Final scene

Since it that time in the year again, some of you might find it useful to learn how to create few Christmas decorations for your tree visualisations

Introduction

Well, basically what we will do here is use solids for basic shapes and cut them how we like it.Simple, eh?

Step 1

In this step we will be creating the simplest decoration.

First Decoration

Go ahead, and create a sphere using Sphere command. Center it in the origin (0,0) and use 10 units as radius. To make this even simpler, you can set your Grid options like I have them. Just run Grid command, and where it says Extents click on it and input 10. That way you will have 10 units in your grid in every direction in the viewport which was active when you run the command. To apply this setting to all viewports, just use ApplyTo setting in Grid command. Click on it so it toggles from ActiveViewport to AllViewports. Now, simply using Snap option in your status bar we will start creating this Sphere.

Image 1

Once you got your Sphere, create another one, using 7 units as radius and position its center on 8,0. That is, 8 on the x axis, and 0 on the y axis.

Image 2

Now, using BooleanDifference make a hole in the bigger Sphere.

Image 3

We need to fillet the edges of this sphere. Using FilletEdge command fillet the edge with 0.2 as radius.

Image 4

Create a Circle from Top viewport with 5.5 as radius.

Image 5

We will Project this Circle onto the Sphere. We need to do this from Top viewport. So make sure it is active, and run the Project command to do the projection of the Circle on the Sphere. You will get 3 projected curves, and we only need the top one, so you can delete other two:

Image 6

Using Split or Trim command, we need to trim the upper part of the Sphere, with projected circle.

Image 7

Next thing we need is another Circle. This time create a Circle with 1.5 units as radius. Create it from top viewport in the origin (0,0). Then you will need to move it up (from either front or right viewport) with Move command by 17 units.

Image 8

Now, using ExtrudeCrv extrude this circle up by 1 unit. Make sure you don’t have Cap set to Yes, or BothSides set to Yes. Those two options need to be set to No.

Image 9

Ok, once you’ve done this, you need to make a surface with smooth transition from the sphere to the extruded circle. You will use BlendSrf command to do just that. As for the BlendSrf options, just leave it at default settings. Meaning AutoChain set to No, and for the Blend Bulge leave it as well at default settings, which are 1,1 and all other options unchecked.

Image 10

Next we will create a cap and a little wire to hang our decoration somewhere. So, using OffsetSrf offset the little cylinder surface outwards by 0.1 units.

Image 11

Now, using ExtendSrf command we will extend the upper edge of the offset surface up by 0.1

Image 12

Using Cap command we will close this surface into solid.

Image 13

Create another Circle, from Top viewport and use 0.5 units as radius. You should get your circle like on the image below:

Image 14

Now, using ExtrudeCrv command set the Cap setting to Yes, and extrude it up by 20 units, just so it goes through the cap:

Image 15

Using BooleanDifference command make a hole with this cylinder in the cap:

Image 16

Using FilletEdge fillet the edges of the tip with 0.1 as radius:

Image 17

Create another Circle with 2 units as radius, and position it like on the image below. Just make sure you create your circle from Front viewport. You can start Circle command, input in the command line when it asks you for the center 0,20 for the center, and then just 2 for the radius. You should get exactly the curve like on the image:

Image 18

We need a Curve starting from the circle. Using InterpCrv command we will create such curve from Front viewport: (you can start using OSnap if you haven’t already – Near would come in handy here)

Image 19

Using Mirror command we need to mirror this curve to the other side.

Image 20

Using Trim command we need to trim the Circle:

Image 21

I have almost perfectly hit the curve direction and smoothness and actually the curve is visually tangent to the circle. In reality that isn’t the case, so we need to fix it. We will match our curve onto the circle with Match command:

Image 22

Here you can see the black curve on the left, this is how the curve will be adjusted to match the tangency. So, now you see I didn’t actually hit the tangency manually. Do this same step for the right curve as well, and join all three into one:

Image 23

If necessary, using PointsOn you can change your curve a bit. But you will see if this is necessary after you make a surface. Using Pipe command we need to create a pipe surface. Use 0.2 as radius:

Image 24

Here you see this needs some adjustments. So, first, try moving it up a bit to see if this can fix it. If not, using PointsOn you will need to adjust the curve itself.

Image 25

For the purposes of this course, just moving this wire will do.

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

Introduction

So like I said, in this tutorial you will learn how to model a light bulb in Rhino. The first “glass” part will be just a bit tricky because we need to control the curves little bit more than usual. After that we will make bulb screw threads, where the method is similar if not the same as the one explained on Rhino tips website. If only I known for it when I made this tutorial heh. Anyway, this one is pretty easy, but needs some special attention in some parts.

