inner extruding weird shapes [3ds max]

[blah-de-blah]

I was wondering how you would inner extrude weird shapes?! I know how to inner extrude squares and rectangles, but i want a unique shape to be extruded. I guess i can't be using the object as an editable polygon for this. So what would i use instead???
thanks!

[mdipi]

are you trying to extrude like a circle? i think thats boolean modeling...but i dont know it. sorry. try looking that up somewhere.

[blah-de-blah]

more like a sort of:



________
| |
|__ __|
|__|



that shape. I've tried the help files, couldn't find much on it :-\

edit: hmm didn't quite turn out how i wanted it to be. I'll try again. Basically the image above (which isn't showing up properly) with smooth curves.

[kei]

lol what kind of shape is that :P

yea i think u should just use boolean :)

[blah-de-blah]

heh, its more in a shape of a wolf head if you put all the lines together, but as you can see, it didn't quite turn out well :)

anyways, how do i use a boolean? the only boolean i know of is true or false :-\

[kei]

select the object u wanna boolean
and then go to compund objects in the create pannel..
then click on boolean and press the button that says operland or something and select the object u wanan cut :)

[blah-de-blah]

hmm, i tried selecting and nothing selects?! There are two operands. One is under 'display' and the other says 'pick operand B'. Do i select both? I tried both, or 1 of each but its still not selecting :-\

[kei]

hmmm its kidna hard to explain :/

u should look up boolean in the help file!

[iLikePie]

i think boolean is kinda like the pathfinder in illustrator, right? it's where you get a shape and cut it out of another shape?

you just have to overlap the parts u want to be subtracted...maybe.

i think the help file is your best option after all :P

[blah-de-blah]

well i've read the help files, and it seems like it is what i want. But, how do i use it now is the question!? i don't see where it tells you how to use it :-\

edit:

actually i think the question is, how do i make operand B?! i have operand A (which is just a box) and so how would i make b!?

[ironikart]

yeah, position the the object you want to cut-away from another and select boolean object from the compounds tab. Click on pick operand B and the target the object your subtracting from. There are 4 options in the boolean rollout and you'd want subtract a-b.

[blah-de-blah]

Thanks i understand that bit now, but how do i make the operand B? would i just use a line tool to draw the object?! And would i have to have that object the correct depth and everything? If so, how would i do it?! thanks

[ironikart]

operand B would just be another object. You could make it a box, plane, sphere... basically any mesh object. Not sure if it works with Nurbs though.

[blah-de-blah]

Hmm, ok. so how would i make operand B an object like the one i want?? What techniques could i use to draw it out?! thanks

[blah-de-blah]

anyone?! pleease! I was thinking of using the line tool and then 'lathe'. But it makes it round, and thats the only way i know of so far for making a unique shape :-\

[kei]

try this tutorial
http://www.the3dstudio.com/(2ql3ghakninjhpigexydar55)/tutorials.aspx?id_tutorial=106

[blah-de-blah]

Thanks for the link kei, but i think more of the problem at the moment is how to make that weird shape.

Ok, so i'm trying to make a computer box (yes i'm trying to make a whole desktop :)), and you know the floppy drive, the shape of that. Cause usually those aren't just a rectangle. So i was wondering what to use to make it (lines? or any other options?). thanks

[kei]

ohh okay..
i think the easiest way would be to draw that in 2d using the spline tool and extruding the shape
then use boolean to cut that shape out of the box :-\ ?

[blah-de-blah]

Ahh the spline tool, hmm that may work, after i figure out whats slowing my 3ds though :-\

[mdipi]

blah, if oyu want a fast way, just make a texture for it in PS and do it that way,simple and fast.

