What is the proper way to make this robot arm?

Question

this is really my first time making something in Blender without a tutorial. I am trying to make this robot arm, but I am unsure about the proper method to do so. I have outlined the object I am trying to create in red and my current attempt is also attached. I have used a boolean modifier to create the circular shape for the shoulder of the arm but it has far too many vertices which lead to too many edge loops lower on the arm. The arm becomes smaller lower down and the topology gets messy because of the extreme number of edge loops. I want to ensure that I am practicing proper technique and creating good topology. Should my circle have less vertices? Or is there a good way to reduce the number of edge loops as the arm goes down further? If I am using any terms incorrectly you can also feel free to correct me. Thank you so much!

Since you are asking for "proper" ways: avoid that big circular ngon on the top. Also try to model without booleans to keep the topology as quads. Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=Bc52fcrHvAA also spend a few hours reading through the pages of topologyguides.com/page-3 — susu, Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 19:22
What a great resource! Thank you susu, I really appreciate it — Makinbacon52, Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 20:13

vklidu · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-10 14:32:18Z

13

Less is more ...

Add Circle 8 sides (Rotate R 22.5, Extrude E, Scale S, Copy Shift+D, move and scale down, select 4 vertices press F ...

Add Subdivision Surface Modifier
Select edges you want keep as Sharp Edges Shift+E press 1

... here topology version for Quad Evangelists :)

Add thickness - you can simply select all and Extrude or use Solidify Mofifier. For more natural look of edges try Bevel Modifier

Note:
in some cases you can also use Bezier Curve with very similar workflow of creation - start from circle, duplicate, scale, extrude or connect points. You dont even have to manipulate with handles, you just select few of them and switch handle type V to Vector that automatically switch direction to point of a next control point.

For extrusion and bevelling edge use Properties Editor > Object Data > Geometry > Extrude and Bevel > Depth. But keep in mind model can't be unwrapped, but it doen't has to be a deal in some cases with pointiness and other procedural material nodes.

edited Jul 10, 2020 at 14:32

answered Jul 7, 2020 at 19:28

vklidu

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6

$\begingroup$ in other words: add detail only where is needed. $\endgroup$
– susu
Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 19:34
1

$\begingroup$ Oh wow thank you for the help! From what I saw only I should avoid tri-gons, are they ok to have sometimes? Thank you so much $\endgroup$
– Makinbacon52
Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 20:12
1

$\begingroup$ That is why I added one version without tris. I'm not an expert, but if you are not experiencing any shading or overlapping issue on surface, tris are OK as well. All game industry and even renderes triangulates mesh before they start to render, so there is too much emotions about that :) $\endgroup$
– vklidu
Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 20:22
$\begingroup$ @vklidu I hope you don't mind me asking another question. I just don't want to form bad habits. :) When beginning the second part of the arm where to second circle ends. Should I create a separate object and merge the two together after or extrude the circle and work from there? Thank you so much, you have been really helpful. A better picture of the second part $\endgroup$
– Makinbacon52
Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 20:27
1

$\begingroup$ There is not an one correct way :) You can go both ways, for more complex models it is easier to separate into objects so you can hide quicker than hiding vertices, but your model is quite simple. But definetely dont connect vertices of pieces that suppose to be free. Also consider if you plan to rig your robot :) $\endgroup$
– vklidu
Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 20:43