Complex Shape to create in Inventor... Possible / Push me in the right direction

[OliverTat]

Hello Users,

Firstly, sorry I'm still learning!

I have been asked to re-create this shape (attached below) which was previously created by hand,

I need the 3d model as I will be sending off to be made from a 5Axis.

I am so stumped as to where to start, thought I would ask on here as I'm sure the wealth of knowledge can push me in the right direction/ have a go to show me how to do this.

Kinds regards

[OliverTat]

Any ideas?

[stephengibson76]

there are companies that specialize in 3d scanning, some of them often advertize in the magazine below

http://www.develop3d.com/

I wouldnt attempt to do this with inventor if you are trying to match an existing but if its a new product somebody on here may be able to help

[Dennis_Jeffrey]

This can be created in later versions of Inventor that have the Sculpt command

I'd look at making this the same way you would carve it.  

I'd use the following commands:

Surface modeling for the petals.

Sculpt to cut away the material

Circular patterns.

This is not a project for inexperienced 3D users.

[robmatthews]

I agree with Dennis (honestly, you'd be a fool not to, generally), this is not a trivial challenge.

I have only 5 years inventor experience, and almost none in surfacing, and I reckon there might be 3 or 4 hours work in that.

Maybe you could model the petals and leaves as parts, along with the "core" as another part, then assemble them, pattern the leaves and petals, and the created a derived part.

In general, you try to break each task you get down to the simplest elements, and build them the best way you can, knowing where they sit in the bigger picture.

Of course, your first step, given that you are wearing "L" plates, is to read everything Prof JD Mather has written.

[JDMather]

If you are a student you might look at Alias for Inventor.

http://engineersrule.org

[synapse709]

I am by no means an advanced user of inventor, but looking at the model, I would do it in the following way:

I would first before starting make a reference geometry that gives me a border of where to place the separate parts as I work. So you would first measure the dimensions of the part and then create a shape that outlines the shape roughly to get a close estimate of the original scale and dimensions.

1. Use digital calipers to find the exact height of each row of pedals

2. Draw the outline of the base and revolve it. 

3. Create a new part and model a single petal of the bottom row of petals (there are many ways to create this shape so it is up to you to find what is best). I would also make each petal extra thick on the inside so that the rows above seamlessly blend into the lower geometry when doing the following steps.

4. Place it at the correct distance and upward angle from the center point of the base, then use circular pattern to make the correct number of petals around the base.

5. The next rows up look quite similar to each other so you could probably just model another single petal from the second row, and continue placing them and circular revolving them for the final shape.

6. The top will probably be the hardest, but I would place a sphere at the top, then place a third, again separately modeled, petal design around the top, blending with the geometry of the sphere.

If you do it this way, I can imagine it would take 2-3 hours and the results would be quite close to your image. It all depends on how accurate you want to be to the original. Using a laser scanner would of course be the best, and I know there is an open source project that you simply download some software, hook up 2 cheap web cams, and you get a quite high quality scan when using a lazy susan to place the model on and rotate it while scanning.

Just my 2 cents. Like I said, I am not an expert but I feel this method would be easier than the other proposed.

Good luck

[sam_m]

dumb question, but did you check the date before posting?  I'm hoping the OP got resoved and isn't still waiting 2.5 years for an answer. 

[synapse709]

Haha, yes... I knew that the original user probably wouldn't see my posting. However, I found this by searching to try and learn better ways of creating complex shapes and I am sure others will do the same. I was looking for really complex connected curves, and when I saw this I couldn't help but respond. Hopefully other will see it and perhaps it will benefit them in some way.

Cheers

[JDMather]

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@synapse709 wrote:
 I was looking for really complex connected curves....

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....

Something like this (done years ago in Inventor).

[synapse709]

Yeah! That is the kind of tutorial I was looking for. I am trying to do something that requires alot of complex shapes, then connecting those shapes to cylindrical surfaces by either loft or fillet. 

[JDMather]

You might check out the tutorials here.  (most of the are older, the Vacuum tutorial is the most up-to-date)

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/DSG322/inventor_surface_tutorials.htm