Creating Protrusions and Ribs

January 29, 2004 | Comments

This VectorWorks tutorial covers the basics of creating protrusions and ribs by creating a 3D toy block.

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Getting Started

This tutorial uses an existing base file.

1. Select File > Open.

The Open dialog box opens.

2. Navigate to [VectorWorks 10.5]\VWHelp\Tutorial Files\ToyBlock.mcd, and then click Open.

This file is in 2D layout and contains the following:

  • one square
  • four circles
  • three rectangles

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3. Simplify the screen view by selecting Organize > Classes to access the Classes dialog box and set the Dimension class to Invisible.

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Click on image to enlarge

4. Click OK.

Setting Up the Modeling Units

This tutorial works in inches.

To set up the units for modeling distances in inches:

1. Select Page > Units.

2. In the Units dialog box, select Inches from the Unit Name list.

All distances entered for designs will now be in inches.

Organizing Objects

1. Select Edit > Select All to select all objects in the drawing.

2. Select Model > Convert to NURBS, and then select Organize > Ungroup.

3. Click in an unused area of the drawing with the 2D Selection tool to deselect all objects in the drawing.

4. Holding down the Shift key, select the red circle and the black rectangle, and then group them together by selecting Organize > Group.

5. Click on the large pink circle. Holding down the Shift key, select the small pink circle, and then group the two circles together by selectingOrganize > Group.

Creating Guide Lines

1. Click the Line tool  line_tool[2] from the 2D Tools palette.

2. Draw a horizontal line from the top center to the bottom center of the black rectangle.

3. Draw a vertical line from the left center to right center of the black rectangle.

4. Click the 2D Selection tool 2d_selection[3] from the 2D Tools palette.

5. With the vertical line still selected, hold the Shift key and select the horizontal line.

6. Select Edit > Guides > Make Guide.

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7. Select Edit > Guides > Hide Guides to temporarily hide the guide lines.

Creating the Base Protrusion

1. Select View > Standard Views > Right Isometric.

2. Click the Protrusion/Cutout tool protrusion_cut[2]  from the 3D Tools palette, and then select Extrude Face and Add from the Mode bar.

3. Click on the black rectangle, and then drag the green handle up.

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4. Click the Tab key to highlight the Distance field in the Data bar and enter 2″. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) to set the distance.

5. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) or click the check mark button on the Mode bar to create the protrusion.

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6. Click the Shell Solid tool from the 3D Tools palette, and then click on the top surface of the tapered extrude.

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The Shell Solid Preferences dialog box opens.

7. Enter 1/8″ as the Thickness, and then click OK.

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The top of the box is highlighted in red. If not, select the correct face using the Select Face dialog box.

8. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) or click the check mark button on the Mode bar to create the shell.

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Creating More Protrusions

1. Click the Protrusion/Cutout tool protrusion_cut[1] from the 3D Tools palette, and then select Extrude Face and Add from the Mode bar.

2. Click on one of the pink circles, and then drag the green handle down.

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3. Click the Tab key to highlight the Distance field in the Data bar and enter 1/2″. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) to set the distance.

4. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) or click the check mark button on the Mode bar to create the protrusion.

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Creating the 3D Wireframe

1. Click the 2D Selection tool 2d_selection[1] from the 2D Tools palette, and then select the yellow circle.

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2. Select Tool > Move > Move 3D.

The Move 3D Selection dialog box opens.

3. Set the Z Offset value to 3/16″, and then click OK.

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4. Click on an unused area of the drawing to deselect all objects.

5. Holding the Shift key, select the two green rectangles.

 

6. Select Tool > Move > Move 3D.

The Move 3D Selection dialog box opens.

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7. Set the Z Offset value to 2″, and then click OK.

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Mirroring the Protrusion

1. Select View > Standard Views > Top/Plan.

2. Select Edit > Guides > Show Guides.

3. Click on the extruded double circles on the bottom left.

4. Click the 2D Mirror tool  2d_mirror[1] from the 2D Tools palette, and then selectDuplicate and Mirror from the Mode bar.

5. Click on the intersection of the guide lines and draw a vertical axis line downwards. Click to duplicate and mirror the tapered extrude.

