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.

img1

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.

img2

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.

img3

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.

img4

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:

img5

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.

img6

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

img7

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

Ok, this is another tutorial on modeling some ID product. I’ve tried to simplify this to the bare bone, and I hope I managed to do it. Actually, this is a method you could use on various other projects too. This is what it all comes down to, all you need is create a set of base curves right, after that it is all just music to the ears.

STEP 1 – creating the curves

In the images in this tutorial, you will notice I have 20×20 grid system. You can take a look at my previous tutorial on setting up and prettifying user experience by changing grid and other settings. That will give you an idea how to change your grid system. Basically it is just grid option Extents that is set to 10.

To start off, we will need 4 points. We will use those 4 points for creating a curve. So, go ahead and maximize your Front viewport and create 4 points with x and y coordinates as set: x=-17, y=1 / x=-5, y=-1 / x=9, y=-2 / x=22, y=-1.

create 4 points

Using Curve command, create a curve between those 4 points. To make it easier to snap to the points, just use Osnap option Point. Next, create a line horizontal with start at -17,2 and end at 22,2. We’ll need one more line with start at 7,3 and ending at 8,4. You can create them with Line command or just PolyLine.

two more lines

Next we will create one polyline and one line from Right viewport. Use PolyLine command and for 4 points of polyline use: -4,-5 / -2,-10 / 2,-10 / 4,-5. For the line use PolyLine or Line command and for the start and end use: -5,-8 / 5,-8.

creating some more lines

Using Trim command, just trim off polyline and line, leaving everything above the line. Once you do that, using PointsOn command, you simply show control points of two tilted lines and move the upper control points up by 1 unit.

trim and move control points

In perspective viewport Move (or Copy) that polyline from Mid of the middle (straight) line, and move it to the end point of the first curve we created (22,-1).

moving polyline

Go to Top viewport, and from there create a curve with Curve command (-4,10 / -10,0 / -4,-10).Note, it would be smart to disable Osnap for a second when you are creating this curve. You might get in trouble at middle point if you have some Osnap options on, so to avoid any possible problem, just disable osnap for this step.

just another curve

Move that curve 6 units left. So it just touches the grid. From front viewport move it up by couple of units i.e. 5. Using Rotate command and clicking on the Copy option in command line we will create one more instance of the curve but rotated by 90 degrees. Then, if you haven’t already, enable Osnap, and using Mid option move that curve to the first point of our first curve (-17,1). Use Osnap option Point to snap to that point. Otherwise if you want to input the coordinates, you would have to do it from the same viewport where you created that point, so from Front viewport.

Rotate & copy, move

Ok, this step might get a little confusing, so pay attention. We need to set that curve to face the curve perpendicular. Check the image to see what curves I’m talking about:

what to do

Now, we need to rotate vertical curve so it is perpendicular to the bottom curve. We’ll do that by first creating a line that is perpendicular to the curve below. So, start your beloved PolyLine command, and hover your mouse over the Osnap options, and while holding down CTRL key, you will reveal some more Osnap options. Click on the second one, PerpFrom. Now, you are asked to select the curve on which you would like to show the tracking, so select the lower curve. Now, you can move the tracker where you want to start your line from, and move it all the way to the left (Point Osnap option might help, or end).

PerpFrom osnap option

Now, we created a line that we will use for a rotation angle.

line

Now, just rotate from Front viewport the curve to fit the line angle.

rotation

Now, repeat this step for the other end of the curve and other section polyline:

repeat for this side as well

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

Ok, first things first. We need reference image which will help us model this little bugger. So, please use this one, and position it on the background of Top viewport. Make it 40 units (make sure you’ve got your Snap turned on) in width.  Like so:

STEP 1

Then using Rectangle command create one rectangle like on the image (please note, if you followed the above intructions then you will have absolutely no problem aligning with using snap rectangle corners according to the image)

You can explode that rectangle into 4 lines with explode command, and then offset upper and lower ones by 2 units towards inside:

Now, create an Arc using Mid Osnap option  and position it like on the image. (you will have to turn off the snap option, and turn on the Ortho for moving the arc straight). After that trim off the lines you don’t need with Trim command.

Ok, lets get to the third dimension now Join all curves and lines, and extrude them with ExtrudeCrv command (make sure you have Cap set to yes). Extrusion distance is 5units:

Now, offset joint curve by 0.5 units, and move that offset curve upwards (from Front or Right viewport) by 0.5 units, and extrude it by 4 units.

Using FilletEdge command, set the fillet radius to 0.6 units, and fillet all edges (of both outer and inner objects).

