House Key Construction

Applications: Rhinoceros 3D

Overview
You will learn how to build a house Key in this tutorial. You will use tools such as loft, split and so on.

Definitions

Loft: A way by Creating a surface from 2 splines in which is open. Command: loft

Point Editing: Taking points from a surface and manipulating the surface. Command: showcv

Polyline: A spline that is straight, it has no curves. It is very god to use with objects or lines that do not need to have smooth curves. Command: polyline

Step 1 - Use a polyline to draw a spline similer to the one in the picture below.


Step 2 - Now you need to copy the spline you have just made. Refer to the picture below to see how and what it should look like. Use the command "copy".
Note:I would hold shift down to make sure you copy it straight above the original spline).


Step 3 - Once you have the spline copied you now need to loft both of them together to make a surface. Type "loft" into the command line and select both lines, then press enter. Now you should see a window pop up similer to the one below. Use the settings below.


Step 4 - Now that you have a lofted surface you need to cap it. Select your surfac and type "cap" into the command line. After this you should have a top veiwport similer to the one below.


Step 5 - Now draw splines similer to the ones in the picture below. These will be lofted and used to make edges smoother and less rigid.


Step 6 - Now you will need to copy the splines.


Step 7 - After copying the splines loft each of them individually. This may take some time.


Step 8 - Now you must type "split" into the command line. Now select your object and then one of the surfaces you just lofted. Repeat this for the other lofted surfaces. Then delete the surfaces and cut objects. Now some of the corners should be a bit smoother instead of rigid.

Step 9 - Now you need to draw splines such as are int he picture below. These will be used for a 2 rail sweep.


Step 10 - Access the 2 rail sweep tool by typing "sweep2" into the command line. Then select the 2 side splines and then the circle. Press enter. You should have a picture similer to the one below.


Step 11 - Now you must use a boolean subtraction to subtrace the object you just made from the key. Use the command "bd" to access the tool. Select the key, and then your object, and press enter.

Step 12 - Now you must make splines for the hole for the key ring. Loft the splines and cap them using the Cap command. You must use a boolean subtraction to finish the key. Then you should have a product like the one below.