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6. With the new tapered extrude selected, click on the intersection of the guide lines with the 2D Mirror tool and draw a horizontal axis line to the right. Click to duplicate and mirror the tapered extrude.

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7. With the new tapered extrude selected, click on the intersection of the guide lines with the 2D Mirror tool and draw a vertical axis line upwards. Click to duplicate and mirror the tapered extrude.

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8. Select Edit > Guides > Hide Guides.

Creating Ribs

1. Select View > Standard Views > Right Isometric.

2. Click the Project tool 01300433[1] from the 3D Tools palette, and then selectProject and Add and Project and Add Downward 01300456[1] from the Mode bar. This is the projection direction that points toward the base of the protrusion for the yellow circle.

3. Click on the yellow circle, and then click on the shelled block.

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4. With the Project tool still selected, select Project and Add Upward 01300436[1]  from the Mode bar. This is the projection direction that points toward the base of the protrusion for the green rectangles.

5. Click on the front most green rectangle and then the shelled block. Click on the second green rectangle and then the shelled block.

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Mirroring the Ribs

1. Select View > Standard Views > Top/Plan.

2. Select Edit > Guides > Show Guides.

3. Holding the Shift key, select the two small rectangular ribs (that were just created) using the 2D Selection tool. 2d_selection[1]

4. Click the 2D Mirror tool 2d_mirror[1] from the 2D Tools palette, and then selectDuplicate and Mirror from the Mode bar.

5. Click on the intersection of the guide lines and draw a vertical axis line downward. Click to duplicate and mirror the two ribs.

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6. With the new ribs selected, click on the intersection of the guide lines with the 2D Mirror tool and draw a horizontal axis line to the right. Click to duplicate and mirror the ribs.

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7. With the new ribs selected, click on the intersection of the guide lines with the 2D Mirror tool and draw a vertical axis line upward. Click to duplicate and mirror the ribs.

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8. Select Edit > Guides > Hide Guides.

Adding the Solids

1. Select View > Standard Views > Right Isometric.

2. Click the 2D Selection tool 2d_selection[1] from the 2D Tools palette, and then click on the large circular rib at the center bottom of the block.

3. Select Organize > Ungroup, and then select Model > Add Solids.

4. Holding the Shift key, select the shelled block, and then select Model > Add Solids.

Creating Slanted Ribs

1. Select View > Standard Views > Left Isometric.

2. Select the blue rectangular NURBS curve, and then select Vertex Onlyfrom the Move list in the Object Info palette.

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3. Click the left Edit arrow to highlight the first vertex on the left side of the NURBS curve and change the Z value to 1.75″. Press Enter (on Windows) or Return (on Macintosh) to set the height.

 

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4. Click the right Edit arrow to highlight the second vertex on the left side of the NURBS curve and change the Z value to 1.75”. Press Enter (on Windows) or Return (on Macintosh) to set the height.

5. Click the right Edit arrow to highlight the third vertex on the left side of the NURBS curve and change the Z value to 1.75″. Press Enter (on Windows) or Return (on Macintosh) to set the height.

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6. Click the Project tool from the 3D Tools palette, and then select Project and Add and Project and Add Downwards 01300446[1]  from the Mode bar. This is the projection direction that points toward the base of the protrusion for the blue NURBS curve.

7. Click on the slanted blue NURBS curve, and then click on the shelled block.

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Mirroring the Slanted Ribs

1. Select View > Standard Views > Top/Plan.

2. Select Edit > Guides > Show Guides.

3. With the new rib still selected, click the 2D Mirror tool 2d_mirror[1]  from the 2D tools palette, and then select Duplicate and Mirror from the Mode bar.

4. Click on the intersection of the guide lines and draw a horizontal axis line to the right. Click to duplicate and mirror the rib.

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5. With the new rib selected, click on the intersection of the guide lines with the 2D Mirror tool and draw a vertical axis line upward. Click to duplicate and mirror the rib.

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6. With the new rib selected, click on the intersection of the guide lines with the 2D Mirror tool and draw a horizontal axis line to the left. Click to duplicate and mirror the rib.

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7. Select Edit > Guides > Hide Guides.

The toy block is complete.

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8. To render the model, click the Light tool from the 3D Tools palette to insert a light source, and then select View > Rendering > OpenGL.

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