AutoCAD 3D Modeling: Boolean Operations
August 19, 2003 You can use the Boolean operations to create
complex solid models out of primitives. The following tutorial
shows you how to use Intersect, Subtract, and Union operations.
Intersect: Defines a new solid object based on the
common volume between selected solids.
Union: Defines a new solid that consists of common
and uncommon volume between selected solids.
Subtract: Select two set of solids. A single solid
based on the removal of the second set from the first one will
be created.
All the above operations will eliminate the original solids.
Notes:
1. Download
r16_boolean.dwg.
Note:
If you are using AutoCAD 2002 or an earlier release download
r15_boolean.dwg.
2. Open the drawing
in AutoCAD.
3. Invoke INTERSECT
(Modify > Solids Editing > Intersect).
4. Select the
cylinders to create a new solid based on their intersection
[Figure 1].
Figure 1
5. Create a polar
array of the new solid based on the settings shown in figure 2.
Figure 2 -
Click on image to enlarge
6. Invoke UNION
(Modify > Solids Editing > Union). Select all the solids to
create the flower-shaped solid [Figure 3].
Figure 3
7. Switch on the
Cylinder layer. A yellow cylinder appears on screen [Figure 4].
Figure 4
8. Invoke SUBTRACT
(Modify > Solids Editing > Subtract).
9. Select the
flower as the first set of objects.
10. Press Enter.
11. Select the
cylinder as the second set.
12. Press Enter to
create the final solid [Figure 5].
Figure 5
Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a
mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with
AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD
consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor
for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, an instructor
for AUGI Training Program, and an elected speaker for Autodesk
University 2002. He has written 7 books in Farsi, 3 booklets in
English, and more than 100 articles for different magazines and
newsletters. You can reach him at
alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website
www.cadpanel.com.
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