Bicycle Wheels - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial

Bicycle Wheels - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Hello and welcome to this new 3ds max modeling tutorial. In this part of this 3d modeling tutorial series we will learn the 3d modeling process of the wheels. This type of bicycle wheels are often seen in single speed and fixie bikes. The 3d modeling process will not be very detailed. We will be modeling only the parts that interest us and will be viewed in the final render. So, let's not waste any more time and start this 3d modeling tutorial.


Part 1 - Bicycle Fork - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Part 2 - Bicycle Frame - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Part 3 - Bicycle Crankset - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Part 4 - Bicycle Pedals - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Part 5 - Bicycle Handlebar - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Part 6 - Bicycle Seat - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Part 7 - Bicycle Wheels - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial
Part 8 - Assembling the Bicycle - 3ds Max Modeling Tutorial


Step 1: To start this 3d modeling tutorial Open or Reset 3ds Max. In the top left corner you can see the 3ds Max icon, click on it and click Reset, Save or Don't Save your work and click YES for "Do you really want to reset?". 

Step 2: So you don't get confused with the units setup change it so that we all work with the same type. From Customize, click on Units Setup, select Generic Units and International, click OK. Generic Units fits everyone's needs so people don't get confused with the Metric system.

Step 3: Go to Create, Geometry and select Cylinder. Change the Height Segments to 1, the Cap Segments to 5 and the Sides to 32. In Keyboard entry leave the X,Y and Z to 0, change the Radius to 30, the Height to 3 and click Create. After the Cylinder is created right click on it select Convert to -> Convert to Editable Poly.

Step 4: Go to the Modify tab and enter Polygon selection mode. Select the Highlighted polygons holding down CTRL and press Delete to remove them. Make sure you selected the polygons from both sides.
Tip: ALT+W to switch between 1 and 4 viewports.
Tip 2: Press "V" on your keyboard to select and change the viewport.

Step 5: In Vertex selection mode, select the 2 Highlighted vertices(one from each side) and click on the box next to Chamfer. Change the amount to 3.5 and click the Check Mark for OK.

Step 6: Now, using the Cut tool create 8 new edges, 4 on each side.
Tip: To use the Cut tool, first click on the vertex in the corner and the on the middle of the edge. Right click to finish.

Step 7: From Create, Shaped make a new NGon with 8 sides and a Radius of 3.5 by clicking and dragging on the screen. Use the Select and Move tool to position the NGon like bellow.
Tip: Press F3 to switch between Shaded and Wireframe view in the viewport.

Step 8: Select the first created object again and enter Vertex selection mode. Using the Select and Move tool position the vertices to fit the NGon. Remember, both sides. You can now select the NGon and Delete it.

Step 9: 1) Enter Polygon selection mode and holding down CTRL select the center polygons from both sides. Press Delete to remove them.  2) Go in Border selection mode and select both borders resulting from the deletion of polygons. 3) Click on Bridge to bridge them together.
Tip: Press "P" or "V" to change the viewport to Perspective.

Step 10: With the same borders still selected click on the Chamfer square, change the amount to 0.1 and click OK.

Step 11: Select the top 4 edges in Edge selection mode. Chamfer them with an amount of 0.6 and click OK.

Step 12: In Vertex selection mode, using the Target Weld tool, weld the vertices together on both sides. To use the Target Weld tool first activate it by clicking on it, then click on first vertex to select it and then click on the vertex where you want to weld it.

Step 13: Select the Select and Rotate tool and activate Angle Snap Toggle. Right click on it and change the Angle to 0.5 degrees.

Step 14: Holding down SHIFT Rotate the object 22.5 degrees in the Y axis. Select the Object type to Copy, 15 numbers of copies and click OK. Activate the Attach tool and click on the other 15 objects to Attach them together.

Step 15: With all the objects attached together as one, enter Vertex selection mode, press CTRL+A to select all vertices and click on the square next to WELD. Set the amount to 0.1, you should now see Before:1088 and After:866. Click OK.

Step 16: Select the middle polygons from one side in Polygon selection mode and Extrude them with an amount of 20.

Step 17: In Edge selection mode select the edges using Loop tool. Select one loop from each row and click on Loop, then click on the square next to Chamfer, change the amount to 0.1 and click OK.

Step 18: Now select every other edge and press Backspace to Remove them.

Step 19: Change the viewport to Top by pressing "T". Click on the Mirror tool, change the axis to Y, the Offset to 70, the Clone Selection to Copy and click OK. After you click OK activate the Attach tool and click on the other copy to attach them together.

Step 20: Select the middle polygons from each side and click on Bridge in Polygon selection mode.

Step 21: Select the middle edges and click on the square next to Connect in Edge selection mode. Change the number of Segments to 3 and the Pinch to 90. Click OK.

Step 22: That's pretty it with the center part of the wheel. To continue this 3 modeling tutorial press "F" to change the viewport to Front. Go to Create, Geometry and select the Tube. Change the Height Segments to 1, the Cap segments to 2 and 24 Sides. In Keyboard Entry leave X and Y to 0 and change Z to 26.5. Set the Inner Radius to 230, the Outer Radius to 270 and the Height to 16. Click Create. Convert the Tube to Editable Poly.

