<table><tr><td>[[image:Cube-icon.png | link=Getting_Started_with_EM.Cube]] [[image:cad-ico.png | link=Operational Modes of CubeCAD ToolsBuilding_Geometrical_Constructions_in_CubeCAD]] [[image:fdtd-ico.png | link=EM.Tempo]] [[image:prop-ico.png | link=EM.Terrano]] [[image:static-ico.png | link=EM.Ferma]] [[image:planar-ico.png | link=EM.Picasso]] [[image:metal-ico.png | link=EM.Libera]] [[image:po-ico.png | link=EM.Illumina]]</td><tr></table>[[Image:Back_icon.png|30px]] '''[[EM.Cube | Back to EM.Cube Main Page]]'''<br />
Each of [[CubeCAD]] tools performs a certain operation or transformation on one or more selected CAD objects. [[EM.Cube]] provides a number of different ways to use these tools. First, you have to activate a CAD tool. Each tool has a button with a particular icon on '''Tools Toolbar''', which you can click to activate. If you hover your mouse on one of these buttons before clicking, a small tooltip shows up displaying the name of that tool. You can also enable a tool from '''Tools Menu''' at the top of the screen. Many tools have a keyboard shortcut, which you simply type on your keyboard to enable that tool. You can also access some tools from the contextual menu of individual objects either by right-clicking on the surface of an object in the project workspace or by right-clicking on the object's name in the navigation tree. When you access a CAD tool from Tools Toolbar or Tools Menu, one or more '''Help Tips''' appear on the upper right corner of the screen, which guide you along the different steps of usage of the enabled tool. The first step in using each CAD tool is to select one or more objects. When you activate a tool from Tools Toolbar or Tools Menu, a help tip prompts you to select an object by clicking on it. If the enabled tool allows the selection of more than one object (e.g. Group ==Align Tool), you can select the objects one by one and then press the '''Enter Key''' to finish the object selection. At this point, another help tip instructs you to take the next action. For most tools, alternatively, you can first select the object(s) and then activate the tool in one of the ways mentioned earlier. This is often more convenient and spares a few mouse clicks.==
==Working with Generic Objects==ICON: None
[[EM.Cube]] offers a large selection of parameterized native objects. Many of [[CubeCAD]] tools, such as translate, rotate or mirror, transform native objects to other objects of the same kind or result in the creation of other types of native objects like polylines and polystrips. Some other CAD tools result in the creation of a generic solid object, a generic surface object or a generic curve object. [[EM.Cube]]MENU: 's generic objects have a limited number of parameters. They have three ''Tools → Basic → Align'LCS Coordinates''' and three '''Rotation Angles''', which determine their location and orientation in the project workspace. You can change these parameters by accessing the property dialog of a generic object. They also have '''Dimension''' parameters, which represent the size of the their bounding box along the three principal directions, but they are not editable. Most CAD import operations bring in external CAD files to your project workspace as generic objects.
==Working with Transform Objects==KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
Many of [[CubeCAD]] operations and transformations result in the creation of either native objects like polylines and polystrips FUNCTION: Aligns one or in generic curve, surface or [[Solid Objects|solid more objects]]. Each by the specified face(s) of their bounding box along the following tools, however, creates a special "Transform Object":specified coordinate plane(s).
# Group Tool# Array Tool# Subtract Tool# Union Tool# Intersect Tool# Extrude Tool# Loft Tool# Revolve Tool# Polymesh Tool# Random Group Tool# Roughen Tool Each transform object has a special property dialog. The Group tool and the three Boolean operation tools, Subtract, Union and Intersect, have similar property dialogs and allow you to access their constituent objects. The property dialog of composite or Boolean objects has a '''Member List''' containing the names of all constituent objects. You can highlight and select any member from this list and click the '''Edit''' button of the dialog to open up its property dialog, where you can edit its properties. TO ALIGN AN OBJECT SELECTION:
The property dialog of Extrusion, Loft, Revolution, Polymesh and Rough objects has an # Select the object(s) to be aligned.# Select '''Edit PrimitiveBasic → Align''' button, which lets you access the property from '''Tools''' menu.# The Align dialog of opens up. Check all the original object used direction boxes for the generation alignment. # For each of the selected transform objectalignment directions, select the positive or negative face. After you finish editing # For each of the primitive objectselected alignment directions, enter a value for the coordinate plane where you will return want to move the property dialog specified faces of the transform object. Array and Random Group selected objects are arrangements of clones of an original key object. In these cases, the '''Edit Primitive''' button opens up the property dialog of the key element.
==Translate Tool==
[[ImageSPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:translate1_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Translating If two principal directions are checked for alignment, the object(s) are effectively aligned by an edge. If three principal directions are checked for alignment, the object seletion at (s) are effectively aligned by a vertex or node. Note that while alignment of box or rectangle strip objects is intuitive, alignment of other objects is based on the same timefaces of their bounding boxes and may not be as intuitive.]]
[[File:move_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Translate'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTPYTHON COMMAND(S): '''T'''
FUNCTION: Moves one or more objects to a different location by a specified translation vectoralign(object,dir,coord_value)
TO TRANSLATE AN OBJECT SELECTION:==Angle Tool==
# Activate the '''Translate Tool'''ICON: [[File:angle_tool_tn.# Click on the object(s) you want to translate one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# Next, you have to establish the translation vector. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the start of the vector. # Drag the mouse to draw a ghost of the translation vector in the desired direction. Left-click a second point to specify the end of the vector. # The object selection is translated by the specified vector. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the translation vector before finalizing the translate operation.# Using the Translate Dialog, you can also simply type in the final destination coordinates for the object selection. png]]
MENU: '''Tools → Measure → Distance'''
PYTHON COMMAND(S)KEYBOARD SHORTCUT:'''Shift+A'''
translate_by(FUNCTION: Measures the angle between any two edges belonging to the same object,dx,dy,dz)or to different objects in degrees
translate_to(object,x0,y0,z0)TO MEASURE THE ANGLE BETWEEN TWO EDGES:
# Activate the '''Angle Tool'''.
# Click on the first edge to establish the first leg.
# Click on the second edge of the same object or another object to establish the second leg.
# A dialog pops up at the lower right corner of the screen showing the angle between the two legs in degrees as well as the X, Y, Z components of the unit vectors along the two selected edges.
<b>Moving Objects Around Using Snap Points</b>
The simplest and quickest way to move an object is to hover your mouse over a snap point of the object to highlight it. Then type the keyboard shortcut '''T'''. The cursor latches to the selected snap point and the Translate Dialog pops up at the lower right corner of the screen. Without clicking the mouse, begin to drag the object in the project workspace. A ghost of the object starts to move around. Click the left mouse button at the desired location to drop the object. You can fine-tune the final destination using the Translate Dialog. PYTHON COMMAND: None
<btable>Constrained Translation<tr><td>[[Image:Angle1_new.png|thumb|500px|Measuring the angle between two object edges.]]</td></tr></btable>
When you use a snap point to translate an object, you can use the keyboard's '''Alt''' and '''Shift''' keys to constrain the object move in certain directions. The type of constraint depends on which snap point you pick to translate the object. The following rules apply:==Array Tool==
* With a face snap point selected, you can constrain translate to the direction normal to that face only by holding the '''Alt Key''' down during dragging. You can also constrain translate to the plane of that face only by holding the '''Shift Key''' down during dragging.* With an edge snap point selected, you can constrain translate to the line along that edge only by holding the '''Shift Key''' down during dragging. You can also constrain translate to the line normal to that edge only by holding the '''Alt Key''' down during dragging.* With a vertex snap point selected, you can constrain translate to the lines along the two edges passing through that vertex only by holding the '''shift Key''' or '''Alt Key''' down during draggingICON: [[File:array_tool_tn.png]]
[[FileMENU:consttranslate1_tn_new.png|aligning objects]] [[File:consttranslate2_tn_new.png|aligning objects]] [[File:consttranslate3_tn_new.png|aligning objects]]'''Tools → Basic → Array'''
(Left) Translating a box from a face snap point while holding the Alt Key down, (Middle) Translating a box from an edge snap point while holding the shift Key down, and (Right) Translating a box from a vertex snap point while holding the shift Key down.KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''A'''
==Rotate Tool==FUNCTION: Replicates an object and forms an array of its clones based on a specified linear, rectangular or cubic grid
[[ImageTO ARRAY AN OBJECT:rotate1_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Rotating an object selection at the same time.]]
[[File:rotate_tool_tn.png]] # Activate the '''Menu → Tools → Basic → RotateArray Tool'''.# Click on the object you want to array.# By default, the ghost of a 2×2 array of the selected object appears in the project workspace. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can change the number of elements and the element spacing along the three principal axes. # Once you finalize the attributes of your new array, click the OK button of the Array Dialog to create the array object. # The original object is replaced with a new array object with a new default name.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''R'''If your array is based on an editable object, you can modify the source object by clicking on the âEdit Objectâ button located in the Array Dialog. When clicked, the objectâs Properties Dialog will appear. Once you have completed updating the source object, click on the close button and the array will update.
FUNCTION: Rotates one or more objects about a specified axis of rotation by a specified angle
TO ROTATE AN OBJECT SELECTIONPYTHON COMMAND:
# Activate the '''Rotate Tool'''.# Click on the objectarray(s) you want to translate one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# Nextlabel, you have to establish the rotation axis. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the pivot of the axis. By defaultobject, the rotation axis is oriented along the Z-axis. # Use the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys to change the direction of the rotation axis or cycle through all the three XxCount, YyCount, Z directions. # Drag the mouse to establish the rotation angle. If you hold down the '''Shift Key''' while dragging the mousezCount, the rotation angle will increment in step of 15 degrees.# When you reach the desired rotation anglexSpacing, left-click to drop the object selection. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the rotation angleySpacing, the pivot coordinates or the direction of the normal vector along the rotation axis before finalizing the rotate operation.zSpacing)
You can align the rotation axis using the snap points of other objects in the project workspace. By defaultarray_custom(label, if you click at a blank pointobject, you establish a rotation axis normal to the current work plane. InsteadxCount, you can click at the edge snap point of another object to set the rotation axis along that edge. Or you can click on the face snap point of another object to set the rotation axis along the normal to that face. Once the rotation axis has been establishedyCount,zCount,xSpacing,ySpacing,zSpacing,x0,y0,z0,rot_x, a local rotation coordinate system is createdrot_y, and you can cycle through the three possible axes using the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys.rot_z)
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:array_tool_1.png|thumb|left|640px|Creating an array of rectangle strip objects.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:array_tool_2.png|thumb|left|640px|A 2×2 array of rectangle strip objects.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:array_tool_3.png|thumb|left|640px|Changing the Z-cooedinate of the entire array object.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:array_tool_4.png|thumb|left|640px|Creating a linear array of rectangle strip objects.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:array_tool_5.png|thumb|left|640px|Creating a rotated array of rectangle strip objects.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:array_tool_6.png|thumb|left|640px|Rotating a rotated array of rotated rectangle strip objects.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:Array_tool_7_new.png|thumb|left|640px|Creating a 4x2 array of rotated rectangle strip objects.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
PYTHON COMMAND: rotate(object,rot_angle_degree,rot_axis_x,rot_axis_y,rot_axis_z)==Boolean CAD Operations==
Boolean operations are used to combine different objects and create new ones. [[EM.Cube]] offers three Boolean operations:
<b>Rotating Objects Locally Using Snap Points</b>* Subtraction* Union* Intersection
The simplest Boolean operations work only with surface and quickest way to rotate an object locally is to hover your mouse over a snap point of an object to highlight itsolid objects. Then type the keyboard shortcut '''R''' In other words, they cannot be applied to enable the Rotate Toolcurve objects. A trident depicting As a local coordinate system appears at general rule of thumb, you should perform a Boolean operation on two or more objects of the selected snap point. You can now rotate the selected same type, and resulting object by will be of the desired anglesame type. Bear Mixing solid and surface objects in Boolean operations may result in mind an undesirable outcome. The Boolean Union of two objects that do not overlap each snap point has other physically is similar to grouping them into a default axis of rotationcomposite object. You can cycle through Subtracting two objects that do not overlap each other physically results in the three rotational axes using the '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys. You can also constrain the angle deletion of rotation to 15° increments by holding down the '''Shift Key'''. Left click object to complete the rotationbe subtracted.
[[File:rotate2_tn_newThe result of a Boolean CAD operation on two or more objects is a new object of Boolean Type. The property dialog of a Boolean object is similar to that of a composite object and contains a member list. You can highlight and select any member from the list and open its own property dialog for editing. You can also use '''Consolidate Tool''' to convert a Boolean object into a generic surface or solid object. In that case, you won't have access to the properties of the individual member object any longer.png|Rotation Process]]
Rotating an object about an edge of another object.==Bridge Tool==
==Scale Tool==ICON: [[File:bridge_tool_tn.png]]
[[ImageMENU:scale1_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Scaling a box object in all three directions.]]'''Tools → Transform → Bridge'''
[[FileKEYBOARD SHORTCUT:scale_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → ScaleShift+B'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTFUNCTION: '''S'''Creates a transition (bridge) among two or more coplanar curve objects
FUNCTIONTO BRIDGE CURVE OBJECTS: Scales the size (and generally coordinates) of one or more objects by specified scaling vectors
TO SCALE AN OBJECT SELECTION:# Activate the '''Bridge Tool'''.# Click on the curve object(s) you want to bridge one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # A new surface object is created in the project workspace. Note that the original curve objects are not deleted as a result of this operation.
# Activate the '''Scale Tool'''.
# Click on the object(s) you want to scale one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.
# Next, you have to establish the baseline scale vector. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the start of the baseline scale vector. Then, drag the mouse to draw the vector and left-click to finish the baseline scale vector.
# Now you have to specify the final scale vector. The final scale vector has the same start point as the baseline scale vector but a different end point which determines the scale factor. As you drag the mouse, you will see the second vector drawn on top of or next to the baseline vector. Left-click one more time when you get the desired transformation.
# The scale operation performs a mapping transformation on the object selection from the baseline scale vector onto the final scale vector. As you drag the mouse to establish the end point of the final scale vector, the object selection changes both size and location as a result of the scale transformation.
# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the scale factors along the three principal axes as well the coordinates of the scale origin.
On occasion, the resulting surface object created from the bridge operation may be twisted at the center. You can correct this problem by pressing the '''Up Arrow Key''' to reverse the node order of the original curve objects.
By default, objects are scaled uniformly, i.e. the scaling factors along the three principal axes are equal. From the Scale Dialog, you can change the three scaling factors arbitrarily to achieve any desired shape. Non-uniform scaling of certain objects like cylinder, cone, sphere, torus, etc., does not take effect because it would destroy the object's symmetry. On the other hand, you can enforce non-uniform scaling of objects like box, ellipsoid, ellipse strip or super-quadratic curve.
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:
PYTHON COMMAND: scale(object,scale_factor)
PYTHON COMMAND: None
<b>Scaling Objects Locally Using Snap Points</b>
Snap points provide an easier way of scaling objects without changing their location. Hover your mouse over a snap point of an object to highlight it and type the keyboard shortcut '''S'''. This establishes the scale origin at the selected snap point. Then, select the end point of the baseline scale vector, which can be another snap point of the same object. It is convenient to select a vertex of an object as the scale origin and select an adjacent vertex as the end point of the baseline scale vector. Next, you need to determine the final scale vector. If you drag the mouse out of the object, you will expand it. If you drag the mouse inside the object and towards the scale origin, you will shrink it.Example 1: Bridging Two Horizontal Surfaces
[[File:scale2_tn_newCad_manual-69_surfaces.png|aligning objects600px|bridge a]]
Non-uniform scaling of a cylinder ruins its symmetry.Example 2: Bridging Multiple Lines
<b>Constrained Scaling</b>In this example we have created a series of beveled planes by bridging between four line segments. Using this method allows you to construct planes whose edges are perfectly aligned to each other. The resulting planes can then be joined together via the Union Tool to form a solid surface.
While dragging the mouse to scale an object select, if you hold the '''Shift Key''' down, you can constrain the scaling to the direction along the baseline scale vector only. Alternatively, if you hold the '''Alt Key''' down, you can constrain the scaling to the direction normal to the baseline scale vector only. If the baseline vector is parallel to one of the principal axes, the "Shift Contstraint" varies only one scaling factor, while the "Alt Constraint" varies two scaling factor simultaneously[[File:cad_manual-69_tn.png|600px|bridge a]]
[[File:scale3_tn_newcad_manual-70_tn.png|aligning objects]] [[File:scale4_tn_new.png600px|aligning objectsbridge]]
Constrained scaling of a box along an "edge" scale vector and normal to it.==Consolidate Tool==
==Link Tool==ICON: [[File:consolidate_tool_tn.png]]
[[FileMENU:link_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic Transform → LinkConsolidate'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''KShift+C'''
FUNCTION: Links the local coordinate system (LCS) of an object Converts open polymesh objects to the LCS of another objectgeneric surface objects and converts closed polymesh objects to generic solid objects
TO LINKAN CONSOLIDATE AN OBJECTSELECTION:
# Activate the '''Link Consolidate Tool'''.# Click on the polymesh object (s) you want to linkconsolidate one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. A ghost # Generic surface of solid versions of the selected object appears polymesh objects appear in the project workspace, which will float around as you drag the mouse. # Next, hover your mouse over  SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can also use the second object Consolidate Tool to be linked convert Boolean objects to (the parent object) and highlight one of its snap points. # Left-click to link the selected object. Depending on the type of the selected snap point of the second object, the orientation of the linked generic surface or solid objects may change. # The property dialog of the linked object opens up on the lower right corner of the screen. In the Link section of the property dialogthat case, you will see lose access to the name properties of the second object as the '''Parent''' individual constituents of the linked original Boolean object.
The linkage relationship is one-way. The child PYTHON COMMAND: consolidate(object has a pointer to its parent and always follows it, but the opposite it not true. For example, if you move a child object, its link with its parent is broken, and it becomes an independent object. )
==Convert To Box==
PYTHON COMMANDsICON:None
set_lcs_link(object,lcs_obj,x_off,y_off,z_off)MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Convert → Box'''
set_rot_link(object,lcs_obj,x_off_deg,y_off_deg,z_off_deg)KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
FUNCTION: Replaces any selected object with its bounding box
<b>General Linking Rules</b>TO CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTION TO BOX:
# When an object is linked, both Select the location and orientation of its LCS are tied to a control point of its parent object.# The way an objects links (s) to another object depends on the type of the parent object as well as the type of the linking control point. Objects link differently to solids, surfaces or curvesbe converted.# When an object is linked to another objectSelect 's face, its local Z-axis is aligned along the normal to the plane of the parent object's face.# When an object is linked to another object's edge, its local Y-axis is aligned along the parent objectTransform → Convert → Box'''s edge, while its local X-axis is aligned along the normal to that edge. In addition, the LCS of the linked object is placed at an X-offset equal to half its X-dimension from the parent's edge. In other words, the link object is connected to the parent object from outside at the linking edge.# When an object is linked to the nodes of a polyline or NURBS curve, the local Y-axis of the linked object is aligned with the tangent to the parent curve at the linking node''Tools''' menu.
<b>Link Properties</b>PYTHON COMMAND: convert_box(object)
The property dialog of all objects has a '''Link''' section that contains the '''Parent Name''' and three dropdown lists labeled '''Fc''', '''Ed''', and '''Nd''', standing for Face, Edge and Node, respectively. Normally, these dropdown lists are grayed out and show zero values. When an object is linked, it has to be linked to either a face, or an edge or a node (vertex) of another (patent) object. Theses primitives are ordered and indexed for each object. For example, each box has six faces. The bottom face is indexed 1, the top face is indexed 2, and so on. Each rectangular face of a box also has four edges, which are indexed from 1 to 4. The zero edge index denotes "None" or "No Edge" and corresponds to the center of that face. Each edge of a box has two nodes or vertices that are indexed as 1 or 2. In a similar fashion, the zero node index denotes "None" or "No Vertex" and corresponds to the center of that edge. In this way, the faces are indexed first, then the edges and finally the nodes or vertices. The indexing of faces, edges and nodes varies among the different object types. ==Convert To Line==
From a linked object's property dialog, you can change the link address and thus change the relative position of the linked object with respect to its parent object. Simply open one of the three Face, Edge or Node dropdown lists and change the index. The location of the link will change and the linked object is positioned on a new face, edge or vertex. [[EM.Cube]] allows offsets for linked objects. This means that the LCS of the child object can have X-, Y- and Z-offsets with respect to the parent's control point. [[EM.Cube]] also allows local rotation of linked objects. This means that the LCS of the child object can have X-, Y- and Z-rotation angles with respect to a local rotation coordinate system at the parent's control point. When an object is linked to another object, its LCS center coordinates and rotation angle values are replaced by a new set of '''LCS Offset''' and '''Local Rotation Angle''' values that are measured in a different coordinate system. We call this new coordinate system the local UVW coordinate system at the location of the parent object's control point. What you see as offsets are indeed the local U, V and W coordinates of the linked object's LCS center with respect to the parent object. Similarly, the rotation angles are measured locally at the LCS of the linked object with respect to the U, V and W axes of the parent object at the control point.ICON: None
You can MENU: '''Tools "rarr;Un-linkTransform "rarr; a linked object by removing its link. The simplest way to do this is to select the zero option from the '''Face''' dropdown list of the object's property dialog. Alternatively, you can also select a linked object in the project workspace and right click on its surface or right click on its name on the navigation tree and select '''Unlock LCSConvert → Line''' from the contextual menu to remove its link.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
[[FileFUNCTION:link3_tn_new.png|500px]]Replaces any selected object with a line object connecting the minimum and maximum vertices of its bounding box
A box linked to the top face of another box.TO CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTION TO LINE:
[[File:link5_tn_new# Select the object(s) to be converted.png|500px]]# Select '''Transform → Convert → Line''' from '''Tools''' menu.
A box linked to the top face of another box with a nonzero offset in the W direction.
[[FilePYTHON COMMAND:link7_tn_new.png|500px]]convert_line(object)
A box linked to the top face of another box with all nonzero offsets in the U, V, W directions and rotated 45° about the local W axis.==Convert To Point==
==Mirror Tool==ICON: None
[[FileMENU:scale_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu Tools → Tools Transform → Basic Convert → MirrorPoint'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''M'''None
FUNCTION: Creates a mirror image of an Replaces any selected object selection with respect to a specified mirror planepoint object located at the center of its bounding box
TO MIRROR CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTIONTO POINT:
# Activate the '''Mirror Tool'''.# Click on Select the object(s) you want to mirror one by one and press the be converted.# Select '''Enter KeyTransform → Convert → Point''' when done.# Next, you have to establish the mirror plane. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the anchor of the mirror plane. Then, drag the mouse to draw a ghost of the mirror plane.# As you drag the mouse, the mirror plane will start to rotate around a vertical axis at the anchor point and perpendicular to the current work plane. You will also see a ghost of the image object rotating along with the mirror plane. If you hold the from '''Shift KeyTools''' down while dragging the mouse, the mirror plane rotates at increments of 15 degrees. Left-click once you get the desired mirror plane. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the coordinate of the anchor point and the rotation angles of the mirror planemenu.
