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 ? 

[gbkwiatt]

I can give you all that 😉 
Propellers are 12", and body diagonally is around 30cm, that's what I am deducting from pictures. 
My motors are 

 It's all bit bigger than I though, I've already built one drone and it's slightly smaller, but I love the proportions of the above one.  electronics stack I am using will be 25mm.

Dimension: 35(L)x 25(W)x 7(H)mm 

Mounting Hole: 30.5x30.5mm

 

There will have to be GPS antenna somewhere which would be something like 

• Size: 60mm in diameter  and 11.5 thickness 

  
  Biggest thing would be battery ( the one I have ) 136*45*46mm  dimensions. 

Edit:
Just asked guys from the project of that drone, unfortunately project is gone and they don't have any files left. 
But he said diagonal size from arm end to arm end is 800mm

[TrippyLighting]

If your propellers are 12" in diameter (304.8 mm), then their center-to-center distance needs to be at least 435mm.

 

[gbkwiatt]

I will probably use 10" or max 11" propellers.

But given that diagonally from arm end to arm end its 800mm it should be fine for all the options. But that was the the reason why I also want to be able to do it myself,  I might want to scale it down to be slightly smaller 

[gbkwiatt]

That's how it looks on real life model. 

My current built drone has 500mm size  diagonally, and I don't think I will go lower than that anyway and still 12" propellers will fit 

also if that helps  picture below is in 1:2.25 scale (roughly)

 

[gbkwiatt]

Is that correct approach or I should only do 1 corner with arm first and then copy it  ?
Is there a way to make it kind of circular symmetry ? 

[davebYYPCU]

For Tspline, Make symmetry active, do one, you get four.

I used 4 x 4 x 2 faces in the box, that allows for thin arms.

Might help....

[gbkwiatt]

I keep trying, I am on it another day and still can't get anything that looks alike 😉 I have all dimensions, and I know how it should look like, but ... well I think I will just keep trying. 

The only problem I have with that approach, if I ever decide to change sizes, t-spline is not define in sizes so that means I will have to redo it all ? 

[davebYYPCU]

Tspline has no history, just like sketch, but both can be revisited and changed / updated, (within reason) when done with updates, Fusion will normally update those changes into the model.

For Trippy’s challenge, I will still use normal modelling for the engine / motor mount, but I can’t see any time soon.

[gbkwiatt]

Fair enough.  I am getting better with solid models, but what's the most important to me is that shape of the drone with arms to be as close to reference model as possible, because I like it so much and that's the whole point of me trying to learn 

[davebYYPCU]

If you can get canvass photos square on and low parallax error, you will be so close no one would know the difference.  Top, Front and Side, views.

[etfrench]

Is there any reason the propellers have to be on the same plane? If not, you could overlap them a bit to get a smaller size with the same power.

[gbkwiatt]

It will mess up propellers aerodynamics.

But my priority is the shale not the size, also more likely i will use 10" propellers anyway.

Main challenge would be to fit hide in the smaller version 

[TrippyLighting]

I'd like to add two things to what @davebYYPCU said.

1. In the course of modeling this you might have to remove and re-apply symmetry a few times.

2. Don't add any solid or surface modeling operations to the timeline before you are completely satisfied with the results of the T-Spline model. Any adjustments to the T-Spline, later on, should be absolutely minimal and you should, by all means, avoid changing the topology e.g. adding edges/polygons.

Also, model the T-spline in box-view mode and NOT in smooth view mode. If you do make small adjustments in smooth-view mode, then definitely check back in box-view mode if those make sense.

[gbkwiatt]

Noted. 

A other day and another attempts 😉  not even close yet.

So another question, should I create arms from another t splines and connect? Or it should be stretched from box, or maybe create motor holders and use bridge?

I tried Bridge approach but it's difficult to get it right.

Also I find it really hard to keep dimensions while in form, how to do it smarter than just guessing the shape? 

[TrippyLighting]

I'll create a screencast tonight. However, in general, you are on the right track!

T-Spline modeling is really more like a craft and it'll take some practice. Don't try to be fast. 

Either of these things you mentioned can work.

[gbkwiatt]

That's awesome.

By the way, Having experience with other forums/groups, I am amazed how helpful and patience you are here. Thank you for that, I really appreciate it

[gbkwiatt]

okay another question ... 
I think I finally decide on the way I want to do it, so I create a box as suggested which I will be shaping.
But I also extruded arms from my sketch so it keeps dimensions somehow. 
I did use bridge and it looks good so far, but .. I think bridge wasn't something I was looking for ? 
how to connect extrusion with a box ?

The on below looks like something I want, but it's not actually connects to the box and create gaps

[TrippyLighting]

Well, you are on the right track, somewhat. The screencast got a little longer as I was modeling and waffling away. It'll take a while to process, upload, and then convert in the cloud so I'll provide the link in the morning.

One thing that you need to keep in mind when trying to connect different T-Spline bodies is that you need to keep track of the number of vertices/edges on each of the open areas you want to connect. The two sides have to match!

The model is attached for study.

[gbkwiatt]

This is amazing, I think the main thing I missed, was diagonal edges on the box, that would have helped. 
I will still try to make it myself, and then engineering will start 😉 need to design lid and lid screw mounts, and more importantly some clip on legs mount.
But your model is super close to original I love it

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

Here is the screencast: