surface sections

[leptogenesis]

I have revolved a spline, creating a complex 3d surface. Now, my next task is to obtain sections of the surface that can be printed onto paper. What I mean is, I want to be able to intersect this surface with another, flat surface, and print the line where they intersect. Unfortunately, I have had no luck so far.

By the way, I have already tried the "Display Intersections" in the hlsettings, but that didn't get the job done.

Any suggestions?

(P.S. - it would also work if I could turn my revolved spline into a solid, rather than a surface, but I haven't been able to do that either.)

[leptogenesis]

Whoops, I guess it pays to read first. I'm using autoCAD 2004.

[Mr T]

Have you tried the SECTION command ?

Nick

[leptogenesis]

Well, since you posted I have tried the SECTION command, and it didn't work. It told me to select the objects, and I assumed it meant the objects to be sectioned, so I selected my surface. I then hit enter. It said that my surface was not a solid. Hence, nothing was done.

Any other ideas?

[fuccaro]

The SECTION command works on solids :(
Is the initial spline curve a 2D one? If so revolve it again using the ... REVOLVE command (the curve must be closed). This will generate a solid and you can slice it.

[leptogenesis]

Is the initial spline curve a 2D one? If so revolve it again using the ... REVOLVE command (the curve must be closed). This will generate a solid and you can slice it.

Ah, that makes sense. Well, I did try to close the spline, but I couldn't get it to work. It's a very specific shape, and it isn't naturally closed, so I couldn't just extend the spline to close it. I tried closing it with a line, but I still couldn't revolve it. autoCAD won't let me turn the joining line into a polyline and then join it to the spline.

[fuccaro]

One more thing to try: draw a closed polyline, transforme it to spline (PEDIT) and adjust the shape. Probable you will need some time for this but if you can do it AutoCAD will revolve the closed path.

[leptogenesis]

So, you mean I should create a polyline, and transform that into a spline, and add it to the end of the original spline?

[fuccaro]

No, I would suggest you to draw a new closed polyline and convert it to spline. Now edit this new spline; make it to match the original one. So the new spline will be like the original one except it will be closed.

[zouhairy]

export the object as *.3ds and run it in 3DMAX (any version) or let it as it is and import it in MAX both are the same.
in MAX:
select the object
open Edge mode (from modify panel)
press SLICE (a slicing plane appears)
move it to the location you want using MOVE & ROTATE then press slice again.
a new edge appears in the plane of slicing
select then clone to object (press shift then move)
do it again for all the sec. u want and then save as *.3ds and run it in AutoCAD.

hope it works.....

[Mr T]

SOLPROOF sometimes works but ......

Nick