All for Fun Again - Modeling the 12 Sided Die

"Death and dice level all distinction."
Samuel Foote 

Today is Friday, and you might have noticed that in the last couple of weeks I've been challenging myself by created 3D models of gaming dice.

So far, I've created to 20 sided die, the 10 sided die, and now I've added the 12 sided die.

P.S. the view below is an embedded 3D DWF that can be panned, zoomed, & rotated!

This one ended up being the most challenging so far, at least until I got the construction method down.  Once I had that figured out, it wasn't hard, just time consuming.


So here are the steps I used to build it!

The first thing I did was locate directions on how to build the shape that eventually becomes the die.  It's called a dodecahedron, and like the 20 sided die, I found it's construction on Wikipedia.  It was composed of using a rectangle, and points placed at certain coordinates in space.  The Wikipedia article gave me these coordinates.

The construction for the die

• I took this information, and using a rectangle extruded as a surface, and three rectangles, created the required points.  The points are the verticies of each figure. 

The skeleton that starts it all

• Next, comes the process of creating the faces.  I used a workplane between three point on the skeleton.  Created a 2D sketch, and started projecting geometry and sketching the boundaries of the face.  This takes some time and patience.

Getting started with the construction

Further along in the construction.  I turned off the workplane visibility to try to make the image a little more clear.

• Once the skeleton was finished, I went through and created boundary patches that filled in each face of the die.

Now surfaces close up the shape

• With the surfaces created, now I used the "Stitch" command to seal surfaces up, converting them to a solid.

The converted solid

• My next step was to add a fillet to break all the edges.

The fillet added to the die.

•  Finally, the long, long process of adding 12 sets of numbers to the die.  It's not difficult, but like most things creating these dies, it takes time, it's an exercise in more time, and more patience.

The sketches in the process of getting created.

• Finish the text and I'm done

• Finally, a drop into Showcase to give it a little flair!

So there it is, one more die out of the way.  I still plan on doing the rest, 8 sided, 4 sided, and 6 sided (which is easy). 

On a final note, if you want to download the models.  You find them on GrabCAD and Autodesk 360.

Click here for Autodesk 360 Download

Click here for GrabCAD Download

A life extension for the Augmented Reality Plugin for Autodesk Showcase

“It is our imagination that transforms itself into reality, through our physical strength and endeavours.”
Helen Araromi

Edit by Jonathan Landeros

As of May 2013, The Augmented Reality Plugin for Autodesk Showcase has been retired.  I liked this plugin, and the post does state that it may be back at a later date. 

My fingers are crossed!

Shame on me for not updating this sooner, but things sometimes go into the archives, and collect dust.

******************
Tonight is a quick blog on a cool bit of news.

A few months ago, the Augmented Reality Plugin for Autodesk Showcase was released on Autodesk Labs.

This cool plugin for Showcase 2013 allowed a webcam to take an image, and project it into the Showcase scene.

 It was so cool, I bought a webcam just to be able to try it out!   And once I tried it, it was indeed very cool!

An example from my own Augmented Reality Session.  Pretty cool!  But I need to adjust the marker!

 But it had one big downside.  It would timeout on October 31st, 2012.  So it's tenure on Labs was seemingly going to be short.

But just today, I was asked about it again by a user.  I checked out the website, and BEHOLD!  The Augmented Reality plugin has gotten a life extension until January 31st, 2013.

So if you have a webcam and Autodesk Showcase 2013, download it and give it a try.  I don't think you'll be disappointed!  

Here's a video created by the Autodesk Labs Team.  Take a look and give it a download!  I think you're going to like what you see!

Download the Augmented Reality Plugin For Autodesk Showcase here! 

Renaming Files in Autodesk Inventor's Design Assistant

What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet;
William Shakespeare ~ Romeo & Juliet

I've made this mistake more times that I would like to admit.  I've been working in an assembly in Autodesk Inventor, and when I create a component, I forget to rename it and I end up accepting the default of "Part1.ipt".

Naturally, I don't realize that I've forgotten this step, and I end up creating an entirely new, default, name I never intended.

To make matters worse, I usually don't realize this until I've created a detailed part.  As a matter of face, I usually realize my mistake when I'm actually saving my final version.

Essentially, what I've just described is a situation where I've created a new component, fouled up the name, and gotten to a point where undoing it and starting over isn't my best option.

The assembly with the part I named wrong

So how did I manage to get out of it?

My first option was to check the files into Autodesk Vault, and rename them there.  That option works just fine, and I've used that in the past.

