Wings 3D Development Forum

How to make hexagonal structure on the cylinder surface.
(WARNING: orange is the selection color in this example)

Some theory before action:

For convenience, let's take the side of the hexagon equal to about 1 unit.
Here is the proportions:


Assume that we need 16 hexagons that fit around the circle (so we must use 32-section cylinder for that).
The formula for the circle radius is: (hex-side-length * cylinder-sections * 0.866025) / (2 * pi)

So for "one-unit" hexagon we need a cylinder of 0.5 unit height and 4.410629 unit radius.

Make it and select the vertices like this:


Delete selected:


Select upper and lower faces:


Extrude it by normal for 0.5 unit:






After extrusion use "mirror":


Repeat face selection and "mirror" as you need:


Select two edge like this:


Select similar edges (hotkey "i"):


Delete it and swittch to vertices select mode, then select one vertice like this:


Select similar vertices (hotkey "i"):


Delete selected:


Base form is ready.

(to be continued)

Hi ivla
Thanks for sharing that.

You could remove one step: "Delete it and swittch to vertices select mode, then select one vertice like this:"
For that, instead of use Delete for the similar edges selected you should use the context menu Dissolve [RMB].

How to make a cup (or glass)

Select all hexagons:


"Inset" it, use Tab key for bump:


If you like the result, you can skip next step ("Collapse"):




Select upper (round) face and "Intrude" it:




NOTE: If you make a model for the 3d printing, you should "scale uniform" or "scale absolute" whole body to the required size BEFORE "intruding". Also use numeric input (tab key) to set an "intrude" value eqial to 1 or 2 printer nozzle diameter.

(to be continued)

Another nice structure:

Use base form from the first post.
Select all heхagons and switch to edge select mode (all hexagon' edges will be selected):


Use "bevel":


While those faces selected use "shell extrude"

...by normal


Then unselect all and hide/delete base form:


We need to close a lower end.
Select one edge like this:


Select edge ring (key "g"):


Switch to face selection mode:


Use "Flatten"

by Y:


Do not unselect faces, use "extrude"

by Y too:


Unselect all, select one face like this:


Select similar faces (key "i"):


"Dissolve" it (key "del"):


Note for 3d-printing:
Scale base form before other actions.
"Bevel" and "shell extrude" values must form a structure at least 2x-3x thick of nozzle diameter.

That's all. If you come up with something else interesting with this form please share it here.

(04-24-2024, 01:49 PM)micheus Wrote: [ -> ]You could remove one step:

Thank you for the hint.

How to make honeycomb (flat hexagonal grid):

Make a cube with such parameters:


Select two long edges on a top face:


Cut it by 3:


Connect vertices:


Leave selected these two vertices:


...and delete it:


Select two long side faces:


"Extrude" it by normal for 0.5 unit:


Select two these edge loops:


"Dissolve [RMB]" it (thanks micheus!)


Base unit is ready:


It can be "mirrored" by the side faces to the required size and cleaned up from unnecessary edges:


You can use it to make a desired structure - see above for how-to.

Hi ivla

Taking advantage of the pattern replication option you previously shown, I decide to include an short how to using another handy option using the Absolute Command->Move:
Replicating Patterns

(04-25-2024, 01:51 PM)micheus Wrote: [ -> ]another handy option using the Absolute Command->Move:
Replicating Patterns

Making honeycomb this way:

Here is a pattern. Make cylinder with radius=1 and sections=6 then "mirror" it on one of side faces.


Duplicate it by X (Absolute move [MMB]):



Select all and "weld".

Duplicate by Z:




Select and weld. Here is it: