Freestyle Project #7: Wine Glass 5/21/25

Designing this modern wine glass started with a clear vision: a piece that feels lightweight in the hand yet honors the timeless elegance of classic glassware. I wanted a clean silhouette that could be easily adjusted in Fusion 360 without rebuilding from scratch. This project became a perfect exercise in parametric design, balancing beauty with flexibility for future tweaks.

On the Front plane, I sketched half of the glass’s cross-section using splines for the bowl’s gentle curve and a straight line for the stem and foot. Dimension constraints locked in an 80 mm maximum bowl diameter and a total height of 120 mm, while a 60 mm base ensured stability. Setting these key values at the start meant any change to height or width would ripple through the entire profile automatically.

With the profile defined, I applied the Revolve tool around the central axis to generate a single, seamless body encompassing the bowl, stem, and base. Keeping everything in one solid body made it easy to maintain continuity between surfaces and simplified any later edits. If I decide to lengthen the stem or widen the bowl, I only need to adjust the original sketch.

Next, I refined edges to enhance realism and ergonomics. A 1 mm chamfer along the rim created a crisp drinking lip, while a 2 mm fillet where the bowl meets the stem smoothed the transition. I also added a subtle 0.5 mm blend around the base of the foot to mimic how real glass settles under gravity. These small details elevate the perceived quality and comfort.

Appearance tuning was critical for capturing glass optics. I applied a “Crystal Clear Glass” preset with 90 percent transparency and near-zero roughness, then dialed in a whisper of icy blue tint to emphasize wall thickness. For an alternative metal version, I assigned a polished-steel finish to the base, complete with high specular highlights. Adjusting refraction and reflectivity settings let the model catch every studio-style light.

I dropped the glass into Fusion 360’s studio environment, turned on ground shadows and caustics, and positioned a three-point light setup. The key light sculpted the bowl’s curves, the fill light softened shadows, and a rim light added highlights along the edges. A quick 4K render brought out crisp lines on the rim and smooth gradients down the sides, showcasing the glass’s delicate form.

This project reinforced several best practices: revolve-based modeling keeps designs parametric and easy to adjust; small fillets and chamfers add a professional touch; and careful material settings are essential for realistic glass. Studio renders with caustics and proper lighting transform a model from flat to lifelike.

Looking ahead, I’m exporting high-resolution STL files for SLA printing in clear resin, planning to post-cure and polish each prototype for optical clarity. I’m also exploring etched logos around the stem and gradient tints at the rim for custom variations. What began as a CAD exercise may soon become a conversation piece on any dinner table.