But what I really wanted to do, was rename the files before I put them in Vault.  I just didn't want to check the assembly in just to rename them in Vault.

Before I continue, I have make sure to note that the file I'm renaming is NOT yet in Vault.  If it was in Vault, then I'd use the Vault Rename tool.   But I digress....

To rename the offending file, I used a tool called Design Assistant, which is included in Inventor, and doesn't require Vault.  As a matter of fact, it doesn't need Vault at all.

What is Design Assistant?  How does it work?

Design Assistant is a tool, included with every installation of Autodesk Inventor that is intended to help with file management.  It has several tasks, but one of which, is to rename files   So where is it located, and how did I get to it?

• My first step to locate Design Assistant was to go to Windows Start>Autodesk>Autodesk Inventor 2013 and locat Design Assistant. 

Accessing Design Assistant

•  Starting it up, I need to choose the assembly containing the part I've messed up. Once the assembly is open, I chose the "Manage" option.  Now I can see the components that make up the assembly.

Locating the offending part in Design Assistant

• In my next step, I find the component I need to rename.  I right click on the the "Action" cell, and choose "Rename".

Right click and choose "Rename".

• Now the component's row highlights.  Next I choose the component's name and select "Change Name"

Choose "Change Name".  Notice the Action cell has changed too!

• A dialog box opens and I can now rename the file.

Renaming the fie

• With the file renamed, I save the changes, and I'm ready to go.  

All that's left is to click "Save"

And I'm done!

•  I can now check the files into Vault, and the correct name goes into Vault, without requiring that I go in and change it.

Checking into Vault, and I'm done!

So that's how a file can be renamed using Autodesk Inventor's Design Assistant.  But before I give you the video, there are a couple of things to note!

 Yes, I know I'm repeating myself.  But I think it's worth repeating!

• Design Assistant doesn't require Vault.  So if you're a user who isn't using Vault, this can help out a great deal. 
• However if you are using Vault, don't use this to replace Vault's Rename tool. As a matter of fact, if the file is already vaulted, make sure to use the Vault Rename tool!  Design Assistant should only be used for files that aren't in Vault yet!  Failure to heed this warning could lead to file resolution issues, and being excessively mocked by your peers! 

On that note, here is the video!  I hope you find it useful, and make sure to use it wisely!

And if there's any experience you'd like to add, throw a comment in below! 

***************************Edited October 10, 2013**********************************

A comment below mentioned that they had lost links to drawings when using the process.  Most of my work with Design Assistant didn't involve drawings.  I rarely, if ever have drawings created when I'm using Design assistant this way.

However, I did find a link on the Autodesk Discussion Group here, that addresses this. 

Sorry if I caused any confusion, I hope this makes this tip a little more complete.

For a Little More Fun! - Modeling a 10 sided die!

“The dice of Zeus always fall luckily.”
Sophocles

After creating the 20 sided die in my post last week, I decided to embrace my inner geek even further and create another die of the standard gamers set.

This time I chose to create a model of the 10 sided die.

The finished 10 sided die

To add a little more fun, here's a new trick I'm trying.  Embedding a dwf of the die inside the webpage!  Try giving it a rotate and pan!

When I started to look at building this die, I found this model easier to create that the 20 sided die.  But even though I thought it was a little easier to create, I also found it had it's own set of challenges.  It took me a few tries before I got a result I was happy with.

I ended up using two lofts, and trimming the plane where they met to get the result.  I then added fillets to clean up the edges and get the result I was looking for. 

But, without further adieu, here are the steps! 

• The first step was to create a single line on a sketch plane.  I'm going to use each end of the line as one end of two lofts I'm going to create. I also made sure that the midpoint of the line was placed at the origin.  This will let me use the origin workplanes to create sketches in my next steps.

The first line defining the top and bottom of the die.

• Next I created a sketch on my origin plane, added a pentagon, and dimensioned it.

The additional sketch added.

• Now I'm ready to loft between the two.  I choose the loft tool, and loft between the pentagon and one of the line's endpoints. 

Creating the loft

The finished loft

• Before I started modeling, I looked at an image of a real die, I realized that the upper and lower halves were offset, so I couldn't use the same loft.  So I created a second pentagon, rotated from the first, and repeated the steps above.

Creating the second loft.  Notice how it's offset from the first.

• Now I was left with sharp overhangs on the die that weren't going to work at all. It was time to clean those up!

The die before cleaning up.  Not pretty at all!

