Divide / Combine

Cut at Line

This function allows complete shapes to be cut or extended at boundaries, just like the AutoCAD command for the stretching and cutting of lines. For this purpose, you first have to click the shape at the end to be cut and then select the line.

The boundary is formed only by a construction line, which is arranged vertically to the active UCS, plane and thus creating a cut plane. If the plane is slanted, the modified shape will have a slanted plane, too. By using this function, shapes that are too long or too short can be adapted to fit after their insertion.

When you have typed a value in the Distance field of the main dialog, the shape will be shortened by this value after it has been cut. Please note that the distance refers to a vertical distance between shape and cut plane.

The shape is cut at an imaginary plane, the line being oriented vertically to the active UCS-plane. Working in a view simplifies your work, since the shape is cut

“at this line”. If the shape could intersect with the line (i. e. you consider the line to be of infinite length!), the shape is cut. To extend the shape, hold down the ALT key while clicking the end to be extended.

Page B.11 - 3 Cut at Shape

The shape is cut or extended at another shape. When the shape is cut, the shorter section is always cut off.

Click the shape to be cut and then the shape along which this shape is to be cut.

The plane actually hit by the centerline (or the extended centerline) of the shape to be cut will be the cut plane. If the centerline does not meet any surface, no

By using this function, you can divide a shape at a cutting line into two shapes. A single shape, a plate or several elements can be divided into two independent elements.

To start with, select the shape to be divided. Then, click the cutting line. When you have entered a distance in the main dialog Distance, both new ends will be shortened by this value. Depending on the setting, you can divide several elements at the same time.

However, please note that the distance refers to a vertical distance between shape and cutting line.

Distance The two new shapes are shortened by this value at the cutting line. The arising gap has the double distance value.

At Plane If this option has been checked, you are asked for three points, which have to form a plane. The parts are divided along this plane.

The cutting line may be any line. If the line is slanted, the shapes are divided accordingly. If you indicate only one point, it will be used perpendicular to the centerlines.

The information for the parts lists is identical for both parts with that of the initial shape, except for the length. In order to master the course of the cut line better, it is recommended to work in one of the view.

Example for Platform Design

For example, you can easily create changed girders at platform constructions by first laying the shapes to be changed as a whole and then dividing them at their bottom trains. Vice versa, bottom trains can be removed rapidly and the changes at this position can be cancelled.

Let us assume that you want to design a platform using the following shapes: platform beams IPE 300, platform edge girders IPE 200, headers HEA 120. overview in the front view.

Since IPE 300 has a flange width of 150 mm, enter the value 75 in the Separation Distance field and click the button DIVIDE. Zoom the points of intersection one after the other, select the uncut part of the cross girder to be separated, and the construction line as cutting line.

Page B.11 - 5 Combine two Shapes

This function allows shapes of the same length to be combined, provided that they are exactly aligned!

Click the two shapes to be combined. If they are not in alignment, the function will be aborted. The information for the parts lists of the new shape is identical with that of the first selected shape, except for the length.

If you keep the ALT key pressed, the shape and the position are not checked.

Then, you can combine any shape with any shape.

Outlets (Milling Out)

Using this function, you can insert simple geometrical shapes of outlets and countersunk parts into your shapes.

You can create square, wedge-type, and circular shapes. The dimensions are entered via a dialog box. After selection of the part and the insertion point at the part, the following dialog appears. Select the desired basic form by selecting the corresponding page.

Rectangular Outlet

Width Specifies the width of the outlet.

Height Specifies the height of the outlet.

Depth Specifies the depth of the outlet.

Position Width Select the relative width position to the insertion point.

Position Height Select the relative height position to the insertion point.

Page B.11 - 7 Wedge-Type Outlet

Width Specifies the width of the outlet.

Height Specifies the height of the outlet.

Depth Specifies the depth of the outlet.

Position Width Select the relative width position to the insertion point.

Position Height Select the relative height position to the insertion point.

Position Depth Select the relative depth position to the insertion point.

Horizontal Select the position of the wedge tip in horizontal direction.

Vertical Select the position of the wedge tip in vertical direction.

Circular Outlet

Width Specifies the width of the outlet.

Height Specifies the height of the outlet.

Angle Specifies the angle of the outlet.

Position Width Select the relative width position to the insertion point.

Position Height Select the relative height position to the insertion point.

Position Depth Select the relative depth position to the insertion point.

Radius Select whether the outlet has to be carried out as outer circle or as inner circle.

Page B.11 - 9 Position

You still have the possibility to rotate the inserted notch or cut-out by any of the three coordinate axes. Just click the +90/-90 button, if you want to rotate the cut-out in 90° steps. If you require a different angle just enter the value into the Rotation Angle field and then click the +PHI/-PHI button.

The outer edge of the top flange is the cut-out insertion point, the expected cut-out is defined by edges.

Repeated use creates more complex millings.

Polygonal Cut-Outs

Using this command, you can cut out shapes along any freely drawn contour (poly-line). Thus, you can e.g. create notches that are not covered by the program via the special notch function.

You can also subtract one shape from another to create penetrations, e.g. to obtain slotted tubes, penetrated handrail posts or others.

If you have entered a value in the Gap Spacing input field of the main dialog, the cut-out is regularly extended to all directions by the indicated value to gain some

“space” for inaccuracies of production.

In any case, the created polygon will be extended to the top and to the bottom in the UCS Z-plane. Therefore, please pay attention that your UCS has been selected accordingly. In case of a direct use of this function via the command bar, the current settings of the main dialog apply.

Click this button if you have not yet a contour in form of a poly-line or circle or arc.

You can enter the different points as you like, but be careful that the lines don‟t overlap in the polygon.

Click this button if you have already a contour in form of a poly-line, etc.

Click this button if you want to subtract the contour of another solid from the selected object (penetration or solid to be subtracted).

Complete Here, you select whether the solid to be subtracted has to penetrate the selected object completely or partially. This is not valid for solids to be subtracted.

Gap Spacing Here, you can indicate a gap by which the cut contour is increased before the subtraction.

If you have „divided‟ a shape using this function, you will not obtain two shapes.

This has to do with the volume modeller of AutoCAD. You must take care not to

Page B.11 - 11 In the following you can see two examples for the working of polygonal cut-outs:

on the left, there is a normal poly-cut and on the right, there is a milling via a solid to be subtracted.

Create a Penetration

Here is still another example for creating a penetration of tubes:

On the first two pictures, you see the situation in the front view and in the top view (the cutting planes are switched off so that you can see the depth.

Put the selection for „Poly-Cuts‟ on Remove and click the button POLY-CUT.

Now click the big tube, then one of the small tubes in order to cut out the volume, Click the big tube again and then the other small tube, in order to cut out its volume, too.

in the third picture, you see the cut-outs in the big tube (the two slanted tubes have been omitted in this representation).