Views

An extrusion set is created in a two-step process: 1) define the 2D shape to be extruded, and 2) delineate the orientation and extent of the extrusion. The Extrusion pane provides two distinct views to facilitate performing these two steps: the construction view, and the extrusion view.

Construction View

The construction view is accessed using the construction view button () on the toolbar. This view is used to draw the 2D shape that is to be extruded. This shape is rendered using nodes and edges that have been arranged into closed polygons or blocks. Simply-connected convex 3- or 4-sided polygons (referred as regular blocks) can only be meshed with structured mesh; all other types of polygons (referred as irregular blocks) are meshed with unstructured mesh. The resolution of the mesh in each block is defined by the discretization of the bounding edges into segments (or zones) which can be set manually or automatically using “Autozone” tool. When the 2D shape is fully meshed, the function of the construction view is accomplished. These operations — briefly delineated here — are treated in complete detail in the section Operations in the Construction View.

Figure 1: The construction view of the Extrusion pane

Extrusion View

The extrusion view is accessed by pressing the extrusion view button () on the toolbar. This view is used to define the extent of extrusion, its zoning, and the extrusion set’s final spatial orientation. Once these aspects have been defined and operations in the construction view are complete as well, the extrusion set may be turned into a finished mesh by pressing the extrude button () on the toolbar. As an alternative, you can send the extrusion to the Building Blocks pane, using the “Create building blocks…” tool button (), to modify the model in 3 dimensions before creating a mesh. The operations briefly delineated here are described fully in the section Operations in the Extrusion View.