THE INHALER
A 3D modelling project using the Rhino 7 programme, investigating scale and shape of objects.
By Etu Walker
PART I - The Brief
For this assignment, our task was to create a 3D model of a small object. The finished product would be made out of card paper, and be large enough to fit snugly into a 40cm cube. We would use the digital software Rhino 7 to create digital models, before printing the net of the object out onto A3 pieces of paper. Placing the A3 paper over card, we would then use craft knives to cut our nets out, scoring the appropriate areas with the blunt end of the blade. Once the net is made, it would be folded to form our object, 3D, to scale.
PART II - The Thinking
Pictured below is a photo of my chosen object, my asthma inhaler. I chose this object, as its proportions and angles are interesting, and it was easy enough to make on Rhino, whilst still having tricky angles and edges.
To start getting a feel for the proportions and measurements of the inhaler, I did some rough sketches of it.
PART III - The Rhino
Now we need to make these sketches into a digital model. This was by far the most difficult stage of this assignment. It took about 4 hours for me to properly get used to Rhino's basic controls. And many mistakes were made along the way. However, I persisted, and the final result didn't look too bad.
Getting a basic shape going...
A close-up of the angles I chose...
Making surfaces within my lines...
Shading both the inhaler body, and the Ventolin cartridge. I chose to make the two objects separately, rather than attached together. This is because the actual products separates these two components: the Ventolin cartridge is removable from the inhaler body...
Finding a way to fit the nets of the two components into one SRA1 size piece of card was annoying and time consuming, but I found a way in the end...
PART IV - The Struggle
Maybe I'm being dramatic, but assembling this object was WAY harder than I envisaged.
Focus was intense, as I carefully dragged the knife along the dual paper - card layer. The Monster Zero Ultra beverage had my hands quivering from the caffeine, and all my brainpower was being released into keeping a sturdy grip on that craft knife.
Making the cylinder was painful. It was shaped like a rugby ball when viewed from profile. In hindsight, I should have added more notches to the circular capped ends, to make the ends rounder.
PART V - The Product
I was happy with how this turned out. For the most part, the edges were clean. Some edges got thin at points, such as the triangular planes on the back of the model, and these were difficult to fold, so they weren't as crisp as those right angled edges around the inhaler body.
PART VI - The Conclusion
Overall, I really enjoyed this project. I have gained a basic understanding of Rhino, and now know another craft material, which I can surely apply to my future designs.
