Final model

STEP 1

First things first. Make sure you got your Snap option turned on in the status bar, and your OSnap enabled with some of the most commonly used options like End, Near, Point, Mid and Int.

We’ll start creating this little shovel from top viewport, like we would start tracing an image of some existing shovel imported in Rhinoceros.

With Curve command, create a curve in Top viewport which has its control points exactly like on the image below. This is why Snap (to grid) is handy tool to use here.

Image 1

Then we need another copy of this curve, and for that we will use Mirror command and mirror it across x axis.After that, use Join command to join two curves.

Then we can either use Line command to close these two curves into one closed polyline/polycurve, or use Close command which will do the same thing with less clicks.

Image 2

Now, using Rectangle command we will create a rectangle like on the image below: do not worry about the dimensions, just count the grid boxes and you’ll be fine. I’ve got some dimensions for you in case you get lost

Image 3

With Trim command, we will trim the parts of the two closed polylines which will help us join all curves into one closed:

Image 4

Next thing would be to make the corners smoother. They aren’t normally that sharp, are they? So, using Fillet command we need to fillet the upper and lower corners with 1 unit, and the inner ones with 2 units, and the tip of the shovel with 0.4 units:

Image 5

Now, before we go any further, it is good to check if all these lines and curves are joined all together. Just click anywhere on the line, and if everything is ok then it will be yellow as selected. One more thing to check is if this IS really closed curve with SelClosedCrv command which will select all closed curves.

Next thing we need is a basic shape of our shovel. Since it is curved in two sides, the best basic shape would be an ellipsoid. Using Ellipsoid command create one positioned just like on the image below:

Image 6

Ok, now we will Cut the Ellipsoid with the closed curve we created. From Top viewport, we need to select both Ellipsoid and closed curve, and run Project command. It is important to do this in Front viewport because the viewport is controlling the direction of the projection.

Image 7

Now we got two projected curves. One on the top and one on the bottom of ellipsoid. We don’t need the upper one, and we can delete it by selecting it and hitting Delete key on keyboard.

Using Split command, we will first select the object we want to cut which is in this case ellipsoid, and then the curve which is the object we wish to split with:

Image 8

Now we have finally created something that is actually resembling our shovel. This is one thin surface, and we need some thickness. Using OffsetSrf command we will first offset the surface and create one on top with distance of 0.3 units: (when you start the command, it will display white arrows on your surface, those are normals, and are used to see in which direction the offset will occur. Chances are your arrows point towards bottom, click on the surface and the arrows will change direction)

Image 9

We now have two flat surfaces and we need to connect them somehow. We’ll do that with BlendSrf command which will basically create nice blend surface between two surfaces: (Use AutoConnect option in command line)

Image 10

With Join command join the blend surface with two flat surfaces. You will notice on the part where would handle start there is some weird hole. Never mind that, that part will soon disappear.

Again, we need to create another Ellipsoid. Using Ellipsoid command create one like on the image below. Again, the positioning and size is crucial here.

Image 11

Hint: When you start Ellipsoid command, just follow these steps. Input “10, -3.75″ (that will set the center in the right position), press enter while active Front viewport (click anywhere in the viewport), “6, -3.75″ (that will set one dimension of the ellipsoid – length), press enter while still in Front viewport, “10, -2.25″, press enter while in Front viewport, “10,-1.5″ press enter Top viewport is active. Do not input apostrophe signs.

Using ExtractIsoCurve command, create a extract isocurve from the middle of ellipsoid. You need to hit the Quad point to make sure the circle is in ellipsoid’s center.

Image 12

Using ExtrudeCrv command we will create a cylinder out of this circle. So, start the command, select the circle, make sure the Cap option is set to Yes, and input 15 units in command line as extrusion distance.

Image 13

With BooleanUnion command connect ellipsoid with cylinder:

Image 14

Again, with BooleanUnion command we need to connect the plate and handle part:

Image 15

If you are getting something like on the image below….

