Extrude Cut

Introduction

This topic will explain the Extrude Cut function, will explain whereto find the function, and explain the options found in it.This topicwill also give a brief description of Dynamic Drawing, the Snap Incrementfunction, explain creation with quick steps and an example, and provide links to relatedtopics.

The Extrude Cut Function

The Extrude Cut function removes material from solid bodies by extrudingclosed wireframe chains or planar surface geometry to the specified distanceand subtracts the result from any intersecting solid or surface bodies.When using a surface, the software automatically extracts the edges ofthe surface to use for the cut.

Important: By default, ExtrudeCut is applied to all intersecting bodies in the file, unless they are hidden using the Blank function in the document toolbar, or the Selected Bodies option is used to specify the bodies to interact with.Without the Selected Bodies option, hiding a layer does not excludethe entities on that layer from being affected by the Extrude Cut.

Dynamic Drawing

This function supports Dynamic Drawing which allows you to use a combination of sketching and data entry to create the entities. Prior to confirming the desired result in the function, an adjustable preview is visible. These previews can be modified using the sketch handles, data entry, or a combination of both. The benefit of Dynamic Drawing is that you can quickly place and adjust the size to get the approximate result, and then use data entry to update to the exact dimensions, and coordinate values as needed.

 

Preview with Sketch Handles	Final Entities

 

In the images above, we see the preview of entities which can be adjust with sketch handles, followed by those same entities after they are finalized.

Snap Increment

This function support the use of the snap increment when selecting the location of the entities. The snap increment allows you to get precise results when using mouse selection and helps to reduce data entry modifications.

 

To learn more, view Snap Increment.

Navigation

To open Extrude Boss:

• In the Extrude group, of the Create 3D tab, click Extrude Cut.

The parameters display in theData Entry Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

Selected Geometry

	(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the Selected Geometry list. (Delete All) - removes all entities from the Selected Geometry list.
The list will display all entities currently selected for the function.

Scope

 

• All Bodies - With this option selected, all intersecting solid bodies not set to a Blank state will be affected by this feature. This includes bodies on layers set to a hidden state.
  
  

• Selected Bodies - With this option selected, only those intersecting solid bodies added to the selected geometry list below will be affected by this feature.

 

Selected Geometry

	(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list. (Delete All)- removes all entities from the list.
This list box will show the entities currently selected for the function.

• OK - finalizes the function.
  
  
• Cancel - exits the function.

Quick Steps - Extrude Cut

Start		Finish

1. Open the function and define all Data Entryparameters.
   
   

2. Select geometry in the graphics area.
   
   This can sometimes be made easier by pressing Sto turn off the shaded view, as seen below.
   
   
   
   The geometry can be closed wireframe chains, surface edges, or planarsurface geometry.When using a surface, the software automaticallyextracts the edges of the surface to use for the boss.
   
   With geometry selected, the preview appears.
   
   
   
   

3. Use the dynamic sketch handles, with or without snapincrement, and/or data entry to update the CAD preview as needed.
   
   
   
   

4. Leave the Scope set to All Bodies, and click OK to confirm.
   
   
   
   The feature is added to the CAD Tree.
   
   

5. Click Cancelto close the function.

Example

A BobCAD file installed with the software can be opened to follow alongwith this example.

In the example file, Extrude Cut is used to cut a hole through the centerof a solid flange.

Part 1) Open the Example File

1. In the Quick Access Toolbar, click Open.
   
   

2. Navigate to: C:\BobCAD-CAMData\BobCAD-CAM V**\Examples, and select ExtrudeCut Example.bbcd.
   
   

3. With ExtrudeCut Example.bbcd displaying in the FileName box, click Open.

Part 2) Open Extrude Cut

To open Extrude Cut:

• In the Extrude group, of the Create 3D tab, click Extrude Cut.

The parameters display in theData Entry Manager.

Part 3) Create an Extruded Cut

When using Extrude Cut, you can select closed wireframe chains or planarsurface geometry.For this example, we select a wireframe chain and thenexplore Dynamic Drawing to define the extrusion direction and distancefrom the chain.

