Final rendered model of our windup clock

When approaching modeling this clock, and any other model, I first try to divide it into parts. Obviously every product has its parts, and naturally you would go model one by one. This is that kind of model where your don’t have to think about which part to model first. This is obvious, first you need a clock body, then you can go about modeling which ever part. Here I first created the body, then the back plate with screws, then the front plate without numbers, bells and hammer, legs, and then in the end made the numbers and handles for the front plate.

STEP 1

Ok, in this step we will be creating the body. Since I lost every clock I had like this, I had to model it from reference images from the internet. So, we don’t have the measures, or technical drawings, but we need to model by eye, looking at the various images and approximate the lengths, distances and so on.

I created a template for my default usage with grid extents set to 10. So, make sure you do the same with Snap command, and clicking on the Extents options and input 10.

Now, we can start modeling. Since we don’t know what the accurate dimensions are, we will need to use our old method of trial and error. We will first create three straight lines with Polyline or Line command.

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Next thing would be to connect these lines with curves, and that we will do with BlendCrv command. Make sure you use G1 for both ends, so we get tangency.

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Using Join command make sure those lines are all joined together. So, next thing would be to create a surface out of this section curve, and we’ll do that with Revolve command. But, before that, we need to turn on the Record History option, so we can work on the surface by simply editing the curve.

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Now, if we select our initial curve, and using PointsOn command turn on the control points and if we move those points, we will automatically update the surface as well. If we used Record History that is.

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Ok, next thing would be to adjust the curves a bit so the surface is little more accurate. Try to make something like on the image below:

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Using OffsetSrf command, we need to offset this surface to inside by 0.3 units. So, make sure you flip the direction normals when in OffsetSrf command, so they point to inside.

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Then, simply, with BlendSrf command blend the gaps and Join the four surfaces.

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INTRODUCTION

Ok, this tutorial is pretty simple modeling wise, and probably doesn’t bring you anything newer than the previous tutorials, but none the less it is a good practice. Again, in this tutorial we’re not designing but rather just sharpening our modeling skills in Rhino. And by wide range of different models to model through these tutorials, you just simply learn to model. So, lets begin with this one.

This is the model you will create:

Final

STEP 1

We will start out from Top viewport with couple of Circles. It is always good practice to start modeling your model from origin. Usually things are symmetric and this way you are able to control your model even more, not to mention model one half if the other is the same.

Go ahead, and create two Circles with Circle command using 12 units and 8.75 as radii.

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Then you need to move the smaller Circle up on the Z axis by 4 units. Do it either from Front or Right viewport.

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Now, you need to Copy that Circle and move it up by 44.5 units.

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Using ExtrudeCrv command, and with Cap option set to YES, you should extrude bottom (bigger) circle up by 4 units. To do that without measuring and typing in the command prompt the values, you could easily just use Object Snap (OSnap) with Near option turned on.

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Do the same for the smaller circle. Using the bottom one extrude it, all the way up to the upper one.

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Now, with Point command, create a point from Front viewport with x,y as -18,31 (x=-18, y=31).

From that Point, working in Right viewport create another Circle with radius of 8.45. If you turn on the OSnap “Point” option you will snap with center on the point.

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Using that Circle, we will create another extrusion. Using ExtrudeCrv command again we will extrude that Circle by 18 units. Just to the y axis.

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Using BooleanUnion command, join the three surfaces to form one. Then with FilletEdge command, you will create filleted edge.

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Ok, before you go and create a FilletEdge with default 1 unit as radius, you just need to start the command and select the edge like on the image above. Now, click on the AddHandle option to add handles. We are not going to have the same radius. We are going to have 4 handles, where we already have one. So using Quad OSnap option (it would be good to turn off the others) we will add 3 more handles on quad sections. Then, clicking on the handles dots you can input the radius for each one. So, for the upper and lower we will set 0.5, and left and right 2 units.

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Again, using FilletEdge fillet the edges like on the image below (use 0.2 as radius):

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Now we will create two more circles. You can use the existing one to Copy it and make two more instances 0.8 units and 10.3 units left of the original circle looking from the top viewport.

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Using the same original circle like on the image above, we will Offset it by 2 units inwards.

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We will extrude that offset circle by -3.8 (the minus sign means it will extrude to the left, rather than the default right – towards positive).

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Using BooleanUnion join that cylinder with the rest of the tap body. Now, using FilletEdge and 0.2 as fillet radius fillet the edges like on the image below:

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Using the two single circles we created earlier, make a solid with ExtrudeCrv command:

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Now, isolate the cylinder you just created and the circles on the edges of that cylinder. You can use Hide and UnHide commands, or just use Layers and put them in different layers. Either way you need to isolate your objects you’re working on.

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Using Offset command again, we will offset the Circle which is near the tap body. The right one looking from Front viewport. The offset distance will be 1.2 units towards inside.

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Using Split command we will split the cylinder object with inner circle. Then the surface which is left inside the circle needs to be moved by 2 units left looking from Front viewport.

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Now, using Loft command we will fill in the gap between the surfaces.

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Join all surfaces and using FilletEdge with 0.2 as radius fillet these edges:

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When you unhide everything, you should have something like this:

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Now, we will edit a little this cylinder we worked on. Using MoveFace we will move left face of it like on the image below. The distance is not very important:

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If you done all the measurements like I stated, then you should make a Point next. From any viewport this time, because we will define all three axis values. So, go make a Point with -26.35,0,74 (x,y,z).

After you’ve done the point, copy it using Copy command and move it down by 31.5 units:

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Next we need another Circle. This time with a radius of 1.7 units, and a center in the lower point. You can easily do that by starting the Circle command then snapping to the point (use OSnap Point option) and clicking to set the center of the circle, then move to Top viewport (make it active) and input 1.7 units as radius.

