My T-Splines are bumpy and I'm not sure how to fix (Or use something else?)

[Trev626]

Hey guys! I'm new to Fusion 360 although I have used some 3d programs before and I'm getting stuck. To be quite honest, I have no idea if this is the 'best' way of doing this sort of thing. I have attached what I'm trying to make; It's basically an earpiece sorta thing that I'm planning to 3D print for my gf to use in a cosplay. My gf drew out the shape and I have been using it as a basis. I'm happy with how the sword looking things came out as well as the bat wings but I'm struggling on the little swirly part. Middle part should be pretty easy once I get the swirly part finished.

I've tried many different things such as sweeping a half circle over a path or the spiral tool but it never quite looks right. Also I would really like for it to fit into the shape my gf drew and not just something that looks similar to it.

I have been working on it using the 'Form' mode which I think are T-Splines and I have gotten it pretty close to what I'm thinking the end result should look like but it's all bumpy! I did have a ton more faces at one point because I was trying to match the outside edge but that made the bumpiness even worse, it's like a bundt cake when I want it smooth. I think it may have to do with the triangles on the curve but I'm lost on what to do.

I'm all ears for any ideas you guys have. Fixing the bumpiness would be amazing but if I'm dumb and should do it another way then please tell me. I told her it "shouldn't be too hard to model" and now I'm eating my words hahaha.

Imgur link since file limit is 3: https://imgur.com/a/mB7AXcu

Link: https://a360.co/3MxJXYz (It won't let me check allow download since I'm currently trying out the free version)

EDIT: I have added the .f3d file as suggested. Please see imgur link for more pics than I'm allowed to attach.

[TrippyLighting]

You use way too much geometry e.g. too many polygons!

Here are a few T-Spline guidelines.

T-Spline Guidelines and Resources

1. Model 80% in box view mode. The shape should somewhat resemble the desired, smooth end result. Make small adjustments in smooth-view mode. Check back in box view mode to make sure the model still has integrity. Faces should not intersect in box view mode!

2. Do not add detail until you are 100% satisfied with the overall shape and proportions of the shape. The more detail you add the more geometry you have to manipulate, usually resulting in a lot more work than necessary.

3. Avoid triangles at all cost until you are at least at an intermediate level with T-Spline modeling. Triangles are best avoided altogether.

4. Limit the use of N-gons (polygons with more than 4 edges/vertices) to the bare minimum. No N-gons with more than 5 edges vertices. 

5. Start with as little geometry as you can get away with. Add more as needed. If you find that you need to stretch polygons too much to get a desired smooth shape, then you need more edge loops/polygons.

Arrimus 3D 

Gichi Endo 

namenotimportant 

[laughingcreek]

most of the time if you export your model as an .f3d file and attach it to a post you get loads more help.

[Trev626]

Thank you, this helps a lot!! I'm pretty new to T-splines/Forms and there doesn't seem to be as many tutorials on it as Solid/Surface modelling so this is greatly appreciated. I definitely expected it to be the triangles along the curve as the issue. I'll be sure to try these out and see if I can get the issue to go away.

[Trev626]

Ah so that's how people are supposed to share the file. Thanks for letting me know! I hit the share button and was unable to share with download checked so I had no idea. I have added it here and updated the OP.

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

Whether or not T-Splines is the best method to achieve the shape you are looking for is hard to say. I find that the 2D sketch (canvas) you are basing the shape on am can be interpreted many ways. The little scroll-like structures can be create with T-Splines. I demonstrated one way to do this for another user in another thread in this video:

[Trev626]

Wow! Okay so I was using WAY too many polygons. The way you showed the sketch was suuuuper helpful, I was basically just guessing where I would like the polygons but spiralling some lines out to pre-make where you want to put the faces is so helpful.

It's too bad that the program seems to ignore where I want the spiral to end up. I can see it is basically averaging where all the points lie and pulling them in but it's not what I want. It seems like T-splines are super useful when making something abstract with no real correct answer but when I want to fit it to a pre-made sketch is when it starts giving me trouble. That is why I ended up using so many polygons in the first place so that the outside would line up with my sketch. I think I'm gonna move away from using T-splines since it doesn't seem to fit what I'm wanting.

I have attached some pictures of me trying it out and you can see smooth mode is not touching the sketch anymore. 

[TrippyLighting]

While I do think much of that "pulling away" can be dealt with with further modeling, I also think that working with surfaces and lofting will get you the shape you're looking for. But, again, I can only vaguely guess what you are looking for, which makes it difficult to give any recommendations on how to proceed. 

[Trev626]

Here's what they ended up looking like.

 

 

[TrippyLighting]

Very Nice! Thanks for sharing!