3. Computer Aided design

This week I explored 2D and 3D softwares to design and model my final project.

2D softwares

Procreate

Procreate can draw and design raster graphics. It is perfect for drawing stuff efficiently because it is developed for iOS and iPadOS, so when your brain starts to appear idea, just open Procreate :)

iPad with Apple Pencil is recommended.

Opacity

Let’s begin with my sketch of the project logo. After import the image, set the percentage of Opacity lower, by selecting ‘Adjustments‘ > ‘Opacity’. Around 50% to make me better for the rest of the work.

Curve line

Then, I have used a skill for drawing Curve lines, which is after following the Curve line of the sketch, don’t let go of your pen, hold it for a second, then Procreate will help you make the line smoother.

After finishing the outlines of the fires, I decided not to draw flames, and keep working on the ring.

Eraser Tool

In my opinion, it’s wired that the lines have linked together. So I used ‘Eraser Tool‘ to wipe off some of the lines around the ring. Look better after wiping it off :)

Text

Also, I have added Text for the logo, BALL IN. By selecting ‘Actions‘ > ‘Add‘ > ‘Add Text’.

Time-lapse

Procreate having a function which can let you export the Time-lapse of your process, ‘Actions‘ > ‘Video‘ > ‘Export Time-lapse video’.

Export

Finally, the Export. By selecting ‘Actions‘ > ‘Share’, then choose what file type you want to export. For me, I think JPG and PNG is the best option.

Adobe Illustrator (Ai)

Adobe Illustrator can create or edit vector graphics. It is perfect for designing a logo for a company or a product.

I had never used Ai before so I look up tutorials on Youtube, Chinese Illustrator tutorial playlist.

First, I put my draft into the Ai and set the opacity at about 50% to make me better for the rest of the steps.

Second, I create and select the new layer. Then select the ‘Rectangle Tool‘M > ‘Ellipse Tool‘L in the toolbar. After, hold Shift and Left Button to create a cirle.

Third, I select the ‘Pen Tool‘P to make a curve line. Left Button on the circle to be the start point of the line, then hold and drag the cursor to make a curve line. After, one click on the end of the line to stop continuing the curve.

Fourth, after I finish the outline of the fire, I select ‘Erase Tool‘Shift+E > ‘Scissor Tool‘C. Then click 2 spots on the circle and use ‘Selection Tool‘V to select and delete the upper part of the circle.

Fifth, same as before, I use ‘Ellipse Tool‘L and ‘Scissor Tool‘V to make a ring for the main body. Then, select a thinker size and pattern for the ring.

Sixth, some adjustment, added a ball inside the fire and text of the project name.

✅Done.

3D software

Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is a tool that helps you create 3D-CAD, CAM and CAE, it’s also cloud-based and available for Windows and Mac users.

I decide to make a coffee cup, I will be using some basic functions in Fusion 360 to do it.

Create Sketch

Let’s begin with ‘Create Sketch’, then click the front orange rectangle to work on the front face.

Select ‘Line‘ to make a shape. Outline the half shape of the coffee cup, and remember to outline the bottom part of it as well. When the sketch is done, click ‘FINISH SKETCH’ to exit the sketch mode.

Revolve

After, select ‘Revolve‘ in the ‘CREATE‘ list, then first hit on the sketch. Second, click the select button of the ‘Axis‘ and click on the left vertical line of the sketch.

Shell

The frustum of a cone is not what we need, so we need to use ‘Shell‘ to make it become a cup. First, choose the top face, then select ‘Shell’, after, insert ‘1’ into the text box. Then, the cup was made.

Fillet

But you don’t wanna get hurt by the edges, so you need to fillet it. First, you need to select ‘Fillet’, then select all the edges which you wanted to be fillet.

Then, we are going to make a cap for the cup. Same as before, using ‘Create Sketch’, ‘Line’, ‘Revolve‘ to build it.

We don’t want the cap to be square-shaped, we want to make it curvy, so we need to use ‘Fit Point Spline’. First, select ‘Fit Point Spline’, then click 3 positions to make the line curve. After, we need to link the line to make it become a shape by using ‘Line‘

Extrude

After, select ‘Extrude’, then set the direction to ‘Symmetric‘ and pull the blue arrow to cut the cup.

Then, ‘Fillet’, and we want to make a hole for drinking, so we need to ‘Shell‘ the bottom of the cap. After, ‘Create Sketch‘ and select ‘Center Rectangle‘ to make a rectangle that locks in the center.

Then, ‘Extrude’ to make the hole. Same as before, use ‘Fillet’ to make the edges rounded. After ‘Fillet’ it, the model is complete!

Render

If you want to make product photos that look real, you need to use Render.

After going to the ‘Render‘ page, select ‘Appearance‘ and search what textures you want. In my case, I chose ‘3D Maple - Unfinished‘ for the cup and ‘Plastic - Matte (Black)‘ for the cup cap. Just drag on the objects to make it become that texture.

After, select ‘Scene Settings’ and set the background color to white and ‘Focal Length‘ to 65mm.

Lastly, set up the config of render. For me, I had chosen ‘16:9 Widescreen’ and ‘Cloud Renderer‘

This is the result of the render. :)

Animation

To do animation, go to the ‘Animation‘ page. For me, I would like to explode levels, so I click ‘Auto Explode: All Levels’.

But I don’t like it to go straight up and down, so I use a ‘Move‘M function to move the components wherever I want.

This is the result of the animation. :)

Week 03 - Coffee Cup V5 by Ho Kuen AU on Sketchfab

Kickstart of the final project

Beside modeling a coffee cup, I have also try to make a mini game machine shell as a kickstart of the final project.
There’re more pogress showing on week 4 assignment, click Here to visit.

In conclusion, after using ‘Line’, ‘Fit Point Spline’, ‘Center Rectangle‘ in ‘Create Sketch’, then use ‘Extrude’, ‘Shell’, ‘Revolve’, ‘Fillet‘ to model it, and lastly ‘Render‘ and ‘Animation’. I have made a coffee cup and mini game machine shell in Fusion 360 successfully.

Tips

Rewind

Actually, I have made a mistake when I drew the sketch, and I noticed that after I ‘Revolve’ and ‘Shell’ it. But Fusion 360 has a function that can let you rewind and fix things then rewind again back at your latest stage with the problem fixed.

Let me show you how it works.

week03_F360_coffee-cup_rewind from TerryAU on Vimeo.

Caution

After I have done my coffee cup model and show it to my instructor, the instructor told me I shouldn’t let the line in the sketch be blue, because the blue line means it is undefined, If I wanna go back and modify the sketch, the sketch after will go wrong. But the instructor also said if you just wanna demonstrate the model instead of print it out, it is fine.

Downloads

Ball In logo Procreate .jpg file - Download

Ball In logo Ai .svg file - Download

Coffee cup CAD file - .step | .f3d

Coffee cup render photo - Download

Mini Game Machine Shell (Alpha) CAD file - .step | .f3d

Mini Game Machine Shell (Beta) CAD file - .step | .f3d | .stl

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Last update: April 20, 2022