1. Press S,or select Shaded from the document toolbar.
   
   The Shading is removed from the model.
   
   
   
   

2. Under the graphics area, change the valueof the (SnapIncrement) to 0.2500.
   
   This allows us to sketch CAD sizes and depths in increments of 0.2500.
   
   

3. For this example, we select the geometryfirst before defining the Data Entry parameters.This way we can createthe CAD preview and explore Dynamic Drawing.
   
   In the graphics area, hover over the circle, as seen in the image below.
   
   
   
   

4. Click the arc to add it to the SelectedGeometry list.
   
   The Preview appears.
   
   

Note: Noticethat by default the circle is extruded one unit in the positive direction.For any Extrude function, you can specify the extrude distance in eitheror both directions from the selected geometry.You can also apply a DraftAngle to either or both directions.

5. To show how Dynamic Drawing works, hover over the sketch handleas seen in the image below.
   
   
   
   

6. Click the sketch handle to activate it.
   
   The sketch handle highlights and the preview moves down based on thenext snap increment.
   

Note: When asketch handle is activated, the CAD preview changes to a wireframe displayuntil you place the sketch handle.Move the handle down and notice itdoes not move smoothly, but jumps by an incremental amount.This is thesnap increment amount that has been set.Notice too, that the Other DirectionDistance is updating as the sketch handle is being moved.

7. Move the sketch handle so that the OtherDirection Distance is set to 3.0000.
   
   
   
   

8. Click to set the sketch handle.
   
   The Preview updates.
   
   
   
   

9. To perform the Extrude Cut, leave the Scope set to All Bodies, and click OK.
   
   The Extrude Boss is created in the graphics area and another ExtrudeCut feature is created in the CADTree.
   
   
   
   

10. Press S, or select Shaded from the document toolbar.
    
    The Shading appears on the model.
    
    
    
    

11. To close the Data Entry Manager, click Cancel.

The process of creating an Extrude Cut iscomplete.The rest of this example provides some important usage tips.

Part 4) Excluding Solids from Extrude Cut

It is important to understand when using the All Bodies option is that any solid body in the file that intersectsthe extruded shape is included in the Extrude Cut result.This appliesto all visible or hidden solids unlessthey are hidden using the Blank command, found in the document toolbar.When set to All Bodies, hiding a CAD layerdoes not exclude the solids onthat layer.

1. In the LayerManager, click the Layers tab if it isn't alreadyselected.
   
   

2. In the Layers Manager, right-click the layername Flange Copy, and clickShow.
   
   If needed, rotate the view to see that the second flange was also cut,even though it was on a hidden CAD layer.

If the second flange was hidden using Blank,it would not have been included in the Extrude Cut.

Tip: Afterhiding a solid using Blank in order to exclude it from an Extrude Cut,or Boss and then showing the solid using Unblank, if the CAD Tree is rebuilt,that solid will then be included in the Extrude Cut result.If this createsa problem, you can use Solid Subtract instead of Extrude Cut.

For this example we didn't want to cut thesecond flange.This problem is easily resolved by editing the ExtrudeCut feature.

Part 5) The CAD Tree

One CAD feature is added to the CAD Tree each time you perform ExtrudeCut.The feature in the CAD Tree provides many tools for editing, suppressing,renaming the feature, and more as explained in the CADTree.

After closing the Data Entry Manager, the CAD Tree automatically displays.You can also click the in the CAD Tree Manager to access the CAD Tree.

1. Notice the ExtrudeCut feature at the bottom of the CAD Tree.
   
   Double-click Extrude Cut to edit it.
   
   The CAD preview displays, and the Extrude Cut Parameters open in theData Entry Manager.
   
   
   
   

2. In the Scope section, select Selected Bodies.
   
   The Selected Geometry list appears.
   
   

3. Select the intended body.
   
   
   
   The body is added to the Selected Geometry list.
   
   

4. To finish editing the feature, click OK.
   
   
   
   The feature is updated with the copy begin excluded from the Extrude Cut feature.

This concludes the example.

Related Topics

TheCAD Overview