3D MODELING LIGHT FIXTURE

[Jorge.Sanchez]

Hi all, its me again. Trying to model a light fixture. I tried to selected all three profiles (2 elevations, 1 plan) extruded them and tried using the solid editing "Intersection" command to no avail. If anyone knows how to model this in AutoCAD would be great.

john.vellek has embedded your image(s) for clarity

[Jorge.Sanchez]

I'm almost there, please look at the CAD file. I just need to make the top part a surface, then convert it to a solid and subtract the sides. Please HELP!

[john.vellek]

Hi @Jorge.Sanchez,

I'll try to take a look at this first thing tomorrow if you haven't already finished it!

[beyoungjr]

I did a little digitizing with your image and I get a 1' radius for the front arching contour of the light bonnet.

You're getting close with your second dwg post but the arched contours do not intersect in "Z", otherwise a loft would solve.

I have to turn in for the night but I'l finish my attempt at the bonnet in the morning.  I think you'll be happy.

Cheers,

Blaine

[leeminardi · Accepted solution]

The edges of the top convex surface are polylines.  YOu would be much better off making them splines and then using loft.

I used the ends and mid point of one of the side polylines as fit points for a spline.  Then, using the properties dialog box I turned on the CV frame and changed the method from Fit to Control Vertices.  I moved the CVs to match the curvature (almost) of the polylines remembering that the next to the last CV control the slope of the spline at its ends.  I mirrored the side spline. It was then an easy process to loft the 3 splines ( a guide wasn't necessary) yielding the following surface.

I placed a flat plane on the bottom and used surfsculpt to convert the watertight volume to a solid.

Here's the results.

I think it would be best to use a copy of the spline that you use for the top surface for the extrusion of the sides.  This would ensure a perfect match between the two pieces.

[beyoungjr · Accepted solution]

Hi again,

I'm sending you an attempt at replicating the outer form of the bonnet.

You will see that I pasted an OLE image from your initial post and I scaled the image so that I could replicate the contours (kind f like old digitizing).  The contours I created are in red and overlaying the image.

I created one quarter of the bonnet using lofted surfaces and a surface plane and SURFSCULPT (like Lee suggested to you).

I mirrored and union-ed the quarters, then I created a closed form to remove the cutouts from the full Bonnet.

I also created a swept object to place along the top of the bonnet for you to create the ribs as desired (probably after you figure your tapers.

This was a fun little replication and I think it's close to what you want!

Cheers,

Blaine

Judging from your real picture, I would proceed my using Taper Faces to add taper or draft where desired.  

[Jorge.Sanchez]

Thank you guys! This was great.

[beyoungjr]

Glad to help!

Here is the my last bit of playing around with your fixture.  The result is the green model and you might be able to discover some of the steps used in my copies in progress.

Cheers,

Blaine