Step 23: In Edge selection mode, select the inner edges and using the Select and Scale tool scale them down in the Y axis to 50.

Step 24: Chamfer the same edges with an amount of 1.5 and click OK.

Step 25: Select the outer polygons by selecting one and the hold CTRL+SHIFT and click on another one to select them all. Press Delete to remove them.

Step 26: From the Modifier list add a Shell modifier and change the Outer Amount to 3. Convert the Object to Editable Poly.

Step 27: In Edge selection mode, select the outer edge using Loop(select on from each row and click on Loop) and Chamfer them with an amount of 0.2, click OK.

Step 28: In the next part of this 3d modeling tutorial we will create the Tyre. Change the Viewport to Front and from Create, Shapes chose Circle. Check the boxes for Enable in Renderer and Viewport, change the Thickness to 25 and the Sides to 8. In the Interpolation tab(it's not shown in the screenshot) change the Steps to 24. In Keyboard entry leave X and Y to 0 and change Z to 34.5, set the Radius to 275 and click Create.

Step 29: Select the first created object in this 3d modeling tutorial and using the Select and Scale tool scale it down to 80 in the Y axis.

Step 30: To continue this 3d modeling tutorial we must start the process of 3d modeling the spokes. Change the viewport to Left by pressing "L". 1) From Create, Shapes make a new line with 3 vertices. 2)Enter vertex selection and using the Select and Move tool move the top vertex to the left for about -10 in the X axis. 3) Fillet the corner vertex with an amount of 6.

Step 31: Check the boxes for Enable in Renderer and Viewport, change the Thickness to 2 and the Sides to 12. Convert the line to Editable Poly.

Step 32: Zoom in to the base of the spoke. 1) Make a Ring selection of the edges by selecting one and clicking on Ring. 2) Connect the edges with 1 segments and a Slide of 80. 3) Select the Polygons. 4) Extrude the polygons with an amount of 3 and the type Local Normal.

Step 33: Repeat last step only this time for the top part. Connect with 1 Segments and 90 Slide. Extrude with an amount of 1 with the type Local Normal and Delete Cap Polygons. Also position this top part of the spoke to fit the edge of the wheel using the Select and Move tool.

Step 34: Using the Select and Move tool position the spoke like you see bellow. Make sure it fits in the hole in the bottom part and it's right on the edge of wheel on the top part.

Step 35: With the Select and Move tool selected, go to Hierarchy tab, activate Affect Pivot Only and reset the X, Y and Z axis to 0.

Step 36: Hold down SHIFT and using the Select and Rotate tool, rotate the spoke in the Z axis to -22.5. Select the Object as Copy, change the number to 15 and click OK.

Step 37: Press the square next to Attach, select all the lines holding SHIFT and click Attach.

Step 38: With the spokes selected click on the Mirror tool, set the axis to Y, change the Offset to -70, set Clone Selection to Copy and click OK.

Step 39: The front and back spoke overlap at the wheel edge, we need to rotate them using the Select and Rotate tool for 11.25 degrees in the Z axis. Attach the spokes from both side together.

Step 40: Select the first created object in this 3d modeling tutorial, go in Vertex selection mode, select the back vertices and rotate them using the Select and Rotate tool for 11.5 in the Y axis to fit the spokes.

Step 41: Attach the everything together except the spokes. From the Modifier list add a Turbosmooth modifier with 2 Iteration and check the box for Isoline display.

Step 42: Holding down SHIFT copy all the object to the left. Select Copy and click OK.

Step 43: Zoom in on the wheel on the left. Create a Tube from Create, Geometry with Radius 1 of 25, Radius 2 of 6.5 and the Height of 2. Make it with 1 Height Segments, 2 Cap Segments and 32 Sides. Position it to fit the back wheel.

Step 44: Select every other polygon in Polygon selection mode and Bevel them with the Height of 5 and an Outline of -0.5. Click OK.

Step 45: In Edge selection mode: 1) Make a Ring selection of the side edges by selecting one and clicking on Ring. 2) Connect the edges with 2 Segments and 70 Pinch. 3) Make a Loop selection of the edges by selecting one and clicking on Loop. 4)Chamfer the edges with an amount of 0.1. Click OK.

Step 46: For the final part of this 3d modeling tutorial, select the Wheel and Attach this part to the rest of the Wheel, except the spokes.

This is pretty much it for this 3d modeling tutorial. It's not very detailed, but you can add some if you like. By now I'm very sure that you will handle it. In the next part of this 3d modeling tutorial series we will build the bike, fitting the parts together. We will also build the chain and the rest of the parts that wee need like screws and bolts. I hope you have enjoyed this 3d modeling tutorial.

3D Modeling Result:

Don't forget to comment and let me know what do you think. Also fell free to ask me anything you like about this 3d modeling tutorial. I will be glad to help you. See you soon my friends.

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