Here try this. thanks

Hi David, yeah that's a fairly difficult shape because it's not quite symmetrical so that won't quite work with Revolve.

A 2 rail sweep might be a good approach though - see the attached 3DM file.

To construct this, I drew one long curve using Draw curve > Freeform, tracing the background image shape:



Then in order to use that curve as the side rails in a 2 rail sweep you have to cut it into half, to do that select it and run the Edit > Trim command, and push the "Add trim points" button inside of Trim and click on the spot at the top of the curve to cut it. Then when you finish the Trim command it will cut that one long smooth curve into 2 pieces.

Then I drew in an ellipse like this:




Then select the ellipse, and run Construct > Sweep, then at the next prompt select the 2 side rails and it will generate a result like this (in the file):




Then probably the little side nodule would be good to build as a separate piece that is then booleaned together with this main body piece. The image you have here is very low resolution, it's kind of hard to see what that nodule is shaped like. Do you possibly have a higher resolution photo that gives some better detail on that part?

If it's more symmetrical it may work to do a revolve to make a kind of donut like form, then boolean that with the main body and then do a fillet to smooth out the connection.

- Michael

For the nodule part, to make a sort of blood cell like shaped disc with a depression in it, make a profile curve something like this:



Then use Construct > Revolve to make this kind of result:




Then if you take that and use Construct > Boolean > Union to combine it with the main body, you would then select the edge between them and use Construct > Fillet to get a result like this:




- Michael

That is amazing. thanks. that is perfect. I will see If I can repeat that. I have attached what I have come up with, but I like yours better.
The "side Node" is a hook eyelet which I will draw separate and add to my drawing later. I draw all of my hooks in MOI and can do that pretty easy.
These shapes that you have helped me with is what gives me the most trouble, but what you have done looks easy. thanks!

Hi David, yeah it tends to be difficult to do something like this in a little "piece by piece" way, it's just easier to get a smooth continuous looking form if you build it as one bigger thing. But that's just for the main body shape, things that stick out should be separate pieces booleaned on.

Another way you can approach a shape that is not very symmetrical and kind of organic is by drawing in several parallel plane curves and then using Construct > Loft with the "loose" option. For a closed spot, there is a new feature in v3 loft where you can put in a point object to close the end of the loft off smoothly, here are some things that show that way:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6082.10
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6082.8

Also there are some demo videos from Andrei on this thread:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=6058.1

The main thing that's different with that method though is that you are primarily controlling the shape through the cross sections, you have to adjust those to get the kind of profile you want while using sweep lets you draw in the side profile more directly.

But if you have a fairly difficult smooth shape, the organic loft method can sort of give you the most detailed control over it.

- Michael

ok, that's neat. I can use that in some other applications.
I was able to reproduce your first example. thanks again!

You're welcome David!

- Michael

OK I'm a pretty slow modeler...

By now you've made the jig, caught the fish, cleaned & eaten it.. :)

But here's what I set up.

Sweep, pick profile #1

Select rail 2 & 3

Select scaling rail #4

3dm file attached...

thanks! that works good too. I appreciate that.