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This is pretty common way of chamfering hard edges in CAD modelling different product casing. I was wondering is there an addon, script or blender function out there that i don't know that can automatically make sharp corner chamfering like that?

  1. usual chamfering with bevel in blender
  2. chamfering with sharp corners that i want to do automatically Simpliest example of chamfering with sharp corners Here is example of it on a cube

How this particular type of chamfering is called? I struggle to find info on it without the name. Maybe there reason is it's not that common after all...

This is a four main way it can be modelled by hand.

For Cube like shapes through inset with equal thicnkess\depth Cube like shapes with inset

For most non symmetrical shapes with 3 edges - with a help from Tiny Cad. most of the asymmetrical shapes - Tiny Cad addon: tinyCAD Mesh tools. Included in blender by default.

For shapes with radial symmetry. Again with tinycad. radial symmetry tiny cad

The longest way for any possible shape with boolean. for any shape. addon: booltool. Included in blender

When modelling for close-ups Ngons \ chamfer planes created through this process needs to be flat, so just beveling\chamfering in several stages won't do.Simple two stage bevelilng just won't do with close ups

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2 Answers 2

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DISCLAIMER: If you want faces, created by chamfer to be flat, this won't work for you.

As far as I know, there isn't any way integrated into Blender to do this, but you can do it really simply yourself.

If you have three edges coming together, select two of them and do a regular, one segment bevel (Ctrl-B) and remember the offset value (0.2 in my case). Then, select the third edge and do the same bevel, with the same offset to it. If you want, you can get rid of the excess edge with Delete > Edge dissolve.

A gif of this: Imgur

enter image description here

The chamfer on the cube was done in 2 steps and the one on the pyramid was done in 3 steps (without dissolving excess edges).

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  • $\begingroup$ But it needs to be flat surface to not cause any problem in future or when seeing it in close-ups. When, there is absolutely no need to see this place up close, sure this can work. But dissolving excess edges won't make ngon into a flat surface. When doing it this way, you need a third step of extending edge from the first chamfer operation to the plane created through the second chamfer operation. This mean boolean modifiers or tinycad addon function "extend edge to face". I think i'll update the question on flat surface matter. $\endgroup$
    – Leivin
    Commented Aug 10, 2017 at 10:09
  • $\begingroup$ I have to admit that checking if the surface is flat didn't even occur to me. And, yes, you are right about this. I will try if there's an easy way to do it with flat faces. $\endgroup$
    – missy
    Commented Aug 10, 2017 at 11:30
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Bmesh Script.

...decided on extrude, dissolving edges and moving old corners. Currently not producing coplanar ngons, will need to get my head around it later.

Select default cube, and in edit mode, run script.

import bpy
import bmesh
from mathutils import Vector

context = bpy.context

obj = context.edit_object
me = obj.data
bm = bmesh.from_edit_mesh(me)

verts = [v for v in bm.verts]
faces = [f for f in bm.faces]
edges = [e for e in bm.edges]

# create new insets (could set return val give list of created faces]
[bmesh.ops.inset_region(bm, faces=[f], thickness=0.2) for f in faces]

verts = [v for e in edges for v in e.verts]
# dissolve original edges.
bmesh.ops.dissolve_edges(bm, edges=edges)

# move the corners

for v in verts:
    n = len(v.link_edges)
    v.select = True
    v.co = sum([e.other_vert(v).co for e in v.link_edges], Vector()) / n

bmesh.update_edit_mesh(me, True) 

enter image description here

Notice the chamfers are too shallow (not on same plane), I've used the median point of the triangle of the corner. Thinking there could be cases where 3 planes in space (the chamfers) may not intersect at a single point. (Maybe hence the triangle corner of bevel) Will investigate later using some of the geom utils, intersecting pt with planes defined by chamfers, or someone may suggest something in comments.

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  • $\begingroup$ You need to inset with equal thicnkess and depth. Removing edges is not important part, it can be done fast by hand. I added in question three main way i personally do this kind of shapes manually and tiresome. $\endgroup$
    – Leivin
    Commented Aug 11, 2017 at 15:26

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