Plugin Documentation
Everything you need to install, configure, and use the Fabricator plugin for Rhino.
Installation
System requirements
- Windows
- Rhino 8 or later
Install via Package Manager
- Open Rhino 8
- Run the
_PackageManagercommand - Search for "Fabricator"
- Click Install
- Restart Rhino when prompted
Install via command line
Verify installation
Run fabricator in the Rhino command line. The Fabricator panel should open.
Updates
Yak handles updates automatically. Check manually with fabricator_version and install with fabricator_update.
Setup & Authentication
Connect via browser (recommended)
Open the Fabricator panel in Rhino and click Connect. A browser window opens automatically. Sign in to your Fabricator account if needed, then click Approve. The plugin receives an API key in the background — no copying needed.
Authenticate with an API key (advanced)
If browser-based auth is not available, generate a key from the API Keys page and authenticate manually:
Success
Check status
Disconnect
Custom gateway (advanced)
Connect to a custom gateway endpoint for development or self-hosted setups:
Using the Panel
Open the panel with the fabricator command.
- Connection status — read-only display showing authentication state
- Edge types — assign edge types to curves: rail, zipper, cable, seam, boundary, none
- Drawing tools — polyline, curve, points on mesh
- Check frame — detect open ends before solving
- 3D Solve — run the solver and preview results in the viewport
- 2D Output — generate flat panel layouts
- Output — bake results to Rhino layers
CLI Command Reference
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
fabricator | Open the Fabricator panel |
fabricator_auth <KEY> | Authenticate with your API key |
fabricator_auth_logout | Clear stored credentials |
fabricator_version | Check installed and latest version |
fabricator_update | Download and install updates |
fabricator_solve | Run full 3D solve |
fabricator_solve2d | Run 2D panel output |
fabricator_check | Check frame for open ends |
fabricator_clear | Clear preview and output state |
fabricator_status | Show connection and subscription state |
fabricator_connect <HOST:PORT> | Connect to a custom gateway (advanced) |
fabricator_help | List all available commands |
fabricator
Open the Fabricator panel.
fabricator_auth <KEY>
Authenticate with your API key.
fabricator_auth_logout
Clear stored credentials and disconnect.
fabricator_version
Check the installed plugin version and the latest available version.
fabricator_update
Download and install the latest plugin version.
fabricator_solve
Run a full 3D solve on the current geometry.
fabricator_solve2d
Generate 2D flat panel layouts from the solved 3D geometry.
fabricator_check
Check the frame for open ends before solving.
fabricator_clear
Clear all preview geometry and output state.
fabricator_status
Show current connection and subscription state.
fabricator_connect <HOST:PORT>
Connect to a custom gateway endpoint (advanced).
fabricator_help
List all available Fabricator commands.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Cannot reach gateway" | Check internet connection, firewall settings, or VPN. Default gateway: api.fabricator.hr |
| "API key is invalid or revoked" | Generate a new key in the customer portal. Keys cannot be recovered once lost. |
| "Subscription inactive" | Check your billing status in the portal. Day Pass may have expired. |
| Plugin not found in PackageManager | Ensure you are running Rhino 8. Try _Yak Install fabricator from the command line. |
| Commands not recognized | Restart Rhino after installing the plugin. |
| "Could not check for updates" | Gateway unreachable. Check internet connection. |
Need help?
If you run into an issue not covered here, email us at support@fabricator.hr and we will get back to you within one business day.
New to Fabricator? Start with our getting started guide.