[DDD]

cant you use a bump map? BUt yes a 2d spline is the way I would go

[blah-de-blah]

Ok i am now editing my spline, but the problem is i want to attach two vertices (i deleted a vertex point in between them so now theres a gap). How woul i do this? I see theres an 'attach' button, but i don't know how to use it?? thanks

[kei]

if u want to join two vertices

i would turn on the 3d snap (make sure it snaps to the vertices)
and then move the 2 vertices so the are overlapping seamlessly.. then click on attach button and make the two lines become one.
then select the two vertices that are overlapping and weld them together ;)

[blah-de-blah]

ah again thank you kei :) any more quesitons i'll be back :)

[DDD]

you may also have to weld them.....zoom in close to see if the points are actually attached.

[blah-de-blah]

Ok now heres another problem, i think its actually a pretty big problem but not sure :-\

anyways below is what i have drawn, and what i want to draw. Just wondering how i would get that slope at the semi-circle. Thanks :)

[blah-de-blah]

and i want it to be like this one :)

btw, how do you post 2 images at the same time so they don't havta click on the link to see the image?!!

[kei]

hmm im not sure.. :/
maybe taper modifier?
u could probably move the gizmo around until u get the right slope

[Demonia]

Ok, so i had a crack at it using an initial spline object which I extruded then copied the object and scaled it down. I then positoned the second object inside the first (I thickened it a bit so that it was sticking out a little on both sides of the initial object) then created a compound object - boolean - Operand A = object 1 and Operand B = scaled down copy of object 1 and used Subtract (A-B). That gave me the hole i needed. Then I collapsed them. After that on a sub object level I cut my object (basically in half all the way around inside and outside) then moved my vertexes around a bit and added a meshsmooth with 0 iterations.

Conclusion - I would have preferred box modelling... unfortunately i don't have the time but I'll post the result and if u want to try it this way u have to tweak the vertexes more than I did and maybe u can get it looking better - I don't have the time right now.

Hope that helps.

[blah-de-blah]

Wow yea that is really nice, but i was thinking of something so i could do a boolean thing with a big rectangle (because this whole thing is suppose to be a computer box, and the thing im trying to draw now is the floppy slot).

How would you totally model the whole thing? I think that may give a more realistic result, but take more time. thanks!

[Demonia]

I just knew u were gonna say that :crazy: :beam: ... should have gone with my gut instinct and done it like I wanted to initially - in the rectangle... if u have some patience I'll try post something by this evening even if it is a little rough...

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

:beam: thank you very much, i'll be waiting :P

[Demonia]

1. Create a box - I used a box with length and width segs = 20

2. Convert to editable poly

3. In polygon mode use the cut tool to create the shape (u can see this in the attached file)

4. Select only the polygons of the newly created shape - extrude this selection in the negative i.e. -10

5. Delete the selected faces after u have extruded (it leaves the hole)

6. Position your vertices similar to mine.

7. Part 2 coming up...

[Demonia]

1. Select the same vertices u saw in the previous pic

2. Open the Edit Geometry rollout (while still in vertex mode) and click the little square next to tessellate... Type = Edge; Tension = 5 (The attached pic shows what is should look like after u tessellate).

3. From the Modifier drop down list select MeshSmooth... I used Iterations = 1 but u can go higher if u like (depends how curvy u want it).

[Demonia]

Here is the result. Basically u can do the rest of the unit in a similar fashion - cut the shapes u need and extrude, bevel, tweak vertices etc....

D :beam:

[Demonia]

Sorry, my mistake - I should have been more specific - the grey area is actually empty - it's the result of step 5 ... You have to draw the outer line - check the attachement...

The inner line is after extrusion and positioning vertices.

[blah-de-blah]

oo i see, i jsut deleted my other post (didn't know you replied :))

I'll try that now thanks again!

[Demonia]

No problem...

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

ok another question, hope i'm not botherin you :) Is it possible to edit the 'cut' shape? cause i made a little mistake, and don't wanna re-do it all...or does it not really matter that much?

[Demonia]

It does kinda matter but u can edit it either by hitting Ctrl Z (the old faithful Undo) or by switching to vertex mode and moving the vertices until u get the desired effect.... And no u are not bothering me :beam: just glad I can help...

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

ok so i've extruded it, but is it suppose to show in the front viewport? because i don't see any change to it :-\

i have attached an image with what i've got. It has the polygons selected and this is before i have extruded it. Does it look right to you?

