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addaonlast Saturday at 4:44 PM2 repliesview on HN

For my airplane design, I've used Rhino3D (which is 3d modeling, not CAD), and used their Python-based plug-in API to create a very custom, limited scope parametric CAD on it... using a mix of geometric and aerodynamic parameters, and using vortex lattice methods to bridge between them. So the wing chord (MAC) can be set in centimeters, but the wing span set to achieve a specific modeled climb rate. It's all very ad hoc, but also lovely to develop in. Hit run, in three seconds have a freshly-generated OML, use Rhino's UI to make a few changes, confirm I like them, then move those changes to code and re-run. Hit undo/redo a few times to compare the hand-drawn and generated versions, then move on to the next feature.


Replies

jazzyjacksonlast Saturday at 10:56 PM

Do you find you prefer python to grasshopper? I loved how easy it was to connect data sources to geometry, and feedback is instantaneous. never tried the Python plugin.

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sfpotterlast Saturday at 5:30 PM

Why would you say Rhino 3D "isn't CAD"?

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