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TheJoker  
#1 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 6:35:14 AM(UTC)
TheJoker

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 11/18/2008(UTC)
Posts: 14

Hi,

I was wondering if you guys could help me onto the path of learning 3D modelling and recalibrate my brain to work with solids.

I have started to play around with creating a little dice. I started with a 20x20x20mm solid and rounded the edges off, I then proceeded with making small orbs ( ??? ) 2mm in diameter and sinking them halfway into the cube and extracting them.
I know that a dice isn't strictly a cube (but rather a an orb that's got 6 flat surfaces), but what seemed to cause me problems was the accurate positioning of the "dots".

I'm using ViaCAD 2D/3D.

Grateful for any suggestions and tips. :)
Tim Olson  
#2 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:34:34 AM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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In the Example Files:SAT folder there is a dice.sat file. Check this out for reference. Dropping the sphere halfway might be too deep.


Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
joev  
#3 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:59:12 AM(UTC)
joev

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Joined: 2/16/2007(UTC)
Posts: 144

You could start with a sphere primitive and then create the flat sides by using the trim tool or boolean functions to remove material to make flat sides.
TheJoker  
#4 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:50:22 AM(UTC)
TheJoker

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Joined: 11/18/2008(UTC)
Posts: 14

Thanks Tim! I didn't even know there was such a file there. I'll have a look at them thoroughly one by one.

Originally Posted by: joev Go to Quoted Post
You could start with a sphere primitive and then create the flat sides by using the trim tool or boolean functions to remove material to make flat sides.


That did cross my mind. :) What's the best way to position both the "dots" and cutting off the flat sides? Doing it by freehand surely isn't a good idea. :)
joev  
#5 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:35:04 AM(UTC)
joev

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Joined: 2/16/2007(UTC)
Posts: 144

I would approach this by making a primitive sphere and a cube the same size.

Place the cube and sphere so that their centers are at 0,0,0.

Position the cube to the right of the sphere (use arrow keys). So that the cube is cutting into the sphere (this has to be adjusted depending how flat the sides of the die will be).

Copy and paste 6 copies of the cube (all of the copies will be in the same space)

Use the boolean and click on the sphere and then on one of the cubes.

Rotate the sphere around it's center 90 degress.

Repeat the boolean.

Continue rotating the sphere and boolean for each side of the cube.

When you rotate the sphere, make sure you are clicking on the center of the sphere which should also be the world center as well.
TheJoker  
#6 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 11:59:22 AM(UTC)
TheJoker

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 11/18/2008(UTC)
Posts: 14

joev, thanks! That's the sort of thinking I need to calibrate my brain to do. :D I wouldn't have thought of rotating the sphere at all!

I'll definitely give that a go at some point. :D Thanks!
joev  
#7 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:09:56 PM(UTC)
joev

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Posts: 144

I ran into this type of thing before and was given the tip of rotating the source and leaving the cutting "tool" in place. This technique works very well on trimming other round objects like cylinders as well.
joev  
#8 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:16:12 PM(UTC)
joev

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Posts: 144

This is what I ended up with.

UserPostedImage
TheJoker  
#9 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:22:01 PM(UTC)
TheJoker

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Joined: 11/18/2008(UTC)
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joev, looks very nice! Bigger gaps between the flat surface, but other than that, perfect. :D I hope I'll be able to do that soon. :)
joev  
#10 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:42:03 PM(UTC)
joev

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Posts: 144

To adjust the edges, move the cubes into or out of the sphere. I guess some trial and error is needed. Good luck!
TheJoker  
#11 Posted : Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:43:50 PM(UTC)
TheJoker

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Posts: 14

joev, yes. I think so too. Thanks!

Anyone got any idea on what's the best way of positioning the "dots"...?
eHam  
#12 Posted : Friday, April 17, 2009 9:25:27 PM(UTC)
eHam

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 11/20/2007(UTC)
Posts: 17

I put together a PDF on modeling a die (singular of dice). I tried several methods to position the pips. I think my last attempt is the cleanest. I hope this helps.

Cheers,
E
TheJoker  
#13 Posted : Saturday, April 18, 2009 3:31:02 AM(UTC)
TheJoker

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 11/18/2008(UTC)
Posts: 14

eHam, that's very cool... but I must be missing something as I can't see the PDF..?! :confused:
eHam  
#14 Posted : Saturday, April 18, 2009 11:19:23 PM(UTC)
eHam

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Joined: 11/20/2007(UTC)
Posts: 17

I apologize for the missing file. I am pretty much forum challenged. I thought I had attached it but I probably messed up (I do that fairly regularly). I tried again and the Upload Window said 'Done' but I don't see any sign of an attached file in the Preview Post. I may I some stepwise instructions on how to attach a PDF file. Otherwise, shoot me a private message w/your e-mail address and I can e-mail the PDF to you.

E
Tim Olson  
#15 Posted : Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:26:54 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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>>shoot me a private message

Feel free to send to me at [email protected] and I will edit your post to include it.

Regards,

Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
zumer  
#16 Posted : Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:24:01 PM(UTC)
zumer

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Originally Posted by: TheJoker Go to Quoted Post


Anyone got any idea on what's the best way of positioning the "dots"...?

Set out lines on the face of a cube to locate spheres to subtract. There's probably a formal proportion for the size of the indents and their relationship. My layout here is entirely arbitrary. I've used a small cube for locating the centre of the sphere, to lift the spheres out of the face of the cube, so the indentation isn't a full hemispere.
zumer attached the following image(s):
die layout.gif (26kb) downloaded 5 time(s).

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TheJoker  
#17 Posted : Monday, April 20, 2009 2:25:44 AM(UTC)
TheJoker

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 11/18/2008(UTC)
Posts: 14

eHam, I look forward to seeing your PDF. :D

Zumer, good idea. I guess I'll have to get back to this "project" and try a bit harder. :cool:
Tim Olson  
#18 Posted : Monday, April 20, 2009 8:06:41 AM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)
I posted it in the tips and tutorials section.

http://forum.punchcad.com/showthread.php?t=2207

Regards

Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
zumer  
#19 Posted : Monday, April 20, 2009 9:48:11 AM(UTC)
zumer

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Nice work, eHam. An alternative to revolving the arc to create the trimming surface is to use a diagonal construction line through the cube to place a sphere and intersect the two solids. Because the proportion of the corner rounding seems mostly cosmetic, if the result isn't quite what you wanted, it's simpler to undo the boolean, alter the sphere's diameter then intersect again.
eHam  
#20 Posted : Monday, April 20, 2009 10:42:09 PM(UTC)
eHam

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Joined: 11/20/2007(UTC)
Posts: 17

Thanks. I didn't think about an intersection of two solids. That method works equally well. It also avoids the use of two extra layers.

It isn't necessary to undo the intersection to change the diameter of the sphere though. Unwind the Features in the Concept Explorer window, select the sphere and then change the sphere's diameter in the Object Info window. Makes it easy to 'tune' the die until it pleases your artistic desires.
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