[Demonia]

Yup, that looks fine ... in front view u won't really see any changes when u extrude - use the little rotate tool (bottom right) to turn your image a little and then u should be able to see the difference

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

heh sorry but heres another file. I have rotated it to see the extrusion, as well as finsihed the rest of part 1. But it looks nothing like it :hangover: I'm thinkin theres somethin i missed :(
No clue what though :-\

[Demonia]

Well, it looks alright but I can't tell whether the extrusion is in or out because you are in wireframe view... if it is in (i mean u put in the extrusion parameter as being - 10 meaning minus 10) then all you have to do now is switch to vertex mode and select the vertices and move them so that they are similar to mine - for example I took the bottom row of vertices and moved them up a little and then I pulled the corner ones in a bit... I had a similar looking thing before i moved my vertices and deleted my faces so don't worry :)

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

ahhh i get what you mean nooow!! ok i should be able to finish the rest of this part no problem then now :) thanks again! miight be back for part 2 though :-\

[blah-de-blah]

hmm....welll again another attachment :) After doing the tessallate thing, i seem to get this :-\ Lines everywhere....This mite be because before i also had quite a messy thing, unlike yours.

I tried finishin the steps again, and it didn't seem smooth (unlike yours again :(). Should i delete some of the vertices before i do the tessallate?

EDIT: just realized, when you said pull the vertices, you actually meant the back ones right? not the front ones. THats why i'm getting all these lines...AHH!!! oh yea, how do you go into vertex mode from wireframe mode?

[Demonia]

Well, u r in vertex mode when u can see the vertices and are able to manipulate them like in your attachement... BTW u only get the smooth effect after u apply meshsmooth

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

finally got it working after about 3 times redoing it :) Still dont' look as good as yours though, but probably just my positionings. Thanks for all the help on this everyone!

[Demonia]

Glad I could help ...

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

ok i'm back again :)

I mistakenly made my thing a bit tooo big, and i was wondering if i could make it smaller without redoing it? I tried the scale tool, but it pulls in the side vertices aswell, so the surrounding vertices of the modelled thing aren't flat anymore (sorta concaved in). Is there an easy way instead of redoing the whole thing? thanks

[blah-de-blah]

Ok here i am again, i decided to re-do the thing, but i realized after the 'cut' step, i seem to get more lines than you. If you look at my image (yes another image i am posting sorry :-\), i get those extra things after each point. I hope you understand which ones i'm talking about. I think these lines are what make my final image to not look good...

[Demonia]

The reason u get the extra lines is because when u make u'r cuts u don't end the cut on an existing line thus the program generates more lines in order to allow the vertex to exist at the point u want. U should end u'r cuts on existing lines that way your model is much cleaner...

D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

ahh ok thanks, but the problem now is that if i increase too many segments, it totally slows the computer down. I see in your image you moved some of your lines around, so you can place your 'cut' ON the line. How'd you do that?!

[Demonia]

Ok, I made a little thingie in Corel to try and show u what I am talking about with the cut tool. The black grid is what u have (your box) before cutting. The red line is the cut i made. Note that it intersects each line - the beginning and end points of the cuts (the blue x's) are on the initial grid (i.e. the points where your vertices are). Hope that helps...


D :beam:

[blah-de-blah]

ahh thanks, i guess i will havta seriously try and draw this nicely then, cause the ones in the past i have tried to just trace your image, which caused all those extra lines and vertices :P

[blah-de-blah]

woo its just as good as yours now! thanks for all the help, i will add some more stuff to my computer box now and post it up asap!! :)

[Demonia]

My pleasure... be sure to post it as soon as your done :) .

D :beam:

[kei]

I have a question..

is it possible to like cap the top of an object? (e.g the top of the box)


it might be a dumb question :P

[DDD]

you can add a face (polygon) Choose the line between 2 points then drag it to the other side of your box....Zoom in you may have to weld your point. That will create a new poly.

[kei]

okay
i got it!
thanks :D