make a Park Bench

A bench is a pretty simple object, and max helps us with great tools that make making of this bench a breze if you know how.

Before everything, switch the maxs generic measuring system to metric. From the “Customize” menu choose “Units setup” and in the dialog choose metric and centimeters. Now everything is set to make a bench in its real life measures.

From the create panel, instead of standard primitives, choos extended and than chamfer box. In the top viewport draw a chamfer box. Switch to modify panel and type in these values: Length: 200cm, Width: 15cm, Height: 2.5cm and Fillet: 0.25cm. Call this object bench_board.

We will create the nails that will hold the boards and the base of the bench together. In the front viewport zoom in a part of the board and from the create panel choose shapes and make a rough profile of a nail. Like in the picture.

Switch to modify panel with the line selected, go to vertex sub object mode and select the vertex like in the picture. Add the Fillet (fillet command is in modifu properties when you turn on vertex sub object mode and it is set on selected vertexes) of 0.40cm and you will get a nicely rounded profile of a nail. To finish modeling it, get out of sub object mode and from the modifier list add lathe to the profile. In the lathe properties choose weld core, and on the align group choose max. Turn on and generate mapping coordinates option and name this new object “nail”.

Copy the nail with the shift copy three more times and set them on the board in places where the board will be attached to the base. Like in this picture.

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We can add the material for the board and nails straight away. Open the material aditor and select the first free slot and go to get material, with option browse from library, find the maxs folder with material liabraries. Open “wood” and choose “old wood” material than drag it to the free slot. Open than “metals” and find “old metal”. Wood add to the board and metal to the nails.

Now to the next step. Select the board and nail and group them as Object and give it an apropariate name. With the object selected, go to hierarchy panel, turn on “affect pivot only” and choose the align to world option. We will use this later.

In the front viewport, unzoom and make a new shape (create panel, shapes, line) That will be the line for the bench from side on wich we will multiply our board. Choose smooth for drag type and try to draw a line like in this picture.

When you are happy with the look, select the board from the main menu and than choose “tools” than “spacing tool”. A spacing tool dialog will appear, Turn on the “pick path” button and select the line of the bench. Boards will appear on its length. If you turn on the option follor, the board will follow the trail. Now you can leave the default value “Divide evenly”, “Object at ends” and on “Count” set instead default 3, put in as many boards as you wish. I this case I chose 11 that is under count I put 11. Perhaps you will want differently to shape your bech.

The bech is almost over. What it needs now is the base on wich the boards will stand.

Choose the first board that we used to duplicate with the spacing tool. In my case I deleted the last board so that I get a nicer bench. Also the spaceing tool might not position the boards in their optimal positions. You can correct this by hand to get a nicer profile.

Now for the base of the bench. Choose shapes, line, and under “drag” choose “cornet” and draw a line wich in its upper part follows the lower line of the boards and in the lower forms a slightly trapezoic shape. Like in the picture.

Add the bevel modifier to this line. For values set:

Level 1

Height 2 cm

Outline 2 cm

Level 2

Height 10 cm

Level 3

Height 2 cm

Outline -2 cm

And the base of the bench is finished. All we have to do now is add material and make a copy and position these in their places. Select the third free slot in the material editor, with the get material, open material map browser, browse for maxs matlibs directory and in it the concrete materials library. From this one choose gray and add the material to the base we just made. With the shift copy option, make another on and in the top viewport position them so that they align with the nails.

Your park bench is finished. You are free to experiment with materials, add different mapping or what ever you may want.

Take care and have fun.

Posted in Maya 3D