Where to start with this model?

[Dave Buckley]

Long time no post.

 

Just wondering if anyone can assist with modelling the attached?

 

I'm strugging to decipher what's actually going on.

 

You can normally get 3d models of Tom Dixon lighting from their website, but not this bad boy.

 

Anyone?

[Chris MacDonald]

I see what you mean about not being able to tell what's actually going on! I'd begin with the most obvious parts, the thicker lines which all appear to be 6 sided. So I guess that's your starting point, create a sphere of hexagons;

 

https://area.autodesk.com/forum/autodesk-3ds-max/modeling/hexagon-ball/

 

From there, I guess you could randomly move verts, or use the new topology tool to adjust it, or maybe some script. Once you have that, the rest i'd imagine would be fairly easy.

[Dave Buckley]

Nice one cheers for the link. Yeh it's just getting the main framework laid out. Will give it a go

 

Oh and they're 5-side

[Chris MacDonald]

oops, my mistake!

[Corey Beaulieu]

I see that they are 5-sided, but if you wanted to go with 6 sides, another easy way is to just use a regular sphere, convert to edit poly and select a vertical edge. Then go to Graphite Modelling tools and Generate Topology choosing "Hive". The top and bottom points are not as regular ;looking, but they would be deleted in a lamp anyways.

 

That said. It looks like a Voronoi Sphere which can easily be generated in Rhino using Grasshopper: http://www.grasshopper3d.com/forum/topics/voronoi-sphere

[Ismael]

More detail, http://retaildesignblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Etch-Web-lamp-by-Tom-Dixon-03.jpg