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Mouse Modeling Tutorial

This tutorial will demonstrate creation of  DInsight models representing curved closed surfaces. We will create a simplified model of a mouse. Subfolder Tutorial\Mouse  located in Models folder of the installation (C:\Program Files\DInsight\ by default ) contains models for each step of the tutorial and the final model Mouse.glm. It is helpful to keep the model open in another instance of 3D Debugger and refer to it during the modeling.

Step 1. Creating body of the mouse.

Step 2. Creating head of the mouse.

Step 3. Creating an ear.

Step 4. Assembly of the head.

Step 5. Assembly of the mouse.

Step 1. Creating body of the mouse.

• Create folder called "MyMouse".

• Restart 3D Debugger. Select the Model > New object command. Select Solid\Rotation symmetric\Sphere node. In Object name edit box type "Body". Press Modify button to change default dimension. Enter 3 into the Radius edit box. Turn "Allow asymmetric modifications" check box on. More options will appear in the edit box. Change "Edge coordinate type" to Cartesian. Press OK twice to close both dialogs. Save the model in the MyMouse folder using File > SaveAs menu command.

• In Cross-section View (Bottom right pane) select the top point. Coordinates of the selected point  will appear on the Current Object Page of the form. If you do not see the Current Object page scroll to the left most page using buttons on the form. Enter x=0.0 and y=2.0 for the coordinates. You can check "Cross Plane" check box on "3D" page to see the current position of the cross-section plane. This position can be changed either by dragging blue line in profile view with the mouse or by clicking into "z cross-object position" edit box and moving the slider on the form.

• Right-click in the Cross-section View pane and select "Strip Order" command to see numbering of the cross points. Enter as above coordinates (1.6, 0.0) for the point 0 and coordinates (-1.6, 0.0) for the point 2. As this model does not require precise dimensions you can do it by dragging points with the mouse to approximate positions. Set coordinates of the point number 3 (bottom point) to (0, -0.3)

• Save the model. It is recommend to do it frequently so that in case of a mistake you can undo the changes by using File > Reload menu command (Ctrl+r shortcut).

• Zoom in as appropriate using the right mouse button in the Cross-section View.

• Add a new axial knot. To do that, enter -1.5 into "Cross posn" edit box of the form and press the Tab key to change the current cross-section position. Click new knot command button on the Command page of the form. New red tick mark will appear in the Profile View. You can change position of the knot later by dragging it with the mouse.

• Switch to the "Wire frame" Render Type on 3D Page of the Form. 

• Repeat the same procedure to add another knot at position 1.3. All segments in axial z direction in our model will consist now of three segments, which can be modified independently. This way we will have more freedom in approximation of body of the mouse. 

• Next we will move apart ends of four lines, which converge at point z=3 on z axis (blue). At this side the head of the mouse will be joined to its body. Select point 0 in the Strip Order ( right mouse click > Strip Order )  in Cross-section View. z, x projection of the correspondent 3D line will appear in the Profile View. Select the last point ( at position z = 3.0 ). In the "Cur Elem" page of the form enter 0.6 in the "Cross value" edit box and press Tab Key to enter it. Select the opposite point in Cross-section View (point 2) and enter Cross value -0.6 for the last point in the Profile View to make it symmetric.

• Select point 1 in Cross-section View. Right click in the Profile View and select "Coordinate y". The view will display z, y projection of the top 3D line. Select the last point in Profile View (at z=3.0) and enter 1.3 for its cross-section value.

• Now we can adjust shape of the edge of the neck by using Cross-section View. Change the current cross position to the last knot (z=3.0) using spin button control next to "Cross posn" edit box of the form. Select point 0 in the Strip Order and in the "Cur Elem" page of the form enter 0.3 in the Y edit box. 

• Repeat the same for the point 2. Enter y=0.1 for the point 3.

• Next, we will adjust surface of the neck to make it more smooth. Select again point 0 in Cross View. Select the last arc (the one on the right) in Profile View and move its middle down to make the curve more smooth. Watch result in 3D View. Switch to Wire Frame mode and back if needed. Repeat the same for point 2.

• Select point 1 in Cross-section View. Right click in the Profile View and select "Coordinate y". Select the last arc in Profile View and modify its curvature as above to make smooth joint of the body and the neck.

• Next we will make surface patches more curved. Set current cross position to the last knot, which should be at position 3.0 and change shape of the top arcs in Cross-section View by increasing its curvature. Repeat the same for two knots in the middle. 

• Using controls next to next to "Cross posn" edit box of the form set cross position to the middle between knots 0 (z=-3.0) and 1 (z=-1.5). Make sure 3D View is in the Solid mode (3D page). Increase curvature of top arcs in Cross-section View. This will make internal surface of patches more curved, although the change appeared 3D View  is minimal. Repeat the same for two other z ranges.

• Resulting model should look like Step1_Mouse.glm.

• Save the model.

• It is convenient to create the head in a separate file and than import it into the Mouse model. Create a new model by using File > New menu command. In New Object dialog (Model > New Object ) select Surface>Surface Of Revolution>Sphere node. In the object name type "Head". Press Modify button. Change Radius to 1.35. Check "Allow asymmetric modifications"  and change Edge coordinates type to Cartesian. Pres OK two times. Save the model under name Head.glm.

• Switch to "Wire frame" Render Type on 3D page. 

• Clear Global Axes check box on 3D Page.

• Look at strip order in cross-section view using correspondent command from context menu and enter coordinates (1.2, 0), (0, 0.9) and (-1.2, 0) by selecting points 0, 1, 2 in cross-section view in this order without changing current cross position.

• Zoom in as necessary in Cross-section and 3D view.

• Add a new axial knot at position -0.55 by entering this number in "Cross posn" edit box on the form and clicking new knot command button on the Command page.

• Set cross-section position at the new knot. Select point 3 in Cross-section View (point 3 in strip order) and set its coordinates to (0, -1.1) using Current Element page of the form. Without changing selection in Cross-section View adjust curvature of the second arc (in the left to right order) in the Profile View to make the 3D curve smooth at the middle knot.

• Select point 0 in Strip Order. In Profile View select the right hand arc Reduce its curvature to make the nose of the mouse more narrow. Repeat the same for the point 2. 

• Select point 1 in Cross-section View. In Profile View switch to "Coordinate y" and reduce in the same way curvature of the top line. Repeat the same for the bottom point 3.

• Switch to "Solid" Render Mode, using radio buttons on 3D Page.

• Set Cross position to the middle of the second segment. and adjust arcs in Cross-section View to make head more curved.