In a sense, I come more from the rendering side than the making. (Carrara)
Anyway I did the hat band a different way!
I made another curve for the hatband about the level of the top of the lower piece. And, with the points , put a dip in the front edge. The two curves then lofted. Then I made a copy paste and reduced its size to .99 and raised it up a bit, doing similar for each of the layers.
The end result being that, when brought into Carrara for rendering, each of those different layers could have a slight variation in shade perhaps. Even put sweat stain effects differently for the layers as well.(I hope that makes sense!)
All good fun!
(Actually I did not save my results--just experimented to prove working principles)

Here is an exagerated example to show the idea.

Hi Everyone,

Thought some of you might be interested in knowing about this:

I've recently been using MoI to create the all the prototypes, tests & the finished Template files available from here.
http://fourth-axis.com/
http://fourth-axis.com/flipflopwax/

As most Jeweller's are already using Rhino to create their designs, so it was easy for me to Copy & Paste all the parts & curves that I'd created in MoI straight over into Rhino. :)
Then it was just a case of setting up Rhino's Layers to hold the relevant items. (looking forward to when MoI has it's own Layer system!)

regards Colin

Nice work Colin, looks like a very helpful guide for people who want to dig into CNC.

- Michael

Hi Everyone,

For those Jewellers looking at MoI, but aren't too sure, I've made a very simple MoI "Beginners" Tutorial that might help.
This ZIP file contains the whole Tutorial broken down into 3 parts, each as separate PDF files.

Hope it's of use, Colin

Thanks Colin,

Now I have many moi tutorials ;)

Nice contribution Colin!
Well done, clear and easy to follow.

Cheers

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Hi Everyone,

Here's a ring design I've been doing for a customer to celebrate 40yrs of riding.
There's to be 3 of these rings made, each will then have the riders name engraved along the bottom of the band.
The design will be milled in wax & then cast in StgSil.

Used MoI for all of it except the actual deforming of the Brake & Clutch Levers to fit snug to the ring shape.
For doing that part I needed to use Cage Edit in Rhino4...looking forward to when MoI also has this feature.
I've only just started to learn about rendering, so here's some of my first tests using VRay.

Just uploaded these same pics to the Gallery

regards Colin

Hi Colin, that's a very cool design, I'm sure that your customer will be very pleased.

It must be fun creating these kinds of personalized projects for people, since it will have sentimental value to them.

- Michael

Nice conceptual motor bike ring!

Nice one Colin!
I know a few bikers that would love one of these.

Keep 'em coming.

Cheers
~Danny~

Great stuff. Keep practicing the rendering. Having great product renders of your designs will be great

Hi Everyone,

Having seen other Members here doing various Sci Fi stuff, I thought I'd have a go at it also...
I remembered watching Gerry Anderson's UFO series as a kid & figured it might be a good starting point.
Did a quick search on the web & managed to find some Blueprints for the UFO model from the show.

Here's the relevant links for others that might be also be interested.
http://ufoseries.com/blueprints/index.html

Here's a link to a model kit that was for sale, this also helped as a reference.
http://amazingscience.altervista.org/ufomodelproduct.htm#

Here's hoping I've done it justice.

UFO blueprints? Cool! :)

It turned out great.

- Michael

Encounters!

Very cool Colin!
just one question, the rippling on the bottom of the ship, is it from the surface created or refraction from the transparent material you used.

Cheers

Thanks for the compliments.

@ Danny, yes, it's the refraction from the glass material I used for the rendering.
Here's another render that shows the same effect...must be something to do with the angle?

regards Colin

Now all we need is a coupla hott models of some cutie chix with purple hair and you'd be straight! :-P


Nice model!

-Will

Hi Everyone,

Here's a design & milling job I had to do for another Jeweller.
Their customer had picked out a nice Emerald cut Ametrine (Amethyst & Citrine in one crystal formation).
The Jeweller figured I could design & mill it quicker than he could hand make it in time for Xmas...so I did!!

All designed in MoI & milled on my MDX-15 & Fourth Axis rotary unit.
Now these pieces are off to the Jeweller to be cast, cleaned up, assembled & set, so this is the last I'll see of it.
You gotta love CAD/CAM for a quick turn around time!!

regards Colin