How to 3D Design a Heart Shaped Ring in a 3D Modeling Software

Two techniques are used chiefly in the creation of jewelry. That is lost-wax casting and handcrafting. Although these techniques have been successfully used in creating jewelry over the years, the methods have had their disadvantages. For example, creating customized varieties of jewelry is time-consuming and fixing the errors is too expensive.

But with the advent of 3D printing technology, it’s easier to create customized jewelry with much ease, though producing them in masses requires large commercial 3D printers. With 3D modeling software, it’s trouble-free to prepare customized jewelry. In case something needs to be rectified, you can quickly do so in CAD software. 

There are many available 3D modeling software that you can use to design jewelry, but the one that we shall be using in this article is SelfCAD. SelfCAD is a CAD program that is easy to use as it has a simplified interface that you can navigate effortlessly. There are online as well as downloadable versions. 

To 3D design a ring in SelfCAD, we will be using tools like Sphere Shape, 3D-Sketch, Mirror, Scale, and Torus tools. In addition to learning how to 3D model a ring, you will also learn how the various tools of SelfCAD work.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: 3D design the Object  

We are going to design a sphere to build a heart-shaped ring on it. Select the Sphere from the 3D shape category (P+S). We are using a sphere as just a base to 3D design the mirror shape. Set the parameters according to requirements. Set Radius to 100. Finalize the Sphere. As you can see in the 3D design below, we have created a normal sphere with a large radius. 

Step 2: 3D model the Heart Shape 

Select 3D Sketch from the Drawing Category(K). The sphere is the most common circular shape used to create the different circular shapes. In parameters, activate Arc 2 (K+2). Next, set Drawing mode to Objects. There are many other options in a panel like Line, Spline, and text. Arc is basically a section of the circle. Here, we are going to 3D design the heart shape. So arcs will be more convenient to make a heart shape. 

Now click on the sphere point to draw an arc and keep the next point to draw the arc. 

Close the Transformation Panel. So, we have created the half heart shape. 

Step 3: Complete the Heart Shape 

Select Mirror from the Utilities Category (U+I). The mirror is the most amazing tool to create the mirror version object. 

Here, in parameters set to copy to true, because we want to design the copy of previously made half heart shape. Set the Direction to Right as our first half is on the left side then finalize the Mirror. 

 

Look at the beautiful Heart shape!

Step 4: Merge both the Half Hearts 

Next select the 3D designs by clicking on profile_1(1) to select the object as profile_1 is already selected. 

Then choose Merge Object in Utilities Category from the toolbar (U+E).

We have just merged two 3D designs. These make it easier to handle more 3D objects. 

Step 5: Activate Scale 

Select Scale Tool (S) and set x to 35.

Next, we will Activate Round Object: From the Modify category on the Toolbar, choose Round Object (M+R).

Set the smoothness to 5. 

Finalize the Round Object. Next select objects: Click on profile_1 to deselect the object.

Step 6: Convert the basic shape into a 3D model

Select 3D Sketch from the Drawing Category(K).  Next, set Drawing mode to Planes. Now we have to activate the Circle: From the tool panel, choose Circle (K+C). Draw the circle by selecting one point on the sphere. We are taking Radius as 4, so type 4 value in Radius Measurement. Complete the circle, click on the point. Close the 3D Sketch Panel. 

 

Click on profile_1 to select it as profile_2 is already selected. 

Now we will copy the selected 3D objects: For this, we will use Follow Path. Select Follow Path(T+P) and finalize it. 

Step 7: Simplify and delete the sphere

Activate the Simplify Object tool (M+S). Set the Parameter: Set Intensity to 5. Finalize and Close the Panel. Select Inverse Selection tool(R+I). Next, click on the Delete button to delete the selected Object (Del Key). We have just deleted the Sphere. 

Step 8: Create the Ring shape

Activate Torus from the 3D Shape category (P+T keys). We are using Torus to create the round ring portion. There are other ways to create such 3D designs, but we use Torus as this is the easiest method. Set Parameters: Set Tube Radius to 3, Tubular Segments to 20, Radial Segments to 40, Arc to 300, Position Y to 71, Position Z to 44, Rotation X to 64, Rotation z to 90. Finalize the Torus.

As you can see, it was easy to make the ring shape with the Torus tool.

Step 9: Select the edges of the 3D designs

Activate Edge Selection: Click on Activate Edge Selection (Ctrl+2). Click on the selection setting button to change selection settings. In parameters Set Loop Selection to True. Edge selection always makes it easy to select the edges, not the object. Click on the point or edges of the other end of the ring to select Loop from the Object. 

Close the Transformation Panel. 

Step 10: Smooth out the Edges of the 3D object

Select The Fillet from the Modify Category (M+F). Fillet is chamfering the object, making it smoother.

Set Intensity to 1, Level to 3. Finalize the Fillet. 

Activate Object Selection: Click on the object of Selection Object (Ctrl+0) to turn off region selection. 

Step 11: Activate Stitch and Scoop

Click on mesh_5 to select it, and mesh_9 is already selected. Next, click on the Stitch & Scoop tool from the Toolbar.Here in the tool panel, choose Union. Finalize the Union. We have just combined all the objects as a union. 

This is the Final Result.

We did it! What a lovely ring!

Conclusion:

We have 3D designed the Heart-shaped ring in SelfCAD. Now you can also 3D print it if you own a 3D-Printer. You can do this by converting it to a format that a 3D printer can understand. To do this, you can select the 3D Print tool, and it will direct you to the slicer, which you can use to generate the G-Code that contains the instructions on how the design will be printed. All in all, we hope you enjoyed and found the tutorial informative and handy. Keep experimenting and let us know your suggestions in the comments section below!

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Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.

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