Rhinoceros 3D

3D computer graphics software

For other uses, see Rhinoceros (disambiguation) and Rhino (disambiguation).

Rhinoceros

Developer(s)| Robert McNeel & Associates (TLM, Inc.)
Stable release|

Rhino 8.1 / November 21, 2023; 13 months ago (2023-11-21)[1]

Operating system| Microsoft Windows, macOS
Available in| Multilingual
Type| 3D computer graphics, computer-aided design
License| Proprietary
Website| rhino3d.com
mcneel.com

Rhinoceros (typically abbreviated Rhino or Rhino3D) is a commercial 3D computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD) application software that was developed by TLM, Inc, dba Robert McNeel & Associates, an American, privately held, and employee-owned company that was founded in 1978. Rhinoceros geometry is based on the non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) mathematical model, which focuses on producing mathematically precise representation of curves and freeform surfaces in computer graphics (in contrast to a polygon mesh mathematical model).

Rhinoceros is used for computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), rapid prototyping, 3D printing and reverse engineering in industries including architecture, industrial design (e.g., automotive design, watercraft design), product design (e.g., jewelry design) as well as for multimedia and graphic design.[2]

Rhinoceros is developed for Microsoft Windows and macOS. A visual scripting language add-on for Rhino, Grasshopper, is developed by Robert McNeel & Associates.

## Overview

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### Characteristics

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Rhinoceros is primarily a freeform surface modeler that uses the NURBS mathematical model. Rhinoceros's application architecture and open SDK make it modular and enable a user to customize the interface and create custom commands and menus.

Since version 7, Rhinoceros has improved real-time rendering abilities for improved lighting and shading.

## File formats

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The Rhinoceros file format (.3DM) is useful for the exchange of NURBS geometry. The Rhino developers started the openNURBS Initiative to provide computer graphics software developers the tools to accurately transfer 3-D geometry between applications. An open-source toolkit, openNURBS includes the 3DM file format specification, documentation, C++ source code libraries and .NET 2.0 assemblies to read and write the file format on supported platforms – Windows, Windows x64, Mac, and Linux.[3]

An example of artwork modeled in Rhino and rendered in Flamingo

### Compatibility

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Rhinoceros offers compatibility with other software as it supports over 30 CAD file formats for importing and exporting.[4]

The following CAD and image file formats are natively supported (without the use of external plug-ins):

* DWG/DXF (AutoCAD 200x, 14, 13, and 12)
* IGES
* STEP
* SolidWorks: SLDPRT, SLDASM
* SAT (ACIS, export only)
* Microstation DGN
* DirectX (X file format)

* FBX
* X_T (Parasolid, export only)
* .3ds
* LWO
* STL
* SLC
* OBJ

* Adobe Illustrator (AI)
* RIB
* POV
* UDO
* VRML
* CSV (export properties and hydrostatics)
* BMP

* TGA
* uncompressed TIFF
* VDA
* GHS
* GTS
* KML
* PLY
* SketchUp

The following CAD file formats are supported with use of external plug-ins:[5]

* 3DPDF
* ACIS
* CATIA v4, v5, v6

* CGR
* Inventor

* JT
* Parasolid
* PLMXML

* Creo Parametric
* Solid Edge
* Siemens NX

When opening CAD file formats not in its native .3dm file format, Rhinoceros will convert the geometry into its native format; when importing a CAD file, the geometry is added to the current file.

When Autodesk AutoCAD's file format changes (see DWG file format for more information), the Open Design Alliance reverse engineers the file format to allow these files to be loaded by other vendors' software. Rhinoceros's import and export modules are actually plug-ins, so they can be easily updated via a service release. Rhinoceros Service Releases (SR) are frequent and freely downloadable. Rhinoceros 5 SR10 can import and export DWG/DXF file formats up to version 2014.

### Scripting and programming

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Rhinoceros supports two scripting languages, Rhinoscript (based on VBScript) and Python (v5.0+ and Mac). It also has an SDK and a complete plug-in system.

