Ribbon : Modify | 3D Modifications | 3D Boolean

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

Palette : 3D Model | Boolean & Facet

Boolean is the name given to the method of combining or separating objects which intersect or are adjacent.Boolean operations can only take place when working with 2 like objects – for example 2 surface objects.The first object selected is referred to as the Primary Object ; the second object selected is referred to as the Secondary Object or the Subtracting Unit.

2D Boolean Functions

2D Boolean functions perform the same functions on closed 2D sketch profiles as 3D Boolean functions perform on 3D objects. For example, sketch profiles can be added, subtracted or intersected to create new regions.

2D Add

2D closed profiles can be added, subtracted or intersected using 2D boolean functions.

When using 2D boolean functions, both 2D entities should be on the same Workplane.

In the tiles below, the result of the boolean functions can be seen after Add, Subtract and Intersect were performed on the original shape, shown below.

Original Shape

Using 2D Add	Using 2D Subtract	Using 2D Intersect

 

Worked Example

Draw a 2D rectangle which measures 80 x 20, shown below.

Now draw a 2D circle using the midpoint of the top edge to define the center and the midpoint of the bottom edge to define the radius, shown below.

Select the 2D Add tool from the Boolean Facet palette and select the sketch profiles in any order. The result is shown below.

2D Subtract

This 2D Boolean function creates a new profile by subtracting the area of one intersecting region from another.

Both profiles must reside on the same Workplane.

Worked Example

A 2D circle to a diameter of 20 has been drawn inside the outer profile shown below.

The 2D Subract boolean function was performed by first selecting the primary region, shown below left, then the subtracting region, below right.

The result is shown below.

Result of new region created by subtracting circle from outer profile

2D Intersect

This boolean function creates a region of 2 intersecting closed profiles.

In the example below, the illustration on the right has been produced by performing the 2D Intersect boolean function on the 2 profiles.

Area shown above middle is the common region

3D Boolean Functions

3D Add

Ribbon : Modify | 3D Modifications | 3D Boolean | 3D Add

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

Palette : 3D Model || Boolean & Facet | 3D Add

This 3D boolean function combines the volume of 2 intersecting or adjoining 3D surface objects.

Worked Example

At present, the objects are two separate components, shown in the illustration below. 

To combine their volumes, select 3D Add from the Boolean Facet menu panel, shown top then select the components in any order.

3D Subtract

Ribbon : Modify | 3D Modifications | 3D Boolean | 3D Subtract

Default Menu : Modify | Modify 3D Objects | 3D Boolean Operations | 3D Subtract

Palette : 3D Model | Boolean & Facet | 3D Subtract

This boolean function subtracts a secondary unit from an intersecting primary unit (subtrahend)

Worked Example

In the example below, the cylindrical extrusions were added to the model. These were created by drawing 2 circle profiles on the top face of the model then extruding them downwards so that they intersected with the bottom face of the model.

The 3D Subtract tool was used to subtract the volume of the cylindrical extrusions from the primary unit.

The result is shown below, in Draft Rendered view.

3D Intersect

Ribbon : Modify | 3D Modifications | 3D Boolean | 3D Intersect

Default Menu : Modify | Modify 3D Objects | 3D Boolean Operations | 3D Intersect

Palette : 3D Model | Boolean & Facet | 3D Intersect

This boolean tool creates a new unit from where 2 intersecting 3D objects intersect.

Example

In the example below, a 3D Box and Cylinder intersect as shown.

The objects, when selected in any order using the 3D Intersect tool, will create the shape shown below right.

The resulting shape is shown below.

Shape produced from intersecting units

Boolean Adds

Ribbon : Modify | 3D Modifications | 3D Boolean | 3D Subtract

Default Menu : Modify | Modify 3D Objects | 3D Boolean Operations | 3D Subtract

Palette : 3D Model | Boolean & Facet | 3D Subtract

This tool combines 2 3D objects which are not already connected or intersected.The spaces between the objects are bridged into one object.

Example

In the example below, a 3D Box and Cylinder are drawn unconnected from each other, shown below left.

When both objects are selected together, shown below left, a single combined unit can be produced using the Boolean Adds tool. This produces the shape shown below right.

Separating Boolean Edited Objects

When 3D objects are combined (3D Add), extracted (3D Subtract) or a new object created using a common region (3D Intersect), their individual shapes are modified according to the task performed.

When Boolean functions are performed on these objects, the Selection Info palette, using the Part Tree History is used to separate or modify the constituent components which comprise the combined unit.

In the example below, a 3D Box, tapered at 5 degrees and a cylinder intersect on the edge of the box.

When the cylinder is used as a subtracting unit to remove material from the box, the result is shown below.

The Part Tree History within the Selection Info palette can be used to modify each separate component of the new shape and the subtracting unit can be removed, shown below.

When 2 separate and unconnected 3D objects are bridged together using the Boolean Adds tool, their individual shapes are not changed and can only be separated using the Explode tool.

In the illustration below left, the box and the cylinder have been joined using the Boolean Adds tool. They are shown separated again after using the Explode tool, shown below right.

Objects shown above left joined using Boolean Adds ; Objects shown above right separated after using Explode tool.