Mounting Plate

•  A tutorial to demonstrate Solids from 2D concepts and modifications.
  • This 2D/3D tutorial contains:
    • Drawing a Box
    • Circle Tangent to 2 Lines
    • Parallel by Distance
    • Weld
    • Select multiple objects
    • Make Plane
    • Extrude
    • Resizing Handles
    • Solid Subtract
    • Plane
    • Vector Convert
    • Snap to Plane
    • Fillet

•  Start with a Box drawn X=6, Y=3

•  Add a circle Tangent to 2 Lines with radius of 1/4

•  Double-clicking the command lets you place them all without stopping.

•  Now double-click Parallel by Distance and enter the value 3/8
•  Parallel all circles in sequence.

•  By drawing a selection window as shown with the SHIFT key held down you can select all 4 large circles and the box at once.

•  With the selection made, hit the spacebar and type 'weld'.
•  Hit ENTER.
•  Select the 'dogbone' shape and use the 'Make Plane' command.

•  Select the 4 small circles and 'Make Plane'.

•  Go to 3D mode.
•  Select all with CTRL+A.
•  Hit 'X' for extrude.
•  Click on any point with Gravity Snap.
•  Hit ' and enter Y=1/2
•  Hit ENTER.

•  In TOP view select all 4 small cylinders with a selection window.
•  In SIDE view using Resizing Handles, drag the cylinders beyond the thickness of the plate.
•  Solid Define all 4 cylinders into one solid.
•  Subtract the cylinders from the plate in one operation.

•  You should have this.
•  But wait! You want a recess in the plate . . .

•  Using 'Plane', draw a Plane, (blue) Gravity Snapping to all the points shown.

•  Detail of Snap points.
•  Since a Plane won't parallel, select it and Vector Convert it

•  Now Parallel by Distance using the same 3/8 setting.
•  The first point is on the blue line, the second is done with Plane Snap from the Snap Toolbox.
•  With the line selected, use 'Make Plane'.

•  Delete the original line.
•  Fillet the corners of the Parallel line (now a plane) 1/4

•  Select the Plane and hit 'X' to extrude.
•  Hit ' and enter Y=-1/4 (minus 1/4)
•  Hit ENTER.

•  Use Resizing Handles to stretch the object upwards beyond the plate.

•  Solid Subtract the recess object from the plate
•  Done!

VRML FILE mountingplate.wrl

DC FILE
mountingplate.zip