You can also establish the mirror plane using the snap points of other objects in the project workspace. For example, once you select the object to be mirrored, hover your mouse on the face snap point of any object including the selected object itself, and the plane of the highlighted face will be selected as the mirror plane.
PYTHON COMMAND: convert_point(object)
PYTHON COMMAND: mirror(object,x0,y0,z0,uX,uY,uZ)==Convert To Rectangle Strip==
ICON: None
<b>Mirroring Objects Locally Using Snap Points</b>MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Convert → Rectangle Strip'''
You can easily create an image of any object with respect to one of its flat faces. Hover your mouse over a face snap point of an object and type the keyboard shortcut '''M'''. The image object is formed immediately and will share the selected face with the original object. <b>Example 1KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: Defining Object Edge Mirror Planes</b>None
A. Edge snap point is defined as the mirror plane and anchor point.B. Reflected FUNCTION: Replaces any selected planar object is created along the defined construction plane.with its bounding rectangle
[[FileTO CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTION TO RECTANGLE STRIP:cad_manual-41a_tn_new.png|Mirror Process 1]]
<b>Example 2: Defining Object Face Mirror Planes</b># Select the object(s) to be converted.# Select '''Transform → Convert → Rectangle Strip''' from '''Tools''' menu.
A. Face center is defined as the mirror plane anchored point.
B. Reflected object is created using the object face as a construction plane.
[[FilePYTHON COMMAND:cad_manual-41b_tn_new.png]]convert_rect(object)
<b>Example 3: Defining Arbitrary Mirror Planes</b>==Distance Tool==
ICON: [[File:cad_manual-42_tn_newMeasure tool tn.png|Mirror Process 2]]
In this example, an anchor point has been selected at an arbitrary location on the grid. Once an anchor point has been defined, you can freely rotate the construction plane about the anchor point. This allows you to create a mirrored object at an arbitrary radial location.MENU: '''Tools → Measure → Distance'''
==Group Tool==KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+D'''
[[FileFUNCTION:group_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Group'''Measures the distance between any two point in project units
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTTO MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS: '''J'''
FUNCTION: Groups a selection of two # Activate the '''Distance Tool'''.# Click on the first point either somewhere in the project workspace or more objects into a single composite snap point of an existing object.# Click on the second point. # A dialog pops up at the lower right corner of the screen showing the distance between the two points as well as the three X, Y, Z components of the vector extending from the start point to the end point.
TO GROUP AN OBJECT SELECTION:
# Activate SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can measure the '''Group Tool'''distances among several points successively.# The object selection is replaced with a single composite object with a new default name.
PYTHON COMMAND: None
When you group two or more objects, a new object of composite type is created<table><tr><td>[[Image:Distance1_new. You can open png|thumb|500px|Measuring the property dialog of the composite object and access and edit its individual member objects. The '''Extract''' button of the composite dialog removes the selected object from the member list without deleting it from the project workspace, while the '''Delete''' button completely removes the selected object from the composite object as well as from the project workspacedistance between two snap points.]]</td></tr></table>
==Explode Tool==
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSICON: In [[EMFile:explode_tool_tn.Cubepng]], you can group only objects that belong to the same color group or material group. If you group an object with a composite object, it is added to the member list of the composite object. In other words, the composite object is expanded.
PYTHON COMMANDMENU: group(label,object_1,object_2,...,object_n)'''Tools → Basic → Explode'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Q'''
FUNCTION: Breaks up one or more selected objects selection into their constituent primitives
[[FileTO EXPLODE AN OBJECT SELECTION:cad_manual-44_tn.jpg|composite process]]
==Array # Activate the '''Explode Tool=='''.# Click on the objects you want to explode one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# The original object selection is replaced with a larger set of objects of lower dimensionality.
[[File:array_tool_tnFor example, a solid object explodes into a number of surface objects that formed its faces. A surface object explodes into a number of curve objects that formed its edges.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Array'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTSPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: '''Composite (group) and Boolean objects explode into their original constituent objects. An array object explodes into the set of its individual elements. A'''polystrip or NURBS strip object explodes into its boundary polyline or NURBS curve, respectively.
FUNCTION: Replicates an object and forms an array of its clones based on a specified linear, rectangular or cubic grid
TO ARRAY AN OBJECTPYTHON COMMAND:explode(object)
# Activate the '''Array Tool'''<table><tr><td> [[Image:cad_manual-73_tn_new.# Click on the png|thumb|720px|A pyramid object you want to arrayexploded into its constituent faces.# By default, the ghost of a 2×2 array of the One face has been selected object appears in the project workspace. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can change the number of elements and the element spacing along the three principal axessubsequently removed. ]] </td># Once you finalize the attributes of your new array, click the OK button of the Array Dialog to create the array object. </tr># The original object is replaced with a new array object with a new default name. </table>
If your array is based on an editable object, you can modify the source object by clicking on the âEdit Objectâ button located in the Array Dialog. When clicked, the objectâs Properties Dialog will appear. Once you have completed updating the source object, click on the close button and the array will update.==Extrude Tool==
ICON: [[File:extrude_tool_tn.png]]
PYTHON COMMANDMENU: array(label,object,xCount,yCount,zCount,xSpacing,ySpacing,zSpacing)'''Tools → Transform → Extrude'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''H'''
[[FileFUNCTION:cad_manual-46_tn.jpg|Array Process 1]]Extrudes a surface object into a solid object or a curve object into a surface object
==Boolean CAD Operations==TO EXTRUDE AN OBJECT:
Boolean operations are used # Activate the '''Extrude Tool'''.# Click on the surface or curve object you want to combine different objects extrude to select it.# Drag the mouse to lift the object and create give the new onesdimension to it. [[EMWhen you reach the desired height, left-click to finalize the extrusion object. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune the height, change the draft angle or uncap the extrusion object.# Make sure to click the OK button of the extrusion object's property dialog to finalize the construction.Cube]] offers three Boolean operations:
* Subtraction
* Union
* Intersection
Boolean operations work only with surface and [[Solid Objects|solid objects]]. In other words, they cannot be applied to [[Curve Objects|curve objects]]. As a general rule of thumb, you should perform a Boolean operation on two or more objects of the same type, and resulting object will be of the same type. Mixing solid and [[Surface Objects|surface objects]] in Boolean operations may result in an undesirable outcome. The Boolean Union of two objects that do not overlap each other physically is similar to grouping them into a composite object. Subtracting two objects that do not overlap each other physically results in the deletion of the object to be subtracted. SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:
The result of a Boolean CAD operation on two or more objects is a new object of Boolean Type. The property dialog of a Boolean object is similar to that of a composite object and contains a member list. You can highlight and select any member from the list and open its own property dialog for editing. You can also use '''Consolidate Tool''' to convert a Boolean object into a generic surface or solid object. In that case, you won't have access to the properties of the individual member object any longer.
==Subtract Tool==PYTHON COMMAND: extrude(label,object,extrude_height,cap_ends)
[[File:subtract_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Subtract'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: NoneThere are several extrusion options available within '''[[EM.Cube|EM.CUBE]]'''. You can extrude the face of an object or the edge of an object. When extruding an objectâs face you can also define a draft angle. When extruding the edge of an object you can define the angle of the resulting extruded plane. By default the extrusion angle is normal (perpendicular) to the plane of extrusion. You can use the snap points of nearby objects to âcopyâ their length, height, or width to newly extruded planes or solids
FUNCTION: Subtracts one or more objects from another object in To extrude the Boolean senseedge Or face Of an object:
TO SUBTRACT FROM AN OBJECT# There are two methods you can use to invoke the Extrude command:
# Activate the * '''Subtract ToolMethod 1:'''.# Click on the object you want to subtract from Position your mouse over an unselected objectâs face or edge and press the E-key on your keyboard* '''Enter KeyMethod 2:'''.# Click Deselect all objects in your scene, click on the Extrude Tool [[File:extrude_tool_tn.png]], select the object(s) you want wish to subtract from the previously selected object one by one perform an extrusion operation on and press RETURN on your keyboard. Then position you mouse cursor at the '''Enter Key''' when done.# All center-most point of the original selected objects are replaced with a new Boolean object with a new default nameface or edge you wish to extrude (A).
Next, left-click on the snap point that appears and drag the extruded plane to the desired height (B).
PYTHON COMMAND: subtractWhen you have positioned the height as desired, click the left mouse button to complete the extrusion (label,object_1,object_2C).
<table>
<tr>
<td>
[[Image:cad_manual-52_tn_new.png|thumb|left|720px|Extruding an object.]]
</td>
</tr>
</table>
[[FileExample 1:cad_manual-49_tn.jpg|subtract]]Changing The Angle Of An Edge Extrusion
Two overlapping boxes (left) and # First, follow the subtraction result steps previously outlined to extrude the edge of an object (rightA-C below) after subtracting .# Notice the gray box Extrusion Properties Box that appears at the bottom of the Navigation Tree. You can customize the rotation angle of the plane created by the edge extrusion operation from within this box. You can also press the blue oneARROW keys on your keyboard to quickly rotate the extruded planeâs vector 90º (D).
==Union Tool==<table><tr><td> [[Image:cad_manual-53_tn_new.png|thumb|left|720px|The process of extruding an edge.]] </td></tr></table>
[[FileExample 2:union_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Union'''Changing The Draft Angle Of An Extrusion
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''U'''# First, follow the steps previously outlined to extrude the face of an object (A-C below).# Once an extrusion has been created, you can change the draft angle from within the extrusion dialog box. The draft angle allows you to taper inward or flare outward the extrusion walls.
FUNCTION<table><tr><td> [[Image: Forms a union cad_manual-54_tn_new.png|thumb|left|720px|The process of an object selection in the Boolean senseextruding a face.]] </td></tr></table>
TO UNION AN OBJECT SELECTION:As with all property boxes, you can click on the blue preview button to preview your settings. Clicking on the green check mark will commit the current settings, while clicking on the red âxâ will dismiss the dialog (D).
# Activate the '''Union ==Fill Tool'''.# Click on the objects you want to union one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# The original object selection is replaced with a new Boolean object with a new default name. ==
ICON: [[File:fill_tool_tn.png]]
PYTHON COMMANDMENU: union(label,object_1,object_2)'''Tools → Transform → Fill'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+F'''
[[FileFUNCTION:cad_manual-50_tn.jpg|Union]]Creates a planar surface object from a closed curve object or from a set of curve objects that together form a closed region
Two overlapping boxes TO FILL CURVE OBJECT(leftS) and the union result (right).:
==Intersect # Activate the '''Fill Tool=='''.# Click on the curve object(s) you want to fill one by one to select them and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # A new planar surface object is created in the project workspace which replaces the previously selectedcurve objects.
[[File:intersect_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Intersect'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: NoneWhen you fill the area among several curves or lines that together form a closed region, the operation will trim any excess curve lengths.
FUNCTION: Forms an intersection of an object selection in the Boolean sense
TO INTERSECT AN OBJECT SELECTIONSPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:When you fill two or more closed curves, of which one completely encloses all the others, the area among the closed curves will be filled. Filling a closed polyline or a NURBS curve results in the creation of a polystrip or a NURBS strip object, respectively.
