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Navigating the geometry menus using a "department store" analogy


Rhino 4 Essential Training

with Dave Schultze

Video: Navigating the geometry menus using a "department store" analogy

Navigating the geometry menus using a "department store" analogy provides you with in-depth training on 3D + Animation. Taught by Dave Schultze as part of the Rhino 4 Essential Training
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  1. 4m 13s
    1. Welcome
      1m 1s
    2. Using the exercise files
    3. Recommended hardware
      2m 44s
  2. 19m 8s
    1. Understanding the three types of entities: curves, surfaces, and solids
      5m 51s
    2. Comparing Bezier curves, B-splines, and NURBS objects
      3m 35s
    3. Comparing isocurve surfaces and mesh surfaces
      4m 50s
    4. Setting measurement units and tolerance
      4m 52s
  3. 18m 16s
    1. Introducing the viewport
      3m 20s
    2. Using construction planes to anchor model design
      5m 27s
    3. Changing the way a model is viewed using shading modes
      3m 11s
    4. Navigating the viewport with pan, zoom, rotate, and reset controls
      3m 24s
    5. Exploring help options
      2m 54s
  4. 29m 48s
    1. Understanding Rhino's command philosophy
      3m 10s
    2. Using toolbars and docking buttons to a toolbar
      3m 33s
    3. Navigating the geometry menus using a "department store" analogy
      3m 35s
    4. Using the command line and status bar to get feedback
      4m 56s
    5. Modifying the nudge control and setting other preferences
      6m 54s
    6. Using the Properties window
      3m 1s
    7. Opening and saving files
      4m 39s
  5. 14m 24s
    1. Creating basic objects: curves, surfaces, and solids
      4m 22s
    2. Performing basic transformations
      3m 14s
    3. Selecting objects
      3m 37s
    4. Organizing a project using layers
      3m 11s
  6. 21m 18s
    1. Understanding lines and polylines
      4m 10s
    2. Building rectangles and polygons
      5m 12s
    3. Creating arcs, circles, and ellipses
      7m 8s
    4. Drawing freeform curves
      4m 48s
  7. 47m 36s
    1. Comparing different types of 3D surfaces
      7m 11s
    2. Extruding surfaces to create features in a model
      8m 58s
    3. Creating surfaces with lofts
      7m 49s
    4. Using Revolve and Rail Revolve to create surfaces
      7m 42s
    5. Using Sweep Rail to create a 3D claw
      7m 49s
    6. Creating complex surface shapes using Network Surface
      8m 7s
  8. 46m 48s
    1. Introducing solids
      5m 42s
    2. Making solids with primitives
      5m 41s
    3. Extruding curves to create solids without primitives
      8m 59s
    4. Creating unique shapes with the union, difference, and intersection Boolean operators
      6m 46s
    5. Troubleshooting solids and Booleans
      8m 53s
    6. Editing with the solid edit tools
      6m 20s
    7. Creating and transforming holes in solids
      4m 27s
  9. 27m 8s
    1. Understanding Rhino's modeling aids
      3m 59s
    2. Working with the Grid Snap modeling aid
      2m 22s
    3. Using the Ortho modeling aid
      3m 4s
    4. Using the Planar modeling aid
      2m 4s
    5. Incorporating the Osnap modeling aid into your workflow
      6m 7s
    6. Understanding the Project and Smart Track modeling aids
      4m 42s
    7. Setting cursor constraints
      4m 50s
  10. 50m 14s
    1. Editing corners with Fillet and Chamfer
      7m 38s
    2. Trimming and splitting with curve Booleans
      5m 37s
    3. Moving and rotating objects with the Drag and Nudge tools
      7m 24s
    4. Copying and pasting objects
      4m 10s
    5. Understanding how Rhino uses Undo and Redo
      3m 42s
    6. Grouping objects
      3m 21s
    7. Scaling objects
      6m 40s
    8. Duplicating objects using the Mirror command
      6m 36s
    9. Making copies and structured sets using arrays
      5m 6s
  11. 20m 37s
    1. Using the Analysis toolbar to understand characteristics of a model
      6m 14s
    2. Defining degrees of curve and surfaces
      6m 6s
    3. Using Rebuild and Change Degree
      8m 17s
  12. 26m 21s
    1. Measuring and labeling values on a model using dimensioning
      5m 22s
    2. Creating screen captures for quick proofs
      5m 16s
    3. Creating 2D views of a 3D model
      6m 44s
    4. Rendering a project
      8m 59s
  13. 22m 5s
    1. Preparing a model for prototyping by confirming that all gaps are closed
      5m 17s
    2. Using the "shelling" technique to create wall thickness
      10m 54s
    3. Exporting to the STL format for 3D printing
      5m 54s
  14. 14s
    1. Goodbye

