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Glossary of EM.Cube's CAD Tools

76 bytes added, 21:39, 7 July 2016
[[File:cad_manual-46_tn.jpg|Array Process 1]]
 
==General Rules of Boolean CAD Operations==
 
Boolean operations are used to combine different objects and create new ones. [[EM.Cube]] offers three Boolean operations:
 
* Subtraction
* Union
* Intersection
 
Boolean operations work only with surface and [[Solid Objects|solid objects]]. In other words, they cannot apply to [[Curve Objects|curve objects]].
As a general rule of thumb, you can union any two or more objects of the same type. In other words, you can union two or more solids to obtain another solid. You can union two or more [[Surface Objects|surface objects]] (planar or nonplanar) to obtain another [[Surface Objects|surface objects]]. You can also union two [[Curve Objects|curve objects]] under certain circumstances, although a better way to do this is to use the '''Merge Curve Tool''' Unioning two object that do not overlap each other physically is similar to grouping them into a composite object. You can subtract solids from a solid or subtract surfaces from a surface object. Similarly, your intersect solids with other or intersect surfaces with each other.
 
{{Note|Mixing solid CAD objects and surface CAD objects in Boolean operations may result in an undesirable outcome.}}
 
When two or more objects undergo a Boolean operation, a new Boolean object is created by default. The new Boolean object provides access to the properties of the individual constituent objects for further editing. This is a convenient feature that can effectively be used in many applications. The property dialog of Boolean objects shows the overall dimensions of the object in grayed out boxes that cannot be edited. The property dialog also has a list of all the constituent objects. These behave similar to the parent objects of linked objects. To edit the properties of a constituent, select its name in the '''Object List''', which highlights the actual object in the Project Workspace in the current selection color. Then, click the '''Edit''' button of the dialog to open up the property dialog of the selected constituent object. At this time, [[EM.Cube|EM.CUBE]] activates the object edit modes with red edit handles appearing on the surface of the selected constituent object. Edit the object either with the mouse using the edit handles or through the property dialog using the spin buttons and typing in new values for the object [[parameters]]. After the editing is finished, save the changes in the second property dialog and do the same for the first property dialog belonging to the Boolean object.
 
[[File:bool1_tn.png|500px]]
 
A Boolean object resulting from union of two cylinder. The cylinder on the right is selected for further editing.
 
[[File:bool2_tn.png|500px]]
 
Through the property dialog of the selected cylinder, its height and radius are changed.
 
[[File:bool3_tn.png]]
 
The Boolean object after editing one of its constituents.
 
Sometimes, you may prefer to get a simple solid or surface object after a Boolean operation. [[EM.Cube|EM.CUBE]] offers the option to create generic solids or surfaces at the end of a Boolean operation. To enable this option, open the '''Preferences Dialog''' from '''Edit Menu''' or using the keyboard shortcut '''Ctrl+H'''. In the '''Objects''' tab of this dialog remove the check mark from the box labeled "Create Boolean Objects after Boolean Operations".
==Subtract Tool==
Two overlapping boxes (left) and the intersected result (right).
 
==Creating Boolean Objects==
 
Boolean operations are used to combine different object and create new ones. [[EM.Cube]] offers three Boolean operations:
 
* Subtraction
* Union
* Intersection
 
Boolean operations in [[EM.Cube]] have some limitations due to certain CAD complications. As a general rule of thumb, you can union any two or more objects of the same type. In other words, you can union two or more solids to obtain another solid. You can union two or more [[Surface Objects|surface objects]] (planar or nonplanar) to obtain another [[Surface Objects|surface objects]]. You can also union two [[Curve Objects|curve objects]] under certain circumstances, although a better way to do this is to use the '''Merge Curve Tool''' Unioning two object that do not overlap each other physically is similar to grouping them into a composite object. You can subtract solids from a solid or subtract surfaces from a surface object. Similarly, your intersect solids with other or intersect surfaces with each other.
 
{{Note|Mixing solid CAD objects and surface CAD objects in Boolean operations may result in an undesirable outcome.}}
 
When two or more objects undergo a Boolean operation, a new Boolean object is created by default. The new Boolean object provides access to the properties of the individual constituent objects for further editing. This is a convenient feature that can effectively be used in many applications. The property dialog of Boolean objects shows the overall dimensions of the object in grayed out boxes that cannot be edited. The property dialog also has a list of all the constituent objects. These behave similar to the parent objects of linked objects. To edit the properties of a constituent, select its name in the '''Object List''', which highlights the actual object in the Project Workspace in the current selection color. Then, click the '''Edit''' button of the dialog to open up the property dialog of the selected constituent object. At this time, [[EM.Cube|EM.CUBE]] activates the object edit modes with red edit handles appearing on the surface of the selected constituent object. Edit the object either with the mouse using the edit handles or through the property dialog using the spin buttons and typing in new values for the object [[parameters]]. After the editing is finished, save the changes in the second property dialog and do the same for the first property dialog belonging to the Boolean object.
 
[[File:bool1_tn.png|500px]]
 
A Boolean object resulting from union of two cylinder. The cylinder on the right is selected for further editing.
 
[[File:bool2_tn.png|500px]]
 
Through the property dialog of the selected cylinder, its height and radius are changed.
 
[[File:bool3_tn.png]]
 
The Boolean object after editing one of its constituents.
 
Sometimes, you may prefer to get a simple solid or surface object after a Boolean operation. [[EM.Cube|EM.CUBE]] offers the option to create generic solids or surfaces at the end of a Boolean operation. To enable this option, open the '''Preferences Dialog''' from '''Edit Menu''' or using the keyboard shortcut '''Ctrl+H'''. In the '''Objects''' tab of this dialog remove the check mark from the box labeled "Create Boolean Objects after Boolean Operations".
==Explode Tool==
Kazem Sabet
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