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Do the same for the upper Point, but create a circle there with radius of 2 units.

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I have corrected the wrong name, instead Slide Rule, this is actually called Vernier Caliper. So, thanks to Chuck Hoffmann for pointing that out

Resource files

Images

Blueprints (pdf)

Video tutorial

http://www.rhino3dhelp.com/video/modeling-slide-rule-video/

Introduction

I’ve decided to make a slide rule as my first tutorial because it will be the most used tool to measure object I will model. That way I can provide you very accurate blueprints and models for you to use and download.

Step 1

First, we will set up our scene with some background image that we will use as reference for modeling. Please note that I will not follow the curves in background image all the time. It is solely for reference, and my modeling is strictly based on my taken measures. Before we start, you need to open the centimeters template in Rhino. As we will have grid laid out as centimeters.

First we will measure the length of our slide rule. I don’t have another slide rule, so I’ll use regular ruler. If your Osnap is not enabled, please enable it now as it is the tool you will use the most! You just can’t live without it, and sometimes with it. Something like having a girlfriend.

I have measured 22.4 centimeters, so lets make a nice polyline long 22.4cm starting from origin of coordinate system (0,0). You can click on Snap so your cursor snaps on intersection of grid lines. That line is mostly for orienting the background image we will insert next.

So, lets put the background image. Go to View->Background Bitmap->Place and browse for your reference image (you can download it from this page). Again, if your snap is not on, click on it so it gets bold (that means it is on). You can either write in the command line 0,0 or you can click on origin. That is the first corner, and next you need second corner. Just move your mouse and stretch the box so it is a little wider than your 22.4 line. After that you are still in the command, and you can choose some of cool options, like grayscale image. It is default to yes, so you can click on no. I like it that way.

Now, we will adjust the background so it fits our reference line 22.4. First we need to move it a little to the left. Go to View->Background Bitmap->Move and move it. I believe the image is self explanatory. Next we need to scale the background image down, go to View->Background Bitmap->Scale.

This is what you need:

Step 2

In this step, we will be making the base top view for our model. You need to have the documentation preferably printed out on A4 format for better comparison and readout of dimensions.

Ok, we’ll start from the upper right corner of our slide rule, and we’ll use polyline to create the base closed curve. Lets create first 5 segments of this part. Select polyline (or type in command line _Polyline) and click on that far upper right corner, and type in the command line 1.5 and press enter. Next input (you are still in the command) 21, then 1, then 0.1 and in the end 5th segment is 2.8 in length. You have something like in the picture.

(please note that in technical world point “.” is used for decimal point, and comma “,” is used for separating the coordinates. i.e. 5,4 is a coordinate with 5 units as x or abscissa and 4 as y or ordinate, while 5.4 is length – if you are interested you can refer to wikipedia’s Cartesian coordinate system)

We’ll continue with the segments, this time on the left upper side. We can start with putting the point in the start of our first reference line we created in step 1.

That point we need to move along the reference line for 2.2cm right. So use the move tool, click on the point, and input 2.2 in command line and make surein the osnap settings you have Near checked. Or, you can click on Ortho and move the point. Next, we will again use polyline and this time we will start from the moved point. Again, make sure you have Point checked in osnap settings. Input 0.3 in polyline command, and go up, then click, input 2.2 go left and click (it is a lot easier if you have Ortho on the whole time you make this) and then input 1.8 and go down and click. End the command by hitting enter, or clicking right mouse button. Now, you need to disable Ortho and make that angle line. You can use polyline again for that. Now you can position the line according to reference background bitmap. Start from the end of last line, and end where the part is starting to curve according to background bitmap.

Next, you will create another line, starting from the end of right line, and make it parallel to x axis and length random. Use Ortho. Then, using blend command, create blend between that parallel line you just created and that angled line. You should get something like on the image below:

Using Trim command you can trim that reference line and that Point we created earlier. Join all lines and curves, and you should have closed curve which you will use as a base curve for creating the model.

Step 3

Lets create the little holes for screws. Using Circle command we will create two circles according to position like on the image. You can either create two circles one by one, or you can create one and mirror it so you are sure the proportions are ok, and that both circles are exactly the same distance from the base closed curve. I have used the second method. Activate the Circle command, and point in the center of upper screw. For the radius input 0.15. Now, make sure in osnap settings you have cheched Mid, and select the Mirror command. We will mirror that circle according to the Middle point on the right line, and now again we will use Ortho.

Finally we are moving from 2D to 3D. So, select (Hold Shift + Click = Adding to selection || Hold Ctrl + Click = Removing from selection) the closed curve, and both circles. Type in the command line Extrude and 0.3 for extrusion height.

Next we are moving on the opposite side again, and we’ll make little cuts on the curved part. The cut itself is 1cm wide, so again, you can use the same method with Point to start the line. So create the point in the far bottom point, where curved line ends, and move it up by 1cm. Make sure the point is on the top plane of your model. Start the polyline from that point and move left and down according to image.

The shorter line needs to be adjusted a little. You can select the L polyline, and using PointsOn command turn the control points on. After that, control point that is on the edge of the object needs to be lowered down by 0.14cm. Be careful, as there resides the Point you created earlier, so when you click, you will be prompted which one to select, and select Curve Point. Using move tool, and Ortho, from Front View you can move it down. After you’ve done that, using PointsOff command turn off the control points, and using Explode command explode the L line, into two lines. Next using Sweep1 sweep the shorter line along the longer or vice versa. extrude the shorter line up (use the direction [d] for specifying the direction of extrusion if it is not as we need it).

Now, join those two surfaces. You can mirror that joined surface, even though I didn’t do it that way in video. Using trim command trim your base object with those two flat surfaces (actually it is one, as we joined it).