You can use several methods
to convert objects in your drawing to 3D solids:
Convert surfaces and objects with Thickness
to 3D Solids
Convert a group of surfaces to a 3D solid
Convert mesh to 3D solids
Thicken surfaces to convert them to 3D
solids
mesh and polyline with
thickness converted to optimized 3D solids
The DELOBJ system variable
controls whether the objects you select are automatically deleted
when the 3D object is created.
Convert Surfaces and Objects
with Thickness to 3D Solids
You
can convert different types of objects into extruded 3D solids with
the CONVTOSOLID command. These objects include closed polylines
and circles with thickness, as well as watertight meshes
and surfaces. For a complete list of objects that can be converted
using this method, see CONVTOSOLID.
Convert a Group of Surfaces
to a 3D Solid
Use the SURFSCULPT command to convert
a group of surfaces that enclose a water tight region to a 3D solid.
Convert Mesh to 3D Solids
When you convert mesh
objects to 3D solids, the shape of the new solid object approximates,
but does not exactly duplicate, the original mesh object. You can
control the differentiation somewhat by specifying whether the result
is smooth or faceted (SMOOTHMESHCONVERT). You can also specify
whether the resulting faces are merged (optimized).
For example, if you convert
a mesh box to a solid object, you have the following options (available
on the Mesh Modeling ribbon):
Smoothed and optimized. Coplanar
faces are merged into a single face. The overall shape of some faces
can change. Edges of faces that are not coplanar are rounded.
Smoothed and not optimized. Each
original mesh face is retained in the converted object. Edges of
faces that are not coplanar are rounded.
Faceted and optimized. Coplanar
faces are merged into a single, flat face. The overall shape of
some faces can change. Edges of faces that are not coplanar are
creased, or angular.
Faceted and not optimized. Each
original mesh face is converted to a flat face. Edges of faces that
are not coplanar are creased, or angular.
You cannot convert the
following types of mesh objects to a 3D solid:
Mesh with gaps between
faces. Gizmo editing can sometimes result in gaps, or
holes between the faces. In some cases, you can close the gaps by smoothing
the mesh object.
Mesh that has self-intersecting
boundaries. If you have modified a mesh object so that
one or more faces intersect faces in the same object, you cannot
convert it to a 3D solid.
In some cases, mesh that
is not eligible to be converted to a solid object can be converted
to a surface.
Thicken Surfaces to Convert
Them to 3D Solids
You
can convert 3D surface objects to 3D solids with the THICKEN command.
Grip editing is limited
for objects that are created using this method.
Procedure
To convert objects with
thickness to extruded solids
Click Home
tabSolid
Editing panelConvert
to Solid. At the Command prompt,
enter convtosolid.
Select one or more
of the following types of objects and press Enter:
Uniform-width polylines with thickness
Closed, 0-width polylines with thickness
Circles with thickness
To convert one or more
surfaces to solids
Click Home
tabSolid
Editing panelThicken. At the Command prompt,
enter thicken.
Select the surfaces you want to thicken.
Press Enter.
Specify a thickness
for the solid. Press Enter.
To convert contiguous surfaces
that enclose a volume to a 3D solid object
Click Home
tabSolid
Editing panelSculpt.At the Command prompt, enter surfsculpt.
Select surfaces that enclose a watertight
region.
A solid is created.
Click Home
tabSolid
Editing panelConvert
to Solid.At the Command prompt,
enter convtosolid.
