Subtract?

[Chronos69]

Is there a subtract tool, similar to modelling in Autocad?

 

I have a box and need to create 6 "holes"

I was looking to use boolean - cut and refine but the box started to look very messy after I created a few.

 

Is Boolean the way forward or is there a better method?

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Cad64]

Yes, boolean or pro-boolean is what you would use for subtracting one object from another. The problem though is the boolean operations usually leave a messy result, so there's typically a lot of cleanup work to be done.

[Chronos69]

Cheers CAD64. Can Boolean/Pro-Boolean subtract any objects from other objects? I struggled to subtract an editable poly, which was basically a box with a rounded top and bottom, however i had no troubles subtracting a standard cylinder?

[Cad64]

Yes, boolean can subtract any object from any other object, but you need edges on your objects though. A box has no edges other than at the corners, which is probably why you were having trouble, but a cylinder has lots of edges running around it's diameter. If you're going to boolean two objects, it's best to add edges to each object that align with each other.

[Chronos69]

Thanks for the help Cad64. I have managed to sort it.

[Chronos69]

Just to add to this, is it bad to have the edges form triangles as opposed to squares once i have connected verticies etc from the resulting hole that has been created?

 

Or does it make no difference?

[Cad64]

Generally triangles are bad because they can cause problems when you apply a smoothing modifier. But it all depends on where the triangle is located on the model. If it's in a flat area it should be ok, but if it's near a corner or an area where the surface direction changes, that could cause a problem. I always try to avoid triangles as much as possible.