How to Model Machine Parts

Support Modeling
1

I’m trying to get some experience in modelling. I have a general idea of what I want (a hydraulic claw) and how it will work, so I started designing a base that will house the hydraulics for the claw. It should have the basic shape seen here:

/uploads/default/original/4X/a/e/c/aecec72f15cf953dc2954bd807085b24c5eceecf.jpgstc=1
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My problem is that the mesh doesn’t really work as it is, since I can’t apply bevelling to the edges without the mesh going all wonky. What I really want to know is how to go from conceptual design to final mesh shape, but I’d be satisfied just to know how to improve the way this mesh is designed so I can apply modifiers to make it it look more like a factory-machined part.

I’m not very familiar with the various modelling tools or what they do, but I can figure them out if I’m just pointed in the right direction.

Attachments

temp.jpg1030×760 90 KB

2

You have some ngones and odd flow which will cause problems for bevels and subsurfs. Something like this will work:

/uploads/default/original/4X/e/b/2/eb24e17f735cb02fd44bfe5730da0ddb4232b2da.jpgstc=1
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Attachments

tt copy.jpg1668×750 210 KB

3

Thank you, Photox. That looks much more like what I want. I’ll see if I can duplicate it.

4

I’m a little stumped. How did you get the angled sides without distorting the area for the hole? I tried subdividing a square plane once to get the same segmenting you have, but now I have 4 edges on each side that have to stay aligned when I make the angled part.

5

Can you explain how you started out? I can’t seem to get the mesh to divide without having to use triangles for the angled sides, or distorting the segments that are supposed to form a perfectly circular hole.

6

i dont know what you wanted, but the tools hes been using is as following:
E - extrude
S - Scale
I - Incert (select one or more faces to see the effect)
Shift Alt + S (circle selected verteses) - you have to be in side orthogrpgic view for it to work properly.
CTRL R - Create loopcut

7

Now that’s just confusing and not very helpful at all.

8

I’ll make you a little tutorial when I get home. So far nobody has actually given you a good response… The topology Photox has shown is not entirely clean, having those 90deg edge-loops and uneven supporting geometry isn’t considered best practice when creating hard-surface assets.

9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzZ9SnWcAdM

it will be up soon

10

Thank you, @finalbarrage, I think that will help me.

I appreciate the gesture, @Nitroxen. I’m very interested in learning best practices early on so I don’t waste a lot of time always correcting bad ones. I will pay particular attention to your posts in the future.

Again, thank you.