Being able to create specialized schematics would be easy to set up with the scripting that was mentioned earlier, I just don't do it often enough that I have bothered.

Lastly, I have used it (as many use CAD) to figure out geometry problems that were just beyond me. For example, when fitting a collet chuck to a backplate, I discovered I had an error somewhere that was generating tons of TIR. I took a few measurements of various features, drew that up in Rhino, and then checked the geometry until I saw what I needed to fix.

Once I could see the amount of the errors in X and Y, I just dialed that into the machine, rebored slightly off center and it was good to a few tenths. Here was the diagram I used:

http://www.cnccookbook.com/img/Lathe...re%20Error.jpg

Cheers,

BW

[michael_e]

I use Rhino for a wide variety of things. I make custom jewelry and use Rhino for 3D modeling, both the metalwork and gems. I then render the model in Maxwell Render for approval by my clients. Once approved I send the computer model to a firm in NJ who grows the model with a stereolithography machine and casts it in whatever metal I choose. Oh, that Maxwell is really slick if you're into anything where you need a good idea of the optical properties of a finished piece. I design custom gems in GemCad, import to Rhino, manipulate scale and material properties, export to Maxwell and an hour later have a very good idea of what my gem will look like under any sort of lighting conditions. When you're cutting expensive gem rough it's just invaluable to know what you're going to get before you start cutting.

I also use Rhino to design small precision machines for gem cutting as well as doing larger structural steel objects for a local fabricator. These models are mostly used to check fits and concepts as well as to give the shop guys a better "perspective" on how everything will go together. Once everyone agrees to fit and function I use the "Make 2D" command within Rhino to make the 2D drawings which will be output to AutoCad, cleaned, dimensioned and printed as shop drawings. This works great and the 2D perspective that I print on the 1st page of the shop drawings really helps the fabrication crew see where everything goes without having to spend too much time on interpreting a set of typical 2D drawings.

Michael E.

[mc-motorsports]

Lastly, I have used it (as many use CAD) to figure out geometry problems that were just beyond me.

I forgot everything I learned in trigonometry class, seriously, without CAD, I'm lost! Makes life easy!

[kacheric]

I started using Rhino because we were using it as the front end for RhinoCAM and doing most of our design in Solidworks. By getting used to Rhino and researching its functionality we realized there are a number of things that it does better than Solidworks. We still use both often starting a project in one CAD package and then moving it over to the other to finish. Rhino and Solidworks play very nicely together and its easy to move a project from one to the other and back again as required.

Eric

[Rhino3Master]

I voted "Other", although I use Rhino mainly for 3d modeling (car design, car chassis design, electronics design). Sometimes I use it to fix stretched photos (Rhino do this better than Photoshop!!!) or measure distance between 2 locations through complex maze of several streets (first I go to Google Maps and make print screen of the desired area, then save the image and import it in Rhino as "Picture Frame", then draw lines over the streets and measure the total length). I plan to buy a small CNC router near end of this year, so I hope to use Rhino for this purpose, too.

[tobyaxis]

I know quite a few people that use Rhino for everything from 2D to 3D.

Not to mention it's Free Form Surface capabilities for the price. A friend that makes water fountains uses Rhino to create Realistic Natural looking Trees, Flowers etc.

Free Form is very useful.

BTW: Rhino has and Alibre Plug-In which is really cool.

I have been considering Rhino for Free Form lately.

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!

[deakin85]

this is my first post, so hello everyone! well thats a lot of good comments bout Rhino, just started using it at our shop and am going through the manual this weekend. strangely looking forward to work on monday ha ha ha...

[mc-motorsports]

I started using Rhino because we were using it as the front end for RhinoCAM and doing most of our design in Solidworks. By getting used to Rhino and researching its functionality we realized there are a number of things that it does better than Solidworks. We still use both often starting a project in one CAD package and then moving it over to the other to finish. Rhino and Solidworks play very nicely together and its easy to move a project from one to the other and back again as required.

Eric

I've always though of "upgrading" to solidworks...

If you could only have one, would it be Rhino or Solidworks?
And if you can, maybe explain why?
TIA!

[romeug]

i use rhino3d:
1. make scalable sketches for design decisions and problem solving
2. generate rendered drawings for client approval
3. generate drawings for both a 2d plotter and a 3d milling machine (inhouse)

[turmite]

I've always though of "upgrading" to solidworks...

If you could only have one, would it be Rhino or Solidworks?
And if you can, maybe explain why?
TIA!

I would rather keep this poll as clean as possible from ot posts, but you have brought up a good question. Could I ask you to start another thread in the about what works well with Rhino, and/or are there there better suited softwares? Make a poll of it and let's see what we get.

Thanks

Mike

[turmite]

1077 views and only 21 posts? Do any on the viewers that didn't post use Rhino? If so, please chime in here.

Mike

[Jason3]

1077 views and only 21 posts? Do any on the viewers that didn't post use Rhino? If so, please chime in here.

Mike

Sorry... I didn't post! I didn't feel I had anything to add, my skill with Rhino is basic - need to find some hours and learn properly, perhaps do the tutorials...

I use Rhino for anything I'm going to CNC, which is not a lot right now! When designing, I usually start in Sketchup, which I find much easier to chop and change and fit things together. Anything I'm making on the manual mill gets dimensioned in Sketchup and printed. Then I reproduce each part I'm going to cut with the CNC individually in Rhino, in the most time consuming way possible

Best regards,

Jason