User s handbook Last updated in December 2017
Contents Contents... 2 System info and options... 3 Mindesk VR-CAD interface basics... 4 Controller map... 5 Global functions... 6 Tool palette... 7 VR Design tools... 9 Precision tools... 12
System info and options Installing Mindesk To install Mindesk, just double click on Mindesk.rhi and follow the instructions. Booting / stopping Mindesk Once installed, boot McNeel Rhinoceros and type MindeskStartVR on Rhino s command line to boot Mindesk. If this is your first boot, you need to log into Mindesk by entering your email address and password (the same used to register on www.mindeskvr.com). You can check Remember me for your next session. Alternatively, you can select Start VR from the Mindesk sub-menu in Rhino top bar. You can safely stop Mindesk by just clicking the X button on the VR Viewer window, or by typing MindeskStopVR on the Rhino command bar, or by clicking Stop VR from the Mindesk sub-menu in Rhino top bar. Mindesk Option Panel Email Convergence Camera lens Eyes distance of the user The current user s email is displayed here. Set this to 220 for HTC Vive, 0 for Oculus Rift. Set this to 9.50 for HTC Vive. Set this according to user s eye distance in millimeters. If you need to ask us anything, please post a question at https://www.mindeskvr.com/support/
Mindesk VR-CAD interface basics Mindesk VR interface allows you to control McNeel Rhinoceros 5 ( Rhino ) by using your HTC Vive controller (or Oculus Touch ) instead of mouse and keyboard. You can still use Rhino in the traditional way by just removing your headset. Once you start Mindesk, turn on your HTC Vive controllers and continue working immersed in the Rhino space. Your controllers are replaced by two virtual controllers in the virtual world. They are almost identical: the left one is marked with a red M, while the right one has a blue M engraved on it. This allows you to easily recognize controllers, since they re used for different functions.
Controller map HTC Vive controllers have four main buttons: Pad button (P), Shoulder button (S), Top button (T), and Grip button (G). Each button covers a different function in Mindesk. Sometimes the function may vary based on the context. Shoulder (S) = execute action, can be partially pressed ( soft press ) or fully pressed ( hard press ) Grip (G) = Pan, Zoom and Orbit Left Pad (P) = tool palette Right Pad (P) = select / unselect objects Left Top button (T) = undo previous action Right Top button (T) = redo previous action
Global functions Common functions are always available and do not need the tool palette to be activated. Tool plaette: hold left Pad button to open the tool palette, click Shoulder button to select a tool Object selection: approach the right controller to the target object and press the right Pad button to select it and press it gain to unselect. Within a certain distance, Mindesk would select the nearest object. The selection is additive, to unselect all selected objects, point the right controller behind your head and press the right Pad button. Pan: press and holds either left or right Grip button Rotate: press both Grip buttons and "steer the wheel" (pretty much like Google Maps) Zoom: press both Grip buttons and "pinch to zoom" (pretty much like Google Maps) Undo action: press Top button on the left controller Redo action: press Top button on the right controller
Tool palette The tool palette contains all main design tools used in Mindesk. You can select design tool from the palette before start working on your project. Press and keep pressed the left Pad button to open the tool palette. While the palette is open, use right controller to select the desired tool and press the right shoulder button to pick it. Once successfully picked, the tool should appear on the side of each controller. In the tool palette you can activate and deactivate VR SNAP tools as well. The tool palette is divided into two areas: design tools are listed on the left as 3D icons, while VR SNAP functions are listed to the right as text.
VR Design tools All tools listed are found in the tool palette. In order to use each tool, pick it from the palette and follow the instructions in this table: Select a closed curve and press (S) to make a patched surface from it. Select at least two curves and press (S) to make a lofted surface from them. Select a generating curve or surface, hold (S) and drag the generating surface to extrude it toward a desired extrusion direction. Select a generating surface, hold (S) and drag the generating surface to generate an offset solid. Press (S) to start drawing a 3D spline and add control points. Click (S) on the latest control point to close the spline. Click (S) on the first control point to close the spline. Press (S) to start drawing a 3D polyline and add control points. Click (S) on the latest control point to close the open polyline. Click (S) on the first control point to close the polyline.
Select a target object and press (S) to show its control points. Note: you can select control points and move, rotate, and scale them to control the shape of the target object. Select the target object, press and hold (S) on the first controller to define a pivot point, press and hold (S) on the second controller to define a reference point, drag the second controller to revolve the object around the pivot point, release (S) complete the revolution. Note: the rotation axis is defined by the trajectory of the second controller. Press and hold (S), move the controller and release (S) to create a NURBS solid (box, cylinder, cone, sphere). While holding (S) you can change the size, release (S) to complete the action. Select the target object, press and hold (S) on the first controller to define an anchor point, press and hold (S) on the second controller to define a scale reference point, drag the second controller to scale object with respect to the anchor point, release (S) complete the scale. Note: the scale transformation (1D, 2D, or 3D) and the scale factors are determined by the trajectory of the second controller.
Select the target object, hold (S) and drag the target object to copy it to a desired destination. Select the target object, hold (S) and drag the target object to move it to its destination. Select the target object, press and hold (S) on the first controller to define a pivot point, press and hold (S) on the second controller to define a rotation reference point, drag the second controller to rotate the object around the pivot point, release (S) complete the rotation. Note: the rotation axis is defined by the trajectory of the second controller. Press (S) to set a measure start point, press (S) again to set a measure end point. Press (S) one more time to reset. Move origin point: hold (S) and drag the reference system to change the location of the Origin point. Rotate axis: press and hold (S) on the first controller to define a pivot point, press and hold (S) on the second controller to define a rotation reference point, drag the second controller to rotate the object around the pivot point, release (S) complete the rotation. Select the target object, press and hold (S), drag the target object to define the direction and the step size of the array, move the controller further in the main direction of the array to increase the number of instances, press (S) again to complete the array. Press (S) to delete a selected object or the nearest object.
Precision tools VR SNAPS Located on the right side of the tool palette, VR SNAPS can be activated to make super precise models. Like in Rhino, each snap enables a different geometric constraint: End Near NearSrf Mid Point Perp Tan Vertex 3D Grid Smart Track snaps to the end points of the nearest curve or edge snaps to the closest point on the nearest curve snaps to the closest point on the nearest surface snaps to the middle point on the nearest curve or edge snaps to points and knots snaps to any point on the nearest curve perpendicular to current curve in progress snaps to any point on the nearest curve tangent to current curve in progress snaps on the closest vertex of a mesh snaps to the closest point on a 3D Grid which size is determined by the user enable / disable smart tracking When a snap point is detected, the pointer turns yellow.
Magnetic guidelines While drawing a polyline, moving a solid, or copying an object, magnetic guidelines show up to help you aligning geometries along local X, Y, or Z axes. Also, magnetic guidelines helps aligning objects on XY, YZ, or ZX planes and the respective diagonal vectors. Smart Tracking Smart tracking helps to align an object with distant points or edges which the user snapped to. To activate the smart tracking on a snapping point, hover the pointer on it once, hover again to deactivate it Made with by Mindesk team