Just a try:
I wanted to try it all the time: Today I made my first steps with Blender and have the impression that this program is very powerfull & fun to get (at least a bit) used to it.
I am thankfull for any help! I just managed to build a strange "landscape" or universe with strange planetz flying through it... I didn't come very close to a simple pot-design so far - for my early attemts on LC1 & co. I used a completely different strategy
I will try to ask more detailed questions. I just thought it would be worth starting a blender-dedicated-thread again.
it would be nice if someone could give us a default blender project with a basic knob design and light source, where us non 3d designers could start from scratch to modify that basic construction.
Very good idea. I have the feeling, that in the end it could be relatively easy, to get blender working the basic way we need it. It should be easily possible to build a project, where the camera rotates around itself and spits out the animation of a rotating "thing" = pot. Sadly the weekend is over & I will be short on time the next days, but I have the idea of working on that idea with all that online-help available in short moments where internet is available over the week. Maybe this plan will work. Getting used to work in blender is a future-investment like getting used working with all the other freeware like open office, gimp & co. which is "future-proved".
Martin, I can't & won't help with Blender specifics, but I might be able to give a general tip or two.
Firstly & possibly most importantly, you should be looking to rotate your knob by 300 degrees as a base standard for pot designs. 150 left & 150 right of 0 center will give you the most desirable & common 'standard' rotation/range.
That's all I've got time for right now, as I'm only in the studio for 10/15 mins.
Thanks hifiboom! I'd like to tweak a bit more before sharing it. Right now I'm again involved in a spontanious project which has completely other things to do with scope. I seem to be a very -too lazy to find the english word- "sprunghafte" personality ... but really, I find it often usefull to have breaks in a project and keep it going on later .
Thanks shroomz for the rotation-tips. Yes all these basic tips are very welcome!!
O.K. This thread was worth it! Wow, what a look!!! I implemented my first pots some days ago, but some guys here have eaten 3d as breakfast
Nice to see all these examples!
It's nice, b.t.w. to work with blender. After 2 days I for myself I had the most basic things in my mind & now I can turn on it for some minutes for relaxing and experiment a bit & maybe find something new from time to time. It's a longterm project & I don't regret starting it...
- for my early attemts on LC1 & co. I used a completely different strategy 
W!