Got stumped on this model, anyone have a method?

[grant_PD]

Trying to model this center pc.  14.76" tall and 1.18" deep.  I thought multiple extrude was the way, but those two center facets don't come out.  So...lofted, but I couldn't get it to taper to a point like that.  

Any other ideas?

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hard to see, is this the shape you are interested in

 

If yes, I will upload model in mesh format so you can modify to nay size.

 

 

Edited March 25 by VIRTUALENVIRONS

[markdd]

Looks like this is what you need..... If it is, then I'll run through the steps I used.

[jmcewen]

25 minutes ago, grant_PD said:

Trying to model this center pc.  14.76" tall and 1.18" deep.  I thought multiple extrude was the way, but those two center facets don't come out.  So...lofted, but I couldn't get it to taper to a point like that.  

Any other ideas?

The artist in me says that it could be done subtractively. 

1. plot the desired rhombus and extrude to 1.18"
2. mark loci at the 2 points that define the peak-edge.
3. rotate views to allow yourself to use the split tool to remove the unwanted portions of the block by cutting a line from the loci to the appropriate corners.  it looks like 3 view changes with 2 cuts each.

Surely there is a better way, but I think I could model the item with my workaround faster than researching other methodology.  It looks like you may have a lot of these in your future.  Have fun with duplicate array after you get it modeled!

[bcd]

Classic SubDivision

 

 

Diamond.vwx

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Looks like you have a buffet of models, all good ones.  Below is the mesh model.  You can reshape this to any size or shape

 

Good luck.

 

DIAMOND FORUM.vwx

[grant_PD]

@markdd and others, thank you!

I knew it was possible, could you share your method so I can get past this stumbling block?

 

[jmcewen]

13 minutes ago, jmcewen said:

The artist in me says that it could be done subtractively. 

1. plot the desired rhombus and extrude to 1.18"
2. mark loci at the 2 points that define the peak-edge.
3. rotate views to allow yourself to use the split tool to remove the unwanted portions of the block by cutting a line from the loci to the appropriate corners.  it looks like 3 view changes with 2 cuts each.

Surely there is a better way, but I think I could model the item with my workaround faster than researching other methodology.  It looks like you may have a lot of these in your future.  Have fun with duplicate array after you get it modeled!

the inverse of this would be if you intersected 3 extrusions-- one triangular from  your side view,  a trapezoidal extrusion rotated 60 degrees form your side view and one more that is a mirror of the second view across center line.

facet study.vwx

[grant_PD]

@jmcewen that's how I would have done it, like a carpenter and a block of wood.  These days I'm trying to wean myself from those techniques and learn other ways of doing these operations with more advanced tools.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Mine is just a loft surface, but I converted it to a mesh so it could be easily modified.  Made it with four triangles

[markdd]

This is a good project for the Subdivision tool, especially if you are just starting out with it.

 

 

Edited March 25 by markdd

[jmcewen]

Totally understood.  For me sometimes these basic modeling methods help inform the process of how an object can actually be made, though. 

 

in the past I was often told by someone on the fabrication floor that something doesn't work and that just because I can draw it with fancy tools doesn't mean it can be built.  But I can save my skin if I can show exactly how it can be machined because it was part of my modeling process in the first place.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

 

[bcd]

Taper face is a fun approach also

[grant_PD]

I always forget that you can do hard creases in subdivisions.  And I'm always confused by lofts with no curve rails because I can't "see" what the end result will be.

Thank you both for really cool methods.

[bcd]

My vote for puzzle of the day winner @grant_PD !

[jmcewen]

1 hour ago, bcd said:

Taper face is a fun approach also

I like this one. Would not have thought of tapering to 0. 

 

This whole thread is just another example of how we have tons of ways to reach the same result, and the method we end up using reflects what tools we are most comfortable with.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

As the tools get better, I tend to forget about "the old days" and how simple this was.

 

 

[Jonathan Pickup]

There are so many ways to do this it's amazing. I traced over the image and placed 3-D loci at the highpoints, then I created 3-D polygons for all sides including the bottom. I selected all my 3-D polygons add surface, which created a solid and then I can use that solid anywhere I want.

 

I've added a step-by-step PDF

 

I thought it would be fun to make a surface array:

Creating a tapered shape.pdf

[line-weight]

I'm a fan of what can be done just with push-pull and taper face tools.

 

 

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

This was interesting/fun.  It would be better if it served a wider group than just the usual suspects.  It seems the it is always the same group or subset of said group that answer these type of questions.  

Vectorworks just received about 1000 Dollars worth of free tutorials that completely cover all the ways to make an object of this type.  These techniques could be applied to many different object, but sadly by tomorrow they will be lost in the Forum abyss.

[markdd]

11 minutes ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

Vectorworks just received about 1000 Dollars worth of free tutorials that completely cover all the ways to make an object of this type.  These techniques could be applied to many different object, but sadly by tomorrow they will be lost in the Forum abyss.

Isn't that the purpose of these forums? By your reckoning, the forum database must have millions of dollars worth of tutorials and advice!

 

This forum community is about the best that I have engaged with. With forums of this nature, users want to share their knowledge and, by and large, don't really care where it ends up so long as the information is teaching others. I enjoy answering users' questions, and I derive great satisfaction when the answer I give is what the forum member is looking for. I also benefit as I continue to refine what I already know.

 

I often try out user's questions because I am not immediately certain of what approach would suit me best. In my example above, the solution I arrived at gave me the solution that appealed to me the most.

 

I find the search facility often brings up what I need.

 

So, yes, in a nutshell, this is a priceless resource!

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

18 minutes ago, markdd said:

By your reckoning, the forum database must have millions of dollars worth of tutorials and advice!

 

Easily many millions in tutorials, multi-millions in text context advice.  Minus 10 percent for bad advice.😀

 

As I only use a very small subset of Vectorworks tools, I don't often search the Forum.  If I do, I normally go out to google and pose a question there.  Very often it comes up with a Forum URL.  I thought the "Vectorworks Store" might eventually help in this area, but sadly.....?

 

Although I have used Vectorworks/MiniCad since its inception and have had a relationship with the company since that time, I only became aware of the Forum in late 2022.  I was more or less directed there to help pass on techniques from the NURBS playbook which will also sadly disappear sooner or later.

 

Although happy to continue doing this, by now I thought I would be helping people make objects like below, but realize that this is not where Vectorworks users want or need to go.  They need to know quicker/simpler techniques like this thread to fill out what the Hybrid tools can't do.  I think this is where the NURBS focus should be.

 

But, if anyone is interested in below....no problem.