Hello,
I am creating a model to be fabricated, so it needs to be a clean, closed object. I am trying to create a raised pattern, that ideally would not have sharp edges (look more sculpted). The issue is that it is so small (only 1/8" H) and thin that I am not having success with fillet. Is there any other way of achieving this?
Thank you
Hi Em - you can try edge softening, in Properties of the sharp-edged objects, if the goal is to make a rendering look better.
-Pascal
Unfortunately this does not seem to be working on the raised pattern, perhaps because it is so small? But this is definitely helpful for the future, thank you! Does this actually change the object, say if I sent it to be 3D printed, or is it just a view setting? The object I am creating is going to be used to create a mould for casting.
test-edges.3dm (1.1 MB)
Hi Em - this will work for your objects but the amount is quite small, and your render mesh should be finer as well since what it does is modify the render mesh.
-Pascal
oh great, thank you!
If this part is going to be 3d printed, or cnc fabricated, and then hand finished in any way, don’t worry about the fillets. By the time it’s sanded, primed, painted and finished it will have gained these tiny fillets naturally.
typically speaking I don’t add tiny fillets for this reason. Jewelry folks are notorious for spending days adding micro fillets to everything when the finished part is going to be run through a significant hand finishing process then burned on a polisher for hours. This typically results in the fillets growing beyond what the designer originally expected, making the part looks softer than expected.
I modeled 64th scale hotwheels cars for 17 years, and I purposely left very small fillets off the models since they went through a mechanical tumbler to polish them. The sharp edges softened just enough that this “cheat” actually made the parts look cleaner and more refined than if I had added tiny fillets.
When rendering however, you will want them and Pascals direction of adding edge softening is the ticket.
hope that helps.
Thank you! This helps a lot!
