Rendering threads?

[CajunCAD]

Has anyone rendered threads in PhotoWorks?

I would like to be able to add a material/finish/decal or whatever to surfaces so that when rendered they appear to be threaded. I don't want to have to create a part configuration with threads cut in order to render an image.

Any ideas???

Louis

 

[rockguy]

I'm not a PhotoWorks expert but I do ok. The first thing I would try is finding or taking a good clear picture of "threads" on a bolt. I would then use that image as a decal with cylindrical mapping and then adjust the sizing accordingly. Not sure if it would work but it is a start. You could also try creating a texture from the "thread" picture and then using that as a material and adjusting the mapping and scale.

Another though. Use a modeled fastener (like the ones in toolbox) which has a thread. If you can't find a picture of "thread" you could render a fastener and then crop the image down to show just the thread and use that as your decal or image for texture file.

 

[CajunCAD]

Thanks, I rendered a threaded screw from Toolbox and saved a .jpg of the threaded portion (shaft is horizontal / threads depict as vertical).

When I apply this decal to a part the threads appear to be rotated 90 (shaft is horizontal / threads appear horizontal). I haven't found a way to rotate the decal and I can't close the decal editor dialog box (close button is grayed out).

Any ideas on what I am doing wrong?

 

[CajunCAD]

I can close the decal wizard dialog box now. I think SolidWorks / PhotoWorks was hung up somehow. Thread decal still comes in 90 degrees from the orientation I need.

 

[CajunCAD]

Disappointing results...

I was unable to rotate the decal/texture so I created a new .jpg rotated 90. This allowed me to get the orientation of the threads correct.

The decal makes the part look striped and the texture isn't much better.

If anyone has worked with this I would be interested in downloading a model and the images required to make a good rendering or provide what I have done so far (model & image files).

 

[nozzlemaker]

The best way to do this is with the displacement effect in the materials menus. pick a metallic material that has a displacement already in it, such as one of the pressed metal materials. then in the displacement panel choose Bump Map. But first make a bitmap that has a load of straight lines or even use the photo of a real bolt that you were trying to apply as a texture. when you select "bump map" click on the bitmap. the renderer will create a false pattern effect by embossing the surface upward depending on the brightness of each pixel in the bitmap. However it does this only by modifying the surface normals locally at each point so that "slanted" ones are darker. This means you wont see a zig-zag edge on the bolt. however this usually doesn't matter if you're not too close-up on the bolt. There are options for setting the orientation of the pattern in the Mapping/Cylindrical dialogue box.

 

[SBaugh]

Or just wait for SW04.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
When in doubt, always check the help

 

[Theophilus]

You could also use the threads from the fastener you rendered for your image map. Simply cut off the schematic/simple threads from your desired fastener (can suppress this cut after you render) and mate the threaded toolbox part concentric to your desired and cut-off fastener. This will yield truly rendered helical threads and will be very convincing.




Jeff Mowry
DesignHaus Industrial Design

http://www.designhaus-i-d.com