Super Beginner question, how to approach the design.

[gbkwiatt]

So I am trying to create drone model for myself, I am inspired by one I found somewhere online.
At first I thought it will be all simple because it's all symmetrical, but now I am stuck on extruding model from sketch.
So this is what I got 

And this is where I want to go:

What would be the best approach? Of course I know nothing about blending parts together yet so it's hard for me to understand, but I bet there is some easy approach to that. 

I was thinking wouldn't be better to have another rectangle on top and somehow blend it together with those curves. 
How would you approach that ? 

[g-andresen]

Hi,

1. first create the construction for one arm only and then duplicate it

2. Please share the file.

File > export > save as f3d on local device  > attach it to the next post.

günther

[davebYYPCU]

Screams out for a sculpted box with symmetry.

Might help....

[gbkwiatt]

Oh  dear, I wish it was that easy to me, here is my file. I will get there eventually. 
i do need to learn how to do thing like that for the future. It's so cool to be able to do thing like that. 
Thank you for your help btw.

[davebYYPCU]

Not so hard, step up the timeline....

Might help...

[gbkwiatt]

I love how just a drawing took me couple of hours yesterday, and you have whole model ready in 5 min 😉
This is great. I mean I still need to figure it out myself as I really want to be able to add changes etc etc. 
But it's a really good reference and I can see steps you did. It's absolutely awesome

[davebYYPCU]

Yet, you have not got a fully defined sketch, and 4 times the amount of work as required, draw one arm, and later you have a 4 arm modelling circular pattern.

Might help...

[gbkwiatt]

Well I did that kinda do it that way, I defined 1 arm with 1 side and used circular mirror. 
But it's not quiet that I think. 

[davebYYPCU]

Started editing and adding Dimensions.

[gbkwiatt]

That makes sense, I am starting over again, and will do it that way. The main issue I have, well to understand "how", is that arms are tubes more less, so like thickness doesn't follow main body as such, same for motor holders.
how to make it  tube, not a "fancy" shape? and then that blends into the body ?

I got to that, slightly changed dimensions to make it more stable

Yeah and actually it might not be a "tubes" as such so it will have to be "fancy" shape 😉

[gbkwiatt]

so now having something like that 

how would you extrude out of it ? just normal extrusion and play with shaping it ? fillers etc ? 

[davebYYPCU]

No, delete 3/4 of that sketch.  Add an ellipse at the fat end and a circle at the motor end of the spline curves.  Use arm splines for rails.

I was not able to close the shape with solid tools, so did it with Surface tools.

Might help....

[gbkwiatt]

Well, going to basics, how do you add circle or ellipse to 2d sketch? 

[gbkwiatt]

something like that ? 

I think I've done it wrong, because it's in multiple sketches ?

[TrippyLighting]

Ack!

@davebYYPCU challenge your T-Spline skills and model the whole body as one contiguous T-Spline! You know you want to 😉

[davebYYPCU]

Yeah, you’re right, I am not far away, need some Z height info, that has not been obvious.  Gunna be busy next couple days.  Couldn’t join the solids to the boundary Fill, so patched it.

@gbkwiatt yep, separate sketches with P for Project, circles and ellipse have to be connected.

Might help.....

[TrippyLighting]

[gbkwiatt]

Nice, well I am trying to copy that model  but there is no dimensions anywhere, so I am just referencing to drone I have. but I think this one is slightly bigger 

  I think propellers are 12" 

I love this model so much, that I decided to learn how to design, as I don't think you can buy it. 

Long way ahead, I have my motors drawings etc, I am planning to 3d print shell, and wrap it with carbon

[gbkwiatt]

Oh Man, this is great still not correct dimensions but legs looks amazing. 
Can you at least tell me some keywords of what I need to learn  for that model ? 

[TrippyLighting]

It will probably take me a few days but I will try to make a screencast of how to approach such a model with T-Splines.

It would be helpful to have some base dimensions.

1. Motor dimensions

2. center to center distance of motors from center of drone.

3. Dimensions of stuff (batteries, microcontrollers etc.) that goes into the main body.