ssstrutz Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Hello all, I am modeling a two story lobby in autocad and then importing to 3d studio max 8 and using vray for rendering. I am adding wrought iron railing spindles at the second floor. Every third spindle will have the basket or ball of some sort in the middle of the spindle. I have no idea how to model this since I don't do too much (or any) modeling in Max. I have included a picture of what I am trying to get with the basket. If anyone can explain how to model this or would know where I could get a free model similar to the picture it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippu Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 a)draw a helix ..modify it to how you want and then make it renderable spline b)draw a straight splines and then use twist modifier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 Kippu's right about the helix, but it is still kind of tricky. Try making each helical path out of two individual helix with a Twist modifier added to each before collapsing them to Editable Splines, rotating one into the proper alignment with the other and finally Attaching one to the other. I tried using a single helix and it wasn't happening for me. If you look at the form of a single helical path on those baskets, they bulge in the middle. So that's the essence of your problem. Solve that first... I always try to use a combination of 2D/3D shapes and modifiers to get my vertices where I want them. If you try to manipulate too many vertices manually, it is going to take forever and it will probably end up looking like trash. After you nail down one helical path nicely, you can turn on Renderable Spline and use the Array command to quickly create the rest of the concentric helical paths. Now go knock that Mutha out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippu Posted May 31, 2008 Share Posted May 31, 2008 very nice claudio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssstrutz Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 Thanks guys. I gave it a try and thought I would show you what I came up with. Luckily the railing is not a close shot so I am not too worried about the complete accuracy of the basket. As you can probably tell my max modeling is rather limited. I did what you guys had said and this is what I came up with. Thanks for the help. I don't know where I would be without CG Architect. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 As you can probably tell my max modeling is rather limited. What you came up with looks pretty good to me. You can also model this using AutoCAD. It would probably be more difficult because the lack of modifiers, but you could just simplify the form. Be sure to post up your rendering when you are done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssstrutz Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 I will post it when I am finished. I only get an hour or so to work on it a night, with other deadlines I have. It has to be done in two weeks, so we'll see if I can get it looking decent by then. Thanks again, Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 I wanted to share an improvement to the previous solution. I believe this new approach is faster and allows better control of the final form. Workflow 1 - Start with the "Capsule" Extended Primitive and scale it appropriately and then collapse it to Editable Poly 2 - Using Soft Selection, grab some of the middle vertices and scale them to create a bulge. Add a Twist modifier with the desired revolutions, a MeshSmooth modifer and then re-collapse to Editable Poly. 3 - Go to sub-object level "edge" and select 6 edges which are radially uniform, use the "Loop" feature and then the "Create Shape From Selection" feature. 4 - Select the new shape, turn on "Renderable Spline," and set as desired. The image sequence below corresponds with workflow sequence. Takes about 5 minutes to create... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssstrutz Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 Well, There was a change with the plans and now the wrought iron spindles have been taken out of the project. I liked them so I kept them in the image but never completely finished the rendering. I will post what I had when I stopped so you can see what you were able to help me with. Thanks again for the help. I like how it turned out. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAcky Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 They came out really well! Man that perspective at the sides of the frame makes my head hurt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhd_123 Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 hey there plz its really important if i can have this shape as a 3d cad file ?? im really sory if i am asking for sth am expected to do but i have been trying long time but with no success.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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