MiniCAD / Vectorworks Tutorial #3: Polygons
Start a new file called "polygons.mcd" using "LittleHouseElevations.mcd." Put all the layers in 1/4" = 1' - 0" scale.
If you prefer metric measure change the units to millimeters and the scale to engineering 1:50. You can switch back
and forth as desired. Have the Isometric view of that confounded little house on the isometric layer of
"polygons.mcd" and delete the contents of all other layers.
Make another copy, Select all of it, and convert it to 3d Polygons. Then Ungroup it and start taking the pieces apart
in an Isometric view on another layer. I usually name (or re-name) "working" layers "worksheet #1," "#2," and so on
MiniCAD / Vectorworks Tutorial #3: Polygons
Make (or re-name) a layer called Round Shapes. Use the Circle / Ellipse tool (6) to make a circle, extrude the circle.
Use the regular polygon tool (5) to make a regular polygon with 48 sides. To set the number of sides press F6 or
the button on the menu bar.
Zoom in until you can see the difference.
MiniCAD/Vectorworks is using different kinds of
points to draw these 2 objects. The polygon is
made of "corner" points, and the circle is not.
Extrude a copy of each.
MiniCAD / Vectorworks understands extruded
objects as "solids" defined by corner points. All
CAD programs do this.
circle
48 sided polygon
48 sided polygon extruded
circle converted to a polygon
circle extruded
the circle gets corner points,
and the number is based on
the 3d conversion resolution
settings in the Preferences.
This operation is going to
occur (smooth curves
converting to 3d planes or
polygons) whenever you
convert a 2d object to 3d.
The more points there are
the "smoother" the object
will appear when rendered,
and the more memory it will
require to draw.
if you print your page you'll
find it very difficult or
impossible to distinguish the
circle from the polygon, yet
the polygon has fewer sides.
circle extruded,
converted to 3d polys,
ungrouped, partly
"unwrapped."
48 sided polygon extruded
converted to 3d polys,
ungrouped, partly
"unwrapped"
since the cylinders are
similar, and since you set
the number of points used in
the polygon, its often more
practical to use polygons to
start with.
MiniCAD / Vectorworks Tutorial #3: Polygons
lines or shapes can be converted to 3d polygons directly without being extruded. Lines can be extruded
3d line drawn 2d,
converted to 3d polys
line drawn
with line tool
(\), and
extruded
Irregular shape drawn
with single line polygon
(3) Converted to 3d Poly
(Cmd or Control O -the
letter)
see process below
MiniCAD / Vectorworks defines an
extruded object as a "solid." To edit a
solid as a polygon, you must convert it
into one. You can convert it into a 3d
polygon or a 2d polygon.
1 - polygon, cut up with lines
(clip surface)
The irregular shape above converted to a 2d
poly in plan view. (choose wireframe rendering
then re-fill the object). That object duplicated
and scaled, 3 objects (all 2d) stacked as
shown using send to front or back
2 - copy a quarter, scale symmetrical, use to
clip surface of larger piece
a multiple extrude of those 2d polys
try it
3 - mirror and duplicate,convert to 3d polys
MiniCAD / Vectorworks Tutorial #3: Sweeps
Make a new layer called Sweeps. Draw a figure similar to the one below with the single line polygon (3)
Set a 2d locus at the
lower right corner of
he object, select the
locus and the object,
and use the menu
command "sweep."
Set the segment
angle to 15 degrees.
Make a copy and edit the
"sweep" in the object info
palette to get half a vase.
Make another copy,
convert it to 3d polygons,
ungroup it, and take it
apart, as you did with
your house.
practice putting parts
back together
in a 3d view, checking
your work in other views.
Observe screen hints.
Make another copy and edit the
"pitch" in the object info palette.
MiniCAD / Vectorworks Tutorial #3: Mesh, Polygons
Make a figure that looks like the one below. I used a copy from the previous page - its a group of
polygons
Convert the object to mesh. By
working with the settings in the
object info palette you can move
one vertex of the mesh at a time
Plan and isometric - it's
1/4 of the full sweep,
converted to polygons
with parts removed
I did this in one view in about 5
minutes
then mirror and duplicate to get something like this.
That's how mesh works.
copy your 1st figure, and in a 3d view, use the 3d polygon tool to make a new edge
piece as shown. Notice that one of the points I set has nothing to "snap" to, and no
screen hint came up.
Look at the shape you made in plan view.
????????????
next page for an explanation......
MiniCAD / Vectorworks Tutorial #3: 3d Axis Planes
All vector-based CAD programs (MiniCAD/Vectorworks included) understand 3-space in terms of the
standard geometrical X-Y-Z co-ordinate grid. Points are located with reference to two horizontal and one
vertical line. The vertical line is the "Z" axis.
Z
Each line, and the 3 planes that intersect them, are understood to be infinite. (Notice that this co-ordinate system is
a more "universal" description of the "glass box" discussed earlier). MiniCAD/Vectorworks assumes - unless you tell
it otherwise - that you are working on one of the 3 standard co-ordinate planes.
Y
X
When you are drawing in 3-space, have an existing point located off the standard planes, and "snap" to it (screen
hints says "object," or whatever) than MC/Vectorworks knows where to place your new point. But if you aren't
snapping to a previous point, the program defaults your new point to one of the standard planes - as happened
with the "loose" point on the previous page
In any 2d view you are normally working on one of the standard planes. When you convert something to 3d, it is
placed relative to the standard planes with at least one surface on one of them.
MiniCAD/Vectorworks allows you to set "working planes" that are not the standard co-ordinate ones. When you do,
new points will default to one of the alternate working planes that you set. One can also make "flagpoles" and "layout
guides" to locate points that have nothing to "snap" to: make a line or shape in the appropriate view, convert it to 3d,
hook it up to your object where you need it, and snap your new point to this "flagpole/guide." You should experiment
with both working methods.
MiniCAD / Vectorworks Tutorial #3: Unwrapping
So - get that little house (this is the
last time you have to fool with it).
For practice: put it all back together
and get the walls grouped, each
wall in a group, the door a group,
etc. If you must, just get a copy of
your original house, separate the
pieces, convert each to 3d
polygons, and put that back
together. Now "unwrap" the house
so that all the pieces appear in true
size and shape in front view. Use
the (2d) "rotate" tool (U) in the
appropriate 2d view.
You have to
"unwrap" the roof
pieces more than
once
Try this: select the Left Side Piece and
the back piece. Rotate until the left side
piece is correct. Deselect (click on it
with the shift key down) the left side
piece, leaving the back piece selected.
Rotate the back piece. Remember the
partly unwrapped cylinders? That's how
I did them.
BY NOW YOU SHOULD BE MORE THAN READY TO START DRAWING YOUR OWN DESIGNS.....