Hello everybody! I’m Sid Vashisht and I wanted to share with you a design I made recently using one of the SOLIDWORKS cloud-based apps, xShape. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been delving into using both xDesign and xShape to create various 3D models and wanted to sharpen my skills with subdivisions. So, I decided to put my skills to the test and use xShape’s Subdivision features to make a mask from one of the characters in the video game series Borderlands.
Making the Mask Shape
My mask making escapade led me on a journey to learning Sub-D using xShape. I started by using the freeform Rectangle feature within the subdivision category as the base for my design. This feature allowed me to shape a 2D freeform surface into a mask by giving me the ability to push, pull and curve the different subdivisions of the surface until it resembled the shape I wanted. After molding the face by changing its shape, curving the sides, and deleting some subdivisions to make way for the eye, nose, and head holes, I finally finished the shape of my mask.
Thickening the Mask
Although I had molded the mask into the shape I wanted, the surface was originally created with little to no thickness. To give my mask thickness and plunge it into 3D, I used the Thickness feature in the Features tab of xShape. This feature allowed me to add a custom thickness to different sections of my mask, depending on which subdivisions of my surface I chose to thicken.
For my mask, I made sure to add thickness to all sections PLUS some extra thickness to the edges of the mask and eye holes, as well as part of the forehead and mouth area to create a cool design.
Mouthpiece
For the remaining parts of the mask, notably the mouthpiece, I used a mixture of parametric tools from the Features tab, using Extrude and Revolve to make my sketches 3D, Filet to round the edges of the buttons of the mouthpiece, and Circular Pattern to copy the hexagonal pieces around the screw-shaped portion mouthpiece. One new tool that I did learn how to use while making the mouthpiece was the Sweep feature. To create the tube that connected the side and center parts of the mouthpiece, I had to create a cylindrical object that followed a nonlinear path. To do this, I created a rounded path on a custom plane that passed through the two buttons of the mouthpiece. Then, I used the Sweep feature to create a surface with the same radius as the buttons that followed the path I had just made. This allowed me to connect the two ends of my mouthpiece and add the finishing touches to my mask.
Final Design
Overall, I thought the intersection between both parametric and subdivision features made my mask turn out well. All that was left was to bring it to life using 3D printing.
My 3D Printing Journey
3D printing the mask was definitely a difficult task by itself given the complex surface of the model. Although I wasn’t certain how precise the layers of the print would be, I decided to 3D print the model using a PLA printer in the 3DExperience FABLAB.
Results
Now it's time for the big reveal...
Just kidding! The first time I tried to print it I accidentally used support filament instead of normal PLA. Here's what it actually looks like:
Hey look, it's a perfect fit!
For the first prototype of the mask, I was pretty happy with how it came out! The print came out pretty clean, with only a few errors. The back of the screw-shaped portion of the mouthpiece didn’t print properly, but that was most likely due to a printing error. One thing to note is that the surface of the mask is slightly jagged, as given how curved the mask surface is, it’s difficult for the printer to make the mask surface as precise as the 3D model. In the future, I’ll try to use a resin printer instead to print out the mask so that I can get a more precise print.
Overall, I really enjoyed my first experience using subdivisions with xShape. The subdivisions are really easy to shape and mold since they act as freeform bodies, and the integration of parametric models with subdivision models was pretty seamless. I hope to continue my subdivision journey with xShape to make more sub-D models in the future!