Making a card/paper model
processes development
making the 3D modelling with Rhino 7
the pictures show the process and shape I've used to make my 3D model in Rhino7, I have combined a rectangular cube, cone and pyramid.
making the model was easy, it only took me a few minutes to find where each shape is and combine it after I just have to fit the model in a 400mm by 400mm by 400mm cube.
the hard part for me was to try and unroll the model, the model was showing eros when I was trying to unroll it, and it took me almost 30 min to find the problems, and the problems were just simply because I explored the model because lack of practice of using Rhino, and it was a simple fix by grouping the model and I'm able to unroll my model.
first prototype
I have maximised using the space in an A2 rectangle fitting in every part of my model.
after printing it out and cutting it, I don't have big problems other than the round cone part of the shapes, probably because I put too much pressure on the paper, making it hard to turn when I cut.
when I try removing the pieces from the big pieces of paper, I found that I haven't cut them out properly and I had to rip some parts off. It doesn't really affect my assembling.
When I assembled my first prototype, I realized that I had made a crucial mistake by not adding enough tabs to connect each part together. As a result, the model was not as stable as I had hoped, and I had to resort to using a lot of tape to keep it from falling apart.
One of the biggest challenges I encountered was with the bottom part of the pyramid and the hollow connecting part of the cone. These two parts were completely independent, and the tabs that I had glued were too thin and weak to keep the parts together. I quickly realized that I needed a stronger solution, so I had to use extra tape to hold these parts in place.
Another difficult part to connect was the circle part of the cone. Unfortunately, I had not added any tabs for this piece, so I had to spend a lot of time trying to get it to stick to the cone. It was a frustrating and time-consuming process, but eventually, I managed to secure it in place.
this is what the first attempt at making the model look like.
Each shape has a lot of voids, which I think is mainly because I didn't put enough tabs in.
second prototype
For my second attempt at assembling the A3 cube, I realized that I needed to make some changes to my approach. I had previously been working with individual parts that needed to be assembled together, which made the process more complicated and time-consuming. However, after consulting with Hans, he suggested an alternative approach.
Hans proposed that I connect the parts to each shape, rather than having them as individual pieces. This way, when I assemble each shape, the parts will already be connected, which will simplify the process and make it more efficient. This was a great idea, and I decided to implement it for my second attempt.
To further improve this approach, I added extra tabs to the parts, which will help keep everything in place and prevent any accidental detachment during the assembly process. With these tabs, I can ensure that the parts stay securely connected to each shape and make the entire process even more seamless.
It took me a while to figure out the most effective method of maximising the space of the A3 cube. (image on the left is the process of me trying to find the best way of making the parts connect and fit in the A3 cube, the middle one is before adding tabs and the right one is after adding tabs.) 
This is what each part looks like after it's been cut out. after cutting out the parts I notice that I had an extra piece that wasn't needed, I think this is a lesson for me to pay more attention when I'm doing my work.
A new problem I had with the cone was I added tabs for the circle but the way I put in the tabs didn't cut and fold as I would hope it would have wanted. the problem I had was there wasn't enough space for me to add tabs for one of the shapes which made it hard when I was assmbling.
Compared to the first model I made, I believe that the second one is a significant improvement. It was much easier to assemble because I joined the parts together. However, I did encounter the same issue as with the first model, which was that the tabs were too weak. When I put glue on the tabs, the paper became soft and fragile, and I was afraid that the model would fall apart.
Despite this setback, I persevered and left the model to dry overnight. The next day, the glue had dried, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much better the model turned out compared to the first one. While the tabs were still somewhat weak, they were strong enough to keep the model together.
making final model
I made some changes to the model, I change the tabs from the circle to the cone and I also added tabs for the cube on the bottom, so is easier for assembling.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the process of assembling my third model went much smoother than the second. This time around, I added more tabs to the different parts and made sure to make them a bit larger to increase their sturdiness. As a result, for most of the parts, all I needed was the glue to attach the tabs and connect the pieces together.
There was only one part that gave me trouble, which was the connecting part for the cone and cube. Unfortunately, the tabs for this piece were still too small, and the glue wasn't strong enough to hold the two pieces together. To solve this issue, I had to resort to using tape to secure the connection properly.
Although it was frustrating to have to use tape again, I knew that this was a significant improvement from my previous attempts. I learned that when it comes to making paper models, small details like the size of the tabs can make a huge difference in the final result. I was also pleased to see that I had made progress in my skills as a model maker, and I felt confident that with more practice and experimentation, I could continue to improve even further.
After spending several hours assembling most of the paper model, I finally reached the last step of the process: joining the two parts together. Although I had initially thought that this would be a simple and straightforward task, I quickly realized that it was not as easy as I had anticipated.
As I began to carefully connect the two parts together, I noticed that the tabs were not lining up correctly, and the pieces were not fitting together as snugly as they should. Frustrated, I took a step back and examined the model more closely.
After some careful examination, I noticed that I had made a mistake when cutting one of the pieces, which caused the tabs to be misaligned. Realizing my mistake, I carefully trimmed the edges of the piece until it fits snugly with the other part.
Finally, after several attempts and some readjustments, I was able to connect the two parts together successfully. The sense of accomplishment I felt at that moment was immense
extra model image
final model image
Looking back on the experience, I realised that mistakes and setbacks are an inevitable part of the creative process. However, with patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn from my mistakes, I was able to overcome the challenges and create something that I was proud of.
