This article contains a tutorial designed to acquaint you with the first steps in using the Microvellum Solid Modeling Tools, hereafter referred to as SMT. Use the procedure described in this tutorial to create custom one-off extruded products in a 3D environment.

We will show you in this tutorial how to do what are typically the first few steps in creating an extruded die wall. This die wall could be a stand-alone unit, part of a larger multi-level reception desk, room dividers, or something completely different. This is only a simple example used to teach the basic use of solid modeling tools. The real possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

Here are the subjects we will include in this tutorial:

• How to prepare the SMT environment for your custom product.
  
• How to start designing an SMT product.
  
• How to use the Smart Layer Manager.
  
• How to work with the Construction Path.
  

At the end of this tutorial, we will give you a link to the next tutorial in the series.

How to Prepare the SMT Environment for Your Custom Product

1. Open Toolbox and start a new project.
   
2. Create a new room. You will have the option of selecting the drawing template to use with the room. There are currently four drawing template options, as shown in Figure 1. For this tutorial, select “Legacy MV Drawing Template” for demonstration purposes. Most Users will select “Extruded Product Builder…” in normal use, so they have access to the default section drawings (profiles) saved in that template.
   


Fig. 1 - Drawing Template



3. Click the palette bar “Solid Modeling” and select Solid Modeling Tools. 
   


Fig. 2 - Solid Modeling Tab



4. Dock the SMT palette to the right side of the Toolbox screen to avoid confusion with the standard Toolbox palette.
   


Fig. 3 - Solid Modeling Tools Palette 



5. It is easier to work with SMT if you have a view of the construction line in an isometric view, and a separate view of the associated active section in plan view. Enter VIEWPORTS at the command prompt, click New Viewports and select “Two: Vertical” Then click the right side viewport and select “X-Ray” for the Visual Style. Leave the style for the left side as “2D Wireframe.”
   


Fig. 4 - Viewport Setup



6. After you create the viewports, verify that the right side viewport is in the  X-Ray  visual style and  SW Isometric  view and the left side viewport is in the  2D Wireframe  visual style and Top.
   


Fig. 5 - Displayed Viewports



7. Save the drawing.