<table><tr><td>[[image:Cube-icon.png | link=Getting_Started_with_EM.Cube]] [[image:cad-ico.png | link=Introductory NotesBuilding_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 />
===Operational Modes of CubeCAD Tools=Align Tool==
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 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.ICON: None
===Working with Generic Objects===MENU: '''Tools → Basic → Align'''
[[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]]'s generic objects have a limited number of parameters. They have three '''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.KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
===Working with Transform Objects===FUNCTION: Aligns one or more objects by the specified face(s) of their bounding box along the specified coordinate plane(s).
Many of CubeCAD operations and transformations result in the creation of either native objects like polylines and polystrips or in generic curve, surface or solid objects. Each of the following tools, however, creates a special "Transform Object"TO ALIGN AN OBJECT SELECTION:
# Group ToolSelect the object(s) to be aligned.# Array ToolSelect '''Basic → Align''' from '''Tools''' menu.# Subtract ToolThe Align dialog opens up. Check all the direction boxes for the alignment. # Union ToolFor each of the selected alignment directions, select the positive or negative face. # Intersect ToolFor each of the selected alignment directions, enter a value for the coordinate plane where you want to move the specified faces of the selected objects. # Extrude Tool# Loft Tool# Revolve Tool# Polymesh Tool# Random Group Tool# Roughen Tool Each transform SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: If two principal directions are checked for alignment, the object has a special property dialog(s) are effectively aligned by an edge. The Group tool and the If three Boolean operation toolsprincipal directions are checked for alignment, Subtract, Union and Intersect, have similar property dialogs and allow you to access their constituent objectsthe object(s) are effectively aligned by a vertex or node. The property dialog Note that while alignment of composite box or Boolean rectangle strip objects has a '''Member List''' containing the names is intuitive, alignment of all constituent other objects. You can highlight and select any member from this list and click is based on the '''Edit''' button faces of the dialog to open up its property dialog, where you can edit its propertiestheir bounding boxes and may not be as intuitive. Â Â PYTHON COMMAND(S):
The property dialog of Extrusion, Loft, Revolution, Polymesh and Rough objects has an '''Edit Primitive''' button, which lets you access the property dialog of the original object used for the generation of the selected transform object. After you finish editing the primitive align(object, you will return to the property dialog of the transform object. Array and Random Group objects are arrangements of clones of an original key object. In these casesdir, the '''Edit Primitive''' button opens up the property dialog of the key element.coord_value)
==Angle Tool==
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<td> [[Image:array_tool_6.png|thumb|left|640px|Creating 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>
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* 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.
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.
Example 1: Bridging Two Horizontal Surfaces [[File:Cad_manual-69_surfaces.png|600px|bridge a]] Example 2: Bridging Multiple Lines
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.
[[File:cad_manual-69_tn.jpgpng|600px|bridge a]]
[[File:cad_manual-70_tn.jpgpng|600px|bridge]]
==Consolidate Tool==
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+C'''
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:
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can also use the Consolidate Tool to convert Boolean objects to generic surface or [[Solid Objects|solid objects]]. In that case, you will lose access to the properties of the individual constituents of the original Boolean object.
PYTHON COMMAND: consolidate(object)
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==Convert To Box==
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ICON: None
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MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Convert → Box'''
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KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
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FUNCTION: Replaces any selected object with its bounding box
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TO CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTION TO BOX:
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# Select the object(s) to be converted.
# Select '''Transform → Convert → Box''' from '''Tools''' menu.
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PYTHON COMMAND: convert_box(object)
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==Convert To Line==
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ICON: None
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MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Convert → Line'''
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KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
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FUNCTION: Replaces any selected object with a line object connecting the minimum and maximum vertices of its bounding box
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TO CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTION TO LINE:
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# Select the object(s) to be converted.
# Select '''Transform → Convert → Line''' from '''Tools''' menu.
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PYTHON COMMAND: convert_line(object)
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==Convert To Point==
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ICON: None
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MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Convert → Point'''
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KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
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FUNCTION: Replaces any selected object with a point object located at the center of its bounding box
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TO CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTION TO POINT:
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# Select the object(s) to be converted.
# Select '''Transform → Convert → Point''' from '''Tools''' menu.
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PYTHON COMMAND: convert_point(object)
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==Convert To Rectangle Strip==
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ICON: None
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MENU: '''Tools → Transform → Convert → Rectangle Strip'''
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KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: None
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FUNCTION: Replaces any selected planar object with its bounding rectangle
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TO CONVERT AN OBJECT SELECTION TO RECTANGLE STRIP:
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# Select the object(s) to be converted.
# Select '''Transform → Convert → Rectangle Strip''' from '''Tools''' menu.
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PYTHON COMMAND: convert_rect(object)
==Distance Tool==
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:cad_manual-73_tn_new.png|thumb|600px720px|A pyramid object exploded into its constituent faces. One face has been selected and subsequently removed.]] </td></tr></table> ==Extents Tool== ICON: [[File:info_tool_tn.png]]  MENU: '''Tools → Measure → Extents''' KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+E''' FUNCTION: Measures the length, surface area or volume of a geometric object  TO MEASURE THE EXTENTS OF AN OBJECT: # Activate the '''Extents 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.   SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can compute the extents of several objects successively.  PYTHON COMMAND: get_length(object) get_area(object) get_volume(object) <table><tr><td> [[Image:Extents1_new.png|thumb|400px|Measuring the surface area and volume of a solid object.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:Extents2_new.png|thumb|400px|Measuring the length of a curve object.]] </td>
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</table>
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+F'''
FUNCTION: Creates a planar surface object from a closed curve object or from a set of [[Curve Objects|curve objects]] that together form a closed region
TO FILL CURVE OBJECT(S):
# 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 selected [[Curve Objects|curve selectedcurve objects]].
KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+L'''
FUNCTION: Adds rounded bevels to hard-angled corners of one or more surface or [[Curve Objects|curve objects]]
TO FILLET AN OBJECT:
# 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.
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SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS:
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PYTHON COMMAND: fillet(object,radius)
<table>
<tr>
<td>
[[File:Fillet_tn.png|thumb|left|720px|The fillet tool.]]
</td>
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==Geometric Analysis Tool== ICON: [[File:fillet_tnExtends_tool_tn.jpgpng]]  MENU: '''Tools → Measure → Geometric Analysis''' KEYBOARD SHORTCUT: '''Shift+E''' FUNCTION: Measures the length, surface area or volume of a geometric object  TO PERFORM GEOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND MEASURE THE EXTENTS OF AN OBJECT: # 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.   SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You can compute the extents of several objects successively.  PYTHON COMMAND: get_length(object) get_area(object) get_volume(object) <table><tr><td> [[Image:Extents1_new.png|filletthumb|550px|Measuring the surface area and volume of a solid object.]] </td></tr><tr><td> [[Image:Extents2_new.png|thumb|550px|Measuring the length of a curve object.]]</td></tr></table>
==Group Tool==
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]]
==Merge Tool==
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: You cannot polygonize [[Solid Objects|solid objects]].
# Activate the '''Random Group Tool'''.
# Click on the object you want to clone (key object) and press the '''Enter Key''' when done.
# 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|solid objects]] . In the project workspace. Select the 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.
[[File:cad_manual-56_tn.jpgpng|600px|revolve process]]
In this example, a rectangular plane has been revolved by using a pre-drawn line as the axial reference.
Example 1: Revolving Polygon Planes
This example illustrates revolving the face of a cylinder triangular plane about the axis of a pyramid"s edgepre-drawn line as the axial reference.
[[File:cad_manual-57_tn.jpgpng|600px|revolve sample 1]]
Example 2: Complex Planar Revolutions
This example illustrates an extremely complex face revolved about the axis of a line.
[[File:cad_manual-58_tn.jpgpng|600px|revolve sample 2]]
Example 3: Unusual Revolutions
This example illustrates the face of a cylinder revolved about the axis of a pyramid"s edge.
[[File:cad_manual-59_tn.jpgpng|600px|revolve sample 3]]
Example 4: Partial Revolutions
This example illustrates the results of specifying a partial Rotation Angle.
[[File:cad_manual-60_tn.jpgpng|600px|revolve sample 4]]
==Rotate Tool==
SPECIAL CASES OR EXCEPTIONS: The Roughen Tool doesn't work with [[Curve Objects|curve objects]].
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:scale3_tn_new.png|thumb|320px720px|Constrained scaling of a box along an edge.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:scale4_tn_new.png|thumb|320px720px|Constrained scaling of a box normal to an edge.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
[[File:cad_manual-65_tn.jpgpng|720px|skinning process]]
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 on-screen LCS (local coordinates) feedback for each object via the View menu.
# After clicking on the final profile, press ENTER to complete the skinning operation (E).
[[File:cad_manual-66_tn.jpgpng|720px|skin profiles 1]]
[[File:cad_manual-67_tn.jpgpng|720px|skin profiles 2]]
==Slice Tool==
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]].
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.
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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>
</trtd><tr/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_newSlice6_tn_new_end.png|thumb|300px|Deleting the sliced portion.]] </td><td></td><td></td>
</tr>
</table>
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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:Slice7_tnB_Newslice8_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the first point of the slice line on the edges of a circle strip objectsliced portion.]] </td></trtd><tr/td><td> [[Image:slice8_tn_newSlice8_tn_new_end.png|thumb|300px|Deleting the sliced portion.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
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Trimming a Spiral Object
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:slice9_tn_new.png|thumb|300px|Selecting the split first point on a curve objectof 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_newSlice9_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>
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:strip-tool_tn_new.png|thumb|600px720px|Using strip-sweep tool to turn a spiral curve into a surface object.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:consttranslate1_tn_new.png|thumb|320px400px|Translating a box from a face snap point while holding the Alt Key down.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:consttranslate2_tn_new.png|thumb|320px400px|Translating a box from an edge snap point while holding the shift Key down.]] </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:consttranslate3_tn_new.png|thumb|320px400px|Translating a box from a vertex snap point while holding the shift Key down.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
<table>
<tr>
<td> [[Image:cad_manual-50_tn_new.png|thumb|540px600px|(Left) Two overlapping boxes and (Right) the result of their Boolean union.]] </td>
</tr>
</table>
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