How to 3D Design a Flash Drive in a 3D Modeling Software

Whether you are a beginner, amateur, or a professional who would like some ideas for 3D designing, we would like to show you how you can 3D design a flash drive in 3D modeling software. The software that we are using is SelfCAD as it’s easy to use and you don’t need to have studied anything related to design to be able to learn how to 3D model.

The interactive tutorials feature of SelfCAD also is handy as it tends to be more exciting and easy-breezy and makes learning 3D modeling easy. In this tutorial, you will get to know how to 3D design a Flash Drive using SelfCAD. You will also get to learn more about Polygon, Wireframe, Chamfer, Fillet, and many more tools of SelfCAD. 

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Begin by 3D Designing a Cylinder

Let’s begin with the design of a cylinder. Select the Cylinder from the basic shapes section or use the shortcut (P+Y). Set the Parameters as follows: Top Radius to 15, Bottom Radius to 15, Height to 12, and Vertical Segment to 64. We are using the cylinder shape to create the foundation of the Flash Drive. The dimensions that we have used are basic dimensions. We can change the dimensions afterward as per our need. 

Finalize the Cylinder. 

Step 2: Turn on Wireframe Mode

Next, Click on Wireframe to activate the Rendering Mode or use the shortcut (V+W). The wireframe will help us work on the Topology with more clarity. The wireframe is a structure that keeps a solid body in view. This feature is very engaging and valuable when you have to create a complex body. 

Step 3: Activate Vertex

Click on Activate Vertex Selection or use (Ctrl+3). 

Basically, the Vertex is a minor component of a Polygon. It’s the point on the shape where all the faces get connected. With the Vertex tool, we can easily make precise changes. 

As you can see, in the image, the vertex points are highlighted. Select Regions: Now, we will select the parts of the object that are vertices. We are going to choose half of the vertices from the top and bottom. Click on the regions you need to select or use marquee selection, which is the right button on the Mouse.

Step 4: Shape the Cylinder

From the toolbar section, click the Move tool: With this, we will shape the cylinder. Set x to 0, y to 0, and z to -100. With this, x and y will be at the same position, but vertices will be moved to the z-axis. 

Step 5: Modifying the Top and Bottom Sections of the 3D model

Choose the Polygon Selection from the selection modes. With Polygon, we will get the idea to add much broader modifications. We will be adding modifications to the top and bottom of the 3D object. Click on the region to select it. 

Step 6: Select Solid+Wireframe Options

Click on Solid+Wireframe to choose the Rendering Mode. Solid plus wireframe will help us work on the Topology. You can select just the wireframe, but here we set both as we can see individual segments. 

Deselect the Regions.

Step 8: Smooth the Edges Using Fillet Tool

Click on the Regions to select or use marquee selection. 

From the Modify Category of the Toolbar, choose Fillet. This is to smoothen the Edges. Set Intensity to 2.4 and Level to 4. 

You can increase or decrease the Intensity and Level as per requirement. Finalize the Fillet. 

Step 9: Modifying the Parts

Click the parts from the selection cube to turn off the region selection. 

With this, we can select the parts of the 3D object, but not the region. 

Set Back to 100. We are modifying just these parts. 

Finalize the Cube Selection. 

Step 10: Splitting the 3D Design

Select the Split tool from the utility category of the Toolbar. With this, we are splitting the 3D Object. 

Click on Move from the toolbar. With Move, we will set the distance between them. Set x to 0, y to 0, and z to 40. Close the Transformation Panel.

Step 11: Adding Thickness to the 3D Model

Select Add Thickness Tool from the Modify Category of the Toolbar. Set the Thickness to -1. Negative value adds the thickness inside the 3D object.  Finalize the Add Thickness.

 

 

Click on the Highlighted part of Selection to turn off region selection. Now we will move on to other parts. Click on mesh_4 to select it. Click on mesh_5 to deselect it. 

Step 12: Filling the Hollow Section of the 3D Object

From the Toolbar, select the Tool category and choose Fill Polygon or use the shortcut (T+F). 

With this, we are going to fill the hollow part of the design. 

Finalize the Polygon. 

We will again select Polygon from the Toolbar, select the Tool category and choose Fill Polygon. 

Select the Polygon we’ve just created; we are going to edit it. 

We are editing this polygon to make both the 3D objects fit together, making it look like a flash drive. 

Step 13: Modify the Parts by Creating Insets

Choose Inset tool from the Modify Category of the Toolbar, or use the shortcut (M+I). Add Option: In advanced settings, click on Add Option. Here, set Operation to Extrusion and Amount to 3. This will extrude the Inset. 

