Rhino 3D Course

Lesson 1 • Object Selection and Organisation

Introduces selection methods, layers, groups, and object properties. Organised scenes reduce errors and speed up complex modelling workflows.

Lesson 2 • Navigating the Rhino Workspace

Covers viewports, toolbars, command line, and panel layout. Establishes spatial orientation essential for all subsequent modelling tasks.

Lesson 3 • Display Modes and Visual Settings

Explores wireframe, shaded, rendered, and custom display modes. Visual clarity directly affects modelling accuracy and design communication.

Lesson 1 • Object Snaps and Tracking

Teaches persistent and one-shot snaps, SmartTrack, and grid snap. Snapping ensures geometric accuracy when constructing curves and reference geometry.

Lesson 2 • Coordinate Systems and Input Methods

Covers world vs. construction plane coordinates, absolute and relative input, and distance constraints. Accurate input is the foundation of precise geometry.

Lesson 3 • Curve Editing and Modification

Covers trimming, extending, joining, offsetting, and blending curves. Editing tools refine raw geometry into production-ready profiles.

Lesson 4 • Freeform Curves and Splines

Explores NURBS curve creation with control points, degree settings, and interpolated curves. Freeform curves enable organic and complex profile shapes.

Lesson 1 • Loft and Sweep Surfaces

Covers lofting through profile curves and sweeping along one or two rails. These tools create transitional and complex ruled surfaces efficiently.

Lesson 2 • Surface Analysis Tools

Introduces curvature, zebra, environment map, and draft angle analysis. Analysis confirms surface quality before committing to downstream operations.

Lesson 3 • Extrude and Revolve Surfaces

Teaches extruding curves along paths and revolving profiles around axes. These two operations generate the majority of manufactured and architectural forms.

Lesson 4 • Network and Patch Surfaces

Explores NetworkSrf and Patch for filling complex curve networks. These commands handle irregular boundary conditions that simpler tools cannot resolve.

Lesson 1 • Edge Fillets and Chamfers

Covers FilletEdge, ChamferEdge, and variable-radius fillets on solid edges. Fillets and chamfers are critical for manufacturability and aesthetic refinement.

Lesson 2 • Creating and Closing Solids

Covers capping open surfaces, joining surfaces into polysurfaces, and verifying closed geometry. Closed solids are required for Boolean and manufacturing workflows.

Lesson 3 • Shell, Offset, and Thickness

Introduces shelling solids, offsetting surfaces inward or outward, and adding wall thickness. These operations simulate real-world material constraints.

Lesson 1 • BlendSrf and MatchSrf Commands

Teaches creating smooth transitions between surfaces using BlendSrf and aligning edges with MatchSrf. These tools are central to high-quality product surface workflows.

Lesson 2 • Surface Continuity Concepts

Explains G0, G1, G2, and G3 continuity and their visual and functional implications. Continuity knowledge is prerequisite for all advanced blending operations.

Lesson 3 • Surface Paneling and Morphing

Introduces flow along surface, sporph, and cage editing for deforming geometry. These tools enable complex organic transformations and pattern distribution.

Lesson 4 • Rebuilding and Simplifying Surfaces

Covers Rebuild, FitSrf, and control point reduction to optimise surface structure. Clean surface topology reduces downstream errors in rendering and fabrication.

Lesson 1 • Printing and Exporting Drawings

Teaches print setup, line weight mapping, PDF export, and DWG/DXF output. Correct export settings preserve drawing fidelity across software platforms.

Lesson 2 • Dimension Styles and Settings

Covers creating and editing dimension styles, text height, arrow size, and tolerance display. Consistent dimension styles ensure professional and readable drawings.

Lesson 3 • Detail Views and Page Layouts

Covers creating layout pages, adding detail views, setting scales, and locking viewports. Layouts organise multiple views for professional print output.

Lesson 4 • Placing Linear and Angular Dimensions

Teaches linear, aligned, radial, diameter, and angular dimension placement. Accurate dimensioning communicates exact geometry to manufacturers and collaborators.

Lesson 1 • Lighting Setup and HDR Environments

Introduces point, spot, directional, and rectangular lights plus HDRI environment maps. Lighting defines mood, depth, and material legibility in renders.

Lesson 2 • Materials and Texture Mapping

Covers creating PBR materials, assigning textures, and controlling UV mapping. Accurate materials are the foundation of believable rendered output.

Lesson 3 • Rhino Render Settings

Teaches resolution, sample count, ray depth, and post-processing settings in Rhino Render. Optimised settings balance image quality with acceptable render time.

Lesson 1 • Collaboration with BIM Platforms

Introduces IFC export, linking Rhino with BIM tools, and maintaining model hierarchy. BIM integration connects design geometry to construction documentation workflows.

Lesson 2 • STEP and IGES Export for CAD Exchange

Covers STEP and IGES export tolerances, entity mapping, and import verification. Neutral format export enables collaboration with engineering CAD platforms.

Lesson 3 • Scripting and Automation Basics

Introduces RhinoScript and macro recording for automating repetitive tasks. Basic automation skills multiply productivity in production modelling environments.

Lesson 4 • DXF and DWG Export for CNC

Teaches flattening geometry, organising layers, and exporting 2D profiles for CNC routers and laser cutters. Proper layer structure ensures correct toolpath generation.