Modeling a hand grips

dankohs · ‎10-10-2021

Hi all.

First, apologies for bad English, it is not my native language.

I would like to make myself a steering wheel for sim racing so I can feel good when using it and to brag how good I am at making things. Also because I am cheap and my 3d printer is just sitting there.

I have this thing now:

And would like to have this:

So far I have an aluminum plate drawn but having trouble making 3d printable grips. There is just no way I can make this. Tried with surface modeling, with Create Form but there is nothing usable there.

Best I got is creating a surface and then patching it with Curvature G2, but then I can't do anything with it, can model or sculpt it more. And then I cant stitch it together, guess there are some holes or gaps somewhere, I don't get it.

Here is a project:

https://a360.co/3oVAHlE

And here is surface patched curvature G2 thing:

Am I even on the right track? Is there hope for me to make this? Any help is welcome.

Best regards,

Danijel

g-andresen · ‎10-10-2021

Hi,

take a look at several tutorials

günther

TheCADWhisperer · ‎10-10-2021

@dankohs wrote:
So far I have an aluminum plate drawn....
Am I even on the right track?

The aluminum plate should extend into the grip.

The grip is molded over the plate.

I would replace as many splines as possible (especially in the aluminum plate) with basic lines and arcs.

dankohs · ‎10-10-2021

Thanks

dankohs · ‎10-10-2021

Yes, of course. Grips will be bolted to the plate.

But molding is hard, it is not really working for me. Can't do it 😞

TheCADWhisperer · ‎10-10-2021

What projects have you completed building up your skills and experience.

Perhaps you should start with an easier project?

dankohs · ‎10-10-2021

I have done few projects successfully. All of them were simple solid bodyes and then 3d printed or jet cut.

Items like holding brackets, cases, and mounting plates.

I guess this is a bit advanced for me, but it seems I am getting a little progress. We'll see.

mango.freund · ‎10-10-2021

hi @dankohs ,

It looks absolutely fine to me the way you did it. for better grip, give in more weight in different positions. that forms even more beautifully. The marking means that you have to overlap here to perhaps screw or to have no problems when combining. BR mango

dankohs · ‎10-10-2021

I did mess around with these parameters but it is all messed up. If I change one parameter everything gets bigger/smaller, not only the edge I want to change. Sometimes it goes in some long processor calculations and then it freaks out, getting "spikes" on the grip. This thing.......

Now, I made a Form - Torus and made it roughly the same diameter and shaping it to the frame. That is not looking that good either. Will go back to SurfacePatch thing, print it, and look what comes out.

Holes are no problem, I can put that wherever. The plan is to wrap this grip in leather.

TheCADWhisperer · ‎10-10-2021

@dankohs wrote:
I have done few projects successfully.

Can you attach one or two example of which you are most proud of the outcome?

dankohs · ‎10-10-2021

Yes, why not.

I don't know why everything is pinky. 🙂

TrippyLighting · ‎10-10-2021

As it pertains to the metal piece, I would strongly suggest you follow @TheCADWhisperer advice!

The sketches are not symmetric.

For the grip Piece, I would design this with T-Splines. The patch approach @mango.freund took works to a degree, but you have basically no control over the resulting surface. To get that control you'll start adding internal rails (see patch tool), but the surface will unlikely behave as you like, so you start adding more rails.

In the end, it's easier to use T-Splines. The attached model is a good start still in need of some adjustments.