Again, click on Add Option. Here, set Operation to Extrusion and Amount to 0.5. Finalize the setting. 

This is how it looks. 

Step 14: Smoothening the Edges of the 3D Model

Furthermore, we are going to be more precise with the 3D object. Click on Activate Edge Selection or use the shortcut (Ctrl+2). Now deselect the previously edited regions. 

Select the Edges and then from the Modify Category of the Toolbar, choose Fillet or use the shortcut (M+F). This is to smoothen the Edges. Set Intensity to 0.2 and Level to 3. 

You can increase or decrease the Intensity and Level as per requirement. Finalize the Fillet. 

This gives us smooth edges. 

Step 15: Select the Faces

Select Face Selection. This will help us to select the Inset more precisely. 

Now we will select the regions. 

Step 16: Add Smoothness to the 3D design

Choose Inset from the Modify Category of the Toolbar. 

Set Inset Amount to 0.63. Click Add Option. Here, set Operation to Extrusion, and Amount to -1. 

Click Add Option. Here, set Operation to Inset and Amount to 0.1. 

Finalize the Inset. 

Click on Activate Edge Selection and deselect the previously selected region. The Inset that we created will add smoothness to the edges. So select the edges that we’ve just created. 

Step 17: Smoothing the Edges of the 3D Design

From the Modify Category of the Toolbar, choose Fillet. This is to smoothen the Edges. Set Intensity to 0.2 and Level to 3. You can increase or decrease the Intensity and Level as per requirement. Finalize the Fillet. 

So we have smoothened the Edges. 

Step 18: Create The Inserting Part of the Flash model

Choose the Cube tool from the 3D shape category of the toolbar. Set Width to 14, height to 3, Depth to 19, Width Segment to 8, Depth Segment to 12, Position Y to 45, and Position Z to 4. 

We have created a cube in its perfect location. 

Step 19: Activate the Wireframe Mode

Select the polygons then Click on Wireframe to activate the Rendering Mode. The wireframe will help us work on the Topology with more clarity.

 Select all the faces except the bottom face. Next, click on Delete to delete the selected parts of the 3D object or use the shortcut (Del).

This is how to create the cube hollow. 

Select the Edges then click on Solid+Wireframe to activate the Rendering Mode. Solid plus wireframe will help us work on the Topology. 

Click on the Region to make the cube more precise. 

Step 20: Create a Rift Around the Edges of the 3D Design

Choose Chamfer from the Modify Category of the Toolbar.

Set the Parameters as follows: Intensity to 0.1, Fill Edges to Fill, and Fill corners to false. This will create a rift around the edges. 

Step 21: Activate Wireframe Mode Again

Click on Activate Face Selection. Next, Click on Wireframe to activate the Rendering Mode or use the shortcut (V+W). The wireframe will help us to work on the Topology with more clarity.

Next, select the regions. Then, click on Delete to delete the selected object.

These were to create, delete, and make holes that will look like a USB. Activate Object Selection: Click on the Highlighted part of the selected object to turn off region selection. Click on Solid to activate the Rendering Mode, or use the shortcut (V+S). 

It looks like a real drive now. 

Step 22: Add Thickness to the 3D Model to make it Easily Printable

Select Add Thickness tool from the Modify Category of the Toolbar. Set the Thickness to -0.1. Negative value adds the thickness inside the object.  Finalize the Add Thickness. This thickness added inside makes it precisely printable.

Create Object: Choose the Cube tool from the 3D shape category of the toolbar. Set Width to 13.7, Height to 1, Depth to 27, Width Segment to 9, and Position Y to 6.4. 

Step 23: Extrude the 3D Design

Activate the Face selection. Click on Activate Face Selection. Now we will select the regions. 

Activate Extrusion: From the Modify Category of the toolbar, choose Extrusion. Set Parameters as follows: Extrusion Amount to 0.1. Finalize the Extrusion. 

Select the Highlighted part of the selected Object to turn off region selection. 

Viola! We are done. Now you can color the model. 

Select the Object. Select mesh_4, mesh_5, and choose color picker. How about we go for a nice red?

Next select mesh_13, select the Color as black and mesh_9 as gray. 

Conclusion:

All said and done, 3D designing a Flash Drive involves a variety of Tools. It may seem tedious at first, but it gets easier with this tutorial, which offers a sure-fire way to create specific 3D objects inside-out. Try it out yourself. You can even 3D print it once you finish 3D designing. Also, check out the other interactive tutorials, Video tutorials, and blog posts to learn more about 3D modeling. Kindly reach out to us if you have any problems or concerns. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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