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Watch the Online Video Course Rhino 4 Essential Training
Video Duration: 3m 35s5h 48m Beginner Apr 08, 2010

Viewers: in countries Watching now:

View Course Description

In Rhino 4.0 Essential Training, author Dave Schultze shows how the 3D NURBS-based modeling tools in Rhino 4.0 are used to engineer products from toy robots to full-sized aircraft. This course concentrates on using Rhino 4.0 for industrial design and rapid prototyping, with a review of common 3D terminology using specific examples. Along with a comprehensive exploration of the Rhino interface, the course includes an introduction to building 3D objects with Rhino's three primary entities: the curve, the surface, and the solid. Exercise files are included with the course.

Topics include:
  • Understanding 3D terminology
  • Viewing a 3D model in Rhino 4.0
  • Manipulating objects with commands
  • Creating curves, surfaces, and solids
  • Applying transformations to 3D objects
  • Creating unique shapes with Boolean operators
  • Snapping to objects and planes
  • Defining curve and surface degree
  • Prototyping a 3D model
3D + Animation CAD
Dave Schultze

Navigating the geometry menus using a "department store" analogy

In this video, we'll review the organizational structure of Rhino's pulldown menus at the top of the screen. This is actually a great place to find and learn new commands, but also understand their logical relationship to each other. I have this interesting thing that I call The Department Store Analogy. With this, we classify each of the Rhino three entities or categories is being located in departments. So, we have a department for curves, we have a department for surfaces and a solid department. Now this is further organized by levels.

So, at the top of any of these departments we have, create new ones, generate new geometry. At the lower levels, we have edit existing things that you already made earlier. So, all three of these menu sections are organized the exact same. We'll go ahead and do a few demos, just to further explain. We'll be making new geometry here of the three different types. For the curve, I'm going to select Rectangle. Now just a note: a curve is basically any type of line, whether it's straight or smooth.

So, I'm going to pick the Center to Corner. With a little bit of snapping, we have a brand-new square. Now let's make a brand-new surface. Surface menu. For the next two examples, we're going to extrude these shapes into a third dimension. Now these are something we'll cover in more detail in a later movie. So, I'm going to select these curves. So, there we have a new surface. Let's make a new solid. On the Solid menu, top floors, pretty much in the same general location as the prior one, Extrude Planar Curve > Straight.

I'm going to select the curve and then pick the end, and there we have a 3-dimensional solid from a curve. Those were all at the top section, since they were new. Now let's explore kind of editing existing geometry. For this example, I'm going to use Fillets on all three entities. This is another great example where a command can work on different types of geometry, whether it's a line, a surface or a solid. So, it's another way that you can extend your knowledge. First, let's Fillet, the square.

We'll choose the Curve, so here's the Fillet option, located on the lower level, radius of 3. I'm just going to verify that. You can change it by clicking at any of these options. Click the two sides, zoom in a bit, repeat, click the two sides, and there is a Filleted curve. We can do the same thing with the surface, lower-level, Fillet. Let's verify the radius is okay and just pick the two sides, Fillet at the Surface.

Last up will be the solid. It's the same command and the same general location, Fillet at the Edge. Just pick that top edge here, hit Enter. Now we've got a solid fillet. Many new Rhino users forget where a command is located. So, with this Department Store Analogy, you can easily find any command simply by asking, 'What are you making - a curve, a surface or a solid? And the next question, 'Is it new, or an edit to an existing one?' This system works really well, even when you can't remember the name of the command.

All you have to do is find the best department, the level, and take a look around, just like you're shopping.

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Rhino 4 Essential Training .

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Q: I'm noticing several differences between the options that author shows in the video and my copy of Rhino. For example, I can't select curves on the edge of a surface or turn on control point when vertically extruding a closed surface like an ellipse. Also, I do not get the Sweep option. I'm running on Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
A: This course was recorded on a Windows computer. As of February 2012, Rhino for Mac is still in beta, so it is not yet a full-fledged product. Wait until the full version comes out to see if these issues are resolved.
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