Challenge 4 : Concept Modelling of Alloy Wheel
Challenge 1 & 2 : Renault Duster Alloy Wheel Design & BMW M4 Alloy Wheel Design
Objective :
The task is to design an alloy wheel by wireframe and surface modelling. Both challenges are accomplished by replicating the same methology used in modelling the alloy wheel to its desired shape and close to actual manufactured product.
Introduction :
The design of an alloy wheel is being created by setting up the blueprint followed by wireframe sketch of one part of the alloy wheel as the wheel is symmetrical by angle. Later the part is modelled by surfaces to give the right shape. Once the shape of the part is achieved, the part is mirrored into its opposite and then duplicated by calculating the number of spokes as in the blueprint. Hence the wheel is designed successfully.
Design Metholology :
Description :
Renault Duster Alloy Wheel
The bluprint is first setup by importing the image as a canvas under reference in the layer tab as IMAGE.
To explain in detail,
The outer circle and its subsequent inner circle are made to represent the rim. It is made by using skin tool.
The vertical line and the inclined line at 54 deg to the horizontal (after approximating) are made next. From these lines, 2 lines are duplicated 1 each from both of them to project on the skin surface to develop the blend after trimming the intersected skin.
A new circle smaller then existing circles are made as planar surface to depict the center of the wheel and its roundness at the center.
A 4th circle is also created to make a square from the interested lines and blend surface to bring the shape from the side view which can be explained as in the side view image.
After adjusting the blend to the original skin, the wireframe of the wheel is made by combination of lines, CV curves of deg 3 and span 1 to improve smoothness and blend curve as shown to be selected in the image above. This helps to curve out the spoke design to be achieved by using square and rail of 1 gen and 2 rail tools for the exterior portion of the wheel.
For the interior portion A new surface is created by introducting CV curves and blend curves proportional to the external portion curves to acheive the shape.
The surface of the 1st spoke is thus created.
After this step, the surface is mirrored by activating symmetry and enabling as a geometry. A circle is created to represent the wheel bolt to be assembled on the brake through the wheel. The unwanted surface is trimmed thus providing the 1st spoke design.
The final step is to duplicate by counting the number of spokes of the wheel. To duplicate, the option chosen is about Y axis.
Since the blueprint has 5 spokes, i.e 72 deg for each spoke's bilateral line, (360 deg/5), the surfaces are duplicated.
Hence the final wheel is modelled.
BMW M4 Alloy Wheel
As explained in the design process of making the Renault Duster alloy wheel, the BMW M4 uses a similar approach.
First the blueprint is setup as a canvas image, converting as reference under IMAGE tab under layer section.
The part of the spoke is design very similar to the Duster's alloy wheel but the shape of the M4's alloy wheel is different. It is done but sketching out all exterior and interior portions of the spoke. Morever the spokes need thickness to represent its depth in the horizontal method. The sketch is duplicated inward to create the depth surface.
Once the surface is created the unmirrored part of the spoke is shown in the below image.
The below image shows its well defined spoke.
The is later duplicated by counting the spokes of the alloy wheel. It is a 5 spoke alloy wheel as in the image. Hence 72 deg for each duplication.
Conclusion :
Finally both alloy wheels have been designed, which gives to a new understanding of using symmetry and duplicating geometries.