Introduction

This project is part of my ongoing parametric modeling research, combining consultancy work with personal projects that test new 3D methods. It focuses on a Grasshopper definition that can generate a clean basic car body SubD geometry from a set of dimensions, parameters, and a few guiding curves or surfaces.

The aim is to produce a structured, all-quad SubD that serves as a base for the concept design and modeling process, removing the need to spend time on repetitive setup tasks such as shaping wheelarches or defining the primary body surfaces.

How it works

The tool takes inputs such as a side reference surface, a roofline curve, a waistline curve, and a handful of feature controls (e.g., wheel-arch shape, key topology positions).

From these, the main SubD is built in one pass, producing an organized quad-based mesh suitable for further surface development.

Benefits

This appproach accelerates the initial layout stage: establishing overall proportions and dimensions, creating and connecting the wheel-arches and defining the primary body surfaces and transitions.

The tool reduces the initial steps while at the same time allowing to experiment with different ideas at an early stage.

It is possible to iterate and refine the design by simply adjusting the parameters or modifying the input curves and surfaces without having to dive straight into the polygonal/SubD manual modeling process.

The resulting output can be used either as a base geometry for the actual modeling process - which can be carried out in Rhino or any other 3D modeling application supporting SubDs.

Consultancy and Custom Development

This SubD generator is an example of the kind of custom 3D tools I develop in my work as a consultant for design automation and 3D modeling workflows.

Studios or companies that need a similar tool customized for their industrypackaging constraints, internal standards - can commission tailored definitions setups.

Future Developments and Contact

Looking ahead, this work will also be featured through Car Body Design - along with other car design-focused tools I've developed over the years - either as a showcase for consulting services or, potentially, as part of an online tool offering, where tools can be accessed on demand, without the need for local setup or specific software.

If this direction is of interest, I’d be happy to hear about potential use cases to guide the roadmap.

To get in touch, you can fill in the contact form.