3D Designing a Spiky Massage Ball in a 3D Design Software
After a hectic day, we all need some relaxation. What tool do you use to feel relaxed? Maybe a spiky Massage Ball is what you are looking for. A massage ball is a familiar object that you may have come across. Massage balls with spikes are slightly different but more effective. The spiky massage balls improve blood flow and make you feel relaxed. The spiky structure is to release the tension created in muscles. Mostly, these balls are made up of Rubber.
You don’t need to buy this tension reliever. You can easily design it. And if you are passionate about 3D designing, an excellent 3D design software - SelfCAD- is here to assist you! This tutorial is very simple and you don’t need to have experience in 3D modeling to be able to follow and design your own. Let’s get going!
Step 1: Create a new Object
First of all, let’s create a circular shape. The massage ball’s shape is more symmetrical. Creating a symmetric shape is not that much of a hustle. We are using a sphere and that involves 3D designing the circle.
Activate Sphere: Click on Sphere from the 3D shape Category of the Toolbar, or use the shortcut (P+S). Set Y to 50. Finalize the Sphere. You can check out the Sphere Video Tutorial. This will show the changes that you can make and how it looks.
Step 2: Create a new Object
Now let us activate the Capsule. Select the Capsule from the 3D shape category or use a shortcut (P+E). With the capsule, we are creating a spiky structure. Set the Parameters as follows: Top Radius to 3, Bottom Radius to 4, Height to 15, Position Y to 96, and Rotation X to 90.
Finalize the Capsule.
Step 3: Activate Copy Offset
From the Tools Category of the Toolbar, choose Copy Offset or use the shortcut (T+O). Set Operation to Pivot. There are many other options here, but pivot will help us get the shape we want. Set Amount Of Copies to 19. Click on the Copy button to create the Copies.
Close the Copy Offset Panel.
You can see that we have created spikes around the ball. Isn’t it amazing?
Step 4: Activate Rotate
Click on Rotate from the Toolbar or use the shortcut (R). Set X to 90 and close the transformation Panel.
Click on mesh_8, mesh_8(1), mesh_8(2), mesh_8(3), mesh_8(4), mesh_8(5) to deselect it.
Next, click on the Delete button to delete the selected object or use a shortcut (Del).
We have deleted the other spikes and just left them on one side.
Click on mesh_8(1) to select it.
Step 5: Activate Copy Offset
Active Copy Offset: From the Tools Category of the Toolbar, choose Copy Offset or use the shortcut (T+O). Set Operation to Pivot. Set Amount Of Copies to 3. Click on the Copy button to create the Copies.
Close the Copy Offset Panel.
Click on mesh_8(2) to select it. Click on mesh_8(1), mesh_8(20), mesh_8(21), mesh_8(22) to deselect it. Active Copy Offset: From the Tools Category of the Toolbar, choose Copy Offset or use the shortcut (T+O). Set Operation to Pivot. Set Amount Of Copies to 7. Click on the Copy button to create the Copies. Close the Copy Offset Panel.
How’s it going? 3D designing becomes easier when you understand the technique of creating objects. We are going in a circular motion, creating copies of spikes. We will just keep four spikes increased while copying the previous ones. Make sure to select only one spike in the direction that we are copying it.
Select the objects again and activate the Copy Offset tool from the Tools Category of the Toolbar or use the shortcut (T+O). Set Operation to Pivot. Set Amount Of Copies to 11. Click on the Copy button to create the Copies.
Close the Copy Offset Panel.
Next again we will select the object and activate Copy Offset: From the Tools Category of the Toolbar, choose Copy Offset or use the shortcut (T+O). Set Operation to Pivot. Set Amount Of Copies to 15. Click on the Copy button to create the Copies.
Close the Copy Offset Panel.
Active Copy Offset: From the Tools Category of the Toolbar, choose Copy Offset or use the shortcut (T+O). Set Operation to Pivot. Set Amount Of Copies to 19. Click on the Copy button to create the Copies.
Close the Copy Offset Panel.
You can then select all the highlighted objects.
Active Copy Offset: From the Tools Category of the Toolbar, choose Copy Offset or use the shortcut (T+O). Set Operation to Pivot. Set Amount Of Copies to 19. Click on the Copy button to create the Copies.
Close the Copy Offset Panel.
Step 6: Activate Mirror
Activate Mirror: From the Utilities Category of the Toolbar, choose Mirror or use the shortcut (U+I). Set Create Copy to True.
Set Direction to Bottom and Offset to 11.3. Finalize the Mirror.
Next, Select All: From the Edit Menu of the Toolbar, click on Select All or use shortcut (Ctrl+A) to select all.
Step 7: Activate Stitch and Scoop
Activate Stitch & Scoop tool: Click on Stitch & Scoop on the Toolbar or use the shortcut (B). From the Tool Panel, choose Union or use the shortcut (B+U). Finalize the Union. This is just to make things easier if you want to print.
Conclusion:
We did it!! It was easy, wasn't it? Yes, we can create symmetric objects effortlessly. Also, it becomes smoother if you are conversant with SelfCAD tools. We have more Interactive Tutorials on creating various objects. Take a look at other tutorials and try them out on your own. Enjoy the process of learning and creating more specific objects. Happy Learning!
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing features without a steep learning curve.
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