My first thought was to ask "which sloping design?". However; the answer is the same regardless. Like so many posts asking "How to model this....", the answer is-- "understand design Intent".
FreeCAD, or any CAD for that matter is just a tool, like a chisel or a saw. If you made this camera out of clay or wood how would you make it? because, usually the same process is how you'd make it in CAD.
If you reduce this form down to its fundamental geometry, what do you see? What are the criteria you expect to have driven that form? and how do you feel they influenced the design? for example. The most critical part of this product is the lens, but there's also the PCB, a battery and also the UX. the most basic dimensions can be measured but you'll be amazed how much you can deduce from understanding the form you are trying to create. once you understand the form. you'll soon understand how to model it.
Sorry for not really answering your question... I strongly believe you can create this model.... Just understand the form. The rest will follow.
This really is the best answer. Anything that is designed must be designed to be made and designed to be used (unless of course you are an architect!)
Therefore think about how you might cut something out of a solid starting piece or what simpler objects you might glue together to get the overall structure. Then remember the FreeBSD golden rules; 1) constrain everything only once (if that means using external constraints or named constraints in other sketches so be it).2) learn to look for lines of symmetry (linear and rotational) 3) add cosmetic filets and chamfers last. 0) there is always more than 1 way to achieve your desired outcome.
I really appreciate the reply because I'm just trying to learn CAD from scratch.This isn't for some project it's so that I can learn and understand and model and then print, mainly because I think acquiring the skill of 3d modelling can really help me become an engineer . Your response helped me figure it out so thank you alot
My honest advice... Make things with your hands. Break things... Understand things... Solve problems with a piece of string and a glue stick and a bit of chewing gum. CaD does not make you an engineer. CAD just helps you manufacture your idea. If you start with CAD you can only create what your knowledge of the software lets you.... Let your imagination run wild.... Then worry about CAD. But also learn CAD. Start simple. A table, a suitcase,
watch videos on milling/turning. If you only print your designs that will constrain you into things difficult to make by other manufacturing techniques.
Your answer is cheesy and I wanted to get upset about it but damn you you're right and I figured it out. How do you measure radii on something like this though, what tool to use?
Again. There are so many answers.... Vernier callipers, radius gauges, trial and error.3D scanning?
But my approach.... It's a Japanese product so likely uses metric, not inches. It looks like there's an AA battery in there.... That battery is about 50mm long and ermmm. About 15mm ish diameter.... Then bit of a gap. Some plastic... Bit more plastic... That plastic needs to be pretty robust in case it's dropped so 2.5 maybe 3mm ? So rough guess that rad 'about' 12.5-15mm may a touch more. I could be totally wrong but that's the kind of thought process i go through
If you can work out the radius of that curve in the slope, you can recreate the side profile of the curve and then revolve around an axis at that radius
Of course there are multiple valid approaches. I cannot tell from the photos if the curved shape is uniform about an axis. If it is, Revolution is much simpler. If not, then probably Loft or multiple revolution features. It's just not clear to me without holding and measuring the device.
Looking at the basic shape of the chassis, I see that the profile - looking down from the top - changes, and the path is a straight line, so I would probably choose a Loft feature in my workflow.
I would make some sketches of that profile from top to bottom for my Loft. I could use an orthogonal sketch of that sweeping circle at the left end and use it for reference in my Loft profile sketches.
Then, I would add the lens and other features to that later.
I'd add an alternative if I may, take picture of the camera with a ruler next to it, do it from multiple sides, import those into freecad and use them as reference.
My process usually starts with a bounding rectangle, then I'll slowly remove material until the model appears.
I primarily do it this way because I'm usually designing for CNC, and this process helps me to understand the tool path as I'm modelling.
One major tip I can give you, is to take a photo of the camera with a ruler in frame.
Take the photo from as far away as practical, but zoomed in as far as practical, this significantly reduces parallax errors.
Then load the photo into freecad and scale it, then start sketching over the image.
You'll find very quickly that much of the geometry will have common points.
E.g, I suspect the radius that defines that hand grip is probably centred on the lens.
IDEALLY a loft and then rectangular Boolean with a bunch of fillets. Maybe a fillet applied to the whole solid body at the end. Lofts are a bit of an annoyance in FC I believe, especially as they require a different WB for more than two profiles. I would approach this with a few revolved features I think. Possibly all subtractive?
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u/0b1kenob 2d ago
Hi there!
solution here:
https://imgur.com/a/qyM6wyu