HEengineering Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I have a simple question here to ask. I have extruded the shape of a bicycle rim as well as sprokes that travel thru to the rim. Now the rim has a contour and I would like to trim the spoke back to match the contour of the rim but maybe I needed to to this before the extrude? Still VERY new to the 3d so be easy on me. Quote Link to comment
CipesDesign Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Probably the best way to do a repeating object of this kind is to create one which is the correct length and then use Duplicate Array (circular, with rotation) to create the rest of them... Quote Link to comment
HEengineering Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 In my further thoughts this makes a little more sense. However even if I created 1 how would I trim back the spoke? Is this with and model>add solids or subtract solids? To me that just seems like a silly way. I would have thought the intersect solids would have worked but it left a hole in the rim rather then subtracting the extra spoke material. To me it should be as simple as triming crossing a line in a standard plan view but it doesnt work that way? Quote Link to comment
HEengineering Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 Also in your reply to duplicate array with circular rotation I noticed that The option for circle center point is available but on next mouse click is greyed out and no matter what I do I cannot select that as an option? Any idea as to why? Quote Link to comment
CipesDesign Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 If the spoke is a simple cylindrical shape I would use a simple extruded circle (I try to avoid adding/subtracting solids -when possible- as they retain their history and can cause files to become larger and slower). If you create the first one in top/plan view, it can be the one that is vertical. Then the others can be duplicates. Now, of course, in a real-life wheel the spokes are not straight up and down, and there is more than one set of them (inners/outers). Not sure exactly how to solve that, but it's all just geometry, so I'm pretty sure with the proper values for rotation and pitch it could be done... Perhaps you would post a shot of your results when they are- um- results... Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 L invokes the split tool Holding down alt will split only the selected object Quote Link to comment
HEengineering Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) not sure how to attach an image? Ill glady post up here. Any help with how to achive this. Edited February 14, 2011 by HEengineering Quote Link to comment
HEengineering Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 Ah ha....i took a stab on the last post think its up there. Let me hear what you guys think. Again very new please be nice lol. Quote Link to comment
Jim Smith Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 To reduce some of your file size when you add/subtract solids you can choose the resulting object & under Modify choose- Convert then choose - Convert to Generic Solids. This makes a smaller 3D object, but be careful! Once Converted, one may not re-edit. Quote Link to comment
Pat Stanford Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 To get the result you want with every spoke trimmed I think you will have to trim each one individually. I would make a "Solid" version of your rim. Extract a profile of the rim and make a closed polyline out of it that is "deeper" than the spokes and then put in a circle and do an extrude along path. It looks like you only have two versions of the spokes, so duplicate the solid version and use one to Subtract Solids with each version of the spoke. Then duplicate the spokes around the hub/rim again. Quote Link to comment
mike m oz Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 You could use the Project tool. Also once you have one spoke make it into a symbol and use Circular Array to place the other instances of it. Quote Link to comment
HEengineering Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 This is what I was thinking but it seems odd to me that there isnt just a simple way to do this. I have to extrude anlong a path with a solid rim profile? No option to just trim back to surface as flush? Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) Afraid not. Trim is a currently a 2d operation. You're working with 3d solids. A 3d trim is probably a good idea, in the meantime subtract solids will get the job done. Otherwise, you can adjust the extrude length in the OIP. The closest you'll probably find will be Model>Section Solids. Be sure you duplicate your rim first and use it as the sectioning geometry. Also be sure you spoke doesn't extend past the extents of the rim. Your spokes probably penetrate the rim in any case and terminate with a plug of some sort so you will likely be punching holes in the rim. Edited February 15, 2011 by bcd Quote Link to comment
HEengineering Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 yea. you are right. Im just suprised it would take this many commands. Not impressed so far. Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Subtract / Intersect etc are pretty powerful, keep at it and let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment
Benson Shaw Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Spoke as Extrude, or Extrude Along a Path converted to Symbol has loads of advantages. Among them: All instances update at same time (length, color, diameter, path shape, etc) File size and render times are minimized for lots of instances vs lots of objects. -B Quote Link to comment
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