• To clean up the sharp corners, I created a sketch where the two pentagons meet.  (Note I used slice graphics, just like in my previous post here).  I sketched a circle, then used Extrude with the intersect option remove the sharp corners.

Creating the feature for the Extrude commad

Extruding using the intersect option

• Now the hard work is done.  All that is left is the tedious work of adding the numbers.

Adding the numbers to the die

• And finally, using the fillet tool to round off the sharp corners!

All done!

 A quick rendering, in Autodesk Showcase, and I'm ready to go!

 Just like with the 20 sided die, below are two links where you can download the model if you'd like.  And just like before, all I ask is that you give a me a little nod if you decide to use the model.  Enjoy!

Download from Autodesk 360 

Download from GrabCAD (login required)

Happy Halloween! & Flipping Normals in Autodesk Showcase!

“For me, writing something in the spirit of Halloween is like Mother Teresa writing on charity and sacrifice. It's just second nature to me.”
Danny Elfman

Today's blog is just a quick blog to say "Happy Halloween", and add a quick tip for Autodesk Showcase.  . 

Earlier today I downloaded a 3D model of a skull, in a STL format, from GrabCAD and imported it into Showcase.

But once the file imported.  It looked dark.  Almost like charcoal.   It was like the environment light was having no effect on it.

This skull shouldn't look this dark.  Somethings wrong (hint: check normals)

Experience has taught me what the cause of this is.  But not everyone may know the secret. 

The normals on the skull were all reversed. 

For those who may not  be as familiar with surface normals, each surface in Showcase has a positive and negative side, often referred positive and negative normals. 

While I can't say I know all technological reasons for the how the normals behave.  I do know one thing.  If the normals are backwards, which sometimes happens on imported models, the object won't light correctly.  That's what's going on with the skull.

So now that I know what's wrong, how do I fix it?

• First, I went to the "Appearance" pull down menu and choose "Visual Styles Library". 

Bringing up the Visual Styles Library

• Once the Visual Styles Library menu appears, expand the "Diagnostics" section.  This is where I find the option for "Normals".  Choosing this option, I see that the entire skull shades yellow.

Viewing the Normals

• The yellow indicates that I'm looking at the negative side of the normal. This is why the skull isn't lighting correctly.  Showcase is also helping me out by telling me to Select an object and hit the "F8" key to flip the normals.

The yellow tells me I'm looking at the negative (back) side of the normal

• I can hit the F8 key or I can select my objects and choose Edit>Reverse Normals from the pulldown menus.

Flipping the normals

• The normals will flip, and the skull will turn blue.  This tells me I'm looking at the positive side of the normals now. 

The normals are flipped!

• Now, all I have to do is select a new option from the visual styles (I chose the "Both Shadows and Ambient Shadows" option)

• Now the skull looks a whole lot better, and I'm ready to complete the rendering.  Add a few shadows and lights, and I have something I can say "Happy Halloween with!

The skull with some materials and lighting

And with glowing eyes!

So that's it, a quick tip on flipping the normals on a model!  Have a great holiday everyone!

Using Slice Graphics & Project Geometry in Autodesk Inventor

“The best thing since sliced bread”
Proverb

The Autodesk Manufacturing Academy concluded, I've taken this weekend to recover and catch up on things put off for AMA.

So I created a simple tip this weekend, but one I think is important.

Using Slice Graphics, and Project Geometry. 

Slice Graphics is a great tool for cases where you need to create a feature inside a part, and you can't easily see inside the part's cavity. 

Slice Graphics will give a virtual slice that cuts away a portion of the part so the inside can be seen.  Bear in mind this slice is virtual, like a section view in the 3D model.  It doesn't actually cut anything away.

All that is needed is an active 2D sketch.  When the sketch is active, right click (or hit 'F7' if you like hot keys, and you can toggle slice graphics on.  Repeating these steps will also turn it off.

The right click menu that toggles slice graphics on or off.

Now with the sketch active, Project Edges and Project Cut Edges show their value.

Project Edges will take an edge that isn't on your sketch plane, and project it onto the sketch plane so it can be referenced.  This can come in real handy when you need those edges to reference.

Project Cut Edges will project all the edges that have been cut by Slice Graphics.  I think this is a great tool when working inside of a cavity, like just like the part pictured above.

These tools are found on the Sketch Tab, when a sketch is active.

The Project Geometry, and Project Cut Edges tools.  Found on the Sketch Tab

And of course, here's a quick video on how these tools work. 

One last thing, when you create a feature, try Right Clicking, and choosing "Create Feature" to create the Revolve, Extrude,etc.  It opens up the appropriate tool, without turning off Slice Graphics.  It makes picking things a little easier!

