Help with complex Youtube object - 2D to 3D

[Anonymous]

Hello all! I hope youre all having a great Tuesday.

I am having trouble recreating a technique I saw in this Youtube video at 14:50:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CEGT04TlGQ&list=LL2VejBp8ViMLUxL7JoN4q-A&index=6&t=841s

He seems to create the 2D shape, then on a different axis creates circles all the way down the shape. While he is doing this he is switching his UCS, and at 14:50 does something with the XLine tool to make the object 3D. It does not seem like he is revolving or sweeping the object (as it is too complex a shape for that) and I am having trouble finding videos on how to do something similar.

So far I have my 2D shape made out (not following the video exact but it's very close) and my circles are made out. That being said I am more interested in the technique than getting this exact project finished. Here are my main questions that I'd like to know:

1) Is this a common technique? Or does it branch off a common technique that I can learn more about?

2) What is he doing with the XLine tool at 14:50?

3) Why the need to switch the UCS so much?

Thanks in advance, and if anyone knows a good source for learning more complex, real world objects like the one in the video then feel free to share as I have had trouble finding good sources for anything past making gears (or if you teach it yourself, I'd be happy to compensate you for your time!)

Thanks,

Zach

[dan908]

That video would be a whole lot better if it was created with Screencast so that it was picking up his command calls and posting them to the screen.

What it seems like he does at 14:50 is either SWEEP or EXTRUDE of the circles (I am going to guess Sweep since he created the circle shapes). He could also be using Loft, but he seems to have chosen a Path as an option for the Sweep so that it follows the xline. That is what he was using the xline for.

Switching the UCS helps to keep you so that your cursor follows some of the x and y aids like ortho or polar tracking. If he changes to a front view where z is straight up, it is easier to type UCS V and now the cursor is drawing like x and y instead of drawing into the screen. So the video keeps changing. There are a few other aids you can use like the view command or UCSFOLLOW, but UCS V (view) is very common for people who have used 3d since much older versions.

Anyway, see if loft or sweep is along the lines of what you are looking for for the 14:50 mark. Loft would pick up each circle if you varied radius and sweep would follow a path if you wanted it to go a certain direction.

[dieters]

Let me add that I found the video hard to follow and a lot more complex than it needs to be. There's no commentary as to WHY an operation is being performed. I won't mention the jarring music.

Some observations:

- I rarely ever never create models in an orthographic view due to overlapping/ambigous objects and object snaps (I do use orthographic views as sanity checks for interferences and incorrectly placed objects).

- The Conceptual or X-ray visual styles are less visually confusing than Wireframe.

- I use Isolate/Hide/Unisolate objects (on the status bar) to simplify what I'm looking at.

- Create a wireframe of "reference objects" on their own layer and in a distinctive color.

- Turn off DELOBJ to retain the profiles you use--they're often a good reference to go back to.

- Make the UCS your friend: the 3P, ZA (for rotations), and W options are the most useful IMHO. The UCS allows you to use mainly familiar 2D commands.

Autodesk University has videos and materials on 3D modeling that are better ways of learning, depending on where you're at and what your goals are.

Dieter

I'm sure there are better videos out there. 

[leeminardi]

Prior to 14:50 a circle is created parallel to the XY plane. XLINE is used to create a line that can be used to trim the circle so that it has a flat side.  The goal is to create other such sections that can later be used with the loft command to create the portion of the bottle than has the a flat side.

From about 23:27 to 25:07 loft is used with the fully circular sections.  I might have used revolve of a vertical section instead but this approach is more consistent with what comes next, the lofting of the flatten sections  33:31 to 34:00.