Modeling a Patterned Metal surface

Posted on 09.16 by YUDIES EXPLORER

Today I am going present a tutorial on modelling a common surface pattern seen on metal surfaces. At the beginning, I should say thy that this tutorial may not suitable for absolute beginners, and the dimensions I am using are only approximate values, so you could change them as you like.
Create a cylinder with Radius: 65.0mm, Height: 2.00mm, Height Segments: 1, Cap Segments: 1, Sides: 36.
Create a cylinder
Convert the created cylinder to “Editable Poly”, go to Polygon Sub-object level and delete all the faces keeping only 4 faces from the side of the cylinder (see figure below). Make sure to select the 4 faces symmetrical across a major direction to make the next steps easy.
Delete faces, keeping only 4 from the side of the cylinder
Mirror the remaining faces across the symmetrical axis and place them touch each other from the edges (use Snap).
Mirror the faces across and place them touch each other
Attach the two objects together (using “Attach” button under “Edit Geometry” rollout) and weld the vertices on touching ends (using “Weld” button under “Edit Vertices” rollout) without using the shape.
Attach the two objects and weld the vertices without using the shape
Select the top border of the object and add a cap to the object (using “Cap” option available under “Edit Borders” rollout).
Add cap to object
Mark the following pattern on the created cap by connecting the vacant vertices around using “Cut”.
Mark the pattern on the cap by connecting the vacant vertices using “Cut”
Grow a new set of faces (polygons) around the base of the object, by select and zoom the bottom border of the object holding the “Shift” key.
Grow a new set of polygons around the base of the object
Reduce the sharpness of the top 2 points of the object by pulling them inside along the long axis of the object.
Reduce the sharpness of the top points by pulling them inside
Reduce the sharpness of the narrow points of the base as well (reduce by same amounts).
Reduce the sharpness of the narrow points of the base
Select and Chamfer the boundary between the base and the extruded part of the object.
Chamfer the boundary between the base and the extruded part
Draw a plane between the longest vertices of the object (don’t worry about the size of the other direction, it might be zero). Copy the correct Length or Width of the plane and paste as the other parameter (Length or Width) of the plane.
Draw a square plane between the longest vertices of the object
Set the number of segments plane to 6 and 4 as you see below (don’t change the correct direction).
Set the number of segments plane to 6 and 4
Place bounding vertices of the object exactly on to the following vertices of the plane using Snap.
Place bounding vertices of the object exactly on to the vertices shown
Paste 2 copies of the objects and place on both sides of the existing object using Snap. Then attach the 3 objects (not the plane object) together, and Weld the vertices at the boundaries. Now, you should have something like below.
Paste 2 copies of the objects and place on both sides using Snap
Apply TurboSmooth modifier with 2 Iterations and see how it looks like.
Object with 2 TurboSmooth Iterations
If you feel that your pattern is loose or tight, now you can correct it. I feel my pattern is loose. So I am going to make it tight (or packed) by making the embossed shape bigger. Make sure to maintain the 3 shapes equal in size after changing their sizes.
The corrected pattern with TurboSmooth
Take a copy of the object, rotate exactly by 90° and place next to the first object using Snap. Then attach the two objects and weld the vertices on the connected edge.
Take a copy, rotate by 90° and place next to the first object
Take another copy of the joined object, rotate exactly by 180° and place next to the first object using Snap. Then attach them and weld.
Take another copy, rotate by 180° and place next to the first object
Apply TurboSmooth and see; you will see that it is not perfectly weld.
pattern after applying TurboSmooth
To correct that delete all the faces outside the below marked area.
Delete all the faces outside the marked area
Marked the lines connecting un-welded vertices to the vertices outside and weld them again.
Corrected and welded object
Turn-on TurboSmooth and ensure all the vertices are perectly welded.
Ensure all the vertices are perectly welded
Mirror the object along the X and Y axes, and place the copies to touch each other using “Snap”. Attach objects together, and weld the vertices at the joined boundaries.
Completed tillable pattern
Now the work is complete. You can expand the prepared pattern by copy it along the both axes as match to the area.
This is how it looks like with the materials.
Tillable pattern with materials

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