Cineversity

Hi, I’m modelling a speaker and the front has a metal grill surface.  Basically I have modelled it by combining N-side splines with a rectangle in a spline mask to recreate the mesh cool.  My question is what do you think is the best way to bend said mesh?  Basically the mesh wraps around the front of the speaker and bolts onto the top and bottom. So at the very top it curls past 90 degrees.  I’ve been struggling with it as I’m still a rookie when it comes modelling. The most success I’ve had is with an FFD deformer. It works but it’s kind of cumbersome to do I find and I figure there must be a cleaner easier way.  I also tried a surface deformer hoping I could just deform it with a rounded cube but couldn’t get it to work properly.  Any advice?  I’ve attached pictures of the speaker for reference.

Thanks
Eli

Hi Eli,

Let’s check first a model method to get a model which can be easily updated, and then look into Surface Deformer. (To use a Cube means to set the UV data for your purposes!)

I have—however—recreated your set up, so far possible with the given data. I created a honey comb object, and used it to create an Edge-to-Spline object. I had no trouble doing deforming it with the Surface Deformer. Which allowed me to test what could be the reason for the problem. What doesn’t work at all, is, when the caps are “on”. Was that not shut off perhaps in your model.
A scene file would be helpful. Here is mine, and the connections are not perfect, hence—why I will show you a different route.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/zTwHMJ4aUS8E6J1UlC3it48xvBCf9ENj4N5rxlnIUQ4?ref_=cd_share_link_copy_flash

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I had to do this for friend, many years back, for a Silicon Graphics computer ad-animation, nearly a decade ago.

Perhaps a little bit too long, but to get this honey-comb pattern is described here:
http://www.cineversity.com/vidplaytut/mograph_hexa_honeycomp
It is an older clip.

A series that might help:
http://www.cineversity.com/vidplaytut/industrial_modeling_-_holes_part_01
Part five and later perhaps especially

Based on creating with two “Plane” objects the hexa pattern base, as discussed in the tutorial, you just can use (see attachment. disc.1 or disc.3 [scaled]) a shape like this, to create a structure as needed. This allows an easy replacement of the core file, even a dummy/proxy is possible.

This allows you to have a nice and clean low-res mesh. Which would be impossible to bend. Where you need to bend it extremely, you can cut [Knife: Line/all options unchecked:visible, n-gons, etc.]

With tis established, the front needs perhaps some cuts as well. But less than the rounded sides. Being straight cuts allows the Phong tag to do the work. See file 02.

I have worked from top to bottom [Object Manager], I hope that guides your exploration. My file is sketch - use a cut-guide - or constrain the Knife [shift key]

Let me know if there is a question. Perhaps try to have the cuts in the single object already, with symmetry in mind, so points connect to points!

All the best

As an alternative, there is of course the option to pre cut (… cuts must fit in hexa pattern! A unified sub-division might be possible, but it could show up)
If this is done, a Spline Wrap can be used.
To expand the structure, expand the Planes. The size can be eyeballed [as in the sketch above] or set based on the hexa [see image] size and a multiple thereof. The planes are ofset to each other in the same size, but not multiplied; See Coord.

Sounds all cryptic right now, but go one time through and it should become clear.

My best wishes

You wrote that the Surface Deformer didn’t worked for you. I thought that this was worth the time to explore. My intention is here to give you the trust back of this option. As aside-effect, I wanted to check out - if I was correct with my “cut-straight” advice. [I think I was, even in a small scale, this is less of a concern, but that is up to you to decide.]

In the image you might notice a rough not-so-roundish shape: to fix that, go to the Loft object, and there to the “Mesh Subdivision U” to increase the value.

So, here another example. I hope the few examples illustrate a little bit better the idea.  There are other options to get this done, I hope the “Industrial Holes” series will support that target. Otherwise, please ask. :o)

Enjoy.

Another option would be to have everything “adjustable”.

Short intro, no sound 01:18 min:sec.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/dBhb86n35pUkPHD9MWZX2JeOoO3ivfcgtl0kXAyupVk?ref_=cd_share_link_copy_flash

Just set the segments needed [Plane] and the radius [Disc] even the inner radius, everything else is then done with XPresso. Note that Width need an even Number of segments. (marked with the yellow layer-chip, see image). If the thickness needs adjustment: Cloth Surface object.

I hope that makes everything much simpler.

To place it under a Subdivision Surface might be nice. ;o)

My best wishes

Wow this great thanks for all the suggestions here.  I didn’t get the email for some reason saying that someone had posted so I didn’t even know your responded.  I ended up making it work by creating the pattern with n spines and a cloner and then connecting all the dropping it in with a rectangle in a spline mask and bending it with the Deformer.  I will download these all now and go through them and see if what else I can learn though much appreciated!

Thanks a lot, Eli!

This e-mail failure is pretty annoying, I agree. Sadly enough, it is not the first time.
I’m not even close to be able to know the “why” or being in charge of that, but I’m sorry that you have to experience that.
Edit: However, I got a message that soon someone will take care of it./edit :o)
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I think the last suggestion might be the fastest. ;o) I hope it helps in the future.

Have a nice day