All for Fun – Creating a 20 Sided Die

Death and the dice level all distinctions.
Samuel Foote

Many years ago, I friend asked me to create multi-sided die for a website he was creating.  You can still see the images on the banner of the website for DiceHouse Games here.

It was a tricky one to create.  It was a 20 sided die, a much used tool in role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.

An Autodesk Showcase Rendering of the 20 sided die model

I also used it as an example in a blog post for using the “Change View Orientation”  tool inside of Autodesk Inventor drawings back in February 2012.  

***Edit 13-Nov-2012 : Added an embedded dwf of the 20 sided die***

A 3D dwf of the 20 sided die

*** End Edit***

Since that time I’ve started getting requests for how I built the die, as well as a location to download the actual *.ipt file.  

So here are the steps on how I built the 20 sided die!  

1. I found the definition of a Icosahedron (a 20 sided polygon) on Wikipedia.

The construction figure that started it all!

2. I created three sketches on the XY, YZ, and XZ origin planes in Inventor

The three rectangles on each plane to create the framework

 
3. Next, I used a 3D sketch to connect the vertices together, must like in the Wikipedia image.  If you’re wondering, this did take quite a bit of time. 

The process of creating the skeleton

4. This becomes the skeleton where I create several boundary patches.  The boundary patches create the surfaces of the die using the “sketch skeleton”.    This was also pretty laborious!

Boundary patches created close surface that could be stitched.

5. I then stitched the surface.  Since it’s “watertight” (completely sealed), it becomes a solid.

Stitching the surfaces make it a solid

6. Now it I had to add all the numbers (which were extrusions), and fillet the sharp corners. That’s it, I was done!

The completed die

So in conclusion, this was a satisfying little project took a little bit of research to figure out how to construct it.  Once I figured out the process, the steps weren’t difficult, but it did take time and patience to execute. 
 
Placing the 3D wires lines took a lot of time, and more than once I had to correct a line I misplaced.  The boundary patches took less time, but putting in all the numbers was an exercise in patience too.
 
So because of the requests, I’m uploading the file to a couple of sites for download.  However, before you go grabbing the file, I make only one request.
 
I spent several hours of a Saturday figuring this out.  All I ask is if you use this model, give me a nod and a little credit for the time I put into it.  
 
Now for the download sites!
 
The first is my Autodesk 360 site: Click here for Autodesk 360 download
 
If you use the GrabCAD file sharing website, you can also log in and get it here:  Click here for GrabCAD download

Using the Transitional Constraint in Autodesk Inventor

Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.
Isaac Asimov

This week proves to be another busy week as my second round presenting at the Autodesk Manufacturing Academy (this time in Cerritos, Ca.) comes around. 

That's right, even though I've been through it one time, I have to review my sessions, polish, an improve them.  Not to mention making sure I don't forget anything! 

But I did find time to create a quick video on an Autodesk Inventor tool that has been around forever, but seems to have drifted into obscurity as new features and functions have appeared over years of Inventor's evolution.

That tool is the Transition constraint.

The Transition constraint being applied to a "Cam and Follower"

Looking at the image above, it might make sense to use the Tangent constraint.  It would seem perfect to hole the cam and follower together. 

However, if this constraint is used, the tangency will only follow one face.  It won't transition to another face like the follower would in the real world.

This is where the appropriately named Transition constraint comes into play.  It can "see" the faces it need to transition to, and behave appropriately.

By using the Transition constraint.  Inventor will allow the follow to "follow" the cam correctly. 

Below is a video showing the behavior with the Tangent constraint, which isn't what I want, then I'll show the behavior with the Transition constraint, where we get to give the "big ol' nod of approval"! 

A "Guest VIdeo" on Autodesk Showcase Materials

“The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance.”
Benjamin Franklin

Every once in a while I run across a resource that really captures my interest. 

Sometimes it's some sort of low pass by an airplane with a big piston engine, other times it's something silly like the "fainting goat" video YouTube.

But yesterday I came upon two fantastic Autodesk Showcase videos created by Marion Landry from Autodesk.

Marion created two outstanding videos on creating and manipulating materials in Autodesk Showcase.

I've already watched them once, and I picked up quite a few tricks I'll use in the future.  As a matter of fact, I'll watch them again, just because I know there are more tricks I'm going to pick up.

So here are the videos that Marion has graciously created for us.  Be sure to check out her channel here!

Creating Custom Materials Part 1

Creating Custom Materials Part 2