Photo Realistic Rendering
American Chopper Design and Modelling using SOLIDWORKS
Objectives
1. To design and model the exterior parts of an American Chopper(motorcycle).
2. To assemble the parts.
3. To create a photo realistic render of the Chopper.
Softwares Used
*Solidworks 2020
Photoview 360 (Solidworks add-in)
*Solidworks Visualize standard 2020
Introduction
A Chopper is a type of custom motorcycle. The chopper is perhaps the most extreme of all custom styles, often using radically modified steering angles and lengthened forks for a streched-out appearance.Some of the characteristic features of chopper are long front ends with extended forks often coupled with an increased rake angle,hardtail frames (frames without rear suspension), very tall "ape hanger" or very short "drag" handlebars, lengthened or stretched frames and larger than stock front wheels.
The first choppers were built in America and tended to be based on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Rather than being primarily performance oriented modifications, choppers are more about achieving a certain look.
So the purpose of this project is to create an asthetic model of a chopper using Solidworks and Solidworks Visualize.
1.Design and Modelling
Solid modelling was used predominantly for this chopper design except for the Gas Tank part, where Surface modelling was used.
1. Transmission Belt
Transmission Belt is a loop of flexible material used to link the two rotating shafts mechanically.
Commands used- Sketch, Extruded Boss, Offset Entities, Fillet.
(Sketch refers to the requisite geometry viz. line, circle, spline, arc, ellipse, straight slot, rectangle etc or a combination of them as well as the sketch relations applied between them viz. parallel, perpendicular, tangent, equal etc.)
2.Kickstand
Kickstand is used to support the vehicle by keeping it upright.
Commands Used- Sketch, Lofted Boss, Dome, Extruded Cut, Split body, Extruded Boss, Fillet.
3. Front Fender
Fender(mudguard) is a body that frames the wheel well (the fender underside). Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tyre.
Commands used- Sketch, Offset Entities, Revolved Boss, Split body, Fillet.
4. Rear Fender
Fender(mudguard) is a body that frames the wheel well (the fender underside). Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tyre.
Commands used- Sketch, Offset Entities, Revolved Boss, Split body, Fillet, Shell.
5.Oil Tank
Stores the oil for lubrication and cooling purposes.
Commands used- Sketch, Extruded Boss, Combine, Fillet, Shell(Internal).
6.Chain
Chain drive is used for transmission of mechanical power, in this case the power from the engine to the wheels of a vehicle.
Chain drive was a lenghty process as it required repetetion of various commands. But the Curve Driven Pattern and Mirror commands in Solidworks came handy in the case.
Commands used- Sketch, Make block, Extruded Boss, Fillet, Curve Driven Pattern (repeat for each path), Mirror.
7. Pedal
Used for placing the foot, applying brakes and shifting the gear in a motorcycle.
Commands used- Sketch, Extruded Boss, Fillet, Revolved Boss, Dome, Chamfer, Linear Pattern.
8. Front Wheel
The Front wheel consists of the unique spider web shaped rims, tyre, brake rotor and caliper.
Commands used- Sketch, Offset Entities, Convert Entities, Trim Entities, Revolved Boss, Extruded Boss, Extruded Cut, Revolved Cut, Circular Pattern, Combine, Fillet, Chamfer.
9. Rear Wheel
The wider but stockier rear wheel consists of the unique spider web shaped rims, tyre, brake rotor, caliper and sprocket.
Commands used- Sketch, Offset Entities, Convert Entities, Trim Entities, Revolved Boss, Extruded Boss, Extruded Cut, Revolved Cut, Circular Pattern, Combine, Fillet, Chamfer.
10. Front Fork
The Fork connects the front wheel and axle to its frame, typically via a yoke, also known as a triple clamp, which consists of an upper yoke joined to a lower yoke via a steering stem, a shaft that runs through the steering head, creating the steering axis.
Commands used- Sketch, Revolved Boss, Extruded Boss, Fillet, Linear Pattern, Extruded Cut, Dome, Revolved Cut, Move/Copy Body, Project Curve, Swept Boss, Mirror, Combine.
11. Chassis
Chassis/Frame is the motorcycle's core structure. It supports the engine, provides a location for the steering and supports the rear end and the rider along with any passenger or luggage. The fuel tank is attached to the frame.
Commands used- Sketch, Covert Entities, Project Curve, Swept Boss, Mirror, Extruded Boss, Extruded Cut, Chamfer, Fillet, Dome, Split body, Combine.
2. Engine
An engine powers a motorcycle. Here, a V-twin engine, also called a V2 engine is used. It is a two- cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a 'V' configuration. The Vee configuration generally reduces the overall engine length, height and weight compared with an equivalent inline configuration.
Commands used- Sketch, Convert Entities, Extruded Boss, Revolved Boss, Fillet, Circular Pattern, Dome, Extruded Cut, Chamfer, Linear Pattern, Mirror, Split Body, Swept Boss, Combine, Project Curve, Composite Curve.
13. Gas Tank
Unlike other parts where Solid Modelling was used, gas tank was majorly designed using Surface modelling, given its curvy geometry.
Commands used- Sketch, Convert Entities, Swept Surface, Trim Surface, Project Curve, Lofted Surface, Boundary Surface, Mirror, Knit Surface, Split line, Extruded Surface, Fillet, Swept Cut, Shell.
2. Assembly
Assembled the parts of the chopper using relations, Standard Mates(Coincident, Parallel, Tangent, Perpendicular, etc), Advanced Mates (Symmetric, Width, Angle, etc) and Mirroring.
Plane orientation/alignment was taken care of while performing the mating.
Some parts like kickstand and front fork needed a limiting angle which was set while applying mates. Some parts had to be edited to avoid any bad geometry from showing up in the assembly.
Front view of Assembly
Side view of Assembly
Rear view of Assembly
Top view of Assembly
Isometric view of Assembly
3.Rendering
Rendering the model was done using Photoview 360 in Solidworks and Solidworks Visualize.
Decals were applied in the case of Oil Tank, Gas Tank and Rear Fender during the final model rendering stage.
1. Photoview 360 (Solidworks add-in)
Rendering using Photoview 360 involved setting the Scene, Environment, Camera, Perspective and Lights by adjusting various parameters. Extra mates were added to give a realistic view of the scene.
Colour adjustments were done if required.
Render using Photoview 360 with decals
2.Solidworks Visualize
The assembly was imported to Solidworks Visualize and various adjustments in colour were done in case of multiple renderings. The Environment, Backplate and Camera positions were choosen and tweaked accordingly to give the image a photorealistic finish.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oO6skme9aIT0-nAnH3im6e-E5wr2m6LE/view?usp=sharing