Education_m_002 – Extrusions and Modeling

blog, Education Resources, Public Posts, Vectorworks jonathan

Introduction
3D modeling in Vectorworks is fun and it allows you to create objects that have never existed before. It allows you to use your imagination and it allows to see your object from any view.

I like to show this image. It is a coffee machine designed and modeled by a high school student.

[ms-protect-content id=”34491,34492,34493, 34494, 34495, 34496, 344927″]The model uses a combination of simple extrusions and a couple of complex lofted curves. The majority of the model uses very simple extruded objects. To create an object like this, you break the model up into a series of simple shapes, then add them together.
Working Planes
Working planes are really important for 3D modeling. When you draw objects, they are drawn on the working plane, especially in Vectorworks 2012. Working planes have been covered in previous podcasts epodcast122 (February 2011) and epodcast129 (May 2011)
Extrusions also use the working plane, as the extrusion is always perpendicular to the plane of the object.

Set Working Plane
In Vectorworks’ versions prior to 2012, you have to set your working plane manually. Vectorworks has a concept called automatic working planes. However, you still need to know how to set a working plane in order to understand the concept of the automatic working plane.

Go to the 3D toolset.
Click on the Set Working Plane tool.

Move near a 3D object.

When you move the cursor over a face of your object, the plane will highlight.

When you click on the highlighted blue face, Vectorworks will place a working plane on it.
Depending on your grid settings, you will also see the grid on the working plane.

Save Working Plane
Once you have created a working plane, you can save the working plane.

Right-click away from the objects.
Choose Working Plane > Save Working Plane…

This will open a dialog box that enables you to name it. Saving the working plane will allow you to recall the it later.
Give the working plane a name that makes sense. Something that will make it easy for you to remember.

Active Working Plane
The Active Working Plane is shown on the View bar. You will need to keep an eye on this, so that you do not create objects on the wrong plane. You have the choice of Screen plane, layer plane, Working Plane, and in Vectorworks 2012, Automatic working plane.

Click on the Active Plane pop-up menu.
Choose the saved working plane.

Vectorworks will activate the saved working plane.

First Extrusion
Extrusions are the first steps in 3D modeling. You draw a shape, use the extrude command and Vectorworks pulls the shape the specified distance.
Here are some things to remember with extrusions.

Start with a new blank file.

Go to the Menu bar.
Choose File > New…
On the dialog box choose Create blank document.
Click on the OK button.

Go to the View bar.
Click on the Current View pop-up menu.
Choose Right Isometric.

Go to the Basic toolset.
Double-click on the Rectangle tool.

Enter the size of the rectangle, 85×75 mm (3.5″ x 3″).
Ensure that you have turned off Position at next click.
Set the coordinates for the start of the rectangle at 0, 0.
Set the box position (the grid of 9 dots) to the center.
Click on the OK button.

Vectorworks will place your rectangle in the center of the drawing.

When you hover the cursor over the rectangle, it will turn red.

Click on the rectangle, and move your cursor up the screen.

You can use the floating data bar to enter the length of the extrusion.
Use the Tab key to enter the floating data bar.

Type in the length of the extrusion, 5mm (1/4″).
Hit the Enter key twice to confirm the extrusion.

Solid Modeling
Solid modeling involves adding or subtracting 3D objects to create more complex forms. The basic concept is simple. You create two or more objects that are overlapping, then you add, subtract, or intersect them.
In this example I have two objects selected.

When you right mouse click on the edge of one of the objects, you get a contextual menu. At the bottom of the contextual menu are the solid modeling options.

If you choose add solids, Vectorworks will merge these objects together.

In this example I use the same two basic solids.

Right click on the edge of one of the solids to activate the context menu again. Choose Subtract Solids.

With this option you do have to identify which solid is the base object, the one that will be left behind as the end result.
Once you have made your selection and have clicked OK, Vectorworks will create the result of the subtraction.

In this example I have the same two basic solids.

Right click on the edge of one of the solids to activate the context menu again. Choose Intersect Solids.

Vectorworks calculates just the volume where the two solids intersect.

Adding the Tube to the Bracket
In this part of the exercise you can use the automatic working plane and the instant Push/Pull together to quickly create objects. Then they can be added together using the solid modeling techniques above.

Go to the View bar.
Click on the Ft to Objects button.

This is a quick way to zoom into your work.

Go to the Basic tool palette.
Click on the Circle tool.

Go to the Tool bar.
Click on the second mode, Diameter mode.

Move to the center edge of the bracket. The edge will highlight if you have Automatic working planes activated. If it does not highlight, go to the Active Planes pop-up menu and choose Automatic.

Click once to start the circle.
Move your cursor vertically up the screen.

Enter the required size of the circle, 40mm (1 5/8″).

Ensure that your cursor is vertical.
Click once.
Move your cursor onto the newly created circle, it will highlight.

Click once on the circle.
Move your cursor to the end of the plate.

Click once to finish the extrusion.

Select both extrusions.

Right-click (contol-click with a one-button mouse) on the edge of one of the extrusions.
Choose Add Solids from the Contextual menu.

The two objects have been added together to create one object.

Creating the Hole in the Tube
You have a solid addition, but it needs to have a hole to create the tube. You need to use Subtract solid to create the hole. Earlier you looked at the concept of subtract solid. Vectorworks has a quick way to do this using Automatic Working planes and a keyboard shortcut.

Go to the Basic tool palette.
Click on the Circle tool.

Go to the Tool bar.
Click on the first mode, Radius mode.

Move to the center edge of the bracket. The edge will highlight if you have Automatic working planes activated. If it does not highlight, go to the Active Planes pop-up menu and choose Automatic.