CST2013: Extrude Mode

Modeling: ShapesExtrusionsExtrude

In this mode, you may interactively extrude either a profile or a face to obtain a three-dimensional solid. To extrude a face, you may pick a face of an existing solid. If you want to extrude a profile you must define a set of points that form a closed polygon line. The points are always located on the current active working plane.

If a face has been previously picked, this face will automatically be taken for the extrusion when you enter the Extrude Mode.

You may change the view at any time by using the standard view changing options.

Creation steps to extrude a profile

• When you first enter the mode and no face has been previously picked, you will be asked to double-click on the working plane to mark the first point of the polygon line. The cursor’s location will be projected onto the currently active working plane. When you have defined the first point, a rubber-band appears from this point to the mouse pointer. This band represents the first line of the to be defined polygon.

• Repeat this procedure for as many points as necessary. To finish the polygon, choose the last point to be on the same location as the first one (always remember to release the mouse button after double clicking, before dragging to the next point).

• When you have defined the profile, you will be asked to double-click to enter the height of the new solid. A rubber-band displays an outline of the solid with the height defined by the actual mouse position.  

• After you have entered the height, the Extrude Profile dialog box appears, showing you all values of the new solid. If they are correct, press the OK button to create the new solid.

Creation steps to extrude a face

• At least one face must have already  been picked. If more than one face has been picked, the last picked face will be used for the extrusion. Immediately after you have entered the mode, the Extrude Face dialog box appears. Here, you may enter all desired values for the new solid.

SHIFT key

By pressing the SHIFT key after the first point has been set, the cursor movement is fixed in one coordinate and may only be moved in the other and vice versa.

Display of locations

Throughout this mode, the current mouse location will be displayed in the lower right corner of the main plot window.

Snap mode

All positions will be adjusted to the snap grid when active.

Cancel interactive mode

You may cancel this interactive mode at any time by pressing the ESC key. Pressing ESC again in the following dialog box will terminate the extrude mode.

Undo last double-click

You may go back to the last step by pressing the BACKSPACE key. Pressing this key in the interactive mode will undo the last double-click.

Numerical specification of coordinates (TAB key and SHIFT+TAB key)

To precisely specify the shape coordinates, you may press the TAB key whenever a point must be double-clicked. A small coordinate dialog box will open in which you may specify the shape coordinates numerically.

The dialog entries take over the coordinates at the cursor position on the working plane. However, if the SHIFT+TAB key is pressed, the coordinates are always set to zero.

Pick tools to specify coordinates

You may snap the location to a previously defined shape’s corner, cylinder radius, etc., by activating a point pick tool, at the moment when the next point must be specified. The double-click will be processed by the pick functionality to specify the location of a point. The picked point will then be taken as the selected location.

See also

Working Plane Properties, Standard view changing options, Snap grid, Coordinate dialog box, Point pick tool, Material, Extrude Profile, Extrude Face.