If you like, you can download source 3dm files step by step just to keep on the track.

source 3dm files step by step

This is what you will have in the end:

final model

STEP 1

First we will start from top to bottom. So we’re making the lighting spiral. Start with creating Circle from top view of radius 5cm. And create two small circles of radius 1cm. You can use Snap to make them really easy:

image 1

Next, we need a Spiral. Using Spiral command make one starting from origin. Once you start the Spiral command just input 0 (zero) and press enter, now from Front viewport make it high 5cm. And for the radius use your already made circle that is 5cm in radius. Move that spiral 3cm up from front viewport and you should get something like on the image 2 and image 3.

image 2

image 3

Now we need a little help line. You can make one starting from center of the right smaller circle. It should be straight vertical line, so you can finish it either from front or right viewport:

image 4

Now, using BlendCrv blend the lower end of spiral to the little help line with G1 continuity on both sides:

image 5

Using Copy command, copy the spiral and blended curve. While in the Copy command in the command line click on InPlace option. Or simply use Copy & Paste commands (ctrl+c, ctrl+v). While having selected two copied curves, Rotate them from top viewport by 180 degrees. Check if you have something like on the image 6:

image 6

Now, with create a Point from right viewport (or front would work fine too) exactly 9cm from origin:

image 7

Now, start Extend command, and press enter for dynamic extend. Enable OSnap and check Point option, and click on each upper end of spiral and extend it to the point.

image 8

Now the endings of two spirals are not tangent. So with Match command we will match those two curves. Make sure both ends are set to Tangency and Average Curves is checked:

image 9

Now select all 4 parts of 2 spirals and join them together. Now, using Pipe command we will make a surface out of this curve. For the starting and ending radius you can use two small circles as reference. Near OSnap option is a good way for this. Ofcourse, you could use sweep1 or even sweep2 commands.

image 10

Now the big circle will be used to create the body of our bulb. Select it and run ExtrudeCrv command. Make sure the Cap is set to Yes and BothSides to No. We will extrude it down by 8cm, so you can either use snap and count for yourself, or simply input in the command line -8 and press enter.

image 11

Using FilletEdge command fillet the upper edge of the cilinder by 0.5cm.

image 12

Using one of two smaller circles offset one by 0.3cm. And move it up vertically by 0.6cm.

image 13

Using Rib command and the body of the bulb create a surface like on the image 14. Rib distance is 0.2:

image 14 - mirrored curve for rib

Now for the ribs, we can make them look even prettier by filleting edges. So with FilletEdge command fillet those three edges for each rib with 0.05cm as radius:

image 15 - filleting

Now lets get back to the lower part of the bulb body. Like we filleted upper edge, we will chamfer the lower one with ChamferEdge command using 2cm as CurrentChamferDistance option.

image 16 - chamferedge

Now, we will FilletEdge the middle edge with 0.5cm as fillet radius.

image 17 - filletedge radius 0.5cm

Using ExtractSrf command we will extract the bottom cap surface:

image 18 - omg, we're using ExtractSrf for the first time

When you extract this surface, you can delete it. And using the edge where this surface was extrude it by 1cm down. So just input in command line when extruding -0.5. Make sure the Cap option is set to No.

image 19

Now, you can create PlanarSrf to “cap” it on one side: (you could also join all the upper surfaces of this bulb body and simply use Cap command to close it)

image 20

Lets do some details on the body. From front viewport create one line and offset it down by 0.3cm… Like on the image 21

image 21

With Trim command trim the body surface between two lines:

image 22

Using Offset command, offset the two edges inwards by 0.2cm. The easiest way is to first have everything deselected and run the command offset, then click on one edge from perspective view, and then from top viewport simply move your mouse pointer inside the cilinder and in command line type in 0.2 and press enter. Do the same for the other edge and you are set to go.

Then, using Loft command click on the lower edge first, then two offset circles inside, and then the upper edge, and with style set to Straight sections create loft:

image 23

Now, join those surface, and make it prettier with FilletEdge using 0.05cm as radius.

image 24 - smooth edges with FilletEdge

In this tutorial I will show you how to model a plastic bottle. To be more precise, this is a Domestos bottle. But the same method can be used to model any kind of bottle like shampoo bottle.

Image made by: gery

RESOURCES

TOP VIEW->180420084211.jpg

STEP 1

Ok, before I forget, the background image in top viewport is 208 units wide, and the one in Front viewport is 191 units wide. Ok, so after you set up your image references, we can start with the base of our bottle.

We will first make two lines with Polyline (or Line) command and make the second one go through the middle of the first one. You can either make the lines first, and then using Mid osnap option position the two lines in their middle, or you can make a longer line with Polyline and then using Line: From Midpoint (From lines menu) and start that line from the middle of the longer one…

The longer line is 92mm, and the shorter one is 60mm. If you use Midpoint line then input half, 30mm.

Next, create a circle of Radius 85mm anywhere in the top viewport. And then, using Quad option in Osnap move the circle to fit the end of the shorter line.

After you’ve done that, we need to mirror that circle over our longer line and then make two lines at each end and perpendicular to the longer line.

Trim the parts we don’t need, and fillet the corners with radius of 25mm.

Now make an ellipse 84mm wide and 54mm high.

STEP 2

Join all curves into one closed and extrude by 170mm upwards.

Next, make a line at the mid of our extruded ellipsoid.

With InterpCrv command make a curve and then using match command match that curve to be tangent to the line we just made:

In the Front viewport, from the start of curve make a line like on the image below and make it 50mm long, then from that line’s middle point, make another line 40mm long (it would be very helpful if you use Line: from Midpoint). Next, make another line perpendicular (use Perp option in Osnap) to those two lines, and make it long enough as the cap of this bottle is. Now move the 40mm long line along that perpendicular line so it fits the image.

Create two circles with center on the perpendicular line, and end point on the end of each line (the ones 50mm and 40mm). The easiest way to do this is from Perspective view. Mid and End options in Osnap are very helpful here.

Now on the other end make a small line as on the background image:

Now, make an interpolated curve between the upper end of this small line and bigger circle:

Using PointsOn command show the control points of that curve (that is still showing as a straight line – but not for long). Now move one of the control points to the left a little :

Fillet the curve and little line with 10mm radius.

Now, you can turn off the control points with PointsOff command.

With Sweep 2 rails (sweep2) command select two opposite curves as rails and the bigger circle and the surface edge as two cross sections:

Ok, first, sorry for delay, I’ve been meaning to write this one down for 4 days now.

I must say that I’m pretty happy with this one, it turned out very accurate and great. I really like it! And it is pretty easy to model it. So check it out:

RESOURCES

1042008419.jpg

STEP 1

Ok, first things first, so lets start with tubular part. The part where the motor and heater is. I’ve measured 120mm the length and make a line with Polyline or Line command (the length of our reference image is 190mm). We will make three circles two on the start and end of line, and one 30 or 40mm from the left circle. You need to offset them by 2mm, or simply make another circle. I made another circle, so in the end I ended up with 6 circles. Far two right circles are in radius 26 and 28mm. The far left two are 34 and 36mm, and the inner two are 35 and 37mm.

Using InterpCrv command make a line connecting three outer circles. (use Quad option in Osnap for easier snapping). Next, do the same step for 3 inner circles.

Using Sweep2 for first and second rail select outer two circles, and for cross section curve select Curve we made earlier.

Make an ellipse and position it like on the image below:

Next, from Front viewport use Project command to project that ellipse onto our tubular surface. You will get two curves on the surface, and we need only the front one. Using it, we will trim the surface and make a hole:

Now, we’ll move onto handle. I like jumping from one part to another, I guess you already found that out

From top viewport using reference image, outline outer edges with InterpCrv. Just to make sure, I made a straight horizontal line in Top viewport (using Ortho) and trimmed off the two curves. Now, we are sure those two curves has endings in the same cplane.

Create another ellipse, this time one radius 15mm and other 13mm. Using End and Quad options in Osnap, position the ellipse between two curves, first move it to the end of one curve, and using PointsOn command, stretch the ellipse to fit the other curve’s end.

Copy that ellipse, and position it like on the image below. You also need to stretch it with moving control points so it touches both curves. I have also made this ellipse 4 points higher. So, select upper three control points and move them 4 units up, and then move lower three control points and move them by 4 units (mm) down.

Next, using that second bigger ellipsoid and two handle curves, we will make a sweep2.

Using DupBorder we will duplicate border of newly created surface. We will get two closed curves, and we need the little one only, as we already have the bigger one. So, now, delete the surface, and again create sweep2 rail between two rail curves, and using now three closed curves:

And now, we have a handle! Next, we will blend the two surfaces, so use BlendSrf command. Note that we need to check the Same height shapes option:

Hopefully you got something like on the image below: