Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
USING SPLIT MESH FACE AND ADD CREASE TOGETHER
In a “usability study” conducted by Autodesk, the product designers gave an example of how to
add a crease to the top surface of a computer mouse model. In that example, the Add Crease tool
and the Split Face tool were used together. First, a new edge was created using the Split Face
tool, and then the Add Crease tool was applied to the newly created edge to form the crease. Using
these two tools together in this way, you can add a crease just about anywhere on a mesh.
Creating Complex Meshes
So far, you've been working with mesh volumes, but the Mesh submenu on the Draw menu
offers four tools that let you create a variety of complex meshes. These are the
revolved
,
edge
,
ruled
, and
tabulated
surfaces
. They are the latest incarnation of some of the earliest 3D tools
offered by AutoCAD, and they work exactly like the old features they replace. But just like the
mesh volumes you've been working with, the mesh surfaces can be quickly smoothed, and their
subobjects can be edited using the gizmos you learned about in this and earlier chapters. The
following sections give a little more detail about these tools and how they are used.
The following instructions are for your reference only and you are not required to do them
as exercises. But if you like, you can try them out on the SurfaceMeshSamples.dwg file provided
with the sample drawings for this chapter located on the topic's companion website.
Revolved Mesh
To create a revolved mesh, you need a profile to revolve and a line that acts as an axis of revolu-
tion (see Figure 23.27). The profile can be any object, but a polyline or spline is usually used.
FIGURE 23.27
The Revolved Sur-
face tool
Click this first.
Click this second.
Result of Resolved Surface
