This article continues from Solid Modeling Tools - Hide Skins  and provides information regarding working with vertical entities. 

1. In our tutorial product, the studs are spaced at 16 inches (406 if working in metric units), and we want to change that to a fixed distance. Click the Extruded Tools tab, and Edit Vertical Entity in the section Vertical Entities. Set the value of the property Vertical Spacing to 18 (457 if working in metric units) and click OK. 
   
 

Fig. 01




This property either adjusts the number of studs up or down depending on the spacing selected. 


2. A very common task is to  move  a vertical entity along the same construction path. As an example, you need to move an existing stud to match a joint you added to the skin. The entity you moved is still located ON the construction path. 
   
1. Click Extruded Tools > Vertical Entities > Move Vertical Entity Along Path from Selected Base Point… 
   
2. Select a base point, and select a target point (where you want the base point on the part to move to). 
   
3. Alternatively, once you have selected the base point, move the cursor in the direction you want to move the part, and enter a value for the distance from the base point to move the entity. In this example, enter 6 (152 if working in metric units) because the skin joint is located at that position. 
   



You may also need to  move  a vertical entity (e.g., stud) from their default position ON the construction path, to a point OFF the path. The reasons for this type of move are varied. For example, you may want to change the section profile associated with a certain vertical entity and then move it. The reason may be for visual effect, or for structural purposes to improve the strength of your product. Regardless of the reason for the move, the reasons for using the Microvellum SMT command instead of the AutoCAD equivalent command is clear as indicated below. 


Using the AutoCAD “MOVE” command will move the 3D part until the product is redrawn. It will then revert to its original location. To prevent this unexpected behavior, use the Microvellum SMT command. 


4. Extruded Tools > Vertical Entities > Move Vertical Entity to any Location in 3D Space… 
   
5. Select the new location for the entity in the drawing. 
   
 

Fig. 02



3. Another very common task is to make a  copy  of a vertical entity and place it somewhere else along the same construction path. As an example, you need to create a double stud condition at each end of a custom wall product. This copied entity is still located ON the construction path. 
   
1. Click Extruded Tools > Vertical Entities > Copy Vertical Entity Along Path from Selected Base Point… 
   
2. Select a base point, and select a target point (where you want the base point on the part to move to). 
   
3. Alternatively, once you have selected the base point, move the cursor in the direction you want to make the copy and enter a value for the distance from the base point to locate the new entity. In this example, enter 0.75 (19 if working in metric units) because the thickness of the stud is 0.75. 
   



You may also need to  copy  a vertical entity to create a second entity located OFF the construction path. 


Using the AutoCAD “COPY” command will create a copy of the 3D part, but that copy will not replicate any changes made to the section drawing. To prevent this unexpected behavior, use the Microvellum SMT command:   


Extruded Tools > Vertical Entities > Copy Vertical Entity to any Location in 3D Space… 


 

Fig. 03




As is true elsewhere in Microvellum software, it is important to know when you can use an AutoCAD command, and when to use the Microvellum equivalent. 


4. When Microvellum draws your 3D custom product, it makes certain assumptions about the product because the software does not know the details about your company construction standards. (This is under consideration as a prospective enhancement for future versions of SMT.) 
   



An example of this is the corner stud condition. We already discussed how to alter the extruded parts corner negotiations. However, what do you do with the vertical entities at corners? The figure below demonstrates this question. Notice that the stud nearest the corner of the product is spaced according to the studs in the right leg of the product. That is fine until the corner. If we leave this product as is, the inside and outside skins at the corner are left hanging with no support for both the left and right legs of the product. 


 

Fig. 04 




To fix the backing for the inside skin


1. Move the stud on the right leg to the right, so it fully supports the lower countertop (in this case, 1.75” [44 mm]). 
   
 



2. Make a copy of the stud on the left leg along the path to the right, so the inside corners of both studs butt up to each other. 
   
 

 

Fig. 05 




To fix the backing for the outside skin. 


1. Make a copy of the stud recently moved on the right leg of the product and locate it at the outside corner of the bottom plate. 
   
2. Create another section profile that is 1.5 inches wide (38 if working in metric). 
   
3. Replace the section profile associated with that new stud located at the corner. Click: Extruded Tools > Vertical Entities > Select an Alternate Profile. 
   
 



4. Make a copy of the stud with the alternate profile and locate it immediately to the right of the existing stud (see figure 17). 
   
 

 

Fig. 06 




See the figure below for the section profiles and the custom product at this point in development. 


 

Fig. 07 



5. In addition to the commands Move and Copy, use the Rotate command to rotate an existing vertical entity. 
   
1. Click: Extruded Tools > Vertical Entities > Rotate Vertical Entity. 
   
 

Fig. 08 



2. Select the vertical entity to rotate. 
   
3. Enter the rotation angle. The point of rotation for this command is the Z-axis that passes through the corner of the vertical entity closest to the section profile origin point and the starting vertex of the construction path polyline. 
   
 

Fig. 09 



4. A rotation angle entry of 90 rotates the part 90° (¼ turn) counterclockwise; -90 rotates the part 90° (1/4 turn) clockwise; 270 rotates the part 270° (3/4 turn) counterclockwise. This is identical to rotation angle entry in AutoCAD. 
   
6. Use the Remove button to delete a vertical entity from the parts list (array) of parts. 
   
1. Click: Extruded Tools > Vertical Entities > Remove Vertical Entity from Array... 
   
2. Select the part to delete and press Enter. 
   


Fig. 10

Continue on to Solid Modeling Tools - Vertical Associative Joint Type .