You ever have a shape in your head...

[Jeff Hammond]

[pointless_post]

... that you just can't seem to get right in a model??

I've tried this thing 4 times now.. I think I'm going to try it with clay..

[/pointless_post]

[gilles]

Why not give this one a try?

http://http://www.pixologic.com/sculptris/features/

[d12dozr]

.. I think I'm going to try it with clay..

That's actually a great idea. I just finished a project for a client who made a model out of clay for me to work from for the Sketchup model. He got the clay model as close as he could, then took Top, Side, Front, and Back photos. He took those photos into Photoshop, tweaked them til they were perfect, added dims and specs, and I used those as the blueprints for modeling.

The final model was 3D printed, and the client was super happy how close it was to his concept. I bet that process halved the cost of the project for him, especially because there was hardly a straight line in the model so conventional plans were hard to make.

...a little different situation than yours, but hey, it might help.

[Pilou]

The only thing to think with this crazzy free Sculptris, is make all the symmetric before
then no symmetric after!
By Barry Croucher

[Jeff Hammond]

im not sure sculptris and the like will help me in this situation..

I guess the shape could be considered organic but not like a body..

it has to have a consistent thickness and be measurable/build-able. (ie-- drawn in sketchup or rhino)

clay should be able to help me out.. plus it seems like it might be fun to mess around with

[brookefox]

Give us something more to work with,

a snapshot of your mind-image,

carefully cropped.

[Dave R]

How about if you draw it in sketchUp so we can see it? Maybe someone will be able to help you draw it.

[d12dozr]

Here's the clay my client used: Crayola Model Magic. It was nicer than modeling clay - lighter and cleaner. He says:

I would stay away from the Model Magic Fusion. Some of the speckles are too big and nasty. Especially stay away from the Model Magic Fusion Black.

[solo]

Q: You ever have a shape in your head....?

A:

Looks better made of mashed potatoes.

[bmike]

this thread sucks without pics.
can you post your model or a sketch or something so we can comment on it?


oh wait, never mind.
what about an MRI scan?



yeah, i often have shape things stuck in my head, doodled on a napkin, or whatever.
sometimes they are far better in my imagination.
sometimes far nicer when i work them out in 3d.

[Pilou]

?

[Starling75]

.. keep it simple

"Initially, no definite geometry for the shells had been established, but, as work progressed, the shells were developed according to a spherical geometry and we suddenly had a common denominator, the same spherical surface to deal with, with a similar curvature throughout.
This was an elegant solution to a construction, which would otherwise have had to be done with a large amount of scaffolding and shuttering, both for the interior and exterior shape of the shells.
Now the shells could be sub-divided into ribs, which again could be divided into smaller elements, which could be cast within formwork representing the largest rib entity. Thus it was possible to pre-cast the concrete-shells in smaller pieces and assemble these pieces on location. ..." Jorn Utzon


http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/uploade ... ciples.pdf

[Jeff Hammond]

yeah starling.. something more along those lines (not blobby etc)

funny you posted that because my shape is spiral as well..
actually 2 of them interacting.

[gilles]

Tell us more, we want to know!

[Jeff Hammond]

Tell us more, we want to know!

I sort of just figured it out on the train..
the red line is a helix on its side.. the black is a line along the ground..
then theres a surface created between the two..

it gets a little more tech than that so it will be functional but I think this is the gist of it..
I'll try modeling it a little later..

edit.. so maybe the Dropbox link doesn't embed.. try:
http://db.tt/yLH2k6ZH

[Pilou]

Here the image of the Jeff helix tricky project

Jeff_helix.jpg

Without more info it's some difficult to see something
Maybe a start ?

[Rich O Brien]

Is the helix projecting itself on the ground and this is rotated?

Here's my 2 cents....

Jeff_Weird_Drawing.skp

It's like Being John Malkovich

[brookefox]

.. keep it simple

"Initially, no definite geometry for the shells had been established, but, as work progressed, the shells were developed according to a spherical geometry and we suddenly had a common denominator, the same spherical surface to deal with, with a similar curvature throughout.
This was an elegant solution to a construction... Jorn Utzon

That sounds really nice, but is fairly typical isn't it, as a goal and a practice? Consistent geometry, prefab. ... He's kind of over-blowing it a bit, but certainly a good sell and a wonderful image.

Nice link and read. Thanks.

[Jeff Hammond]

Is the helix projecting itself on the ground and this is rotated?

Here's my 2 cents....

Jeff_Weird_Drawing.skp

It's like Being John Malkovich

screenshot or SU for iPhone please..
whichever is easiest

[Rich O Brien]

Jeffrey_Hammond.png

[Gaieus]

I also often have similar shapes in my head, Rich, but my wife keeps slapping me at the back of my head when I do.

[Jeff Hammond]

Jeffrey_Hammond.png

hmm.. maybe that's not it
actually. I think it is but your version has the projected helix rotated too much.

fwiw, the actual shape i need is to be cut out of the surface.. much in the same way the opera house was cut from a sphere.. I just have to figure out some logic behind the main shape so I can figure out how to build this..

fwiw2.. I haven't actually been commissioned to build this thing.. if I can make the model and it ends up being as cool as the original momentofinspiration, then I'm gonna try to sell it.


edit- fwiw3.. the red/black sketched image pilou posted is the top view.. looking at it with that in mind, you'll see the twist I'm (i think) going for..

[Rich O Brien]

I rotated it 90 because your brainwaves don't stretch across the Atlantic...

[Jeff Hammond]

I rotated it 90 because your brainwaves don't stretch across the Atlantic...

haha..
don't get me wrong, your drawing helps me see more clearly what I'm after so thanks for posting it.

[Rich O Brien]

Jeffrey_Hammond.png

Attempt #2

rotation lessened

[Jeff Hammond]

Jeffrey_Hammond.png

Attempt #2

rotation lessened

heh.. I think that's almost it.. the helix should touch the ground though. (the two lowest points of the helix-- resulting in the two end profile lines being on a horizontal plane.

I'm about 20 minutes away from a computer.. itching to try it myself now

[Rich O Brien]

I've just patented the design so it'll cost you.

[Rich O Brien]

Jeffrey_Hammond.png

Jeff_Weird_Drawing.skp

[Jeff Hammond]

I've just patented the design so it'll cost you.

ha.. wouldn't be the first time that's happened


so i drew the thing as in the sketch and it's not quite right yet.. (and #$%#@ing SU crashed prior to me saving the rough go)… but definitely getting closer.. still thinking about using clay..

gonna try the crayola stuff marcus is talking about.. thanks for the info on that stuff d12dozr!

[Rich O Brien]

wouldn't be the first time that's happened

i wouldn't do a 'dug' on you. I'm a bketterman than that.