Which tool crates 3d surface with hole

[LarryO]

Wanted simple 3d rectangular surface with rectangular hole.

Has no thickness when viewed from side (edges) and can be sloped and rotated.

I tried 3d polygon and drew the desired perimeter. The result is a creased sheet of paper, folded about 15 degrees along a straight line across the page. But cutting a hole out of the page seems to be impossible without snipping the sheet into two pieces.

 

To be used as a ground plane that doesn't hide a building's foundation with a thickness or depth.

[herbieherb]

Just create it in 2D and convert it to a 3D-Polygone. Because a 3D-Polygone can't have a hole in it, you get two single Polygones. Put them together with compound volume.

You could also create a 3D-Polygone and cut it with a Volume.

As i work with the german version the names of the tools may be different.

Edited November 23, 2017 by herbieherb

[Kevin McAllister]

I would recommend using a NURBS surface rather than a 3d polygon. If I'm understanding you correctly, here's how I would approach it -

 

1. draw your 2d rectangle.
2. convert it to NURBS (Command Option N to convert to NURBS, then Command Option K to convert it to a NURBS surface).
3. position your surface in 3d space (eg. does it slope etc.)
4. switch to top/plan.
5. draw your cutout rectangle
6. switch to the Project tool and choose the second mode (project and trim)
7. click on the cutout rectangle (a 2d curve), then your NURBS surface and then click on the area to cut out.
8. this will give you a cutout surface

The cutout shape can be any 2d shape. The original NURBS surface could be drawn instead using the NURBS Curve tool. Set to a degree of 1 for a facetted shape (eg. rectangle).

 

Kevin

 

[Gadzooks]

(If I understand correctly)

 

Create a rectangle, place a smaller 'cutting' rectangle in position, Modify>Clip Surface,

you now have your hole, 

 

Extrude to 'zero' ...

 

 

Your plane with hole can now be placed in the model with zero thickness (when viewed from side) and can be tilted and rotated to suit.

 

(with a base to explain)

 

Iso          side (highlighted)       

 

careful - you'll lose sight of it if not highlighted!!

 

 

Edited November 23, 2017 by Gadzooks

[Kevin McAllister]

52 minutes ago, Gadzooks said:

(If I understand correctly)

 

Create a rectangle, place a smaller 'cutting' rectangle in position, Modify>Clip Surface,

you now have your hole, 

 

Extrude to 'zero' ...

 

 

Your plane with hole can now be placed in the model with zero thickness (when viewed from side) and can be tilted and rotated to suit.

 

(with a base to explain)

 

Iso          side (highlighted)       

 

careful - you'll lose sight of it if not highlighted!!

 

 

I would be cautious of extrusions with a extrusion depth of zero. They can often cause errors or become corrupt objects later on. I only know because I used to use them a fair amount 

If you need a 3d surface, my preference is for using a NURBS surface.

 

Kevin

 

[Gadzooks]

29 minutes ago, Kevin McAllister said:

I would be cautious of extrusions with a extrusion depth of zero

 

Kevin, I've not had any problems with this as a solution for creating 3D elements, especially for planes. But thanks - good to know your own experience. 

 

My feeling is your suggestion seems overly complicated for the OP's situation, but I'm certainly not as used to NURBS as you are. In the circumstances I think @LarryOcould just as easily provide 1mm or minimum alternative fraction of an inch and still 'do the job' as required. 

 

 

[Benson Shaw]

2 hours ago, Gadzooks said:

seems overly complicated

Not arguing with anyone's methods or suggestions here. All are valid. Assume that there are usually several or many ways to accomplish the goal.

 

But this brings up a forum dilemma: Vectorworks processes (this surface with a hole is a good example) usually require some clicks and/or keystrokes with some knowledge of the software (which tool/command, where to find it, modes, dialog options, etc, etc), plus some experience with remediation when the unexpected occurs. How much to reveal in a post?

 

I tend to present click by click & key by key instructions with commentary about tool palettes, command lists, etc, etc.  But that can make rather simple or quick things seem complicated, thereby discouraging the attempt.

 

Others often present solutions assuming the OP and other readers know the processes well enough to interpolate the steps not mentioned. This can make a path seem deceptively simple or easy, but may result in false starts and reposts.

 

Somehow we make it work.

Thanks again to all the questioners and answerers throughout the history of the community board (20 years? When was the 1st post?).

Our combined efforts make the software and the experience ever better!

 

-B

[Kevin McAllister]

4 hours ago, Gadzooks said:

My feeling is your suggestion seems overly complicated for the OP's situation, but I'm certainly not as used to NURBS as you are. In the circumstances I think @LarryOcould just as easily provide 1mm or minimum alternative fraction of an inch and still 'do the job' as required.

 

The advantage to my method is that the cutout is a true rectangle in plan view whereas yours is a foreshortened rectangle. If LarryO is trying to match a cutout to the outline of a foundation, for example, this will make a difference. The Project Tool is a very useful tool. I would recommend spending some time with it.

 

Here's an example file with the steps. This example cuts out a true circle in plan view.

 

Edit: I added a second layer with an example where the NURBS surface isn't flat, but instead curves. Something you can't do with an extruded 2d object.

 

Kevin

 

 

 

Project Tool Example.vwx

Edited November 24, 2017 by Kevin McAllister

[LarryO]

I wasn't quite as clear as I could have been. Plot is rectangular in top plan view.

Below is ISO view and side view showing an extrude where the hole needed to be and the perimeter that was created from convert to NURBS.

An imaginary line should connect the two mid points which identify where the fold would be. The transition to sloping surface.

 

Eventually after getting an unsatisfactory surface with six points I applied the KISS principle and broke the bent plane into two NURBS surface objects. Did a solid addition on them and then applied the Project tool as mentioned. Voila! Small success has given brief feeling of happiness.

Thanks to all who helped.

Edited November 24, 2017 by LarryO

[Gadzooks]

7 hours ago, Kevin McAllister said:

Here's an example file with the steps

 

Thanks Kevin - nicely illustrated.

 

Ahh - that's what you wanted @LarryO. Seems I didn't quite understand the original question so I opted for a direct approach. Good you got there.