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3DPowerTools Review - Part II

Dennis Shinn

New Options

Beyond the "standard" solid primitives one can create with AutoCAD alone, 3DPowerTools features a few interesting options... 3D sweep, 3D taper and 3D loft.

The 3D sweep command is similar to the extrude-along-path option of the native AutoCAD extrude. With the exception that it will accept a spline fit 3D polyline as a sweep path, something even AutoCAD 2000 still does not provide. Setting 3DPowerTools options to convert an extrusion mesh (the default operation using the 3D sweep command) to a "heavy solid" works under limited circumstances. In most complex situations including arbitrary profiles swept along spline fit 3D polylines, ACIS did not accept the data from 3DPowerTools and the conversion from mesh to solid failed.

An example of sweeping a circular profile along such a path. Clearly the extrusion does not faithfully comply with the path specified nor did ACIS succeed in converting it to a true solid.

Lofting would be a worthwhile addition to the arsenal of solids modeling commands. Lofting is the generation of a surface passing through a series of profile curves. However, the 3DPowerTools 3D loft command only allows lofting through a selection of two profiles. Lofting between multiple profiles requires a series of individual lofts between each pair of profiles.

The loft operation is also dependent on the orientation of the UCS and I achieved the best results when the UCS was parallel to the plane of the first lofting curve. I would prefer a UCS-independent result. The command prompts for starting then ending ‘sections’ or profiles, then allows interactive selection of what the program refers to as the extrusion path. In spite of being in a 3D view of the model I found it difficult to control the extrusion path. Regardless of how the section curves and path were specified I was never able to create a ‘true’ loft whereby the starting and ending profiles were maintained in their original position and/or plane.

The easiest way to visualize the loft and most of the other modeling commands is in perspective mode. AutoCAD does not allow coordinate point entry in a perspective view. 3DPowerTools overcomes this limitation but only when using the commands within 3DPowerTools itself.

Lofting tools have some room for improvement, but achieve results that are otherwise impossible in AutoCAD alone.

Summary

3DPowerTools provides a comfortable environment for newcomers to 3D modeling and AutoCAD ACIS solids. The interactive feedback while drawing basic primitive shapes and the 3D translation commands makes it fairly easy for beginners to create 3D models and navigate 3D space.

It is a little expensive for a command enhancement utility but may well provide the right toolset for people leaping from 2D to 3D, or others requiring the 3DPowerTools' unique functions. The benefit of 3DPowerTools is not so vital to those already familiar with solids modeling and comfortable moving about in virtual 3D space, or those who do not requiring the unique tools it has to offer.

<< Part I

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