Rhino3D vs Moment of Inspiration

Rhino and Moment of Inspiration, having the same creator, Michael Gibson, share a similar approach to CAD design.

Moment of Inspiration is simpler and less expensive.

3D Product Development
There are unique approaches in MoI. Complex curved surfaces are created in a very different, but simpler way than most CAD packages, such as TurboCAD. Most of the CAD packages available work in the same well established way. These tend to get more and more complex over time and harder and harder for beginners to start with. A beginner or designer who doesn’t have a lot of time to devote to learning the software can be left behind by current CAD software, it also can be out of reach either in cost or too high a learning curve, neither is true with MoI.
MoI streamlines operations and uses fewer steps to get your designs realised. Partly the reason for this is that instead of simply building on existing UI standards, Michael started again from the ground floor spending a year just developing the UI. CAD software development is often slow because publishers tend to adopt known existing methods and appearance so that users see a similarity between what they are accustomed to and what is new, making it easier to sell.

So Who Would Use Moment of Inspiration?
Artist’s and model makers, Engineers and furniture makers, in fact anyone needing a simple to learn and use 3D CAD system.
A lot of people find MoI a simple piece of software to use, and yet it delivers on much the same functionality as Rhino, which is far more expensive.
There are many professions that need basic solid modelling tools to help them do their work, but often find much of the available software too difficult to use, this is not the case with MoI.

Practical for Users
MoI uses industry standard data formats, the focus on data transfer as a very important function, using a proprietary format is just unnecessary.
MoI saves in .3dm, IGES, SAT, STEP, Wavefront OBJ, STL, 3DS, LWO, FBX, SKP, Illustrator, PDF, DXF
MoI opens: .3dm, IGES, SAT, STEP, Illustrator, PDF, DXF

MoI works well with a pen drawing tablet – the standard type CAD user interface tends to require lot of right-clicks and modifier keys, which can be awkward when using a pen tablet. A unique aspect of MoI is that it can be used without touching a keyboard – this makes it run a lot more smoothly with a drawing tablet or Tablet PC.

Some other parts that are unique are the high quality graphical display (anti-aliased curves on low-end cards, and very fast display meshing to allow for a smoother less polygonalized display than typically used), and also a high quality polygon mesh export that supports creating n-gons with a clean wireframe instead of a whole bunch of triangles.

The History

Michael Gibson is the both creator of Rhino and also more recently, Moment of Inspiration software.

Initially working on his own, he later started working at RMA to develop Rhino3D based on the Applied Geometry kernel.

At the time RMA were working on bringing the AG kernel to AutoCAD as a plug-in, but as time progressed Michael’s independent solution was looking more successful, so the AutoCAD plug-in was dropped.

Their focus shifted to Rhino and it has been a big part of RMA’s business ever since.

After leaving RMA, for a few years working for Microsoft, Michael returned to the CAD world to create Moment of Inspiration, (MoI).

Whilst PaultheCad is a software distribution partner for the Moment of Inspiration 3D CAD software package, we would always try to offer a balanced view. All other views are welcome.

If you click the link below it will take you to the MoI page in PTC and at the bottom you will find examples of designs created in MoI – a picture says a thousand words.

Check out the information page with lots of examples and information at the link below, you can also order here.

paulthecad.com/product/moment-of-inspiration/