Manipulating 3D Objects

In this Task

• A 2D sketch profile in the form of a Rectangle will be drawn and modified.
• The rectangle will be manipulated in 3-dimensional space using the 3D Selector handles.

Associated Tasks

• Using Fillet 2D to create a blended corner on a rectangle.
• Setting the Selector handles to 3D mode to manipulate 2D objects.

Before you Start

• Start a new drawing using the Student_3D template.

Take Note

• The successful completion of this task depends on using the correct template at the start of this task. The Student_3D template is recommended.

Creating a 2D Sketch Profile

Rectangle

Ribbon : Draw | Draw 2D | Line | Rectangle

Default Menu : Draw | Rectangle

Palette : Sketch | Line | Rectangle

This tool draws a rectangle by defining the size A (width) and the size B (length) values.Rectangles are drawn by establishing a point and dragging the cursor to the diagonally opposing corner.A rectangle can be drawn with filleted corners by selecting the fillet corners and inputting a radius.

Right click in the workspace and turn the view to Isometric South East and display the Workplane.

Draw a 2D Rectangle which measures 800 x 800, shown below. Use the Zoom Extents tool to view the entire object, then reduce the zoom slightly.

Fillet 2D

Ribbon : Modify | 2D Modifications | Fillet2D

Default Menu : Modify | Fillet2D

Palette : Modify | Modify | Fillet2D

The Fillet tool creates an arc or radius between 2 lines, circles or arcs to a specific radius.When blending a polyline, the lines and arcs can remain as a single object, or reduced to a collection of lines and arcs.

A blend with a radius of 500 will be placed on one corner of the object as shown in the illustration below.

Select the Fillet 2D tool from the menu options above, then TAB to the Radius field and input 500. Activate the Join to Single Polyline option.

Select points 1 and 2 in any order on the Rectangle, shown below.

Rotating a 2D Object in a 3-Dimensional Plane

2D objects can be rotated in a 3-dimensional plane by making use of the Selector Shell handles.

When the Selector is set to 3D mode, all objects, including 2D objects, are selected using the X-Y-Z selector handles. This allows for easy rotation of objects into another plane.

Selector 3D Properties

Right click in the workspace and select the Selector Properties option. From the General page, make sure the selector is set to 3D. Select the newly created profile and observe how the 3 dimensional selector can be used to rotate the profile through the X-Y-Z plane, shown below.

Rotating the shape using the Y handle

To rotate the profile upwards, select the Y handle, shown above right then TAB to the Rot X field and input 90. The result is shown below.

Profile rotated perpendicular to the Workplane

Simple Extrude

Ribbon : Draw | Draw 3D | Simple Extrude

Default Menu : Draw | 3D Object | 3D Profile Based | Simple Extrude

Palette : 3D Model | 3D Object | Simple Extrude

This extrusion tool sweeps a 2D profile in a plane perpendicular to the workplane to create a 3D object.A bi-directional extrusion can be created which creates an above and below Workplane extrusion.

 

This profile will now be extruded to a below workplane distance of 250.

Select the Simple Extrude tool from the menu options above, then select the profile. TAB to the Height field and input -250. The result is shown below.

Profile extruded to 250 below the Workplane