# Activate the '''Intersect Tool'''.
# Click on the objects you want to intersect one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.
# The original object selection is replaced with a new Boolean object with a new default name.
PYTHON COMMAND: fill_curve(object)
PYTHON COMMAND: intersect(label,object_1,object_2)
<table>
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[[Image:fill1_tn_new.png|thumb|left|500px|The process of extruding an edge.]]
</td>
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<tr>
<td>
[[Image:fill1_tnB_new.png|thumb|left|500px|The process of extruding an edge.]]
</td>
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<td>
[[Image:fill2_tn_new.png|thumb|left|500px|The process of extruding an edge.]]
</td>
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</table>
[[File:cad_manual-51_tnThree closed curves with two enclosed inside the other and the planar object resulting from filling the curves.jpg|intersect]]
Two overlapping boxes (left) and the intersected result (right).==Fillet Tool==
==Explode Tool==ICON: [[File:fillet_tool_tn.png]]
[[FileMENU:explode_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → ExplodeFillet'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''QShift+L'''
FUNCTION: Breaks up Adds rounded bevels to hard-angled corners of one or more selected surface or curve objects selection into their constituent primitives
TO EXPLODE FILLET AN OBJECT SELECTION:
# Activate the '''Explode Fillet Tool'''.# Click on the objects object(s) you want to explode fillet one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can change the type of fillet or fine-tune the fillet radius. # The original object selection default option is replaced a circular arc fillet with a larger set radius of objects 10 project units. You may choose another fillet type: Linear (Chamfer), G1, G2 or G3 Blend.# Make sure to click the OK button of lower dimensionalitythe Fillet Dialog to finalize the operation.
For example, a solid object explodes into a number of [[Surface Objects|surface objects]] that formed its faces. A surface object explodes into a number of [[Curve Objects|curve objects]] that formed its edges. SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSPYTHON COMMAND: Composite fillet(group) and Boolean objects explode into their original constituent objects. An array object explodes into the set of its individual elements. A polystrip or NURBS strip object explodes into its boundary polyline or NURBS curve, respectively. radius)
<table>
<tr>
<td>
[[File:Fillet_tn.png|thumb|left|720px|The fillet tool.]]
</td>
</tr>
</table>
PYTHON COMMAND: explode(object)==Geometric Analysis Tool==
ICON: [[File:Extends_tool_tn.png]]
[[FileMENU:cad_manual-73_tn.jpg|Explode]]'''Tools → Measure → Geometric Analysis'''
A pyramid object exploded into its constituent faces. One face has been selected and subsequently removed.KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+E'''
==Slice Tool==FUNCTION: Measures the length, surface area or volume of a geometric object
[[FileTO PERFORM GEOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND MEASURE THE EXTENTS OF AN OBJECT:slice_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Slice'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None# Activate the '''Geometric Analysis Tool'''.# Hover the mouse over any object in the project workspace.# A dialog pops up at the lower right corner of the screen. If the highlighted object is a curve, the dialog shows its arc length. If the highlighted object is a surface, the dialog shows its area. If the highlighted object is a solid, the dialog shows both its volume and total surface area.
FUNCTION: Splits one or more selected objects into two parts along a specified slice plane
TO SLICE AN OBJECT SELECTIONSPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:You can compute the extents of several objects successively.
# Activate the '''Slice Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to slice one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # Next, you have to establish the slice plane. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the first anchor of the slice plane. By default, the slice plane is perpendicular to the current work plane. # As you drag the mouse around, a ghost of the slice plane will appear rotating about the anchor point. Left-click a second point in the project workspace to fix the slice plane. # The original selected objects are not replaced with sliced objects. PYTHON COMMAND:
get_length(object)
As a result of the slice operation, solids are sliced into smaller generic [[Solid Objects|solid objects]], surfaces are sliced into smaller generic [[Surface Objects|surface objects]] and curves are sliced into smaller generic [[Curve Objects|curve objects]]. get_area(object)
get_volume(object)
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS<table><tr><td> [[Image: You can define Extents1_new.png|thumb|550px|Measuring the slice plane alternatively using three snap points surface area and volume of the a solid object to be sliced. Once ]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:Extents2_new.png|thumb|550px|Measuring the Slice Tool is enabled, click on three snap points length of the selected a curve object one by one to form the three-point slice plane. ]] </td></tr> </table>
PYTHON COMMAND: slice(object,x0,y0,z0,uX,uY,uZ)==Group Tool==
ICON: [[File:group_tool_tn.png]]
<b>Trimming Objects</b> MENU: '''Tools → Basic → Group'''
You have the option to keep only one of the two split parts resulting from a slice operation if you wish so. While dragging the slice plane, if you hold the keyboardKEYBOARD SHORTCUT: 's ''Shift+G'Ctrl Key''' down at the time of the left mouse click, the part on the positive side of the slice plane is preserved and the other part is discarded. If you hold the keyboard's '''Alt Key''' down at the time of the left mouse click, the part on the negative side of the slice plane is preserved and the other part is discarded.
[[FileFUNCTION:slice4_tn.png|Explode]] [[File:slice5_tn.png|Explode]] [[File:slice6_tn.png|Explode]]Groups a selection of two or more objects into a single composite object
Selecting the first, second and third points of the slice plane on the edges of a box object.TO GROUP AN OBJECT SELECTION:
[[File:slice7_tn# Activate the '''Group Tool'''.png|Explode]] [[File:slice8_tn# The object selection is replaced with a single composite object with a new default name.png|Explode]]
Selecting the two points of the slice line on the edges of a circle strip object.
[[File:slice9_tnWhen you group two or more objects, a new object of composite type is created. You can open the property dialog of the composite object and access and edit its individual member objects. The '''Extract''' button of the composite dialog removes the selected object from the member list without deleting it from the project workspace, while the '''Delete''' button completely removes the selected object from the composite object as well as from the project workspace.png|Explode]]
Selecting the split point on a curve object.
==Extrude Tool==SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: In [[EM.Cube]], you can group only objects that belong to the same color group or material group. If you group an object with a composite object, it is added to the member list of the composite object. In other words, the composite object is expanded.
[[FilePYTHON COMMAND:extrude_tool_tngroup(label,object_1,object_2,.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Extrude'''..,object_n)
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT<table><tr><td> [[Image: '''H'''cad_manual-44_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Grouping several objects as a single composite object.]] </td></tr></table>
FUNCTION: Extrudes a surface object into a solid object or a curve object into a surface object==Intersect Tool==
TO EXTRUDE AN OBJECTICON:[[File:intersect_tool_tn.png]]
# Activate the MENU: '''Extrude ToolTools → Basic → Intersect'''.# Click on the surface or curve object you want to extrude to select it.# Drag the mouse to lift the object and give the new dimension to it. When you reach the desired height, left-click to finalize the extrusion object. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune the height, change the draft angle or uncap the extrusion object.# Make sure to click the OK button of the extrusion object's property dialog to finalize the construction.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''I'''
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSFUNCTION: Forms an intersection of an object selection in the Boolean sense
TO INTERSECT AN OBJECT SELECTION:
PYTHON COMMAND: extrude(label,# Activate the '''Intersect Tool'''.# Click on the objects you want to intersect one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# The original object,extrude_height,cap_ends)selection is replaced with a new Boolean object with a new default name.
There are several extrusion options available within '''[[EM.Cube|EM.CUBE]]'''. You can extrude the face of an object or the edge of an object. When extruding an objectâs face you can also define a draft angle. When extruding the edge of an object you can define the angle of the resulting extruded plane. By default the extrusion angle is normal PYTHON COMMAND: intersect(perpendicular) to the plane of extrusion. You can use the snap points of nearby objects to âcopyâ their lengthlabel, heightobject_1, or width to newly extruded planes or solidsobject_2)
To extrude the edge Or face Of an object<table><tr><td> [[Image:cad_manual-51_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|(Left) Two overlapping boxes and (Right) the result of their Boolean intersection.]] </td></tr></table>
# There are two methods you can use to invoke the Extrude command:== Link Tool ==
* '''Method 1ICON:''' Position your mouse over an unselected objectâs face or edge and press the E-key on your keyboard* '''Method 2:''' Deselect all objects in your scene, click on the Extrude Tool [[File:extrude_tool_tnlink_tool_tn.png]], select the object you wish to perform an extrusion operation on and press RETURN on your keyboard. Then position you mouse cursor at the center-most point of the face or edge you wish to extrude (A).
Next, left-click on the snap point that appears and drag the extruded plane to the desired height (B).MENU: '''Tools → Basic → Link'''
When you have positioned the height as desired, click the left mouse button to complete the extrusion (C).KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''K'''
[[FileFUNCTION:cad_manual-52_tn.jpg|Extrude Process]]Links the local coordinate system (LCS) of an object to the LCS of another object
Example 1TO LINK AN OBJECT: Changing The Angle Of An Edge Extrusion
# First, follow Activate the steps previously outlined to extrude '''Link Tool'''.# Click on the edge of an object (you want to link. A-C below)ghost of the selected object appears in the project workspace, which will float around as you drag the mouse.# Notice Next, hover your mouse over the Extrusion Properties Box that appears at second object to be linked to (the bottom parent object) and highlight one of its snap points. # Left-click to link the Navigation Treeselected object. You can customize Depending on the rotation angle type of the plane created by selected snap point of the second object, the orientation of the edge extrusion operation from within this boxlinked objects may change. You can also press # The property dialog of the ARROW keys linked object opens up on your keyboard to quickly rotate the extruded planeâs vector 90º (D)lower right corner of the screen.In the Link section of the property dialog, you will see the name of the second object as the '''Parent''' of the linked object.
[[File:cad_manualThe linkage relationship is one-53_tnway.jpg|Extrude Example 1]]The child object has a pointer to its parent and always follows it, but the opposite it not true. For example, if you move a child object, its link with its parent is broken, and it becomes an independent object.
