Modeling a Realistic Toothbrush

This tutorial is described assuming the reader having basic knowledge on 3d max.

Also all dimensions of the object will not be given in the tutorial. The dimensions which are given are in accordance with my reference model. You may use the same value, take values from a reference object or any value you like.

I am using 3d max 7 for this tutorial, however you may able to use older versions as well. If your 3d max version does not having TurboSmooth Modifier, Use MeshSmooth modifier instead of that.

Start new 3d max scene, go to left viewport and create a box with following settings at (0, 0, 0).

Convert the box into Editable Poly and go to Vertex sub-object level. Move the vertices as follows using any appropriate method.

Select left 3 columns of vertices and move 120 units downwards.

Go to Edge sub-object level; select the 4 longest vertices and add 2 more rings to the selection using Connect option in the Edit Edges rollout. Scale the selection until new edge rings closer to existing edges (select Use Selection Center as the Transform Center when you scaling).

Add some more rings to the object as below using the same procedure.

Go to front viewport and select all the edge rings add more edges using Connect option and scale them near to existing edges as did early.

Add edges to the side using the same procedure.

Exit from the sub-object level and apply TurboSmooth modifier and increase the Iterations up to 2. Now you will get a nice smooth object.

Switch off the TurboSmooth modifier, and add more edge rings to neck of the brush. Adjust the vertices using Move Toggle and Scale Toggle until you get a perfect head and a neck. (You may turn on TurboSmooth modifier time to time to see the result.)

Edit the handle of the brush as well, by moving the bottom vertices bit forward and narrowing the thickness of the handle through its centre axis (This will give more realistic appearance to the handle by making top and bottom surfaces slightly curve.)

To edit the middle part of the brush, go to Top viewport, and draw a rectangle using Cut tool just inside the existing lines (see figure below), select the 2 polygons within the created rectangle and extrude downward a bit.

Attach the 4 corners to the vertices nearby using Cut tool, select the 4 corner edges of the extrude, and Chamfer them until two of the edges going through the vertex nearby. Go to Vertex sub-object level, select all the vertices in the mid section and press Weld button in the Edit Vertices rollout (make sure you are only reducing number of selected vertices by 4). Add more edges to the 4 corners as below.

Turn on TurboSmooth modifier. You will get a nice smooth result. You may fine tune the result by scaling down the 2 larger polygons inside the created rectangle a bit.  Repeat same steps to bottom faces as well. You may get something like this.

Now its time to add Fibers. Go to left or Front viewport, and create a vertical line which is around 100 units and change the parameters as following.

Make a bundle of 15-20 such lines within a circle with the radius of 8 units. Attach them together. Increase the height of fibres in the middle of the bundle a bit. Now you are having nice bundle of fibres.

Place them on the head of the brush in a pattern whatever you like.

Render the scene; you will get a nice looking tooth brush.

Tags: 3d max, beginner, high quality, modeling, realistic, step-by-step, Toothbrush, tutorial