Rhino API application

Rhino Developer
1

Hi to all,
I have a question relative to the Rhino3dmIO API: https://developer.rhino3d.com/api/rhino3dm. Also I found this very interesting article https://stevebaer.wordpress.com/2018/10/15/rhino3dm-geometry-toolkits-for-net-python-and-javascript/amp/.
I want to create an external application that use the Rhino API without opening Rhino, is possible? The operations I want to do are:
1.) Using an “external” C# application to create a .3dm file and on this file to create some surfaces automatically without opening Rhino environment.
2.) Then I want to export surfaces as and iges file. Is possible?

Thanks

2

Hi @robertdamian.vochesc,

This is possible using our Rhino3dmIO.Desktop toolkit, which comes as a NuGet package for Visual Studio. Rhino3dmIO allows you to read and write .3dm files from your own .NET application (without having Rhino installed).

The above mentioned toolkit does not have the ability to read or write IGES files. That capability, however, is available in Rhino.

If you have Rhino installed on your system, then you can access Rhino via ActiveX automation, open 3dm files and save IGES files.

For an example of automating Rhino using ActiveX automation, see our SampleCsAutomation sample available from our developer samples repository on GitHub.

Hope this helps.

– Dale

3

Dear Dale,
Thank you so much for fast reply and for the responses!
The IGES export using ActiveX automation, work only with Rhino6?

Thanks

4

Hi @robertdamian.vochesc,

No, both Rhino 4 and 5 also support ActiveX automation.

– Dale

5

Dear Dale,
Great. Thank you!

bye