Rhino 3D for Etched Artwork

[Re6/6]

Good morning All,

Wondering if anyone has used Rhino 3D to create artwork to create etched components.

The issue I have is getting surfaces or closed curve shapes to fill with colour to then save/ export as a .dwg file.

Changing the display colour fills the surface (e.g. blue) when viewed in Rhino, but when saved and exported as a .dwg only the outline of the shape is blue. The shape isn't filled blue. Using the 'hatch' function to infill closed curves is also not working. A solid part (e.g. coloured blue) needing holes etched through (e.g. shown white) will display the two colours (white on top of blue) but having saved the file and closing it, upon reopening, only the blue will show unless I move the blue object slightly. However, saving the hatched artwork as a .dwg file and viewing it reveals using hatches for artwork doesn't work either. Shapes are filled entirely white with no etch through or half etch colours showing at all.

I am using an older version of Rhino (v5).

I'd be very grateful for any tips or pointers please.

Many thanks,
Kev

 

[J_F_S]

Struggling to understand why you would use a 3D package for 2D drafting? It would not be that surprising to find that the tools provided are not that suitable for 2D tasks.
But I think you have a more basic issue - filling an outline "blue" then superimposing "white" holes is never the way to do this. You should create the finished shape with all holes, cutouts etc, then fill/hatch it. If you have done that properly, you should be able to treat the entire part - including the fill, half etches etc etc as a single entity. This makes it much easier to lay out the finished frets.

 

[SimonT]

Struggling to understand why you would use a 3D package for 2D drafting

Because Rhino does both well. I've been using Rhino since 2012 and use it for both 3D and 2D work - see the Finny7 94XX and 2000G tender.

Kev. Your problem could well to be with open curves and objects not being on the same construction plane. There is a command Close Open Curve which will close most objects if you have a small gap. If the ends are not on the same plane, you will get a line coming out of the plane to close the gap and that will also cause problems. Project the curves you want to fill onto the construction plane and take the delete option to remove the old curves. Above all ensure that all the curves for the object you want are on the same construction plane. Sanpping helps.
Can I suggest a simple exercise to get grip on hatching? Draw a square using four individual curves. Join or connect the curves and then fill. Export to dwg. Then try the same with more complex objects.
Hope this helps
Simon

 

[Re6/6]

I have used Rhino for all my 3D work as well and it is certainly a capable programme. Its 2D abilities seem to be up to the job of producing artwork for etches and the etching firm I am in touch with have told me they know of other customers who used Rhino to do the job.

@SimonT - looks like you have used Rhino to great effect having taken a look at the 94XX in the Finney7 Gallery. Thanks for the tip about closed curves. I double checked this and they checked out OK as closed. Tinkering with hatches some more earlier this evening I stumbled across 'Boundary' and discovered that activating this is what was needed. Using this I can select an area to hatch as a colour to represent 'full thickness metal' that does not include areas in my 2D drawing for etched through holes or half etch. These I was then able to hatch a different colour. Saving a test file as .DWG and opening that using an online .DWG file reader has proven successful. Relief!

Thanks for the advice, sincerely appreciated.

Kev