popoff,
I think... All Bezier or NURBS CAD system can create Class-A surfaces. Of course it is possible also with Rhino.
However, Rhino doesn't have a strong modeling history such as CATIA and Alias. Moreover, a natural G2 matching such as ICEM and Imageware is difficult.
Above all, these systems have very abundant evaluation functions. (Personally, this is the most important factor. )
Therefore, it is very time-consuming to control Class-A with Rhino.
However, Rhino works very quick, and provides a lot of functions. it is very useful.
Attached image is a modeling work with Rhino.
Because Rhino works comfortably also on my ThinkPad, it is possible to modeling in a coffee shop.
The question about class A surfaces and Rhino was raised on 3DBG.
Some designers said : no , but much expirenced one said : yes.
Personaly I dont care what kind of surfaces are used , when the final result is cool - like your image on top
How can you make class A surfaces, if you cannot really make 1 span surfaces?
And no matter the tricks that can be used, it will never be real class A surface.
Is there any automotive manufacturer that uses rhino for class A work? Not to my knowledge.
Rhino is a good powerhorse tool, and has many not to say tons smart tools, and is actually pretty ok. Fast to work with.
But class A, is a totally different story, sorry. Rhino can never do what ICEM surf does, for example. There is not even comparison.
Rhino has no finesse, in the surfaces it makes. My opinion. Or to say it in a nicer way, rhino is not the adequate application for class A work.
And of course, it is not relevant or that important, if rhino makes or not class A . You like it?... feel good with it?....Use it. It s a nice application
It s not important to model to class A standard for us, neither we have that knowledge. Looks good to render?....then it will be good
@ravenzep
Single span surfaces in Rhino are easy. Not as convenient as Alias though.
There's a plug-in for Rhino, VSR Analysis, that makes checking and modeling to tolerances just as easy as in Alias.
Rhino can make surfaces with 'finesse'... If you can't do it then you simply aren't putting your control points where they need to be...
Though as hirahira pointed out, the history features, or lack thereof, in Rhino can make for a lot of wasted time..
tsolina,
It evaluates by the Zebra shading and the ISO curvature if usual.
However, in the CATIA FSS workbench, the Zebra shading is not good and the ISO curvature cannot be displayed.
(ACA or ISD is needed for these evaluations. )
Therefore, I am using Rhino and Hypershot for the supplementation with those problems.
hirahira :
Do you increase cover mesh options before Zebra in Rhino?
Zebra and Curvuature analisys works fine for me.
I wanna ask you something about Hypershot : Can you render 250mb+ models inside Rhino without meshing ?
Is it memory management well done ?
First of all, congratulation for this awesome model ! It is very well done on both level of detail and surface quality !
I am working for CATIA brand about Industrial Design and Rendering and we sould be very pleased to have you at the Dassault Systemes Campus to show you some of our latest developements on CATIA Icem Shape Design and CATIA Live Rendering in CATIA V6.
If you are interested, contact me : smashing.cadillac [at] Gmail . com
Here are some videos we made explaining how you can combine CATIA surface technologies to create automotive surfaces: