Solid Utilities

Solid Booleans

Modify | Solid Booleans

Boolean is the name given to the method of combining or separating solids which intersect or are adjacent.

Examples of Solid Booleans are Add Solid, Subtract Solid and Intersect Solid. Some examples are shown below.

Add Solid

Modify | Solid Booleans | Add Solid

This 3D boolean function combines the volume of 2 or more intersecting or adjoining 3D solids. In the example below, all 3 parts have been combined into one unit using the Add Solid tool.

Three parts combined into one

[This tool is discussed and demonstrated in more detail here](3D Session 04_05.htm#Construc).

Subtract Solid

Modify | Solid Booleans | Subtract Solid

This 3D Boolean function creates a new solid object by subtracting the volume of a secondary object from an intersecting primary solid.

In the example below, the volume of the slots will be removed from the wheel. The wheel is referred to as the primary solid; the object from which the slots will be subtracted.

Slots created as extrusions subtracted from wheel solid

[This tool is discussed and demonstrated in more detail here](3D Session 06_02.htm#Subtract).

Solid Features

Modifications can be done to the surfaces and edges of solids using features such as Blend, Chamfer.

Modifications to the solid can be done using features such as Hole and Shell tools.

Some examples are shown below.

Blend Edge

Modify | Solid Feature | Blend Edge

The Blend Edge tool is used to create a transitional radial surface by defining a radius and setback value.

Material is either added to, or subtracted from the volume of the solid depending of the radius and setback values.

In the example below, the edges of the upright extrusions shown by the pointer are blended using the Blend Edge tool.

Edges of the extrusions blended using the Blend Edge tool

[This tool is discussed and demonstrated in more detail here](3D Session 04_03.htm#Blend).

Hole Feature

Modify | Solid Feature | Hole Feature

This tool allows the creation of a predefined hole which automatically subtracts the hole material from a solid.

This tool is useful for creating a hollow extrusion through a solid by penetrating the depth of the solid.

In the example below, the hole is being placed on the top surface of the solid. The hole depth will extrude completely through the solid.

Selecting the surface to place the hole center

The result is shown below.

Holes shown extruding through solid

[This tool is discussed and demonstrated in more detail here](3D Session 05_06.htm#Hole).

Wrap

Modify | Boolean Functions | Wrap

Placing text, company logos, or complex patterns onto 3D surfaces can be a daunting task. Especially if you need to preserve size and scale of the details from the 2D shape to the 3D surface.

The new Wrap tool introduced in V12 maps text or planar surfaces onto a 3D solid model. The results are perfect for imprinting, embossing, or engraving 2D shapes onto 3D surfaces.

Highlights of the wrap implementation:

Imprint

The imprint option takes the 2D wrapping surface and creates new regions on the resulting 3D surface. These new regions are used to apply color or textures, typically for visualization purposes.

For example, if you are designing a car and need to place a sponsor logo, the imprint may be just the tool you are looking for.

Emboss

The Emboss option takes the 2D wrapping surface, imprints regions onto a 3D surface, and then adds offset faces to the part.

Engrave

The Engrave option takes the 2D wrapping surfaces, imprints regions onto the 3D surfaces, and then subtracts offsets to the part.

For example, if you are designing a ring and want to place an inscription on the inside the ring, you would use the engrave option along with text.

Using the Engrave tool to wrap text on complex surface

Rib

SharkCAD Pro only

Modify | Solid Utilities | Rib

Ribs are thin-walled structures designed to brace or support an object.

The creation of a rib within a solid requires a rib profile, such as a line, and the direction of the rib structure defined by 2 points.

The direction of the rib structure will be perpendicular to the profile.

Shelled block with rib

In the example below a Block Primitive is drawn with a wall thickness of 2.

A line is drawn between the midpoints on the top face to represent the rib profile.

The part is selected, shown by point 1 below.

The rib profile – the line between the midpoints – is selected as the rib profile shown as point 2.

The direction of the rib is shown by points 3 and 4 below.

In the example below, a thicker rib has been created with a draft angle of 5. Modifications to the existing rib can be done by double-clicking onto the rib and updating the Thickness and Draft Angle in the object properties fields of the Inspector.

Surface Utilities

Project Curve to Plane

Modify | Surface Utilities | Project Curve to Plane

This surface utility tool projects curves drawn on a parallel plane directly onto the plane occupied by the WorkPlane.

If objects lie in a non-parallel plane to the WorkPlane, they will be rotated to create alignment to the WorkPlane.

In the example below, the WorkPlane has been offset from the base of the solid. The circles will be projected onto this plane.

Showing projection direction

Both selected circles can be projected onto the plane occupied by with WorkPlane, shown below.

Circles projected onto WorkPlane

[This tool is discussed and demonstrated in more detail here](3D Session 05_05.htm#Project).