Example 2: Changing The Draft Angle Of An Extrusion
# First, follow the steps previously outlined to extrude the face of an object (A-C below).# Once an extrusion has been created, you can change the draft angle from within the extrusion dialog box. The draft angle allows you to taper inward or flare outward the extrusion walls.PYTHON COMMANDs:
[[File:cad_manual-54_tn.jpg]] [[File:cad_manual-55_tn.jpg]]set_lcs_link(object,lcs_obj,x_off,y_off,z_off)
As set_rot_link(object,lcs_obj,x_off_deg,y_off_deg,z_off_deg)  <b>General Linking Rules</b> # When an object is linked, both the location and orientation of its LCS are tied to a control point of its parent object.# The way an objects links to another object depends on the type of the parent object as well as the type of the linking control point. Objects link differently to solids, surfaces or curves.# When an object is linked to another object's face, its local Z-axis is aligned along the normal to the plane of the parent object's face.# When an object is linked to another object's edge, its local Y-axis is aligned along the parent object's edge, while its local X-axis is aligned along the normal to that edge. In addition, the LCS of the linked object is placed at an X-offset equal to half its X-dimension from the parent's edge. In other words, the link object is connected to the parent object from outside at the linking edge.# When an object is linked to the nodes of a polyline or NURBS curve, the local Y-axis of the linked object is aligned with the tangent to the parent curve at the linking node.  <b>Link Properties</b> The property dialog of all objects has a '''Link''' section that contains the '''Parent Name''' and three dropdown lists labeled '''Fc''', '''Ed''', and '''Nd''', standing for Face, Edge and Node, respectively. Normally, these dropdown lists are grayed out and show zero values. When an object is linked, it has to be linked to either a face, or an edge or a node (vertex) of another (patent) object. Theses primitives are ordered and indexed for each object. For example, each box has six faces. The bottom face is indexed 1, the top face is indexed 2, and so on. Each rectangular face of a box also has four edges, which are indexed from 1 to 4. The zero edge index denotes "None" or "No Edge" and corresponds to the center of that face. Each edge of a box has two nodes or vertices that are indexed as 1 or 2. In a similar fashion, the zero node index denotes "None" or "No Vertex" and corresponds to the center of that edge. In this way, the faces are indexed first, then the edges and finally the nodes or vertices. The indexing of faces, edges and nodes varies among the different object types.  From a linked object's property boxesdialog, you can click on change the blue preview button link address and thus change the relative position of the linked object with respect to preview your settingsits parent object. Clicking on Simply open one of the green check mark three Face, Edge or Node dropdown lists and change the index. The location of the link will commit change and the current settings, while clicking linked object is positioned on a new face, edge or vertex. [[EM.Cube]] allows offsets for linked objects. This means that the red âxâ will dismiss LCS of the child object can have X-, Y- and Z-offsets with respect to the parent's control point. [[EM.Cube]] also allows local rotation of linked objects. This means that the LCS of the child object can have X-, Y- and Z-rotation angles with respect to a local rotation coordinate system at the parent's control point. When an object is linked to another object, its LCS center coordinates and rotation angle values are replaced by a new set of '''LCS Offset''' and '''Local Rotation Angle''' values that are measured in a different coordinate system. We call this new coordinate system the local UVW coordinate system at the location of the parent object's control point. What you see as offsets are indeed the local U, V and W coordinates of the linked object's LCS center with respect to the parent object. Similarly, the rotation angles are measured locally at the LCS of the linked object with respect to the U, V and W axes of the parent object at the control point. You can "Un-link" a linked object by removing its link. The simplest way to do this is to select the zero option from the '''Face''' dropdown list of the object's property dialog (D).Alternatively, you can also select a linked object in the project workspace and right click on its surface or right click on its name on the navigation tree and select '''Unlock LCS''' from the contextual menu to remove its link.  <table><tr><td> [[Image:link3_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|A box linked to the top face of another box.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:link5_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|A box linked to the top face of another box with a nonzero offset along the local W direction.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:link7_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|A box linked to the top face of another box with all nonzero offsets along the local U, V, W directions and rotated 45° about the local W axis.]] </td></tr></table>
==Loft Tool==
ICON: [[File:cad_manual-61_tnloft_tool_tn.jpg|thumb|250px|The Loft To Point Properties Dialogpng]]
[[FileMENU:loft_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Loft'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''L'''
<table><tr><td> [[FileImage:cad_manual-62_tn62_tn_new.jpgpng|Loft Process 1thumb|left|720px|The process of lofting a face.]]</td></tr></table>
Lofted objects are linked to the objects they were generated from. This means that transformations performed on the parent object will also affect its associated loft objects. The Loft To Point properties dialog provides a number of additional [[parameters]] that can be modified.
This example illustrates lofting from the edge of the lower box to a corner point on the center rectangle.
[[File:cad_manual-63_tn.jpgpng|600px|Loft Example 1]]
Example 2: Using Lofts To Create A Four-Sided Pyramid
[[File:cad_manual-64_tn.jpgpng|600px|Loft Example 2]]
==Revolve Merge Tool==
ICON: [[File:revolve_tool_tnmerge_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Revolve'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTMENU: '''VTools → Basic → Merge'''
FUNCTIONKEYBOARD SHORTCUT: Revolves a surface or curve object about a specified axis of revolution and turns it into a solid or surface object'''Shift+M'''
TO REVOLVE AN OBJECTFUNCTION:Combines nodal curves (polylines or NURBS curves) into a new curve or combines polymesh objects aligned along cell edges into a new polymesh object
# Activate the '''Revolve Tool'''.# Click on the surface or curve object you want to revolve to select it.# A trident representing a local coordinate system appears in the project workspace and floats around as you move the mouse. # By default, the axis of revolution is oriented perpendicular to the current work plane and is drawn larger than the other two axes. Using the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys, you can cycle through all the three principal directions. # Once you get the desired axis of revolution at the right location, left-click to create the object of revolution.# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune the coordinates of the pivot point or the direction of the axis of revolution. # Make sure to click the OK button of the revolution object's property dialog to finalize the construction. TO MERGE AN OBJECT SELECTION:
# Activate the '''Merge Tool'''.
# Click on the objects of the same type you want to merge one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.
# The original object selection is replaced with a larger object of the same type.
You can use the edges of other objects to serve as the axis of revolution. Once you select the object to be revolved, hover your mouse on the middle snap point of any straight edge of any object including the original object to be revolved, and the axis of revolution is aligned along the selected edge.
If there is a gap between the objects to be merged, it is eliminated as a result of merging as the last and first nodes of the two separate curves become part of a single node list.
SPECIAL CASE(S):
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: In order to merge one or more polymesh objects, they have to have one or more cells strictly and exactly lined up along common edges.
PYTHON COMMAND: revolve(label,object,x0,y0,z0,uX,uY,uZ,rot_angle)
PYTHON COMMAND: merge_curve(object_1,object_2)
[[File:cad_manual-56_tn.jpg|revolve process]]
In this example, a rectangular plane has been revolved by using a pre-drawn line as the axial reference[[File:merge1_tn.png|Filling Outlines]]
Example 1: Revolving Polygon PlanesTwo NURBS curve to be merged into one.
This example illustrates revolving the face of a cylinder about the axis of a pyramid"s edge[[File:merge2_tn.png|Filling Outlines]]
[[File:cad_manual-57_tnThe resulting merged NURBS curve with the combine nodes.jpg|revolve sample 1]]
Example 2: Complex Planar Revolutions==Mirror Tool==
This example illustrates an extremely complex face revolved about the axis of a lineICON: [[File:scale_tool_tn.png]]
[[FileMENU:cad_manual-58_tn.jpg|revolve sample 2]]'''Tools → Basic → Mirror'''
Example 3KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: Unusual Revolutions'''M'''
This example illustrates the face of FUNCTION: Creates a cylinder revolved about the axis mirror image of an object selection with respect to a pyramid"s edge.specified mirror plane
[[FileTO MIRROR AN OBJECT SELECTION:cad_manual-59_tn.jpg|revolve sample 3]]
Example 4: Partial Revolutions# Activate the '''Mirror Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to mirror one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# Next, you have to establish the mirror plane. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the anchor of the mirror plane. Then, drag the mouse to draw a ghost of the mirror plane.# As you drag the mouse, the mirror plane will start to rotate around a vertical axis at the anchor point and perpendicular to the current work plane. You will also see a ghost of the image object rotating along with the mirror plane. If you hold the '''Shift Key''' down while dragging the mouse, the mirror plane rotates at increments of 15 degrees. Left-click once you get the desired mirror plane. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the coordinate of the anchor point and the rotation angles of the mirror plane.
This You can also establish the mirror plane using the snap points of other objects in the project workspace. For example illustrates , once you select the results object to be mirrored, hover your mouse on the face snap point of specifying a partial Rotation Angleany object including the selected object itself, and the plane of the highlighted face will be selected as the mirror plane.
[[File:cad_manual-60_tn.jpg|revolve sample 4]]
==Skin Tool==PYTHON COMMAND: mirror(object,x0,y0,z0,uX,uY,uZ)
[[File:skin_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Skin'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None<b>Mirroring Objects Locally Using Snap Points</b>
FUNCTION: Creates You can easily create an image of any object with respect to one of its flat faces. Hover your mouse over a transition (skin) among two or more planar [[Surface Objects|surface objects]]face snap point of an object and type the keyboard shortcut '''M'''. The image object is formed immediately and will share the selected face with the original object. <b>Example 1: Defining Object Edge Mirror Planes</b>
TO SKIN PLANAR [[Surface Objects|SURFACE OBJECTS]]:A. Edge snap point is defined as the mirror plane and anchor point.B. Reflected object is created along the defined construction plane.
# Activate the '''Skin Tool'''.<table># Click on the planar surface object(s) you want to skin one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. <tr># A new solid object is created in the project workspace. Note that the original <td> [[Surface ObjectsImage:cad_manual-41a_tn_new.png|surface objects]] are not deleted as a result thumb|540px|Image of this operationan object in an edge mirror plane. ]] </td></tr></table>
<b>Example 2: Defining Object Face Mirror Planes</b>
On occasion, A. Face center is defined as the resulting solid mirror plane anchored point.B. Reflected object is created from using the skin operation may be twisted at the center. You can use the '''Left Arrow Key''' or '''Right Arrow Key''' to untwist (or twist) the transition by cycle the [[Surface Objects|surface objects]]â node order clockwise or counter-clockwise. You can also use the Up Arrow Key''' or '''Down Arrow Key''' to reverse the selected objectâs node orderobject face as a construction plane.
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:cad_manual-41b_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Image of an object in a face mirror plane.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS<b>Example 3: Defining Arbitrary Mirror Planes</b>
In this example, an anchor point has been selected at an arbitrary location on the grid. Once an anchor point has been defined, you can freely rotate the construction plane about the anchor point. This allows you to create a mirrored object at an arbitrary radial location.
PYTHON COMMAND<table><tr><td> [[Image: Nonecad_manual-42_tn_new.png|thumb|720px|Image of an object in an arbitrary mirror plane.]] </td></tr></table>
==Pipe-Sweep Tool==
ICON: [[File:cad_manual-65_tnpipe_tool_tn.jpg|skinning processpng]]
NOTE how X and Y LCS coordinates of the above two planes are at right angles to each other. If the LCS orientation of each profile are not properly aligned, twisting of the skinned surface will occur. You can enable onMENU: '''Tools → Transform → Pipe-screen LCS (local coordinates) feedback for each object via the View menu.Sweep'''
Example 1KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: Skinning Multiple Profiles'''Shift+I'''
# Make sure all profiles are de-selected then select the Skin Tool FUNCTION: Creates a tubular object of a specified radius from the CAD toolbar (A and B).# Left click the first profile (C).# Left click the next profile (D).# Continue to left click on each successive profile you want to skin between.# After clicking on the final profile, press ENTER to complete the skinning operation (E).one or more curve objects
[[File:cad_manualTO PIPE-66_tn.jpg|skin profiles 1]]SWEEP CURVE OBJECT(S):
[[File:cad_manual# Activate the '''Pipe-67_tnSweep Tool'''.jpg|skin profiles 2]]# Click on the curve object you want to pipe-sweep. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can modify the pipe radius and cap the resulting surface object to turn it into a solid object.
==Bridge Tool==
[[FileSPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:bridge_tool_tnYou cannot pipe-sweep a polyline object because of its sharp corners.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Bridge'''However, you can first turn the polyline into a smoother curve object using the Fillet Tool and then pipe-sweep it.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
FUNCTIONPYTHON COMMAND: Creates a transition pipe_sweep(bridgeobject,radius) among two or more coplanar [[Curve Objects|curve objects]]
TO BRIDGE <table><tr><td> [[Curve ObjectsImage:pipe-tool_tn_new.png|CURVE OBJECTSthumb|600px|Using pipe-sweep tool to turn a spiral curve into a solid object.]]:</td></tr></table>
# Activate the '''Bridge ==Polygonize Tool'''.# Click on the curve object(s) you want to bridge one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # A new surface object is created in the project workspace. Note that the original [[Curve Objects|curve objects]] are not deleted as a result of this operation. ==
ICON: [[File:polygonize_tool_tn.png]]
On occasion, the resulting surface object created from the bridge operation may be twisted at the center. You can correct this problem by pressing the MENU: '''Up Arrow KeyTools → Transform → Polygonize''' to reverse the node order of the original [[Curve Objects|curve objects]].
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+P'''
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSFUNCTION: Discretizes the boundary of a curve object or a curved planar surface object into linear segments.
TO POLYGONIZE OBJECT(S):
PYTHON COMMAND: None# Activate the '''Polygonize Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to polygonize one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # The discretized versions of the selected objects appears in the project workspace.# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can modify the side length of the resulting polygonal objects.# Make sure to click the OK button of the dialog to finalize the operation.
Example 1: Bridging Multiple LinesThe Polygonize Tool converts a surface object into a polystrip and converts a curve object into a polyline.
In this example we have created a series of beveled planes by bridging between four line segments. Using this method allows you to construct planes whose edges are perfectly aligned to each other. The resulting planes can then be joined together via the Union Tool to form a solid surface.
[[FileSPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:cad_manual-69_tnYou cannot polygonize solid objects.jpg|bridge a]]
[[File:cad_manual-70_tn.jpg|bridge]]
==Strip-Sweep Tool==PYTHON COMMAND: polygonize(object,side_length)
<table><tr><td> [[FileImage:strip_tool_tnpolygonize1_tn_new.png|thumb|500px|A circle strip to be polygonized.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:polygonize3_tn_new.png|thumb|500px|The polygonized version of the circle strip with a side length of 30 units.]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Strip-Sweep'''</td></tr></table>
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None==Polymesh Tool==
FUNCTIONICON: Creates a flat surface object of a specified width from a curve object [[File:polymesh_tool_tn.png]]
TO STRIP-SWEEP CURVE OBJECT(S)MENU:'''Tools → Transform → Polymesh'''
# Activate the KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Strip-Sweep ToolP'''.# Click on the curve object you want to strip-sweep. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can modify the strip width.
FUNCTION: Discretizes one or more surface or solid objects into a set of triangular cells
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSTO POLYMESH AN OBJECT SELECTION: You cannot strip-sweep a polyline object because of its sharp corners. However, you can first turn the polyline into a smoother curve object using the Fillet Tool and then strip-sweep it.
# Activate the '''Polymesh Tool'''.
# Click on the object(s) you want to polymesh one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.
# Discretized versions of the selected objects appear in the project workspace.
# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen which, allows you to change the edge length of the triangular cells.
# Make sure to click the OK button of Polymesh Dialog to finalize the operation.
PYTHON COMMAND: strip_sweep(object,width)
Naturally, a solid object is turned into a closed polymesh (or a solid polymesh), while a surface object is converted to an open polymesh (or a surface polymesh). Each polymesh object is made up of a number of nodes, edges and faces.
[[File:strip-tool_tn.jpg|PIPE TOOL]]
==Pipe-Sweep SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You cannot use the Polymesh Tool==with curve objects.
[[FilePYTHON COMMAND:pipe_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Pipe-Sweep'''polymesh(label,object,edge_length)
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
FUNCTION: Creates a tubular object of a specified radius from one or more <table><tr><td> [[Curve ObjectsImage:polymesh1_new.png|curve objectsthumb|left|600px|Converting a pyramid to a polymesh object.]] </td></tr></table>
TO PIPE-SWEEP CURVE OBJECT(S):<b>Modifying a Polymesh Object</b>
# Activate After you convert an object to a polymesh, you can edit its properties through the polymesh's property dialog. You can change the mesh type from ''Pipe-Sweep Tool'Regular''' to '''Structured''' and vice versa from the dropdown list labeled '''Mesh Type'''.# Click on You can also change the curve object you want '''Edge Length''' to pipe-sweepincrease or decrease the mesh resolution. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of All the screen where you can modify the pipe radius nodes, faces and cap the resulting surface object to turn it into edges of a solid objectpolymesh can be accessed for further editing.
Each polymesh object is made up of a number of nodes, edges and faces. You can access the individual nodes, edges or faces. The '''Mode''' section of the property dialog has three radio buttons labeled '''Node''', '''Face''' and '''Edge'''. When the Node Mode is selected, a small red ball at the location of the selected node. You can cycle through all the nodes from the '''Active Node''' box or using the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys. The world coordinates of the active node are displayed in the property dialog. You can change these values and fine tune the position of any node. You can also delete the selected node by clicking the '''Delete''' button next to the node index.
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You cannot pipe-sweep a polyline object because When the Face Mode is selected, the perimeter of the active face is highlighted as a red triangle. You can cycle through all the faces from the '''Active Face''' box or using its sharp cornersspin buttons. The world coordinates of the centroid of the active face are displayed in the property dialog, but they are greyed out and cannot be edited. However, you can first turn insert a new node at the polyline location of the centroid of the active face and split it into three new smaller faces. To do so, click the '''Insert''' button of the dialog. At this time, a smoother curve object using temporary local coordinate system is established at the centroid of the selected face with the local X-axis parallel to the first edge of the Fillet Tool selected face and then pipethe local Z-sweep itaxis normal to the plane of the selected face. The three active node coordinate boxes in this case represent the offset coordinates of the new node. You have an opportunity to type in new offset values to modify the location of the new node.
When the Edge Mode is selected, the active edge is highlighted as a red line segment. You can cycle through all the edges from the '''Active Edge''' box or using its spin buttons. The world coordinates of the midpoint of the active edge are displayed in the property dialog, but they are greyed out and cannot be edited. However, you can insert a new node at the location of the midpoint of the active edge and split it into two new smaller edges. To do so, click the '''Insert''' button of the dialog. As a result of this operation, the two triangular faces sharing the selected edge are split into four new smaller faces. At this time, a temporary local coordinate system is established at the midpoint of the selected edge with the local X-axis parallel to the selected edge and the local Z-axis normal is aligned along the average of the normal vectors of the two triangular faces sharing that edge. The three active node coordinate boxes in this case represent the offset coordinates of the new node. You have an opportunity to type in new offset values to modify the location of the new node.
PYTHON COMMAND: pipe_sweep({{Note|Inserting new nodes on faces allows you to increase the mesh resolution locally at certain selected cells. Inserting new nodes on edges allows you to expand a polymesh object,radius)outward from its boundaries.}}
<table><tr><td> [[FileImage:pipe-tool_tnpolymesh2_tn.jpgpng|PIPE TOOLthumb|left|360px|Selecting a node of a polymesh object.]]</td><td> [[Image:polymesh3_tn.png|thumb|left|360px|Editing the coordinates of a node of a polymesh object.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:polymesh4_tn.png|thumb|left|360px|Selecting a face of a polymesh object.]] </td><td> [[Image:polymesh5_tn.png|thumb|left|360px|Inserting a new node at a face's centroid.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:polymesh6_tn.png|thumb|left|360px|Selecting an edge of a polymesh object.]] </td><td> [[Image:polymesh7_tn.png|thumb|left|360px|Inserting a new node at an edge's midpoint.]] </td></tr></table>
==Rail-Sweep Tool==
ICON: [[File:sweeo_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Rail-Sweep'''
MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Rail-Sweep'''Â KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None'''Shift+R'''
FUNCTION: Sweeps a curve or planar surface object along a specified path represented by another curve object
PYTHON COMMAND: rail_sweep(object_1,object_2)
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:sweep-tool_tn_new.png|thumb|720px|Railing a rectangle strip object along a spiral curve.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
[[File:sweep-tool_tn.jpg|PIPE TOOL]]==Random Group Tool==
==Fill Tool==ICON: [[File:random_group_tool_tn.png]]
[[FileMENU:fill_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform Basic → FillRandom Group'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None'''Shift+O'''
FUNCTION: Creates random clones of a planar surface specified key object from with random locations and random orientations but confined into the volume of a closed curve container object or from a set of [[Curve Objects|curve objects]] that together form a closed region
TO FILL CURVE OBJECT(S)CREATE A RONDOM GROUP:
# Activate the '''Fill Random Group Tool'''.# Click on the curve object(s) you want to fill one by one to select them clone (key object) and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # A new planar surface object is created in The Rough Surface Dialog opens up on the lower right corner of the screen. The '''Container''' dropdown list displays a list of all the solid objects. In the project workspace which replaces . Select the previously selected [[Curve Objects|curve objects]]desired container object from the list.# The default number of the elements is 100. Change it to any desired number. # Click the OK button of the dialog to close it and complete the group creation.
When you fill the area among several curves or lines that together form SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: Only a closed region, the operation will trim any excess curve lengthssolid object can act as a container for a random group.
PYTHON COMMAND: random_group(label,key_object,container_object,element_count)
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: When you fill two or more closed curves, of which one completely encloses all the others, the area among the closed curves will be filled. Filling a closed polyline or a NURBS curve results in the creation of a polystrip or a NURBS strip object, respectively.==Revolve Tool==
ICON: [[File:revolve_tool_tn.png]]
PYTHON COMMANDMENU: fill_curve(object)'''Tools → Transform → Revolve'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''V'''
[[FileFUNCTION:fill1_tn.png]] [[File:fill2_tn.png]]Revolves a surface or curve object about a specified axis of revolution and turns it into a solid or surface object
Three closed curves with two enclosed inside the other and the planar object resulting from filling the curves.TO REVOLVE AN OBJECT:
==Merge # Activate the '''Revolve Tool=='''.# Click on the surface or curve object you want to revolve to select it.# A trident representing a local coordinate system appears in the project workspace and floats around as you move the mouse. # By default, the axis of revolution is oriented perpendicular to the current work plane and is drawn larger than the other two axes. Using the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys, you can cycle through all the three principal directions. # Once you get the desired axis of revolution at the right location, left-click to create the object of revolution.# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune the coordinates of the pivot point or the direction of the axis of revolution. # Make sure to click the OK button of the revolution object's property dialog to finalize the construction.
[[File:merge_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Merge'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: NoneYou can use the edges of other objects to serve as the axis of revolution. Once you select the object to be revolved, hover your mouse on the middle snap point of any straight edge of any object including the original object to be revolved, and the axis of revolution is aligned along the selected edge.
FUNCTION: Combines nodal curves (polylines or NURBS curves) into a new curve or combines polymesh objects aligned along cell edges into a new polymesh object
TO MERGE AN OBJECT SELECTIONSPECIAL CASE(S):
# Activate the '''Merge Tool'''.
# Click on the objects of the same type you want to merge one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.
# The original object selection is replaced with a larger object of the same type.
PYTHON COMMAND: revolve(label,object,x0,y0,z0,uX,uY,uZ,rot_angle)
If there is a gap between the objects to be merged, it is eliminated as a result of merging as the last and first nodes of the two separate curves become part of a single node list.
[[File:cad_manual-56_tn.png|600px|revolve process]]
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: In order to merge one or more polymesh objectsthis example, they have to have one or more cells strictly and exactly lined up along common edgesa rectangular plane has been revolved by using a pre-drawn line as the axial reference.
Example 1: Revolving Polygon Planes
PYTHON COMMAND: merge_curve(object_1,object_2)This example illustrates revolving the face of a triangular plane about a pre-drawn line as the axial reference.
[[File:cad_manual-57_tn.png|600px|revolve sample 1]]
[[FileExample 2:merge1_tn.png|Filling Outlines]]Complex Planar Revolutions
Two NURBS curve to be merged into oneThis example illustrates an extremely complex face revolved about the axis of a line.
[[File:merge2_tncad_manual-58_tn.png|Filling Outlines600px|revolve sample 2]]
The resulting merged NURBS curve with the combine nodes.Example 3: Unusual Revolutions
==Fillet Tool==This example illustrates the face of a cylinder revolved about the axis of a pyramid"s edge.
[[File:fillet_tool_tncad_manual-59_tn.png|600px|revolve sample 3]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Fillet'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTExample 4: NonePartial Revolutions
FUNCTION: Adds rounded bevels to hard-angled corners This example illustrates the results of one or more surface or [[Curve Objects|curve objects]]specifying a partial Rotation Angle.
TO REVOLVE AN OBJECT[[File:cad_manual-60_tn.png|600px|revolve sample 4]]
# Activate the '''Fillet ==Rotate Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to fillet one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can change the type of fillet or fine-tune the fillet radius. # The default option is a circular arc fillet with a radius of 10 project units. You may choose another fillet type: Linear (Chamfer), G1, G2 or G3 Blend.# Make sure to click the OK button of the Fillet Dialog to finalize the operation. ==
ICON: [[File:rotate_tool_tn.png]]
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSMENU: '''Tools → Basic → Rotate'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''R'''
PYTHON COMMANDFUNCTION: fillet(object,radius)Rotates one or more objects about a specified axis of rotation by a specified angle
TO ROTATE AN OBJECT SELECTION:
[[File:fillet_tn# Activate the '''Rotate Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to translate one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# Next, you have to establish the rotation axis. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the pivot of the axis. By default, the rotation axis is oriented along the Z-axis. # Use the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys to change the direction of the rotation axis or cycle through all the three X, Y, Z directions. # Drag the mouse to establish the rotation angle. If you hold down the '''Shift Key''' while dragging the mouse, the rotation angle will increment in step of 15 degrees.# When you reach the desired rotation angle, left-click to drop the object selection. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the rotation angle, the pivot coordinates or the direction of the normal vector along the rotation axis before finalizing the rotate operation.jpg|fillet]]
==Polygonize Tool==You can align the rotation axis using the snap points of other objects in the project workspace. By default, if you click at a blank point, you establish a rotation axis normal to the current work plane. Instead, you can click at the edge snap point of another object to set the rotation axis along that edge. Or you can click on the face snap point of another object to set the rotation axis along the normal to that face. Once the rotation axis has been established, a local rotation coordinate system is created, and you can cycle through the three possible axes using the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys.
[[File:polygonize_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Polygonize'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTPYTHON COMMAND: '''I'''rotate(object,rot_angle_degree,rot_axis_x,rot_axis_y,rot_axis_z)
FUNCTION<table><tr><td> [[Image: Discretizes the boundary of a curve rotate1_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Rotating an object or a curved planar surface object into linear segmentsselection at the same time. ]] </td></tr></table>
TO POLYGONIZE OBJECT(S):<b>Rotating Objects Locally Using Snap Points</b>
# Activate The simplest and quickest way to rotate an object locally is to hover your mouse over a snap point of an object to highlight it. Then type the keyboard shortcut '''Polygonize ToolR'''to enable the Rotate Tool.# Click on A trident depicting a local coordinate system appears at the selected snap point. You can now rotate the selected object(s) you want to polygonize one by one and press the desired angle. Bear in mind that each snap point has a default axis of rotation. You can cycle through the three rotational axes using the '''Enter KeyUp Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' when donekeys. # The discretized versions of the selected objects appears in the project workspace.# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you You can modify also constrain the side length angle of rotation to 15° increments by holding down the resulting polygonal objects'''Shift Key'''.# Make sure to Left click the OK button of the dialog to finalize complete the operationrotation.
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:rotate2_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Rotating an object selection about an edge of another object.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
The Polygonize ==Roughen Tool converts a surface object into a polystrip and converts a curve object into a polyline.==
ICON: [[File:roughen_tool_tn.png]]
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSMENU: You cannot polygonize [[Solid Objects|solid objects]]. '''Tools → Transform → Roughen'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+H'''
PYTHON COMMANDFUNCTION: polygonize(Converts the surface of an object,side_length)into a random rough surface
TO ROUGHEN AN OBJECT SELECTION:
[[File:polygonize1_tn# Activate the '''Roughen Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to roughen one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# The Rough Surface Dialog opens up on the lower right corner of the screen. Enter values for the RMS height and correlation length of the rough surface. # Click the OK button of the dialog to close it and complete the transformation.png]]
A circle strip to be polygonized.
[[FileSPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:polygonize3_tnThe Roughen Tool doesn't work with curve objects.png]]
The polygonized version of the circle strip with a side length of 30 units.PYTHON COMMAND: roughen(label,object,rms_height,corel_Length)
==Polymesh Scale Tool==
ICON: [[File:polymesh_tool_tnscale_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Polymesh'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTMENU: '''PTools → Basic → Scale'''
FUNCTIONKEYBOARD SHORTCUT: Discretizes one or more surface or [[Solid Objects|solid objects]] into a set of triangular cells'''S'''
TO POLYMESH AN OBJECT SELECTIONFUNCTION:Scales the size (and generally coordinates) of one or more objects by specified scaling vectors
# Activate the '''Polymesh Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to polymesh one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # Discretized versions of the selected objects appear in the project workspace. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen which, allows you to change the edge length of the triangular cells. # Make sure to click the OK button of Polymesh Dialog to finalize the operation. TO SCALE AN OBJECT SELECTION:
# Activate the '''Scale Tool'''.
# Click on the object(s) you want to scale one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.
# Next, you have to establish the baseline scale vector. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the start of the baseline scale vector. Then, drag the mouse to draw the vector and left-click to finish the baseline scale vector.
# Now you have to specify the final scale vector. The final scale vector has the same start point as the baseline scale vector but a different end point which determines the scale factor. As you drag the mouse, you will see the second vector drawn on top of or next to the baseline vector. Left-click one more time when you get the desired transformation.
# The scale operation performs a mapping transformation on the object selection from the baseline scale vector onto the final scale vector. As you drag the mouse to establish the end point of the final scale vector, the object selection changes both size and location as a result of the scale transformation.
# A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the scale factors along the three principal axes as well the coordinates of the scale origin.
Naturally, a solid object is turned into a closed polymesh (or a solid polymesh), while a surface object is converted to an open polymesh (or a surface polymesh). Each polymesh object is made up of a number of nodes, edges and faces.
By default, objects are scaled uniformly, i.e. the scaling factors along the three principal axes are equal. From the Scale Dialog, you can change the three scaling factors arbitrarily to achieve any desired shape. Non-uniform scaling of certain objects like cylinder, cone, sphere, torus, etc., does not take effect because it would destroy the object's symmetry. On the other hand, you can enforce non-uniform scaling of objects like box, ellipsoid, ellipse strip or super-quadratic curve.
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You cannot use the Polymesh Tool with [[Curve Objects|curve objects]].
PYTHON COMMAND: polymeshscale(label,object,edge_lengthscale_factor)
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:scale1_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Scaling a box object in all three directions.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
[[File:polymesh1.png|800px]]<b>Scaling Objects Locally Using Snap Points</b>
Converting Snap points provide an easier way of scaling objects without changing their location. Hover your mouse over a pyramid snap point of an object to highlight it and type the keyboard shortcut '''S'''. This establishes the scale origin at the selected snap point. Then, select the end point of the baseline scale vector, which can be another snap point of the same object. It is convenient to select a polymesh vertex of an object as the scale origin and select an adjacent vertex as the end point of the baseline scale vector. Next, you need to determine the final scale vector. If you drag the mouse out of the object, you will expand it. If you drag the mouse inside the objectand towards the scale origin, you will shrink it.
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:scale2_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Scaling a box object in all three directions.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
<b>Modifying a Polymesh ObjectConstrained Scaling</b>
After you convert While dragging the mouse to scale an object to a polymeshselect, if you can edit its properties through hold the polymesh's property dialog. You can change the mesh type from '''RegularShift Key''' down, you can constrain the scaling to '''Structured''' and vice versa from the dropdown list labeled direction along the baseline scale vector only. Alternatively, if you hold the '''Mesh TypeAlt Key'''. You down, you can also change constrain the '''Edge Length''' scaling to increase or decrease the mesh resolutiondirection normal to the baseline scale vector only. All If the nodesbaseline vector is parallel to one of the principal axes, faces and edges of a polymesh can be accessed for further editingthe "Shift Contstraint" varies only one scaling factor, while the "Alt Constraint" varies two scaling factor simultaneously.
Each polymesh object is made up <table><tr><td> [[Image:scale3_tn_new.png|thumb|720px|Constrained scaling of a number of nodes, edges and facesbox along an edge. You can access the individual nodes, edges or faces]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:scale4_tn_new. The '''Mode''' section png|thumb|720px|Constrained scaling of the property dialog has three radio buttons labeled '''Node''', '''Face''' and '''Edge'''. When the Node Mode is selected, a small red ball at the location of the selected node. You can cycle through all the nodes from the '''Active Node''' box or using the keyboard's '''Up Arrow''' or '''Down Arrow''' keys. The world coordinates of the active node are displayed in the property dialog. You can change these values and fine tune the position of any node. You can also delete the selected node by clicking the '''Delete''' button next normal to the node indexan edge.]] </td></tr></table>
When the Face Mode is selected, the perimeter of the active face is highlighted as a red triangle. You can cycle through all the faces from the '''Active Face''' box or using its spin buttons. The world coordinates of the centroid of the active face are displayed in the property dialog, but they are greyed out and cannot be edited. However, you can insert a new node at the location of the centroid of the active face and split it into three new smaller faces. To do so, click the '''Insert''' button of the dialog. At this time, a temporary local coordinate system is established at the centroid of the selected face with the local X-axis parallel to the first edge of the selected face and the local Z-axis normal to the plane of the selected face. The three active node coordinate boxes in this case represent the offset coordinates of the new node. You have an opportunity to type in new offset values to modify the location of the new node.==Skin Tool==
When the Edge Mode is selected, the active edge is highlighted as a red line segment. You can cycle through all the edges from the '''Active Edge''' box or using its spin buttons. The world coordinates of the midpoint of the active edge are displayed in the property dialog, but they are greyed out and cannot be edited. However, you can insert a new node at the location of the midpoint of the active edge and split it into two new smaller edges. To do so, click the '''Insert''' button of the dialog. As a result of this operation, the two triangular faces sharing the selected edge are split into four new smaller faces. At this time, a temporary local coordinate system is established at the midpoint of the selected edge with the local X-axis parallel to the selected edge and the local Z-axis normal is aligned along the average of the normal vectors of the two triangular faces sharing that edge. The three active node coordinate boxes in this case represent the offset coordinates of the new node. You have an opportunity to type in new offset values to modify the location of the new nodeICON: [[File:skin_tool_tn.png]]
{{Note|Inserting new nodes on faces allows you to increase the mesh resolution locally at certain selected cells. Inserting new nodes on edges allows you to expand a polymesh object outward from its boundaries.}}MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Skin'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+K'''
[[FileFUNCTION:polymesh2_tn.png|400px]] [[File:polymesh3_tn.png|400px]]Creates a transition (skin) among two or more planar surface objects
Selecting a node of a polymesh object and editing its coordinates.TO SKIN PLANAR SURFACE OBJECTS:
[[File:polymesh4_tn# Activate the '''Skin Tool'''.png|400px]] [[File:polymesh5_tn# Click on the planar surface object(s) you want to skin one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.png|400px]]# A new solid object is created in the project workspace. Note that the original surface objects are not deleted as a result of this operation.
