Jump to content

3D modelling help


Ride

Recommended Posts

Hi. I am trying to create the MDF panels to clad a skeleton to make this shape. I would like to model each surface with the correct angles and bevels, to communicate that with the joiner who will be doing this on a table saw. I thought the best way might be to extract the inside and outside face, and then extrude one to the other. But not sure how to do that. In the screenshot attached, you can see the overall shape, and also the inside and outside faces of one of the panels.

 

Or is there a better way?

 

Thanks

Screen Shot 2023-02-11 at 14.10.43.png

Link to comment

How did you create the shape originally?  What type of VWX object is it?

 

I'm no expert, but here are a few ideas...

 

You could take your extracted surfaces and cap them with Nurbs surfaces. 

Then use the Model \ 3D Powerpack \ Stitch and Trim Surfaces to create a solid from them.

That means you will be drawing about 8 faces and mirroring them to get the pieces you need to start stitching.

 

If it's a solid, you could use the Split tool to dice it up into pieces and then Add the desired ones back together to get your pieces of MDF.

 

I imagine there may be an easier way, but either of those should work.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

The easiest way would be to draw the missing surfaces. Make sure your plane is set to layer or automatic and you'll get the correct snaps. Then use Stitch and Trim to create solids. Alternately, you could extract all the surface as planar polylines, convert them to NURBS which creates NURBS curves, and then loft between the pairs of NURBS curves to create solids of each piece.

 

Kevin

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Thanks to all for your replies. My original object was a simple extrude, that I lopped off the faceted faces with the split tool. Once I had the outside shape, I used shell solid to give me my 3/4" MDF panel thickness. 

 

I think I might have been part of the way there with my inside and outside faces, but I think what I was missing is these needed to be NURBS surfaces before I could loft them together.

 

I will read through all the suggestions a couple times, but @Kevin McAllister, your method above seems like it would get me there.

 

I originally tried rotating the object so the joints would align with an x, or y axis and then split it along the lines, but this is a very cumbersome way of doing things.

 

I will report back once I've tried a few options. Again, thank for the replies thus far.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
1 hour ago, Ride said:

@Kevin McAllister, your example seems perfect for what I'm trying to do. But can't get the loft surface to work. I assume I use 'no rail mode', but it doesn't work for me. Can you walk me through how to create the loft surface?

 

 

Note that you need to convert the planar (2d) surfaces to NURBS curves, not NURBS surfaces. That's why I extract the planar surfaces rather than just convert the original object to NURBS which results in surfaces. Lofting only works with NURBS curves.

 

Kevin

 

Link to comment
1 hour ago, AlanW said:

@RideHi here i converted to 3D polys.

 

 

Alan, it's great that you're sharing advice, but it would be more helpful if you read the original post carefully and answered the question, not just throw random partly related suggestions into the thread. The original post asks how to break up the object into individual pieces with the appropriately mitred corners to share with a joiner.

 

Kevin

 

Link to comment
2 hours ago, Kevin McAllister said:

 

Note that you need to convert the planar (2d) surfaces to NURBS curves, not NURBS surfaces. That's why I extract the planar surfaces rather than just convert the original object to NURBS which results in surfaces. Lofting only works with NURBS curves.

 

Kevin

 

Ok. I got it now. I was actually using your file to practice creating the lofted surfaces, so they were already NURBS curves. But it was a simple order of operations thing. Gotta select things in the right order to get it to work.

 

I think this is the way forward. Appreciate the help! I'll report back once this is a real thing made out of MDF.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Using the NURBS advice is the only method forward I can see and you are getting some good advice.  Have you tried using the outer surfaces and the shell tool.  That would also appear to solve your problem.

Question, do your inside edges need to be beveled so the joints are flat.  Some of your surfaces project outward so a straight loft or shell will cause an intersection of surfaces on the inside.  You could use Subtract solids for each of these to get the correct bevel.  

Link to comment

I used the method as suggested by @Kevin McAllister, and so far it's working out well. We have built one of the walls now, working out any little glitches, and the rest are going into production next week. I bevelled all the cladding edges, except at the top and bottom where I ran the skeleton wall full height. So those top and bottom bevels are left square and trimmed off with a flush trim router bit.

 

I'll post up some photos soon.

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...