Now, using Rectangle command (make sure you click on Rounded in Rectangle options before setting first corner) create rounded rectangle in Top viewport and position it like on the image below:

Copy it 5 times, and mirror those 5 so you get something like on the next image:

Using Project command, project those curves on both objects:

Trim the upper surface with upper curves like on the image, and inner curves with inner surface:

You’ll have to end up with something like this:

Now, isolate two curves like on the image. We will create surface between those two.

As you can see, there are actually couple of lines and couple of arcs combining these two curves. So, at each intersection of lines and curves, there is an end. So, using End Osnap option, and Perp we will create cross section lines.

Now, using Sweep2 create a surface using two curves as rails, and other cross lines as cross sections:

Copy and mirror to fill the rest of the gaps:

Join all surfaces, and using FilletEdge command fillet new edges (do not worry, you can select everything with your bounding box, as there is no other edge that can be filleted except the ones we need ) . Use 0.1 units as filet radius.

RESOURCES

STEP 1

We will start from the bottom up. So, first we will model the bottom plate. Create two circles from the top viewport, one 11.9cm in diameter (if you see a diameter option in Circle command, click it so it turns into Radius – that means the diameter is on) and other 11.5cm.

Then we will need three more circles (you can make them anywhere, just make them concentric). Make them 0.3cm, 0.6cm and 0.8cm in diameter.

Now, using Mid, Quad and Cen options in Osnap, position these three little circles on the End (or Quad) point on the outer bigger circle. And move those three from right to left by 0.85cm.

Now we need three more groups of those 3 circles. So, we will use Arraypolar, and array them 4 times around the center of bigger circles (in my case that is 0,0 as I usually have my models in the origin).

Now, select the inner circle of two big, and outer circles of each three-group circles and move those circles up by 0.25cm (from front viewport):

Now, select and copy the inner circle of two bigger, and move it up by 0.55cm

Now, copy the outer circle, and move it up by 0.8cm:

Now, back to those 3-group smaller circles. Select the inner one (4 of them) and move up by 0.75cm. Then, copy those moved circles, and move the copied ones up by 0.2cm.

Now, pick one group of circles, and we’ll start making the boss. Create a surface between two smallest circles. I used extrude, but you can use Loft as well.

Now, the bottom one, I’ve extruded it to the bottom small circle (here, if you want to use loft, you need one more circle that is in the same construction plane as the bottom smaller circle).

And then, extrude the biggest circle to the upper small circle:

Now, we need to create the surfaces between inner and outer circles. We’ll do that with PlanarSrf.

Join those surfaces, and ArrayPolar like we did for the circles.

Now, we’ll make the bottom surface, so select outer circle, and 4 little ones and using PlanarSrf make a surface with 4 holes (just run PlanarSrf command and hit enter):

Repeat the same step for upper 5 circles:

Now, using the Loft command, make a surface out of outer circles (Use the straight sections in style option) :

Join those surfaces, and we’re done with the plate.Theres just one thing to do, that is fillet the edge. So, using FilletEdge and 0.1cm as radius, fillet the shown edge:

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:

Resources

Blueprints (required registration, but I think it is worth!)

STEP 1

Again, in this tutorial I have also skipped the blueprints setup.

First, create 3 outline curves in Front viewport with InterpCrv and bridge two upper with one line using polyline (good to have osnap Near option turned on)

Next, split those two bridged curves with that created line (bridge).

Create using InterpCrv outline for the handle section, and offset by 1 inside.

Trim the two curves and split outline curves.

Then, from right viewport, create three lines, and Fillet the corners with 1 unit. Offset that curve by 1 unit inside, and you will create another instance of this curve, but this one won’t have filleted corners.

Extrude those two curves and trim two newly created surfaces with the curves in Front viewport.

The two curves for handle section need to be positioned on the center of your base surfaces. I’ve done that by first creating the surface with Surface from 3 or 4 Corner Points command (SrfPt) and I positioned that surface on the middle of my model. I’ll use that surface for future centerings (I hide it when not needed).

When you moved those two curves to the center, extrude them according to image below:

Here, I’ve used BothSides option in Extrude command. Notice the Top viewport to see the extrusion distance.

Blend the edges of coresponding surfaces, check image below for reference…

Connect blend curves with lines on the mid

Using Network Surface command create surface out of two blend curves and one line.

Do this step for 3 other parts, and join the surfaces. Next, we need to blend the inner and outer surface… I used 0.5 for both sides blend bulge.

In the picture above you can see that I didn’t use blend for connecting the two network surfaces, instead I used Sweep2. Do that 3 more times for other surfaces.

And for the little 3 curved surface corners I used Sweep1: