How to model complex curves of smartphone

[Anonymous]

I am trying to model my smartphone (Samsung Galaxy A70) in F360 because I thought this would be a good first project for a beginner. I have made 4 prototypes so far, with mixed results. I did some accurate photos of my phone from all 6 sides and measured height, width and depth in different places and then imported and calibrated the photos into F360. From there, I had several ideas.

1. Sketch the outlines of the phone from the photos on three sides (X, Y, and Z-axis) and do 3 intersect extrudes on a box. This leaves artifacts like lines and umps, because it only takes the three modeled sides into account.
2. Sketch only 1 outline and sweep it around. This also did not produce the result I wanted, as my phone has different curves to it depending on the direction you look at it (from the top vs. the side).
3. Work with chamfers and fillets. This is not as accurate in my view and leaves the same problem as in 1&2.

How would I go about this? Is there a way to smoothly "interpolate" between a curvature on the top to a curvature on the side?

Thanks in advance and please excuse any mistakes.

[jda70az]

Maybe you will find this tutorial helpful

Fusion 360 Tutorial - Samsung Galaxy S10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOy_opL0RXc

[davebYYPCU]

Depends on the amount if accuracy you are after, 

Loft section sketches, like a layer cake, top to bottom with x number of intermediates, 

Might help....

[chrisplyler]

I've made you a video that might be helpful...

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/baa173a6-a823-494a-8f2f-cd5eae5db873

[Anonymous]

Wow, that looks promising. Thank you for taking that much time to help me. I'll look into it more next week and try it. Thanks again!

[TrippyLighting]

You mention "complex curves" in your first post. I know for sure that the geometry of Apple devices does not include circular fillets. The curves are all Splines with G2 and possibly G3 curvature continuity.

The Accessory Design Guidelines for Apple Devices are publicly available.

[Anonymous]

I don't exactly know what G2/G3 curves are. I am not modeling an Apple phone, anyways, but a Samsung one, which is not isotropic(?) in its curvature. When you look from the "bottom" (where the charging port sits) the curve on the sides look way different than when you look from the side. I don't know how iPhones look in that regard, but I am/was having problems with modeling the "joint" between those two curvatures. However, the screencast that was posted looks very promising, I will try to apply the things I learned today. But I guess "complex" means different things for You and me, anyways.

[TrippyLighting]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I am not modeling an Apple phone, anyways, but a Samsung one, which is not isotropic(?) in its curvature. 

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The brand is pretty irrelevant. I used Apple devices as a reference only because the Accessory Design guidelines are available online with very detailed and dimensioned drawings of the products.

If @chrisplyler's tutorial does the trick for you then that's great. He certainly spent a lot of time creating it!

[chrisplyler]

@TrippyLighting 

Conic Curves ought to allow at least G2...right? I mean, with the capacity to vary the rho value, it at least LOOKS LIKE I am controlling the lead-in to the tangency points. My understanding is basic at best.

[TrippyLighting]

Nope! You can get relatively close with RHO values above .75 but the curvature comb does not fade completely to zero at the ends.

[chrisplyler]

Gotcha. Thanks!