This plug-in is included in the Rhino 5.0 WIP. Command name is ApplyCurvePiping in V5.

Summary: A plug-in that converts curves to pipes at render time to make it easy to render curves.

Last update: 1st August 2008

Curve Piping allows you to convert curves to meshes for rendering. Use the Object Properties “Curve Piping” option once the plug-in is installed to change the radius, accuracy, end-cap type and several other parameters. The plug-in requires an RDK compliant renderer to work (for example, Brazil).

The Curve Piping plugin available here requires Rhino 4.0 SR3 (or later) and the Rhino RDK to run. However, it is possible you already have the RDK installed, so only download and install the RDK if you try to install the plug-in but receive the “Dependant DLL not found” error.

Download the plugin

NB: The piped curves will not show in the rendered viewport unless you check “Render Curves” in the render properties. They will, however, show in shaded mode and other OpenGL type modes.