Designing, Modelling, Assembly and Photo-Realistic Rendering of American Chopper
Designing, Modelling, Assembly and Photo-Realistic Rendering of American Chopper
Objective:-
# To design and model each component required to make assembly of American Chopper and finally make a Photorealistic Rendering of the complete assembly of American Chopper.
# Mastering various features of Solidworks (Viz. Extrude boss/base, Extrude cut, Revolve Boss/Base, Revolve cut, Swept Boss/Base, Swept cut, Lofted Boss/Base, lofted cut, usage of various types of fillets, usage of different types of pattern in sketching as well as in solid modeling, usage of the shell command, usage of mirror option, also mastering some surface tools like Extrude surface, swept surface, lofted surface, the boundary surface, usage of the knit surface command.) by designing and modeling of American Chopper.
Introduction:-
In this project, we will sketch and build a complete American Chopper using SOLIDWORKS.
We will learn how to create cut extrudes, revolve cuts, lofts, circular patterns for modeling - setting up of reference planes - curve generation - projected curve creation understanding how to insert the parts in assembly workspace - the creation of mates - the difference between float and fix parts - Width mates application.
We will also learn how to create photo-realistic renderings with real-time appearances and views.
The following list is the key parts/models we will be dealing with under solid modeling using SOLIDWORKS.
- 1. Transmission belt, front & rear fender modeling
- 2. Chain, side stand & pedals modeling
- 3. Front & rear wheel modeling
- 4. Engine modeling
- 5. Chassis for American Chopper designing
- 6. Front fork designing
- 7. Oil tank designing
- 8. Creating the assembly of American Chopper
- 9. Performing the rendering on assembly created by using Photoview 360 and SOLIDWORKS Visualise as the rendering tool
Design Methodology/ Approach:-


Description:-
1. Transmission Belt
Design and modeling of transmission belt include a simple sketch which includes some constraints. We provided the thickness of 3mm in the sketch itself. The fully defined sketch is then followed by the Extrude Boss/Base feature in the feature tab by which we provided width of 32mm. Finally, we provided the fillet on the edges allover our belt.
2. Kickstand
The design of the kickstand includes a variation of the section from one plane to another plane up to the next section along the guided path. So, we have made an elliptical sketch on a front plane. Then we have made a curve on a midplane passing through the center of an ellipse which we have made on the front plane. The curve will act as a guided curve for the kickstand or we can say the curve for which we need our kickstand to be designed. Afterward, we have added a plane perpendicular to the curve at its endpoint. Then we have added a sketch of an ellipse that is of a smaller size than earlier. Finally, we used the Lofted Boss/Bass feature from the feature tab in which we have added two sections and a guided curve on the midplane to developed a kickstand profile. We also used the split feature to make a flat surface which will act as a rest surface for the kickstand on the ground. In the split feature, we can remove or cut the portion of the model as required by making proper reference as a sketch such as a line. We used a dome at the ends of each section to add an aesthetic look to the stand.



3. Front and Rear Fender:-
As we can observe fender is a circular part having constant cross-section. We have designed front and rear fender in Solidworks by using a revolve feature. Revolve feature requires a sketch or a sketch of a cross-section to be revolved around a selected axis. So we have created a sketch on a vertical plane and created an axis at the origin by using the reference geometry tab. After creating revolve parts as per the required angle we used the split feature to create the aesthetic look at the front and the rear end offender. The split feature includes the creation of a sketch parallel to the surface to be cut and we can select the part to be cut.




4. Chain:-
The chain of the bike is an assembly of different links and pin together. But we have designed it as a single part. For this, we have used the creating the blocks feature. We have created sketch blocks and then we recall them to create links and pin of the chain by using the extrude boss/base feature. After designing links and a pin we have used a curved driven pattern feature to pattern these links along the desired path and finally, we get the complete chain.






5. Oil Tank
For the creation and design of the oil tank, we have used two extrusions perpendicular to reach others. We have created a sketch on each perpendicular plane and used the extrude boss/base tool to concert sketches into split bodies. We then used the Combine tool to create the desired shape of the oil tank.



6. Pedal
For the design of the pedal, we have created a basic sketch using proper constraints. This sketch is then used for creating different solid extrusions by using the extrude boss/base feature. Then we have used the linear pattern for creating multiple rings over the footrest.




7. Front and Rear Wheel
For the design of the front and rear wheel, we have again used a revolve feature which includes creating a sketch as a cross-section. We created a rim's outer part by using a revolve feature and then created an inter part called alloys by creating a sketch and then excluding it. We then used a circular pattern to create 3 numbers of alloys.
After creating a rim we created a brake disc by using extrude boss/base feature but this time we do not use the merge option and created it as a subpart. Similarly, brake caliper has been designed and change is added for a better pathetic look.
Finally, the rubber part or outer part of the wheel is designed by revolving features, and grips are made by using extrude boss/base, and tire grips are made by extruding and patterning.






8. Front Fork
As we observe front fork, the design is symmetric about mid-portion. We followed the same methodology in design. we have designed half portion first and then mirror it about midface. we use revolve feature to create a lower bar which is a step bar then to create a handle and break wire we used the project curve option. Project Curve feature uses the sketches on perpendicular planes and creates a new 3D curve which is a result of the intersection of two curves on each perpendicular plane. After creating a 3D curve we use swept boss/ base feature to create handle and wire. Finally, we mirrored the part and gets the final part.






9. Chassis
For the design of the chassis, we require some kind of reference regarding its length and some curve parts. So we insert an image in the sketch for reference. We then used the project curve feature to create a 3D curve for the bottom part of the chassis and then we used a swept boss/base feature. By using the covert entities feature we create a sketch by taking reference from the image and by applying the swept feature we created the rear portion of the chassis. Similarly, the front portion of the chassis is created by taking reference from the inserted image.






10. Engine
As we did earlier we followed the same methodology. we insert an image in the sketch for reference. By taking reference from the image and using the Extrude boss/base feature we created a gearbox and combustion chamber. We then created fins on the combustion chamber bu using the extrude cut and linear pattern features. Finally, by using the project curve feature we created 3D curves for exhausts and uses swept features to create a solid body for exhaust.






11. Gas Tank
As we can see, gas tank involves lot of curved surfaces. So we tried to design it by using surface tools. We first inserted an image for reference. By taking reference we created a top surface of the tank by using a swept surface tool. The swept surface tool uses two sketches on perpendicular to each other. one will then act as a width of the surface while the other one guides the surface along the length. As per the requirement of the shape of the tank, we then trim this surface by using the trim surface tool. Creating the other surfaces we first created curves by using the Project curve feature. We then use the boundary surface tool to create surface enclosed by these curves. similarly, we used surface loft command to create more surfaces. We used a split line tool to create an extrusion over the top surface to creat seat. We also used a knit surface tool to convert the surface body into solid and finally, we used shell feature to create a hollow tank with considerable thickness.






Assembly:-

Photo Realistic rendering using Photoview 360:-
- Camera Setup View



- Isometric view

- Front view

- Top view

- Side View


- Some other Renders




Conclusion:-
1. The parts of the chopper are sketched and modeled in Solidworks.
2. The parts are inserted into the assembly environment and applying proper mates chopper is assembled.
3. The realistic image was rendered by using Photoview 360.