Hi ...

I do use Rhino on a pretty much full time basis. I like the unified system that some of the plug-ins give me (Like Flamingo nXt for rendering) and, particularly, I use it for dimensions and notes for architectural drawings.

I don't really need it for dimensions and notes as there are now many programs that will do that very well ... but I know Rhino and am familiar with its work flow.

I strongly prefer MoI as an architectural modeling tool so I use it for all preliminary planning ... both 2d and 3d ... including basic drafting but when I have to start dimensions and notes I switch to Rhino and don't come back to MoI for the rest of the project except for making detail models of things I can simply insert into the Rhino file ... an example ... a house I am doing needed some appliances and furniture (pretty basic stuff) so I built those in MoI and imported them into a nearly completed Rhino file.

So, for a relatively small software budget, I have the best of all worlds from my perspective.

If I had a tighter budget I would use MoI for almost everything (including perspective color presentations with high quality screen shots) and then use the free DraftSight for 2d dimensions. There are other good free (or low cost) tools for noting and dimensioning 3d drawings, too.

I have just upgraded Rhino and am pleased that I could for a low cost. However, depending on future development of MoI that may not be my choice in the future.

cheers,
eric

Thanks TpwUK.

"I am tired of upgrading a licence for the sake of it. With each new release there has been fewer features that i needed" True. Very true.

I was concerned that I was falling into the trap of all the cool bells and whistles when the reality of software (for most users) is that 90% of the users use 10% of the tools available but 90% of the users buy the software because 80% of the features look cool.

"i have found going back to Rhino clumsy" That is the one thing that I do not like about Rhino. With all the power that it does have it seems like many of the ways to do the work is clumsy. You either need to memorize keyboard commands or have the cascading tool bars memorized. This here is one primary reason why MoI is the schiz....power with a very clean interface. Clean enough to where a novice can use it fairly well after a few hours.

Thanks for the reply Eric:

Dims and notes I have other tools but I am more a hobby user and am done with detail drawings. Two decades of that was enough but I still love the 3D.

Probably you and I are in the same arena though...IF I need 2D features like dims and notes I can use my other tools.

Michael:

Most of the things that you listed are things that I do not need Rhino for. I have Rhino, SolidWorks, SpaceClaim and Alibre Expert. I prefer MoI as I don't need detail drawings, simple FEA, CAM paths, etc. Rhino has always got me excited so it always sticks in my head as a needed tool but I am sure that beyond a few specific surface tools that I don't even know how to use, a solid MoI user can probably create most anything a strong Rhino user can create.

I think the surfacing items that you stated that MoI is missing now there are probably many work-arounds and this forum seems to have some awesome knowledge behind it.

I think I will stick with Rhino 4 and skip the updated.

Thank you and thanks to all that replied!

Now I get to blow that upgrade money on something else, right? Don't tell my wife.

mjs

Hello,

l use MoI and Rhino v5 regularly. I use Rhino when I have to and MoI for everything else. The reason I purchased Rhino was for its Make2D command with hidden line removal. I had a need to do some surfacing that was not possible in MoI or Rhino but was available from VSR as a Rhino plugin, as well as some basic FEA from Scan and Solve. I realize it's pure opinion but MoI is my favorite 3D package for usability hands down. I'd say 90% in MoI and the last 10% of finishing work in other applications. I am going to upgrade to Rhino v5 since I do find it faster in 64 bit operation. I still think Rhino has one if the worst interfaces, but I do think it is a very good value and excellent compliment to MoI.

Hi msj,

Back when I worked as a Jeweller, I purchased R4 & V-Ray for Rhino as a Render Plug-in.
Having MoI, I've rarely used R4 for my modeling, except when needing something like "CageEdit".
Basically I now use R4 to allow me to Copy & Paste my MoI model, so I can render it with V-Ray.

And now Rhino & V-Ray are both due to be upgraded...

To upgrade both R5 & V-RfR just to do renders, well I'll buy SimLab Composer as a stand alone program for a lot less!
I don't make jewellery any more, so rarely have I found the need for using "CageEdit" when doing my current models.
R5-x64 would be nice, but I've rarely created anything so complex that I've absolutely needed it.

...personally I can't see myself upgrading either of them.

But I WILL be upgrading to MoI V3

HTH, Colin

I will probably upgrade to Rhino 5 for the Python support (particularly the Grasshopper component), and 64bit support to handle larger files.

grasshopper is a pretty awesome tool. I wish I had need for it beyond just playing around.

I really like Rhino 5. There was a big performance increase from Rhino v3 to v4, and there is big performance increase from v4 to v5 (there is also a 64 bit version of Rhino 5). Working with lots of layers and geometry is easy (including imported meshes from other apps). As already mentioned there are a number of plugins available to tailor and enhance Rhino. Including Neon a free fully raytraced viewport plug-in for Rhino 5.0.

MoI and Rhino 5 together are awesome!

"...Neon a free fully raytraced viewport plug-in for Rhino 5.0"

That is a pretty sexy combo. I went to youtube and watched this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDm4xosy5IQ&feature=youtu.be.

Thanks for speaking up.....and probably making me spend the upgrade money :-P

What is the price of Neon ?

At this point Neon is free ... and it is a good tool .. it is slightly jumpy on my machines as it has to create a raytrace each time its moved ... so for most work I would rather use the display built in to MoI.
eric

It's pretty peppy on my new machine.

I also use MOI and Rhino together and have already upgraded to V5. I work with large mesh files (resulting from 3D scanning) and for me the 64bit version is worth every cent of the upgrade price.

Why MOI? I use it during the prototype stage of a project. I really like the speed with which I can create a concept model then dump it (via stl) to my 3D printer.