Is it possible to create a ʼTechnicalʼ display mode with hidden lines in Rhino?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in Rhino 3D, you can create a technical-style display with hidden lines by using Make2D, which is the most common professional method for generating visible and hidden line drawings from 3D geometry. It produces clean 2D linework on separate layers for drafting. Limitation: this is not a live display mode viewport style.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: Hidden line results often fail or become messy when your model contains bad objects, overlapping surfaces, or tiny gaps between solids. If the view is not set correctly before running the command, the generated technical drawing may not match the intended angle.

How-to

  • Command: Make2D

  • Shortcut: No default shortcut

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Select the 3D objects, then run Make2D from the command line or menu.
    2. In the Make2D options, choose the current view and enable the hidden lines output option.
    3. Click OK, then place the resulting 2d drawing in Top view and organize the visible and hidden curves by layer.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Hidden lines output

  • Expert Setting: In the Make2D options, enable hidden lines so Rhino places obscured edges in separate 2D curves, typically on dedicated layers. This makes it easier to assign dashed linetypes, lineweights, or print styles for technical drawings.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): Open polysurfaces, duplicate faces, or invalid objects can create broken, missing, or excessive hidden lines.
  • Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): Objects on locked or hidden layers may be skipped or create incomplete output if not managed before running Make2D.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Make2D creates static 2D geometry, not a dynamic viewport display mode, so model changes require the drawing to be regenerated.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Run SelBadObjects and ShowEdges before Make2D, then fix naked edges or invalid geometry and rerun the command.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use Make2D when you need reliable technical documentation, plotting, or exported linework. Avoid treating it as a live shaded viewport replacement because it is a drafting output workflow, not a real-time display mode.

FAQ

Can Rhino display hidden lines directly in a viewport like a live technical mode?
Not as a true dedicated live “Technical” mode in the same way; Make2D is the standard output method.

Can I put hidden lines on a separate layer in Rhino?
Yes, Make2D can generate hidden lines as separate curves that you can manage by layer.

Do I need to rerun Make2D after editing the model?
Yes, the 2D result is not associative, so model changes require a new Make2D output.

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