I then worked on the basic outer casing, excluding the lid as this is a separate part. The images below show my progress:
- The basic outline I created using the circuit board as a guide.
- I then extruded that shape to give me a 2mm recess for the circuit to fit into.
- A 3mm extrude of the whole shape was added to enclose the recess and give the stick a flat top.
- I noticed that the end of the casing had a ridge.
- I used the rounding tool to get rid of this ridge.
- The finished shape.
This basic shape will be used create both halves of the USB casing. I will now add individual detail to both halves:
Top half of the casing-
- I used the original sketch to create a copy of the outside edge. I then reduced that to give me the inner edge of the shoe.
- I removed unneeded lines and added a line at the top to create a valid sketch.
- A 2mm extrude was applied to create a recess for the insole to go in. I orginally thought about using cream leather for the insole, but after speaking to a couple of uni buddies I'm now considering using cream cut out vinyl. I'd ideally like the logo to be on there as well but not really sure how to achieve that.
- Again, I noticed a ridge inside the extrude.
- Ridge removed, top edges rounded and sole coloured.
- I used the ellipse tool to create the shape for the peep toe detail.
- Another 2mm extrude was added for the insole.
- Top edges were then rounded and the insole coloured.
- The finished part with colour added to the top part of the "shoe".
For the bottom half of the casing I used the original template and simply rendered the correct colours on to it. I've decided that the best way to create the red sole would be to cut out the desired shape in red vinyl and attach it to the sole after it has been sprayed. I'm going to do the same for the cream insole on the top half as well. It will give a much better finish than if I tried to paint it.
I decided to quickly check that the casing and circuit fit together properly. I'm glad I did as I realised that the gap for the circuit was the width of the PCB and not the metal end. John helped me to quickly modify the cut out shape shown below.
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| The circuit now fits snugly into the casing |
I then had to create my lid. This was a bit of a challenge for me as I wanted to carry on the insole cut out detail from the casing. I asked for help from John the technician and this is how we created the lid.
- Copied a cross section of the casing to ensure the sizes would be the same.
- Extruded to create a 3D shape.
- Creating the curved end.
- Extruded to remove section that is not required.
- Added round corner and colour.
- Created cut out for USB metal end to fit into.
- Extruded to correct depth then mirrored to create the other half of the lid.
- Sketched shape of insole.
- Extruded to desired depth. I amended to insole depth on the casing to match as I thought that 2mm was a little too deep, 1.5mm would be better.
- Rounded edges.
- I used the curved edge as a basis for the raised heel effect and added other detail. I used a mirror down the centreline to ensure symmetry.
- Extruded for stiletto detail.
- Rounded the edges.
- Added circle detail for jewels and extruded.
- Added inner circle for jewels to fit in and extruded.
- Rounded the remaining edges.
When I showed John Lee my design he pointed out that the stiletto was too thin and fragile. So I amended it:
- Stiletto thickened and tapered with the depth of the curved altered.
- Extended the stiletto and altered the shape of the curves even more.
- Rounding the edges didn't work properly so I had to make the edge wider.
- Hopefully this will work.
- Happy with stiletto shape.
- Not happy with the circle detail - I altered the position and extruded to make the shape carry on all the way through the stiletto.
- Extruded to give height.
- Added an extruded circle in the centre, 3mm across and 1mm deep, for the jewel to go into.
- Repeated the procedure for the second circle.
After this, I was happy with my lid design and ready to go to the manufacturing stage.
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| Final lid design |
