Bend a mirrored flat object

Support Modeling
1

I have a flat mirrored object like below. And I want to bend it like the second image below (red part represents the mirrored part) I have tried the curve modifier, the simple deform (bend) modifier or moving with proportional editing, but I could not get what I want. Probably I did not understand how they work exactly. Please let me know how to bend it.

If you want the project file: bend.blend (119.2 KB)

image
image2091×1419 449 KB

image

2

Goto edit mode, add some edge loops and bend with proportional edit (shortcut is O)

3

you could use Curve modifier, but maybe the quickest to do your shape is beginning with the profile you are showing, then make some extrude

4

I would recommend bending with a lattice;
Add a lattice object and apply a bend modifier with an empty object as origin. Bend the lattice. Make the empty the parent of the lattice (to freely choose the point where the bending should begin). Now apply a lattice modifier to your original object (should be before the mirror) and select the bended lattice.

bend.blend (132.1 KB)

bend_lattice
bend_lattice1103×827 75.7 KB

6

How did you make it work? I tried to do it on my own (with a new project) but it did not work well. I tried to move the Empty, lattice, and the origin of the lattice to make it look like yours but all I got was weird broken rotations. I am attaching the file. Could you tell me what went wrong in my case?

stupidlisa.blend (117.3 KB)

7

There are several things you got wrong.
Step by step instructions for your specific task:

  • Add a lattice object with no height but subdivided enough to allow for bending
    0
  • Because we want to bend only one side of the object (the other side is mirrored), we have to move the lattice to the side so it covers your original object
    1
    1722×704 45.8 KB
  • Add a bend modifier to the lattice. Create an empty, select it as the origin of the bend modifier and select Z as your bending axis
    2
  • Rotate the empty object by x -90 to allow bending the way we want
    3
  • Make the lattice a child of the empty
  • Add a lattice modifier to your original object and select the lattice
  • Move the modifier to the top so it comes before the mirror
  • Now you can move the empty and bend your object at whatever point you want
  • If you have done everything correctly, you should have something like this
    ezgif.com-optimize
8

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I think the cause of my problem was my misunderstanding of the Axis of the lattice, and the rotation of the Empty. Those are not very intuitive and still kind of not easy to visualise, and when I first chose Z (without setting the X rotation to 90 or 270), the lattice looked like a bow tie, so I thought Z was wrong. So, the axis should be the direction in which the lattice’s profile would look like a bent line, and the rotation of the Empty is… well, this one is difficult to remember or understand. Why is it 90 or 270?

9

If you select Z as your bending axis, imagine the Z axis as a pole and an invisible hand (which sits on the Y axis) grabs it (bends around the pole). So for an object which sits flat on XY plane and you want to bend it around the Y axis, the “hand” itself has to be rotated 90 degrees on the X axis first.

But i agree with you. The bend modifier is everything but simple or logical to use. It desperately needs some kind of bend visualizer or visible guides how the bending will occur. C4Ds bend modifier is a prime example regarding this.