I am still learning Blender so I would like to know how would you model this piece? Below pictures you can see my workflow.
Basically, I created 2 rings and used a Loop Tools (Loft Tool) to create the geometry between the rings. I also repeated the same Loop Tool (Loft Tool) process 12 times. Naturally I would still use Subdivision Surface Modifier and scaling down (z-axis) to finalize the piece. In order to avoid the repeating the process, how can I copy the geometry (circular copy) around the rings?
Anyway, I would be willing to know if you have any other ways to create the same geometry. This is because I am still having hard time to get used to “the Blender way of modeling”.
Create a UV sphere (12 rings, 12 segments). Delete its bottom half and top vertex. Extrude bottom ring and make a flat disc at the top (either by extruding+scaling the top ring or by adding a loop cut, shift+selecting the top ring and scaling 0 times along Z axis).
Switch to edge select mode and select one vertical edge at the bottom.
Menu Select -> Edge Rings then Select -> Edge Loops.
Richard, I don’t really like the Array modifier because it is somehow complicated to use. Anyway, I really need to learn to use the Array tool. I noticed that I was able to do the similar thing with Spin tool also.
Stan, this workflow was a real eye opener. I was not aware of the funtionalities (selecting geometry, beveling this way, circularize, etc.) in Blender at all. Therefore, it is great to see different ways to create the geometry.