Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
As indicated near the bottom of Table 11-1, AutoCAD has an EXPLODE com-
mand. As with all things explosive, approach this command with caution.
EXPLODE breaks up complex objects into AutoCAD primitives. Most of the time,
those complex objects are created that way for a reason. The things you can ex-
plode (but shouldn't unless you have a really,
really
good reason) include poly-
lines, blocks, 3D solids, associative arrays, tables, and multiline text. And even
though AutoCAD will let you, you should never,
ever
explode dimensions or lead-
ers.
Fillet and Chamfer and Blend
Whereas TRIM, EXTEND, and BREAK alter one object at a time, the FILLET and
CHAMFER commands modify a pair of objects. As Figure 11-8 shows, FILLET creates a
curved corner between two lines, whereas CHAMFER creates a beveled corner. (In case
you wondered, it's pronounced
FILL-et,
not
fill-AY.
Saying that you know how to
fill-AY
may get you a job in a butcher shop, but it will get you strange looks in a design office.)
Figure 11-8:
Cleaning up those corners with FILLET and CHAMFER.
FILLET and CHAMFER now show a preview of the results of the operation as
soon as you select the objects to modify. In earlier releases, you had to actually
finish the fillet or chamfer, and if it didn't look right, you had to undo and start
again. In AutoCAD 2012, if the fillet radius or the chamfer distances don't look
right in the preview, you can change their values before completing the command.
The following steps describe how to use the FILLET command. The CHAMFER command
works similarly except that, instead of specifying a fillet radius, you specify either two
chamfer distances or a chamfer length and angle.