Selecting a face of a polymesh object and inserting a new node at the face centroid.
[[File:polymesh6_tnOn occasion, the resulting solid object created from the skin operation may be twisted at the center.png|400px]] [[File:polymesh7_tnYou can use the '''Left Arrow Key''' or '''Right Arrow Key''' to untwist (or twist) the transition by cycle the surface objectsâ node order clockwise or counter-clockwise. You can also use the '''Up Arrow Key''' or '''Down Arrow Key''' to reverse the selected objectâs node order.png|400px]]
Selecting an edge of a polymesh object and inserting a new node at the edge midpoint.
==Consolidate Tool==SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:
[[File:consolidate_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Consolidate'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTPYTHON COMMAND: None
FUNCTION: Converts open polymesh objects to generic [[Surface Objects|surface objects]] and converts closed polymesh objects to generic [[Solid Objects|solid objects]]
TO CONSOLIDATE AN OBJECT SELECTION[[File:cad_manual-65_tn.png|720px|skinning process]]
# Activate the '''Consolidate Tool'''.# Click on the polymesh object(s) you want to consolidate one by one NOTE how X and press Y LCS coordinates of the '''Enter Key''' when doneabove two planes are at right angles to each other. # Generic surface If the LCS orientation of solid versions each profile are not properly aligned, twisting of the selected polymesh objects appear in skinned surface will occur. You can enable on-screen LCS (local coordinates) feedback for each object via the project workspaceView menu.
Example 1: Skinning Multiple Profiles
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can also use # Make sure all profiles are de-selected then select the Consolidate Skin Tool from the CAD toolbar (A and B).# Left click the first profile (C).# Left click the next profile (D).# Continue to convert Boolean objects left click on each successive profile you want to generic surface or skin between.# After clicking on the final profile, press ENTER to complete the skinning operation (E). [[Solid ObjectsFile:cad_manual-66_tn.png|solid objects720px|skin profiles 1]] [[File:cad_manual-67_tn. In that casepng|720px|skin profiles 2]] ==Slice Tool== ICON: [[File:slice_tool_tn.png]]  MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Slice''' KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+S''' FUNCTION: Splits one or more selected objects into two parts along a specified slice plane  TO SLICE AN OBJECT SELECTION: # Activate the '''Slice Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to slice one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done. # Next, you will lose access have to establish the properties slice plane. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the first anchor of the individual constituents slice plane. By default, the slice plane is perpendicular to the current work plane. # As you drag the mouse around, a ghost of the slice plane will appear rotating about the anchor point. Left-click a second point in the project workspace to fix the slice plane. # The original Boolean selected objects are not replaced with sliced objects.   As a result of the slice operation, solids are sliced into smaller generic solid objects, surfaces are sliced into smaller generic surface objects and curves are sliced into smaller generic curve objects.   SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can define the slice plane alternatively using three snap points of the objectto be sliced. Once the Slice Tool is enabled, click on three snap points of the selected object one by one to form the three-point slice plane.
PYTHON COMMAND: consolidateslice(object,x0,y0,z0,uX,uY,uZ)  <b>Trimming Objects</b>  You have the option to keep only one of the two split parts resulting from a slice operation if you wish so. While dragging the slice plane, if you hold the keyboard's '''Ctrl Key''' down at the time of the left mouse click, the part on the positive side of the slice plane is preserved and the other part is discarded. If you hold the keyboard's '''Alt Key''' down at the time of the left mouse click, the part on the negative side of the slice plane is preserved and the other part is discarded. Trimming a Cube <table><tr><td> [[Image:slice4_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the first point of the slice plane on the edges of a box object.]] </td><td></td><td> [[Image:slice5_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the second point of the slice plane on the edges of a box object.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:Slice5_tnB_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the third point of the slice plane on the edges of a box object.]] </td><td></td><td> [[Image:slice6_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Seleting the sliced portion.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:Slice6_tn_new_end.png|thumb|300px|Deleting the sliced portion.]] </td><td></td><td></td></tr></table> Trimming a Circle Strip <table><tr><td> [[Image:slice7_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the first point of the slice line on the edges of a circle strip object.]] </td><td></td><td> [[Image:Slice7_tnB_New.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the second point of the slice line on the edges of a circle strip object.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:slice8_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the sliced portion.]] </td><td></td><td> [[Image:Slice8_tn_new_end.png|thumb|300px|Deleting the sliced portion.]] </td></tr></table> Trimming a Spiral Object <table><tr><td> [[Image:slice9_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the first point of the slice plane.]] </td><td></td><td> [[Image:Slice9_tnB_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the second point of the slice plane.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:Slice9_tnB_new_highlight.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the sliced portion.]] </td><td></td><td> [[Image:Slice9_tnB_new_end.png|thumb|300px|Deleting the sliced portion.]] </td></tr></table>
==Spline Tool==
ICON: [[File:spline_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Spline Fit'''
MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Spline Fit'''Â KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None'''Shift+N'''
FUNCTION: Creates smooth cubic-spline interpolated versions of one or more discretized (polystrip, polyline or polymesh) objects
A surface polymesh object (left) and its spline-fitted version (right).
==Strip-Sweep Tool==
<p> </p>ICON: [[ImageFile:Top_iconstrip_tool_tn.png|48px]] '''[[#Operational Modes of CubeCAD Tools| Back to the Top of the Page]]'''
[[ImageMENU:Back_icon.png|40px]] '''[[CubeCAD | Back to CubeCAD Main Page]]Tools → Transform → Strip-Sweep'''
==Roughen Tool==KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+T'''
[[FileFUNCTION:roughen_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Transform → Roughen'''Creates a flat surface object of a specified width from a curve object
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTTO STRIP-SWEEP CURVE OBJECT(S): None
FUNCTION: Converts # Activate the surface of an '''Strip-Sweep Tool'''.# Click on the curve object into a random rough surface you want to strip-sweep. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can modify the strip width.
TO ROUGHEN AN OBJECT SELECTION:
# Activate the '''Roughen Tool'''SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You cannot strip-sweep a polyline object because of its sharp corners.# Click on However, you can first turn the polyline into a smoother curve object(s) you want to roughen one by one and press using the '''Enter Key''' when done.# The Rough Surface Dialog opens up on the lower right corner of the screen. Enter values for the RMS height Fillet Tool and correlation length of the rough surface. # Click the OK button of the dialog to close then strip-sweep it and complete the transformation.
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSPYTHON COMMAND: The Roughen Tool doesn't work with [[Curve Objects|curve objects]]. strip_sweep(object,width)
PYTHON COMMAND<table><tr><td> [[Image: roughen(label,strip-tool_tn_new.png|thumb|720px|Using strip-sweep tool to turn a spiral curve into a surface object,rms_height,corel_Length).]] </td></tr></table>
==Subtract Tool==
==Random Group Tool==ICON: [[File:subtract_tool_tn.png]]
[[FileMENU:random_group_tool_tn.png]] '''Menu → Tools → Basic → Random GroupSubtract'''
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None'''D'''
FUNCTION: Creates random clones of a specified key Subtracts one or more objects from another object with random locations and random orientations but confined into in the volume of a container object Boolean sense
TO CREATE A RONDOM GROUPSUBTRACT FROM AN OBJECT:
# Activate the '''Random Group Subtract Tool'''.# Click on the object you want to clone (key object) subtract from and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# The Rough Surface Dialog opens up Click on the lower right corner of object(s) you want to subtract from the previously selected object one by one and press the screen. The '''ContainerEnter Key''' dropdown list displays a list of all when done.# All the [[Solid Objects|solid original selected objects]] In the project workspace. Select the desired container are replaced with a new Boolean object from the list.# The with a new default number of the elements is 100. Change it to any desired number. # Click the OK button of the dialog to close it and complete the group creationname.
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONSPYTHON COMMAND: Only a solid object can act as a container for a random group. subtract(label,object_1,object_2)
<table><tr><td> [[Image:Cad_manual-49_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|(Left) Two overlapping boxes and (Right) the result of their Boolean subtraction after subtracting the gray box from the blue one.]] </td></tr></table> ==Translate Tool== ICON: [[File:move_tool_tn.png]]  MENU: '''Tools → Basic → Translate''' KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''T''' FUNCTION: Moves one or more objects to a different location by a specified translation vector TO TRANSLATE AN OBJECT SELECTION: # Activate the '''Translate Tool'''.# Click on the object(s) you want to translate one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# Next, you have to establish the translation vector. Left-click on a point in the project workspace to specify the start of the vector. # Drag the mouse to draw a ghost of the translation vector in the desired direction. Left-click a second point to specify the end of the vector. # The object selection is translated by the specified vector. # A dialog pops up on the lower right corner of the screen where you can fine-tune or modify the translation vector before finalizing the translate operation.# Using the Translate Dialog, you can also simply type in the final destination coordinates for the object selection.   PYTHON COMMAND(S): random_group translate_by(labelobject,key_objectdx,container_objectdy,element_countdz) translate_to(object,x0,y0,z0) <table><tr><td> [[Image:translate1_tn_new.png|thumb|540px|Translating an object seletion at the same time.]] </td></tr></table> <b>Moving Objects Around Using Snap Points</b> The simplest and quickest way to move an object is to hover your mouse over a snap point of the object to highlight it. Then type the keyboard shortcut '''T'''. The cursor latches to the selected snap point and the Translate Dialog pops up at the lower right corner of the screen. Without clicking the mouse, begin to drag the object in the project workspace. A ghost of the object starts to move around. Click the left mouse button at the desired location to drop the object. You can fine-tune the final destination using the Translate Dialog.  <b>Constrained Translation</b> When you use a snap point to translate an object, you can use the keyboard's '''Alt''' and '''Shift''' keys to constrain the object move in certain directions. The type of constraint depends on which snap point you pick to translate the object. The following rules apply: * With a face snap point selected, you can constrain translate to the direction normal to that face only by holding the '''Alt Key''' down during dragging. You can also constrain translate to the plane of that face only by holding the '''Shift Key''' down during dragging.* With an edge snap point selected, you can constrain translate to the line along that edge only by holding the '''Shift Key''' down during dragging. You can also constrain translate to the line normal to that edge only by holding the '''Alt Key''' down during dragging.* With a vertex snap point selected, you can constrain translate to the lines along the two edges passing through that vertex only by holding the '''shift Key''' or '''Alt Key''' down during dragging. <table><tr><td> [[Image:consttranslate1_tn_new.png|thumb|400px|Translating a box from a face snap point while holding the Alt Key down.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:consttranslate2_tn_new.png|thumb|400px|Translating a box from an edge snap point while holding the shift Key down.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:consttranslate3_tn_new.png|thumb|400px|Translating a box from a vertex snap point while holding the shift Key down.]] </td></tr></table> ==Union Tool== ICON: [[File:union_tool_tn.png]]  MENU: '''Tools → Basic → Union''' KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''U''' FUNCTION: Forms a union of an object selection in the Boolean sense TO UNION AN OBJECT SELECTION: # Activate the '''Union Tool'''.# Click on the objects you want to union one by one and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.# The original object selection is replaced with a new Boolean object with a new default name.   PYTHON COMMAND: union(label,object_1,object_2) <table><tr><td> [[Image:cad_manual-50_tn_new.png|thumb|600px|(Left) Two overlapping boxes and (Right)the result of their Boolean union.]] </td></tr></table> <br />
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