McNeel

McNeel, formally Robert McNeel & Associates, is an American software company known for developing Rhino, a NURBS-based 3D modeling application widely used in architecture, industrial design, jewelry, and engineering. The company maintains a global network of authorized resellers and development offices in North America and Europe, with the headquarters closely associated with Seattle, Washington.

Rhino (Rhinoceros) is its flagship product. It provides precise 3D modeling of curves, surfaces, solids, and meshes, with strong support for interoperability across a range of formats, including OBJ, STL, STEP, IGES, and its native 3DM files. Rhino is employed for product design, architectural visualization, automotive and ship design, prototyping, and fabrication workflows. It is available on Windows and macOS and supports a robust ecosystem of plug-ins and automation scripting.

Grasshopper is a significant companion tool for Rhino, serving as a visual programming language that enables parametric and generative design. Through a node-based editor, users can define complex relationships and workflows without traditional coding. Grasshopper has become central to parametric design, digital fabrication, and research, and it extends Rhino’s capabilities via numerous community and vendor plugins.

In addition to Rhino and Grasshopper, McNeel develops and supports a range of rendering, analysis, and interoperability tools and maintains an extensive developer program. The company emphasizes a plugin-friendly architecture, open collaboration, and ongoing improvements to compatibility with other CAD systems and manufacturing pipelines.