Chapter 8 Creating and Working with Solid Model Features
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Slicing a Solid Slicing a Solid
arcs, ellipses, 2D polylines, 2D splines, or surfaces. Why slice a solid? To create complex,
angular, contoured, or organic shapes that traditionally cannot be created by just using
solids. Good modeling techniques incorporate slicing of solids. For example, think of
a computer mouse. This would be diffi to create with solids. But, you can create a ficult
basic solid shape, then slice the solid using contoured surfaces as slicing tools. After
slicing the solid, you can choose to retain either or both sides of the model. The slices
can then be used for model construction or display and presentation purposes.
The
SLICE
command is used to slice solids. When the command is initiated, you are
asked to select the solids to be sliced. Select the objects and press [Enter]. Next, you must
defi the slicing path. The default method of defining fine a path requires you to specify fi
two points on a slicing plane. The plane passes through the two points and is perpendic-
ular to the XY plane of the current UCS. Refer to Figure 8-23 as you follow this sequence:
1. Select the command and pick the object to be sliced.
2. Pick the start point of the slicing plane. See Figure 8-23A.
3. Pick the second point on the slicing plane.
4. You are prompted to specify a point on the desired side to keep. Select anywhere
on the back half of the object. The point does not have to be on the object. It must
simply be on the side of the cutting plane that you want to keep.
5. The object is sliced and the front half is deleted. See Figure 8-23B.
When prompted to select the side to keep, you can press
[Enter]
to keep both sides.
If both sides are retained, two separate 3D solids are created. Each solid can then be
used for additional modeling purposes.
There are several additional options for specifying a slicing path. These options
are listed here and described in the following sections.
•
Planar object
•
Surface
•
Zaxis
•
View
•
XY
•
YZ
•
ZX
•
3points
SLICE
Ribbon
Solid
Solid Editing
Slice
Type
SLICE
Figure 8-23.
Slicing a solid by
picking two points.
A—Select two points
on the cutting plane.
The plane passes
through these points
and is perpendicular
to the XY plane of
the current UCS. B—
The sliced solid.
Pick midpoints
A
B