RHINOCEROS.

[Abad]

Many people talk about Blender, 3d Max, Maya, Z-Brush, etc...
In my humble opinion, Rhino is a perfect beast. I started using it in its Alpha version, about 25 years ago. It was the first software to use NURBS. (I think Softimage used them too, but it was discontinued. Autodesk bought it from Alias/Wavefrontt, and decided to "kill" it as it was a rival to their 3ds Studio and Max...)
I still have the Softimage 2015... (If someone wants it, you know... A PM...)
But Rhinoceros evolved with the "Grasshopper" module. Basically, we could say that they are a panel with small pieces, which combined with each other, can do the unthinkable, since it is your imagination and knowledge that are in charge. And there are plenty of plugins for Rhino/Grasshopper, for example at Food4RhinoDOTcom.
For me, it is essential together with Solidworks.
(And there are render engines of all kinds...)
The interface is 4534543% better than Blender and 3D Max...
It is, if you have never tried it, a small wonder.

[gladson1976]

Going to give that a try.. at least install it and look at it once.. 🙂

[Grouchy Old Fart]

I like Rhino. I haven't used it in a very long time, but I loved using it when I did.

[Lucafeelgood]

I have use rhinoceros for my cnc milling machine. The interface is great. Now I do not use it anymore.

[DirtyHarry]

I use Rhino 12-16 hours a day. I use it for everything, 2D, 3D, laser cutting, CNC, renders. I wrote a couple of Python programs to handle my auto costing etc. Rhino is x1000 more than a CAD drawing application. The programming language api is amazing and it can be fully automated using Grasshopper etc. I've even seen people control industrial robots using Rhino and Grasshopper. I use a 3DConnexion SpaceMouse Enterprise along with Rhino (and in Daz and ZBrush). The 6 axis mouse is worth 10x its weight in gold - I cannot imagine working in cad without being able to move the object independently from the mouse. @Abad - buy a SpaceMouse - the device puts Rhino on a totally new level. Here is my analogy of the 6 axis mouse - when you don't have it then you are flying a plane with elevator and rudder only - when you have it you are flying a helicopter with all its flight controls in both your hands simultaneously.

[Abad]

@dirtyharry , I don't need a "SpaceMouse"... Normally, I work with Dassualt Solidworks, the "little brother of Catia", which even NASA uses for their rockets...
Rhino is capable of solving parametric problems, or "organic" modeling, which in CAD is "somewhat peculiar"...
But Rhino is capable of exporting in Step, Igs, Dxf, or even a "parasolid" of Siemens XN, etc...
Obviously, it is not a program for those who do not know Nurbs, or, much less, the "Grashopper", with its modules (the vast majority, free, in Food4Rhino...)
I admit that it is not "normal software", but, in my opinion, it is an ideal complement for CAD/CAM type software. As @lucafeelgood says, it can be used for CNC, or "3D print", or whatever you want!!!
There is a plugin for Cinema 4D, r19 (Deprecated, but works great...), which directly reads .3dm files.
Rhino forever! 😀

[DirtyHarry]

I admit that it is not “normal software” - This is a very strange thing to say - I think that ZBrush is THE most ABNORMAL software on the planet 🙂

I loooooooooooooove Rhino - Yeah, I don't do industrial design work but its absolutely perfect for all the engineering type stuff I do.

[Abad]

@dirtyharry , LOL... Excaxtrly "is a no normal" software:That is one of the main reasons to use it..
"When you follow the normal, you do normal things."...

[DirtyHarry]

@Abad - LoL nice one - that went straight over my head the 1st time. I feel like a Unicorn with an ice-cream on my forehead 🙂

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