Hello matur61,

You could probably create a curve set in MoI and import that into Rhino and use TSplines to build this out, or just import the image reference into Rhino although I find the image options in MoI a little more friendly. If you want that model as NURBs it's counterproductive to model that in a poly modeler and the import it into Rhino with TSplines, just model that in Tsplines, you'll end up with a much cleaner result and you'll be able to modify that design with much less effort if you'd like to move points around.

Guys from our Russian community made this staff using MOI. They used sweep....

Very neat results!

Those Russians... Damn!

Lovely results

Thanks for these examples.
I'm quite new to modeling and I'll explore the sweep possibilities.

Are you aware of any tutorial or How To around the web regarding the images (or similar) you posted?

Thanks in any case for your kind help

Regards

Andrei,
Very hard to wrap my mind around the idea of Sweep getting those results. Beautiful!
Ron

How do you intend to use the model?

If it's for a rendered image, modeling in polys will give you better results for less effort/time.

If you need the model to actually make a physical part, there are reasons for choosing to model in polys or nurbs

3D printing and CNC routers can use polys to make parts in plastic or wood.

If the need is to make a steel mold (ie. for injection molding, some types of casting, or stamping) or a steel part, then you will need a nurbs model. Although milling machines that cut steel can use polys, the poly model is almost universally rejected for this.

My goal is to use these models to make parts both with a router and 3D printing.
Definitely I want to add to my CAD project (I use Alibre, now Geomagic)

For sure I'll continue to use moi3D but if there is a more suitable software, for these purposes, to insert in my pipeline I'd
be greatful if you could suggest me some hints.

Thanks

Something like Zbrush can maybe help you :)
http://forum.zbrush.fr/index.php?topic=8210.0

Is there a valid cheaper alternative ?
If there is , of course.
Thanks

Blender or Sculptris are free! ;)
http://www.blender.org/
http://pixologic.com/sculptris/

Also 3D-Coat has a similar type of displacement brush stroke type approach.
http://3d-coat.com/

- Michael

Producing these ornamental designs as polygon models can be more time efficient, and give you a more fluid result, than what you would get with nurbs.

One advantage of using nurbs in this situation is if you wanted to reuse the models at a variety of sizes.

If you model in polys and discover later that you need to reproduce your model much larger, you would then have to increase the number of polys in your model so you don't see them in the finished part. While this can be done fairly quickly and with good results in many poly modeling applications, at some point the size increase might require rebuilding the model.

Another advantage of nurbs is that boolean functions like joining or subtraction typically don't cause issues for 3d printing. However, these functions can break solids in a poly modeler, so they might need to be repaired in a specialized program so they can be printed successfully.

Hi matur61,

Here's a video by a friend showing how he went about making a fleur-de-lis using Rhino.
Although your design is much more complicated, hopefully this video will be of some use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6Sui8SR78

regards Colin