Hi everyone, I’ve been working on this bracket with the intention of eventually 3D printing it. I’ve been learning to use Curviloft by Fredo6 and am relatively happy with the end result so far, I’ve currently made the model in half to eventually duplicate and join. There are still a few things I need to add, but this is where I’m currently at.
I was wondering if anyone would be able to offer some assistance with smoothing out the overall model so that it looks more polished and presentable. I understand that some of the angles make it quite tricky, but there are a few areas that definitely need some attention.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated! I’m currently using SketchUp 2026. Thank you!
Took a quick look. It’s a bit of a messy mesh with asymmetries and holes and all one lump of raw geometry. It’s hard to know how to “clean up” the file without knowing what the use of the bracket is and what can be erased verses what aspects are required for purpose. Is is just a circle at one end and rectangle at the other? There are a few hidden edges masking unflat surfaces, is this by design or a mistake? Is the relationship of these two faces the important function? Are all the organic curves required? I think I would start over with the key functional surfaces in correct place and model around them. Split this down the center and model 1/2 only then mirror the two halves later.
You can also achieve it with Curviloft, but you have more control if you use quad-based modeling and subdivisions.
In SketchUp, you can achieve this using the Vertex Tools and SUbD extensions, or Artisan 2.
[ProTip_Mode/ON] May I suggest to do this the other way around?
Usually you want that kind of kite quad going in the opposite way: you need more loops in the curved part and you use the kite to reduce unnecessary loops in the flat part. You don’t want the redundant loops going all the way down to the boxy/flat part of the mesh. [ProTip_Mode/OFF]
Thanks, panixia! I have a lot to learn about quad topology.
Even if no shading issues had appeared, I should have moved that n-pole inside the flat surface from the very beginning.
I’ve attached a screenshot of the original design/concept I was working towards, which hopefully makes the purpose slightly clearer. The bracket is supposed to be a light mount with suction cups on either end, im trying to achieve a clean, modern design with smooth, flowing curves rather than something too standard. The proportions are quite important, but I’m struggling to get the transitions and surfaces looking smooth and consistent. The image attached is essentially my attempt to recreate the shape with the correct proportions, working on one half before duplicating and joining. I’m still learning, so I’d really appreciate some advice on how you guys would approach modelling this properly. Would it be better to start again and build up again using simpler geometry, as suggested? Thank you all again for taking the time to have a look!
[ProTip_Mode/OFF]
I have a lot to learn about quad topology.
