Modeling an ashtray with Rhino 3D - tutorial page 1

This Rhinoceros 3D tutorial is intended for novice users. I teaches very basic rhinoceros concepts like curve creation, revolve and boolean difference.

This is the ashtray we will model in this small tutorial. You should have completed the 2d curves tutorial before doing this one.

Start by using this curve tool to draw the basic shape of the ashtrays section (in front viewport).

Draw a curve similar to this one. Make sure you do this symmetrically relative to the green axis! That will help you later one, for making a nice revolved surface.

With the same tool, draw a curve like this.

Use the mirror command to mirror the bottom curve, using end snap (or grid snap).

Select the side curve and go to curve-offset curve. In the options, choose 'trough point'. You can now pick a point where you want the offset curve to be located.

Use rotate to rotate this curve a bit so that it gets wider at the bottom. Use end snap to snap to the top point while rotating.

This is what we have so far.

Use fillet curve to round the two outer curves.

Move the highest bottom curve a bit higher as shown.

Trim the inner curves, and fillet them. You will need to experiment with how large the radius should be. It should look similar to my image:

To close the top, we will not use fillet. Go to the curve menu, and choose 'blend curves'. You now need to click two open curves to blend. So click the two top curves. A small new curve will be created, that has a perfect blend on both sides with the existing curves.

It looks a bit flat, so we will correct for this. Click long on the 'control points on' button, and drag out the menu. Select the small curve and turn on the control points for it (top left button)

Now click the 'insert knot' button (bottom left).

Turn on 'mid' in the object snaps, and click on the mid point of our small curve. You now added a point to this curve.