Further information: Grasshopper 3D

## See also

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* Comparison of computer-aided design editors
* Computer-aided industrial design
* V-Ray \- 3D rendering engine for Rhino 3D
* List of BIM software
* List of 3D modeling software

## References

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1. ^ "Download Rhino 8 for Windows". Robert McNeel & Associates.
2. ^ "Rhino 3D 6 for Windows and Mac". Novedge.com. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
3. ^ "The file format on supported platforms". Retrieved 2022-05-20.
4. ^ "Index of import/export file types". Rhinoceros Help. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
5. ^ Thuilier, Félix. "Rhino plug-ins to convert, import and export files". Retrieved May 21, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Computer-aided design (CAD) software

Free and
open-source|

| Mechanical|

* BRL-CAD
* FreeCAD
* HeeksCAD
* LibreCAD
* Open Cascade Technology
* OpenSCAD
* QCAD
* rattleCAD
* Salome
* SolveSpace

|

Electrical|

* Electric
* FreePCB
* Fritzing
* gEDA
* Horizon EDA
* KiCad
* kTechLab
* Magic
* ngspice
* Oregano
* QUCS
* XCircuit

Proprietary|

| Mechanical|

* ABViewer
* Alibre Design
* Archicad
* AutoCAD
* Autodesk Alias
* Autodesk Inventor
* Autodesk Revit
* AutoTURN
* BricsCAD
* CADKEY
* CATIA
* Cimatron
* Cobalt
* Creo Elements/Direct Drafting, Creo Parametric
* DesignSpark Mechanical
* FastCAD (EasyCAD)
* FINE
* FORAN
* Fusion 360
* GstarCAD
* IRONCAD
* KeyCreator
* MEDUSA4
* MicroStation
* NX
* Onshape
* PDMS
* Pro/DESKTOP
* Rhinoceros 3D
* Grasshopper 3D
* rattleCAD 4.0
* RUCAPS
* Solid Edge
* SolidWorks
* SpaceClaim
* T-FLEX CAD
* Tinkercad
* TurboCAD
* VariCAD

|

Electrical|

* Allegro
* Altium Designer (Protel)
* AutoCAD Electrical
* Autotrax (Easytrax, Tango PCB)
* BoardStation
* CADSTAR
* CircuitMaker
* CR-2000, CR-3000, CR-5000, CR-8000
* Delta Design
* DesignSpark PCB
* DipTrace
* EAGLE
* EasyEDA
* IntegraStation
* LTspice
* Micro-Cap
* Multisim
* OrCAD
* PADS
* P-CAD
* PCB
* Proteus
* Pulsonix
* SolidWorks Electrical
* TARGET
* TopoR (FreeStyle)
* Ultiboard
* Upverter
* Xpedition

File formats|

* 3MF
* ACIS
* AMF
* C3D
* CKD
* DSN
* DWF
* DWFX
* DWG
* DXF
* IGES
* OBJ
* OpenDWG
* PLY
* PSpice
* SES
* STEP
* STL

Modeling
kernels|

* ACIS
* C3D
* Open Cascade Technology
* Parasolid
* RGK
* Romulus
* KernelCAD
* ShapeManager
* Teigha
* IntelliCAD
* SMLib

Historic|

* DAC-1 (1963)
* Sketchpad (1963)
* UNISURF (1968)

Comparison • History

* v
* t
* e

3D computer graphics software

Open-source|

* 3D Movie Maker
* Blender
* CloudCompare
* FreeCAD
* GigaMesh Software Framework
* LuxCoreRender
* MakeHuman
* MeshLab
* MoonRay
* OpenFX
* OpenSCAD
* Point Cloud Library
* POV-Ray
* Seamless3d
* Sweet Home 3D
* Wings 3D

Closed-source|

* 3D-Coat
* AC3D
* Arnold
* Autodesk 3ds Max
* Autodesk Alias
* Autodesk Maya
* Autodesk Mudbox
* Blackmagic Fusion
* Bryce
* Carrara
* Cinema 4D
* Clara.io
* Daz Studio
* Electric Image Animation System
* E-on Vue
* Golaem Crowd
* Hexagon
* Houdini
* Kerkythea
* LightWave 3D
* MASSIVE
* Medium by Adobe
* Messiah
* Nuke
* Octane Render
* Paint 3D
* Pixar Presto
* Pixar RenderMan
* Poser
* Remo 3D
* Rhinoceros 3D
* Shade 3D
* Shark 3D
* Silo
* SketchUp
* Source Filmmaker
* Strata 3D
* Terragen
* ZBrush

Defunct|

* Amapi
* Autodesk Softimage
* Cyber Studio CAD-3D
* Dynamation
* Imagine
* Modo
* N-World
* PowerAnimator
* Sculpt 3D
* Softimage 3D
* StrataVision 3D
* Swift 3D
* TrueSpace
* TurboSilver
* VistaPro

Core technologies|

* ACIS
* C3D
* HOOPS 3D
* KernelCAD
* Open Cascade Technology
* Parasolid
* Romulus
* RGK
* ShapeManager
* Teigha
* IntelliCAD

* Comparison
* Category
* List
* 3D modeling
* 3D rendering

Authority control databases: National |

* Czech Republic

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