topic Re: How would you model the G5/Mac Pro handles? in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

How would you model the G5/Mac Pro handles?

tuckerchapin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 02:37:33 GMT

I'm trying to model the handles on the Mac G5/Mac Pro:

I'm pretty bad with these kinds of complicated surfaces and so have tried to emulate it by sketching out the front handle "loop", extruding it, then sketching out the side-profile as a cut out, extruding it as a cut, and then using a fillet to curve all of the corners and edges to make it smooth:

This feels "close enough", but still not very satisfying. I know that Apple almost certainly didn't use constant radii and definitely had some higher order gN continuity. That's fine. But I'm mostly looking to emulate the shape rather than nail it.

The biggest issue for me right now is getting the curve from the base of the handles cross-cutout to the top continuous, but also keeping the "cut" perpendicular to the material. Right now, the top of the handles have a sharp edge on their underside where the cut is at a 45°angle. Ideally the thin face of the metal is a constant length through the entire surface:

I guess, should this be a candidate for sheet metal? Make the pattern flat and then bend it? Seems simpler but the bends will be narrow and simple themselves rather than the nice gentle curve that I could achieve here.

Re: How would you model the G5/Mac Pro handles?

laughingcreek — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 03:35:02 GMT

I would definitely NOT start with a flat pattern and bend it.

play with attached model. I used control point splines in the sketches for fun, but you could use fillets instead and it would probably be pretty close. usually we suggest adding fillets in the modeling space as you are trying to do, but I think this is a case where putting them in the sketch makes more sense.

Re: How would you model the G5/Mac Pro handles?

TrippyLighting — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 14:06:16 GMT

Here's my version.

I modeled the case and used a G2 fillet. I eyeballed the size and the tangency weight.

I modeled a cutout and used a G2 fillet with a tangency weight.

Then I shelled the whole thing

I used this article as a reference for exterior dimensions.

This eBay listing has excellent photos of an actual unit I used as another reference.

You can achieve more accurate results using control point splines. but:

I am convinced Apple uses G3 (not G2) fillets. That can be done with a 5-degree control point spline with 6 points but it is fiddly to set up and yields diminishing returns.
You'd have to have an actual unit on hand and not just photos from "somewhere" if you want to be that accurate.