2D, 3D, BIM - 12: A Rubber Duck

Last time, I showed you how to create your own library of component parts. This time relax with a fun project to advance your modeling skills: a rubber duck. There are still many, many more ways of working in BricsCAD, but this should give you a good starting point.

You will need to download the linework .dwg file. You can make your own, but the purpose of this post it to get you using 3D tools, if you still need help with 2D drawing then be sure to check our free 2D tutorials.

New commands covered:

1. DMDEFORMPOINT

Watch video on YouTube

The Body

I used the Loft command, as covered in the sink -- part 6 and the toilet -- part 7. I then added wings using the DeformPoint command. To finish I used spheres to create the head and eyes.

How to do this:

1. To start, download the linework or, if you're feeling adventurous, make your own.
2. Loft between the curves to create a body.
3. Use DMDEFORMPOINT to extrude a wing.
4. Repeat on the other side.
5. Use a sphere to create the head.
6. Use another sphere to create the eye.Tip: Use DUCS and hit Shift to set the drawing plane.
7. Repeat with a smaller sphere.
8. Use subtract to remove the second sphere from the first.
9. Optional: Select the face of the pupil and, in the Properties panel, change the color. (All other colors are set by layer).
10. Mirror on the other side.

You should now have something that looks like this:

The Beak

To make the rubber duck's beak I used similar techniques. However, this time I used the surface version of the Loft tool. In these images I have isolated the beak layer so it's easier to see what is happening.

How to do this:

1. Loft the top bill of the beak. This time we are creating surfaces only.
   In the Structure panel these splines are found in the 'beak' layer.
2. Repeat on the lower bill.
   In the Structure panel these splines are found in the 'beak' layer.
3. In the Structure panel select the splines these are found in the 'beak_guidelines' layer.
4. Use DMTHICKEN to give the bill a ridge. This technique was covered in part 6 -- the sink. Extra information: When I created the linework for the beak I doubled the splines across the front of the bill. I used the BREAK command to make the lines I used for lofting in steps 1-2. For the ridge, I kept them joined.

Final results

You should now have a rubber duck that looks something like this:

Next Time

Join me next time when I show you how to slice an object for laser cutting.

Don't have BricsCAD yet?

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Keep Reading

1. Moving from 2D to 3D CAD
2. 3D Drawing from engineering plans
3. Drawing everything but the kitchen sink
4. More Advanced Modeling
5. The Shower
6. The Sink
7. The Toilet
8. Walls and Floors
9. The Roof
10. Windows and Doors
11. Create your own components
12. Rubber Duck
13. Laser-cut puzzle project

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Note: This series is intended as a guide to demonstrate how to use different aspects of 3D modeling tools. It may not always demonstrate the fastest way of getting the result. Keep coming back to see if we cover a faster technique at a later date.