Rhino 3D Modeling Tutorial: Shelling and Changing Ceiling Thicknesses

This tutorial will go over the basics of changing a solid object in rhino, into a hollow object, representing walls, as well as changing the thickness of a single wall or ceiling.

Before you begin, make sure to have a solid object in rhino as well as the floor plan beneath the object. Also make sure that you are in the ghosted view to insure visibility of the plans.

Select the solid object and use the command shell. It will first ask you to select any surfaces that you wish to have open after the command. Select the bottom portion of surface. It will then ask you to give a thickness. Select a point on the outer portion of your plan walls, and then choose a point perpendicular to the previous point on your inner plan walls. The result should be 5 “walls” with equal thicknesses.

Because ceilings usually have a greater thickness than walls in buildings, it is useful to know how to change the thickness of one surface. We can do this by using the “section” command. It will fist ask you to draw a cutting plane. Draw the cutting plane from the top left corner to the bottom right corner of your solid. You will then get a 2D drawing of the section. Drag the section, while holding shift, to the out side of your model. Use the “line” command to draw a perpendicular line from the top of your roof at the new desired thickness.

Once completed, use the “MoveSurface” command and select the lower portion of your ceiling. Rhino will then ask you to chose a point in which to move the surface too. Hold shift and select the end of the line you previously drew.

The thickness of the ceiling should be changed now. This technique can also be used to change the thickness of a wall, such as a shear wall. I hope you found this tutorial helpful!