victorcalixto/hippo3d

★ 16PythonAudience · designerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((hippo3d))
    What it does
      CAD tools in Blender
      Curve drawing
      Surface generation
      Typed command workflow
    Tech stack
      Python
      Blender API
    Modeling tools
      Lines arcs circles
      Loft revolve extrude
      Offset trim array
    Use cases
      Architecture
      Fabrication
      Computational design

mindmap root((hippo3d)) What it does CAD tools in Blender Curve drawing Surface generation Typed command workflow Tech stack Python Blender API Modeling tools Lines arcs circles Loft revolve extrude Offset trim array Use cases Architecture Fabrication Computational design

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Draw precise arcs, NURBS curves, and polygons in Blender using CAD-style tools without switching to Rhino or Fusion 360.

USE CASE 2

Generate surfaces by lofting between curves or revolving a profile, using a workflow familiar to CAD users.

USE CASE 3

Define a custom construction plane aligned to a face or three picked points to model at specific angles.

USE CASE 4

Use the typed command workflow to run CAD tools by name directly in the Blender viewport.

Tech stack

PythonBlender

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Install like any Blender add-on: download the ZIP from the repo and install it via Blender's preferences. Requires Blender to already be installed on your machine.

Released under GPLv3, free to use, modify, and share, but any modified version you distribute must also be released under GPLv3.

In plain English

Hippo3D is a free, open-source add-on for Blender that brings CAD-style modeling tools into the software. Blender is a widely used 3D creation program, and Hippo3D extends it with tools more commonly found in dedicated CAD applications like Rhino 3D, which is the main inspiration for this project. The add-on targets designers, architects, makers, and people doing computational or fabrication-focused work who want precise geometry controls without leaving Blender. It adds a set of curve-drawing tools (lines, arcs, circles, polygons, NURBS curves), surface-generation tools (loft, revolve, extrude, pipe), and CAD utility operations (join, explode, offset, trim, array, project). A construction plane system lets you define custom working planes aligned to faces, curves, or three picked points, so you can model at specific angles and positions the way CAD software typically allows. One notable feature is a command-line workflow built into the Blender viewport. You press a keyboard shortcut to open a command mode, type the name of a tool, and press Enter to run it, similar to how older CAD programs accept typed commands. This is a workflow preference for people who learned modeling in that style. Installation follows the standard Blender add-on process: download the ZIP file from the repository, open Blender's preferences, and install it from there. The roadmap lists several unfinished areas: better fillet and chamfer tools, improved trim behavior, a snapping overhaul, and compatibility with SVG, DXF, and BIM file formats. The project is at an early stage and welcomes contributions from people familiar with CAD concepts, geometry, or Blender's Python API. It is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I installed Hippo3D in Blender. How do I open command mode to type tool names, and which commands are currently available?

Prompt 2

How do I create a lofted surface between two NURBS curves using Hippo3D inside Blender?

Prompt 3

I want to set up a construction plane aligned to a specific face in my model using Hippo3D. What is the step-by-step process?

Prompt 4

How do I install the Hippo3D ZIP add-on in Blender and activate it in preferences so the tools appear in the viewport?

Prompt 5

I want to contribute an improved fillet tool to Hippo3D. Which Python file handles CAD utility operations and what Blender API functions should I look at?

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