I have a vector text image (“York”) that I would like to 3D print to use as a bicycle badge (a small metal piece that wraps around the front of the head tube.)
I saved the vector text image as an SVG, imported it into Blender 2.73, extruded and beveled it in the Object Data panel.
The problems start when I try to curve the “York” object so that it sits flat on the bicycle’s cylindrical head tube (39mm diameter). Here’s what I’ve tried:
Curve modifier: on the text object, with “Object” set to BezierCurve with same diameter of head tube. This achieves my goal, but if I export this as an .STL and upload that to Shapeways, the text object is no longer curved.
To fix this, I applied the curve modifier, but that distorts the “York” object’s shape so that it will not sit flat against the head tube.
I next tried converting the original SVG curve import to a mesh, then extruding and curving that. This created a complex mesh with very uneven surfaces. I used Limited Dissolve to clean up the topology, but that made the model more uneven.
Curve. Lower the resolution until it starts to affect the overall form and then +1 it back. No need to have geometry that doesn’t do anything
Set the thickness
Convert to mesh.
Edit mode: select all, W -> remove doubles, X -> limited dissolve
Add remesh modifier and add depth until the general shape is back again. This makes a lot of geometry but since it’s a 3D print it’s just a plus
Add simple deform modifier
If you scale in object mode, Ctrl+A -> scale before continuing with the process. Tools and modifiers work on object data level so the object level scale has to be transferred to that. http://www.pasteall.org/pic/show.php?id=72366
Same with the rotation. If you can’t get simple deform modifier to bend it along correct axis, Ctrl+A -> rotation and then rotate in object mode or add a helper object for custom axis and tell the modifier to use that.