Image 16

… then you need to use Dir command on the plate before you use BooleanUnion. Because the normals are pointing towards the inside, while they should point towards outside.

This next part will be a bit tricky, so pay attention. We need to create a variable fillet on the edges that connect the handle part and the shovel plate. The biggest radius will be 1 unit, while all others will be 0.8 units.

So, start FilletEdge command, and set 0.08 as default radius. Select the edges:

Image 17

… press enter, and click on AddHandle option in command line. Add 7 more handles like on the image below:

Image 18

The two big ones show be set to 1 unit, and you do that by clicking on the outer dot (center of an arc) and inputing the values.

Image 19

INTRODUCTION

I really liked modeling this model, it turned out really good, and I must say that it was pretty easy to model it too. However, there is fairly enough playing with Osnap, but then again, when do we not use Osnap frequently? Anyway, to get you started, you first need to download some kind of blueprints I made for you out of this model. You just gotta love that Make2D command!!!

Blueprints reference

STEP 1

First things first, we need to setup our blueprints. Not only import them into Rhino, but also position and scale to fit the dimensions marked on them. First, go to Front viewport. You can expand it by double clicking it. Next, using PictureFrame command browse for blueprints you previously saved to your computer. Now, you don’t need to worry about how to position or how big you should make it. We will fix that in a bit, but just make sure your blueprints are not tilted. For that you can use Snap, or even better Ortho.

PictureFrame

Move from blade tip

Scaled blueprints to fit the line length

Another line

pic

RESOURCES

STEP 1

First things first, we need to insert the reference image in the top viewport, as always. So using BackgroundBitmap command, insert the image (I made the background 67 units wide).

When you got the background in the right position, we now need a straight line in the middle of brush on the image. So, using polyline create the line. After that, we need to create left edge, you can do that using circle command. Then, using polyline command, create a line, and using Curve:Interpolate points (InterpCrv) create a curve as on the image below:

Using all those curves, trim off the parts you don’t need, and there where two trimmed circles are, fillet using fillet command by 2 points (if you made your background image 67 points wide).

From your front viewport, using Copy command, copy your newly created closed curve by 3 points on y axis upwards.

Next, using InterpCrv command, create (by clicking only twice – start and end point) a curve between those two closed curves. You might find very helpful using end or mid option in Osnap. (find where your curve’s end is, an alternative way is to use int option, and click on the intersection of your first polyline (for mirroring) and bottom closed curve, and then using Perp, go up to the upper closed curve perpendicular)

Using PointsOn command, show the control points of this curve, and if you used perpcrv as I said, not polyline or line, then you should get two control points inside your curve. Move those to the right (from Front viewport) by 1.2 units.

Next, using two closed curves, and this profile curve, create connecting surface. We’ll do that using Sweep2 command.

Ok, next, using PlanarSrf command, create top and bottom caps of your base model.

Yeah, yeah, I know. You must be thinking “Another rim tutorial”. Well, first of all, I’m pretty sure you will learn even one new command in this tutorial.

Resources

Video tutorial  for modeling car rim.

STEP 1

Insert the first reference image into the background of your Right Viewport. I made it 50 grids wide. You can set the background image to be in color, and remove grid with grid command. Using polyline (or just line) command, make simple straight lines according to the background image.

Trim the parts that aren’t needed, and fillet the intersections with the radius of 2. And offset by 0.4 inside.

After you made a profile for the rim, insert second reference image and using scale background image and move background image commands, position it so it somehow fits your profile curve.

Using Curve: Interpolate points command, create another profile… like on the image below. You can create one polyline in the middle of the rim.

Trim off the parts of curves you don’t need, and on the inner side of your spoke, fillet the straight line and curve with 2.

NOTE: at this point, I have rotated my curves from front view by 90 degree and positioned so the far right end of curve is in origin (0,0)

Using Remove Knot command, remove selected knots. So you end up with uninterrupted curve, so when you try to explode it, it says this: “Cannot explode single curve segments.”