Hard surface modeling in MODO

This will be the first step in the modeling. We will start modeling a basic version of the rim, then tweaking it until we get a good structure to work with.

We will continue with the general construction of this particular model. Since it´s a radial shape, we will focus on modeling one part and replicating it later to conform that kind of shape. We will be making elegant, smooth modeling since the beginning, using the subdivision mode to smoothen your mesh and always caring for a good polygon flow.

Having the strokes modeled as some kind of general structure, we will take care of generating the outer structure of the rim. You will learn how to get perfectly circular shapes to insert your geometry and getting a perfect transition from one area to another.

Detailing is a mandatory phase in 3D modeling. Once you have the big picture, you must go deeper in the model and start adding those little (or not so little) addings that will make it pop up.

We are modeling a tyre & rim, so we´re dealing with mostly symmetric shapes. This is 50% an easy and hard stage. Mirroring is kind of a 1-click action, but then you will have to deal with not so symmetrical areas. Don´t get scared for this. If you keep it simple and well organized, the task is done.

In this stage, the rim is almost done, but we need to finish it properly. Subdivision surfaces always have that overall blobby-smoothed look you need to avoid. By using the geometry density wisely and knowing how to work with edge weighting, we will make a lot more interesting and close to real life shape.

The easiest way to build the tyre is by creating a profile to work with. In this lesson we will see how to make a good profile, not only in the correct shape, but also perfectly fitting the rim shape.

Now, this is the fun part. Of course you can always apply some tricks like displacement maps to generate a tread pattern, but I want you to face the problem of modeling with real geometry. So, we will be modeling the pattern, and make it bend around the tyre surface.

I will use this lesson to show another cool method to get complex shapes with the less effort. The brake caliper is the perfect example for this. First of all we will rough the general shape by placing some simple objects without worrying about geometry or mesh flow.

Another stage of refining the base mesh of the caliper and making it more interesting. We will finish having some really nice intersecting geometry with some holes in it, but we´re not done yet.

This is the funny part. By using the retopology tools, we will generate a closed single mesh out from our messy base shape for an elegant and flow-perfect result.

Of course, our caliper mesh will be also smoothed using the subdivision mode to get nice flowy lines, but this implies we need to sharpen some edges, while leaving the rest smooth and soft. As we did in the rim lessons, we will use the geometry density method, but a lot more tricky.

We´re almost done with this piece, and we only need some final touches and details. But don´t think the details will be a minor thing if you´re not very skilled in modeling. Even at a small scale like this, modeling details must be done with method and proficiency to make it work.

Surely we could solve the logo print with a simple texture, but this is all about modeling. And the logo will be an object itself that must be modeled. First of all, let´s rough the shape of it.

Now that we have the result, we must of course clean our mesh. This means assuring a good flow of the polygons, getting rid of triangles, trying to get an all-quad mesh and so on. It´s always a time consuming task, but also a great exercise for getting the hang of a lot of tools.

Finally we have a correct mesh and we can place our logo in its proper place

This will be a great exercise to combine the use of the radial cloning tools, use of the subdivision mesh controls and organization. It´s NOT about creating a disc and making some booleans to make holes. We will make it all polygonal.

By applying the methods and tools we´ve been learning, we will learn how to make the central bolt that unites all the braking system to the rim itself. It will also have some screws and round holes in a radial pattern.

Finally the model is (almost) fully done and we need to put all the spare parts together, making some fixes and adjustments to make sure it all assembles nicely.

The devil is in the details, they say. Another round of adding little objects here and there to make our model more interesting.

When going across the whole process there will be some situations where we will realize that what is shown in the blueprints just can´t be done. It happens almost always unless you are working over a technical document. Let´s see the decisions we will need to make so everything can fall into place without sacrificing the general concept of the design.

Now it´s time to make your awesome model look gorgeous. Check how a very simple lightning and a few materials from the preset panel can make a really eye-catching image.

To have our final image more editable later in the composition, we will learn how to render our model with a transparent background, but keeping the contact shadows intact by using the shadow catcher. Besides we will cover some aspects of the render and materials settings to easily avoid the usual problems such as noise, splotches and the like.

Before publishing this course, I´ve been showing the exercise to some people for feedback. They were unforgiving. And that´s good. We will be facing some kind of error fixing here, nothing terrible, but something we can´t definitely let it be. After that, the real challenge: Modeling the tyre and the tread pattern in one single mesh.

In this lesson we will see a problem you will face when dealing with such intricate shape as the one we are doing. With the new profile modeled, suddenly I´ve found that I cannot make it work... and found a solution.

And this will be the full length explanation of how to solve the problem, and while in the process, how to treat our pattern like a real pattern, making it fit in a square space so it can work as a tileable geometry. Making it this way, the struggle of bending it around the tyre is completely gone.