Software : Rhino 4, Autocad 2009, and Revit Architecture 2009
Level : Intermediate

Description : This Revit Architecture 2009 video tutorial covers how to import geometry from Rhino via Autocad.  Really this technique will work for any program that can output a .sat.  Even if the program cannot, Rhino imports many formats (such as .step or .iges) which you can then export as a .sat for Autocad.  The basic logic in this tutorial is to create a tower which has geometry too complex to build in Revit. We then pass it through Autocad to export a closed solid .dwg.  As of now Rhino only exports .dwg files as meshes (which do not work very well for massing objects) . We then run a few simple Massing operations such as scheduling, creating floors, and creating walls.  Lastly, we create a new mass from Rhino and re-import the geometry to have all our schedules update and will a few steps our geometry as well. Here is a link to the source files on the forum.

Topics Covered
-Exporting from Rhino
-Import .sat to Autocad
-Importing geometry for Massing in Revit
-Creating floors from a Massing in Revit
-Simple Massing schedule
-Creating walls from a Mass
-Updating the Mass by re-importing geometry

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Software : Rhino 3d and Grasshopper (Explicit History)
Level : Intermediate

Description : In this Rhino / Grasshopper video tutorial we expand on a previous video from the site, Rhino - Patterning Based on Point Distance with Grasshopper. The idea is to use 2 points rather than one.  The logic is borrowed from Andy Payne on a 3ds Max model with wire parameters. Basically the idea is to drive the radius of the circles with the distance between the point(s). The circles then use the MIN component and a “range” factor to limit how big the circles can get as well as the area of influence of each point.  I’m not proposing this is the most elegant solution but it got the job done ;).  Please feel free to post alternative solutions in the forum.  Here is the thread for this post with the source files.

Topics Covered
-Distance Component
-MIN Component
-Using 2 attractors
-Making Grids

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Software : Rhino 3d and Grasshopper (Explicit History)
Level : Beginner
Description : In this Rhino / Grasshopper video tutorial we rebuild the shift tutorial provided by David Rutten on the Grasshopper blog. I hope to do one of these per file David has posted up.  As simple as the interface is to understand when one comes at the software for the first time this can be a bit overwhelming.  I just want to help make the dissection process as simple as possible . Please have a look in the forum for more Grasshopper files and images.

Topics Covered
-Divide curve by Number
-XForms
-Using the Shift component

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These are 2 of the 8 definitions posted by TAZ on the forum.   Here is an excerpt from what was posted:

“By way of example I tried to replicate with a NURBS surface the mathematically derived mesh generation script from the RhinoScript101 primer.  If you really want to have fun you can check the mesh from the script against the NURBS surface from the definition.  Obviously The NURBS geometry doesn’t handle sharp edges, creases, or singularities very well but if the resolution setting is high enough the approximation is pretty close.”

Link to Post

Software : McNeel Rhino 3d
Level : Beginner

Description : This Rhino 3d Video tutorial is a very basic introduction to the software.  This is not meant to be modeling 101 or anything of the sort.  This video is really meant for anyone that has never used the application and is curious as to how it hows.  I tried to keep it short for those that are just wondering how Rhino works.

Topics Covered
-Interface explained
-Creating Geometry (lines and simple surface)
-Using the command line
-Navigation and orbiting the viewport.
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Software : Rhino 3d and Grasshopper (Explicit History)
Level : Intermediate
Description : In this Rhino video tutorial we cover how to make scaling circular patterns based on the distance between points. This is similar to a tutorial i built in 3ds Max with wire parameters.

Please have a look in the forum for more Grasshopper files and images.

Topics Covered
-New Grasshopper UI
-Series component explained
-Creating point grids
-Using the distance component
-Driving geometry with parameters
-Using the mathematic operation components

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So……. Explicit History has been re-branded as Grasshopper. I am also glad to say that David Rutten did not just change the name. He has also TONS of new functionality. This programs was amazing before now it’s even better. Further more this is only release 0.3 i would imagine they have plenty more on deck for future releases.

Here is link to the McNeel blog with the announcement

Here is direct link to the Grasshopper blog

Software : Rhino 3d and Explicit History (Grasshopper)
Level : Intermediate
Description : In this Rhino video tutorial we cover how to make a sine and cosine curve with with Explicit History. The initial set up for this tutorial can be used to test any of the math functions. We set up a a simple interface to drive range parameters which can then connect to many of the scalar components.

Please have a look in the forum for more Grasshopper files and images.

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Software : Rhino 3d and Explicit History (Grasshopper)
Level : Intermediate
Description : In this tutorial we cover how to make an exponential curve with with Explicit History. This is an intro to using scalar parameters to driving geometry with math. Also covered, is how to use the range components to make collections of objects, in this case points. The next few videos I post will try to isolate these tools in an effort to see what they do individually. As my general philosophy I try to break software down into it’s simplest commands then begin to combine them to get more complex results.

Please have a look in the forum for more Grasshopper files and images.

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Software : Rhino 3d
Level : Beginner / Intermediate
Description : This Rhino Video Tutorial covers how to use Implicit and Explicit history (Grasshopper) to model a building massing. This tutorial in one that i had previously done in 3ds Max and wanted to compare the differences in work flow. Over the course of the next few weeks i plan to continue this research. This methodology has proven useful for me to understand how one must navigate each platform to achieve similar results. As usual please feel free to post questions or comments regarding these techniques.

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