3D Add

In this Task

• The arms and back structure of the chair will be combined using 3D Add.
• Layer control will be used to isolate the Profile layer.
• The profile of the combined objects will be modified to provide a sweep path for a new profile.

Associated Tasks

• Exploding polylines and modifying nodes.

Before you Start

• The drawing is viewed from a Isometric South East viewpoint in Wireframe view.

Take Note

• Owing to the original construction of the rectangles, some edges are in the same plane. The polylines may need to be exploded more than once to reduce the polyline to individual line segments.

3D Add

Ribbon : Modify | 3D Modification | 3D Boolean Operations | 3D Add

Default : Modify | Modify 3D Objects | 3D Boolean Operations | 3D Add

This 3D boolean function combines the volume of 2 intersecting or adjoining 3D surface objects.During the selection process, the primary unit is selected first, then the subtracting unit.

In this task, the volumes of the chair arms and back will be combined into a single unit.

Select 3D Add from the menu options above. In any order select the first object to add, such as the front arm, then the back. Next, select the next arm, then the combined unit.

The result is shown below.

Arms and back of chair combined into single unit. Cushion is separate.

LAYER CONTROL

When extruded profile objects are created from sketch profiles, the profile is used as construction geometry to build the part. When objects such as a rectangle are extruded to produce a 3D object, the profile is retained. This provides useful 2D geometry for other modeling functions.

When objects are created from extrusions and assuming the profile was initially drawn on a specific layer, the resulting shape is produced on another layer. In this case, the rectangles were drawn on the Profile layer and the resulting shape now reside on the Model layer. This provides useful control over both layers.

Select any of the objects, then using the Layer drop-down or the Design Director, switch off the Model layer. The result is shown below.

Select the rectangle with blended corners which forms the front of the cushion and place this onto the Model layer. The profile of the arms and back is all that is required for this task.

Explode

Ribbon : Format | Explode

Default Menu : Modify > Explode

SHIFT-ALT-E

(Command is activated when object is selected)

Select the Explode tool from the menu options above to explode the rectangle shown below. Because this rectangle is connected to the rectangle which forms the back, the Explode tool may need to be used more than once.

Explode this Rectangle

Delete this segment shown below left so the result is the same as the illustration below right.

Deleting the remaining segment

Repeat this for the back and side rectangles, each time exploding the rectangle, then deleting the bottom segment. The result is shown below.

Remaining segments of profile

Edit Tool

Right click in the editor

Select the line segment shown below at the position shown by the arrow.

Selecting the line segment. Use the position shown by the arrow

Drag the end vertex to the position shown by the arrow below, using V to target the vertex shown by the arrow.

Moving the end vertex shown the vertex shown by the arrow

Delete any remaining line segment shown by the arrow below.

Delete any remaining segment

Repeat this for the opposite side, making sure that the line segment is selected at the top of the segment shown below. Delete any remaining segment after the line has been modified.

Select the opposite line at the position shown by the arrow

The result is shown below.

New profile created – model layer shown visually

Line Width

In the illustration above, the newly created contour is shown in a thicker line width. This is to create a distinction between the profile and the model. To do this, use a selection rectangle to select all the objects of the contour, then use either the Line Width drop down menu or the Design Director to change the width to .5.