Nicholas Kargel Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 I'm the type of user (I'm sure there are a lot) that is self-taught. So while I feel like I know how to do a lot, there are some basic workflow things that I've always just worked around without really learning them. Here's the situation: I have a file into which I've imported a 2D dwg from a designer. I'm trying to make 3D models on top of it. I put the import into a layer, and start my model in another layer. Say I'm making a plywood box. In front view, I draw the rectangle on top of the designer's drawing, and extrude it to be the front face. I switch to plan (or top) and draw the top of the box and extrude that. I switch back to front and the second extrude is 1000' away front the first. It's a big pain to keep dragging things down into place. I've tried setting the working plane to the top of the first extrude, with no luck. I'm pretty unclear about working planes in general--I tend to always work in the screen plane. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment
Jonathan Pickup Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 I suggest you invest in a good tutorial manual. The 3D Modeling manual from Vectorworks starts by teaching you working planes, then extrusions, before getting in to some really cool 3D modeling. Quote Link to comment
grant_PD Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Your issue stems from the screen plane having no real coordinates to the model space. It's a confusing and often discussed subject around here. If you have a modelling background (other 3d programs) you might find it easier to switch off the screen plane (in the preferences) and fly about your model creating working planes with which to extrude them. Just make sure you are set to working plane rather than layer plane. The other solution would be to build as you do on the shop floor, everything laying on the layer plane. Then rotate/move into place. Jonathan's right, getting some tutorials might be helpful. There's not much out there for scenic designers and scenic shops, which is a particular way of building. Anything I can help you with, let me know. Quote Link to comment
Bruce Kieffer Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Nicholas, Sounds to me like you're creating your extrudes a distance away for your origin point. Try creating the same extrudes in a new file and see how that goes. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 I agree with Bruce. It sounds like things are not close to the origin. The depth of the extrusion projects from the 0 point of any given axis unless you are using a specific working plane. Kevin Quote Link to comment
Jonathan Pickup Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I think Bruce and Kevin are right, which is why i suggested the manual. The 3D manual explains the rules of extrusions and how these work with working planes, layer plane and screen plane. Understand these will help you in all your work, and would explain why the objects are not lining up the way you want them to. Quote Link to comment
Bruce Kieffer Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 Nicholas, Also check the Z setting for your layer. Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 be sure both Layers are at the same scale Quote Link to comment
Nicholas Kargel Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 Thanks for the replies. I could certain use the investment of time in a manual. Some day. . . For now, maybe someone can help me get my head around this. In this example (file attached) in top/plan I drew a rectangle in the screen plane and extruded it. Switching to front, it's y (or z in 3D) 1' 8.597". Why not 0"? Must be settable. . . Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Its bottom Z is at 0. Select the object and look in the Object Info Palette. In this drawing you seem to have moved the 2d origin and moved the Page origin. Run Tools>Set Origin>Set Origin to drawing center to reset it and Double Click on the Move Page tool (below the Pan tool) to reset it also. note. The keyboard shortcut for Move Origin is 'Cmd 9' and Move Page 'Opt z' so it's quite possible you've inadvertently invoked these. Quote Link to comment
Nicholas Kargel Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 OK, I get that, kind of. Of course if I do that it changes the x an y coordinates of the object. Is there a way to specify where z=0 is in relation to an existing drawing? Quote Link to comment
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