Piano keys calculations

posted to: Modeling Piano Keys
Something that is not important for the final result here, but the black piano keys are not centered between the white keys. In fact all keys are a lot longer than the visible part and start out equal (inside the piano).
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  • spikeyxxx replied

    An alternative way to model the keys could be to start inside the piano, with a Plane, Subdivided into twelve parts and Extruded left and right (for the Beveling to be even, when done later). I used a width of 15/32" per key and 1/16" = 2/32" per gap:

    Pianokeys_01.png

    Now Bevel the highlighted Edges and adjust the Bevel Width to 1/2 of 1/16":

    Pianokeys_02.png

    Delete the newly created Faces, together with the two outside Faces and make two new Planes for the front of the white keys and Subdivide them and Bevel the gaps, like so:

    Pianokeys.03.png

    Delete the gaps and connect the keys, by making some extra Edge Loops:

    Pianokeys.04.png

    Blocking out the keys a bit further, and also adding the 'back' (this will be done in the next lesson, but the 'back' should stop above the keys and has a, usualy red, felt strip between the keys and the wood):

    Pianokeys.05.png

    Note, that I didn't consider the length of the keys, but you can easily do that yourself at any point during the process.

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  • Kent Trammell replied

    thank you for sharing this spikeyxxx! I wish I had consulted you before recording πŸ˜…

    • πŸ™πŸΌ
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  • mastart replied

    I duplicated my keys with Shift + d and then I did ctrl + m + x and I inverted it. So you don't have to put in a loopcut, set the courser and rotate it...or something likeΒ  that... not even sure. But it is a challenge to model this. I totally underestimated this.

    • right?!