week #6 - Project 2, basic creation

 Step 1: Cage Bottom Basic Shape

I started by creating the basic shape of the bottom of the cage section of the assembly, making sure to keep strict adherence to the measurements of the real world object. This was created with simple circles and lines which were then trimmed.

Step 2: Cage Bottom Basic Depth

After I had the basic shape of the bottom of the cage I copied the shape in place and then adjusted its height to match the height of the object. I later found that I could not create surfaces between the two sets of curves and therefore resorted to extruding the surfaces of the bottom set of curves.

Step 3: Cage Bottom connect top and bottom curves

Before realizing that I would be unable to make surfaces between the 2 sets of curves I used lines to connect them together with the idea that they would help me to build the needed surfaces.

Step 4: cage bottom create basic surfaces

This is the result after I extruded the surface of the bottom curves to the proper height.

Step 5: cage bottom creating gear details basic shape

Building off the curves, I created the small gear details that go around the bottom of the object using lines which I used to create surfaces and then rotate around the center to the appropriate positions.

Step 6: gear detail surfaces

View of the gear detail before it was adjusted to the proper height and rotated.

Step 7: support pillars basic curves

I used lines to create the basic shape of the two support pillars, I would then use the lines to create surfaces. Eventually I had troubles with the boolean difference function and had to rebuild the pillar on the right as a result.

Step 8: support pillar surfaces

The basic support pillars with surfaces in place.

Step 9: cage top basic curves

Now that the bottom of the cage was assembled I moved onto the top section, this followed a near identical process to creating the bottom.

Step 10: cage top basic surfaces

Step 11: cage top gear detail

Step 12: cage top ridge detail

A slight challenge was creating the ridge detail that's on the top section of the cage. I ended up having to offset the bottom circle and adjust it to the correct height before creating the surfaces.

Step 13: creating indentation on cage top, part 1

With the intention of using boolean difference on the surface to create the indentation I made shapes that would cut the top surface to the correct depth.

Step 14: creating indentation on cage top, part 2

Although I faced much difficulty with the boolean difference tool, I was eventually able to get the result I wanted by joining all the surfaces and then using the trim tool. This work around would come in handy in a few different places.

Step 15: cage body basic construction

With the top constructed I had the main body of the object created.

Step 16: hinge pin

Using circles, extruding surfaces and the line and pipe tools I created the pin that forms the hinge for the portion of the object that swings open.

Step 17: fixing technical difficulties and creating latch slot

This is where I realized that the boolean difference tool was not going to work for the one pillar. I ended up having to use the trim tool to create the hole for the hinge pin and erasing the one support pillar which I reworked later.

Step 18: Side Pin

Using the same tools I used for the hinge pin I created the pin that holds the latch to the main body.

Step 19: Latch Curves

Mildly complicated I created the shape of the latch, including the hole, using the line tool. Oddly, I was unable to fillet the corner on the sloped part to give it a gentle curve.

Step 20: Latch Surfaces

I then filled in the required surfaces, and the latch was created.

Step 21: Top Pin

Using the same tools as I used for the hinge pin and the side pin I created the top pin that is responsible for holding the hinge pin in place.

Step 22: Baring bottom

Using a variety of circles to create surfaces that were carefully extruded to ensure that if this were a physical object the mechanism would be able to spin.

Step 23: Ball baring mechanism

Eventually the spinning mechanism came to look like this, I would later attached the part that surrounds the hinge pin and build the revolver section off of this base.

Step 24: Revolver Section part 1

Using curves in a different color to be able to see what I was doing I mapped out the shape of the revolver section with as much accuracy as possible. I made sure to create surfaces that the dice could sit on inside the holes as I extruded the surfaces upwards

Step 25: Revolver Section part 2

It was at this point that I was faced with the question of how to form the half dome section of the revolver section. In the end I created spheres that fit into the notches and trimmed away the sections that weren't needed.

Step 26: Revolver Section in Place

At this point it was time to put the revolver and spin mechanism in the correct place. This was as simple as joining all the surfaces and raising them to the correct height, accounting for clearance needed for the section to be able to swing outwards.

Step 27: Hinge Grip

By offsetting curves from the hinge itself I was able to create the pipe section of the part that connects the revolver section to the rest of the object. Using lines and trimmed circles I was able to create the rest of the shapes and fill them in with surfaces, it was then joined to the revolver section.

Step 28: Assembled

This is what everything looked like after I assembled it all and created the holes for the pins.

Step 29: Dice

The dice were simple to create, starting with a sphere of the correct diameter I cut in half using a circle I was able to create the bottom of the dice. I then used the polygon tool to create the 12 sides of the dice and the overall height of the dice. By raising the curves to the correct heights and creating surfaces as I went I was able to quickly create the shape of the dice.

Step 30: Finished product

This was a challenge to create despite knowing what tools to use at almost every instance. I do wish that I had been able to get the fillet tool to work to give some areas a slight curve, and I also wish that I was able to figure out the d20 detail that adorns the top of the object and the indented text on the dice. Otherwise I am quite pleased with the result.