20 - Tutorial: Blocks - Mechanical Part

To download the tutorial model

1. On the Rhino Help menu, click Learn Rhino, and then click Tutorials and Samples.

2. In the Tutorials panel, under User's Guide, double-click the tutorial model file Toolblock.3dm.

Set up the layers

• In the Layers panel, confirm that the Profile-01 layer is current.

Extrude the profile curve

1. On the Solid menu, click Extrude Planar Curve > Straight.

2. Turn on the End object snap.

3. At the Select curves to Extrude prompt, select the blue profile curve, and press Enter.

   

4. At the Extrusion distance prompt, set the command-line options Solid=Yes and DeleteInput=No.

5. Snap to the end of the magenta construction line, and click.

   
   The extruded shape is a solid because it forms a closed volume in space.

Hide the solid

• Select the solid, on the Edit menu click Visibility > Hide.

Set up the layers

• In the Layers panel, make layer Profile-02 current.

Extrude the profile curve

1. Select the red profile curve.

   

2. On the Solid menu, click Extrude Planar Curve > Straight.

3. At the Select curves to Extrude prompt, set the command-line options Solid=Yes and DeleteInput=No.

4. At the Extrusion distance prompt, in the Front viewport, drag the extrusion above the height of the blue curve and click.

   

   The solid appears on the current red layer Profile-02.

   

Show the solid

• On the Edit menu click Visibility > Show.
  

Boolean the two solids

1. On the Solid menu, click Difference.

2. At the Select surfaces or polysurfaces to subtract from prompt, select the blue solid, and press Enter.

3. At the Select surfaces or polysurfaces to subtract with prompt, set the command-line DeleteInput=Yes.

4. Select the red solid, and press Enter.

   The result will be a new solid or polysurface. A polysurface is a collection of surfaces that can be closed or open. A solid is a collection of surfaces that are closed.

   

Make holes in the solid

1. Select the blue circle as shown in the illustration below.

   

2. On the Solid menu click Solid Edit Tools > Holes > Make Hole.

3. At the Select a surface or polysurface prompt, select the gray polysurface.

4. At the Depth point... prompt, drag the hole through the upper portion of the object.

   

5. Pick a point in the Right view.

   

Copy the holes

1. In the Osnap control, turn on the Point object snap.

2. On the Solid menu, click Solid Edit Tools > Holes > Copy Hole.

3. At the Select holes in one planar surface prompt, select the first hole, and press Enter.

4. At the Point to copy from prompt, snap to the point object in the center of the first circle, and click.

   

5. At the Point to copy to... prompt, snap to the next point that makes the center of the next hole, and click.

   

6. Repeat this for the two holes that are on the other side of the part.

   

   Do not use the point in the center of the part.

   

Create the round hole

The center hole does not pass entirely through the upper part of the blue solid. There is no reference circle to start from.

1. On the Solid menu, click Solid Edit Tools > Holes > Round Hole.

2. At the Select target surface prompt, select the top surface of the gray solid.

3. At the Center point prompt, set the command-line options as below:

   Depth=0.5

   Diameter=0.312 (Note: If the option shows Radius, click Radius to change it to Diameter.)

   DrillPointAngle=180

   Through=No

   Direction=CPlaneNormal

4. Snap to the point object in the middle of the gray solid to finish creating the hole.

   

Test the solid

The resulting polysurface is a closed solid. A solid defines a closed volume in space. Object properties will report if this part is a closed solid.

1. Select the part.

2. On the Edit menu, click Object Properties (F3).

3. In the Properties panel, click Details.

   In the Object Description window, you will find the listing to confirm that the object is valid and closed.

   Geometry:

   Valid polysurface.

   Closed solid polysurface with 23 surfaces.

Create a 2-D line drawing

1. Select the part.

2. On the Dimension menu, click Make 2-D Drawing.

3. In the 2-D Drawing Options dialog box:

   Under Projection, select Third angle projection.

   Under Options, select By output layers, and check the Tangent edges and Hidden lines boxes.

4. Click OK.

Set up the layers

1. In the Layers panel, make the Dimensions layer current.
2. Turn off all layers except the Dimensions and Make2D layers.
3. In the Linetype column for the Make2D > Hidden > Curves layer, click Continuous.
4. In the Select Linetype dialog box, select Hidden.
   

Set up the viewport

• Double-click the viewport title to maximize the Top viewport.

Dimension the part

1. On the Dimension menu, click Linear Dimension.

2. In the Osnap control, turn on the End object snap; turn off the Point object snap.

3. At the First dimension point prompt, pick the upper left corner of the part.

4. At the Second dimension point prompt, pick the upper right corner of the part.

5. At the Dimension location prompt, pick a location for the dimension line.

6. Repeat to generate a vertical dimension on the right side of the part.

   

Chain dimension the part horizontally

1. On the Dimension click Linear Dimension.

2. At the First dimension point, set the command-line option Continue=Yes.

   This will generate a chain of dimensions.

   Tip: If the current dimension continues a previous dimension, click the NewChain option.

3. At the First dimension point prompt, snap to the lower left corner of the part with the End object snap, and click.

4. At the Second dimension point prompt, snap to the center of the first circle with the Cen object snap, and click.

   

5. At the Dimension location prompt, pick below the part.

   

6. At the next Dimension location prompts, continue picking the centers of the circles.

7. Finish by picking the lower right corner of the part, and press Enter.

   

   Note: If the dimension text and arrows do not fit inside the dimension lines, you can fix this later in the dimension Properties. Dimension properties let you specify the location of the text and arrows.

   

Chain dimension the holes vertically

• Repeat the chain dimensions to create vertical dimensions.

  Click the NewChain option to start dimensioning.

  

Add radial dimensions

1. On the Dimension menu, click Radial Dimension.

2. At the Select curve for radius dimension prompt, select the circle on the far right.

3. At the Dimension location prompt, pick above the part.

   

4. Double-click the radial dimension text, and in the text edit box, add the text:
   Typ. 5 Places.