Cutting Holes in Objects

Open a starting file:

• Continue with the file from the previous lesson, or choose File > Open and browse to the \tutorials\new_modeling folder. Open the file tut_powercharger_base4.max.

Create primitives with AutoGrid:

1. On the Create panel, in the Object Type rollout, click Cylinder.

2. In the same rollout, turn on AutoGrid.

   Before you proceed, examine the illustration below to see what you'll be creating. You will create two cylinders to use as boolean cutout objects.

3. In the Left viewport, drag to create the radius of a cylinder near the rounded back corner. When you release the mouse button, you will then set the height. Drag downward so the Height setting is a positive number. Set the Height to about 25.

4. In the Parameters rollout, set Height Segments to 1, if necessary, and Sides to 10.

5. Create another, smaller cylinder near the lower right of the housing. Again, drag downward so the cylinder has a positive height.

6. Right-click to finish adding cylinders.

7. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the first cylinder.

   Both cylinders should now be selected.

8. On the toolbar, click the Move button and change the reference coordinate system to Local.

9. Move the two cylinders so they intersect the housing.

   They should just be sticking through the housing.

   

   Position the two cylinders so they protrude like this.

Create the Boolean compound object:

1. Select the housing.

2. In the Create panel, to the right of Standard Primitives, click the down arrow and choose Compound Objects from the list.

3. In the Object Type rollout, click Boolean.

4. In the Pick Boolean rollout, click Pick Operand B. Then click the larger cylinder in the viewport.

   The cylinder disappears and a hole appears in the housing.

   

   Hole created through Boolean subtraction

5. Click the Boolean button again (even though it's already highlighted).

   This "sets" the first subtraction.

6. Click Pick Operand B again, and this time click the smaller cylinder.

   

   Subtract the second cylinder to create another hole.

   The cylinder disappears and a second hole has been cut in the housing.

   Tip: You can pick each operand in the modifier stack and make changes to it to move the position or depth of the holes.

7. Hide your work and unhide Two-hole Housing-Left and Two-hole Housing-Right. The finished model of the two-hole housing appears.

8. Save your work as my_charger8.max.

   Next you will make another power conduit and some struts.