Profile extrusion, working with multiple files, inserting new solids into 3D space
Solid’s insertion point definition relative to the extruded profile
To create a solid by the profile extrusion, prepare a corresponding 2D profile first. Select 2D objects to define the extruded profile; then define the height of the extrusion and the insertion point. Automatic detection of the entire profile is used as a method of the profile selection in this example. For more information about the profile selection, see Defining a 2D Profile. For more information about the solid insertion point, see Solid Insertion Point.
New solid insertion
When inserting objects into 3D space, you have a lot of functions allowing you to define the object position. Some of them are described in the next examples. By default, the objects are inserted into the same location the previous objects were inserted into. Then you can transform them to another desired location. Transformation of the solids is described in the reference manual at Inserting and Transforming Solids.
In this case, there are no previously inserted objects. Thus the solid is inserted into the coordinates’ center (0, 0, 0). In some situations, new solid can be inserted out of the viewport (displayed area). This can happen if you perform any solid insertion and then change the angle of the view, zoom or pan. For a beginner, this can be confusing. In such a situation, simply perform “zoom all”, or locate a new object insertion point at any visible or desired location. Then the new objects will be transformed, and at least a part of them will be displayed in the current viewport.
If you work in 3D, you need to change the display frequently. See Tips and Tricks or 3D Display how to perform this.
Selection of another solid profile
The file containing 2D profile for another solid is open as a second file in this case. The solid profile is selected by a rectangular area - all objects completely inside the defined rectangular area will be extruded.
To work with multiple files (or, by another word, documents) is always convenient. The documents were switched from menu “Window” in this example. If you work only with two documents, you can switch between them pressing “Ctrl + TAB”. In this case, each file contains 2D profile. Solids are extruded from both profiles.
Selection of the solid for copy and paste
Another extruded solid was created. This solid is inserted into the clipboard to be used later for the “paste” function. Then the files are switched again and this solid is inserted from the clipboard into 3D space.
Changing the solid insertion point
The solid is inserted at the location of the previously inserted object. In this situation, it is convenient to change the location of the insertion point of the inserted object before the inserted object is transformed. Here, the location of the new insertion point is at the automatically detected end of the highlighted edge. All next transformations will be relative to this new insertion point (until the next insertion point change).
This insertion is performed within the function “paste”. Insertion of a new solid or solids, insertion of objects from other file, function paste and transformation of the selected objects use similar methods.
Inserting and copying solid
The solid is inserted into a new location after the change of the insertion point. Here, the location was automatically detected at the endpoint of the edge. Because of the necessity to insert the solid again to another location, copying solids was selected – in a panel on the right side, click the copy icon before inserting objects. In this example, the identical copying was selected. All objects copied in this mode share future editing changes. The insertion is confirmed by pressing “enter” key or by the right click. The solid is inserted, a new one is created automatically at the same location and you can insert the new solid to another location. All procedures are repeated similarly for the insertion on the right side in the following steps.
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