This is the third in a series of articles containing tutorials designed to acquaint you with the basic steps in using the Microvellum Solid Modeling Tools. You may also know these tools as SMT.

The steps contained in this tutorial start where tutorial #2 left off. Here are the subjects we will include in this tutorial:

• How to modify the corner negotiations of extrusions.
  
• How to work with studs to engineer the product according to your standards.
  
• How to manipulate joints to deal with specific conditions.
  
• How to add joints to multiple entities.
  
• How to add an arc to a wall and adjust the joints accordingly.
  

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

How to Modify the Corner Negotiations of Extrusions

One of the engineering tasks for your custom product is to clarify the corner negotiations of the extrusions. In the case of our tutorial product, that includes the bottom plates, top plates, and countertop extrusions. The figure below contains an obvious top plate corner condition that needs to be set up to match the construction method for this product.

1. As revealed in the last tutorial, SMT commands are available in both the tree view and the editing buttons under the Extruded Tools tab. In this case, we will use the button to make the modifications. Click the tab Extruded Tools and then the button “Edit extruded entity.”
   


Fig. 02



2. Select one of the lower of the two top plates in the 3D drawing. Drop down the list box for the property Extrusion Corner Negotiation Type and select “Butt_Before_Corner.” 
   

The stud placement, as defined by the vertical entity property “Vertical Associative Joint Type,” reflects the setting of the extruded entity property “Extrusion Corner Negotiation Type.”  That means that if the Vertical Associative Joint Type of the  vertical entity  is set to “Single Stud at Joint” and the corner negotiation of the  extruded entity  is set to Miter Joint, a single angled stud will be placed on either side of the angled miter joint of the extruded part. Similarly, if the Vertical Associative Joint Type is set to “Double Stud at Joint” and the corner negotiation is set to Butt Before Corner, double studs will be placed on either side of the perpendicular butt joint of the extruded part.


 Notice the change made to the lower top plate when the product is redrawn.




Fig. 03





Fig. 04



3. Click the tab Extruded Tools and then the button “Edit extruded entity” and select the upper of the two top plates in the 3D drawing. Drop down the list box for the property Extrusion Corner Negotiation Type and select “Butt_After_Corner.” Notice the change made to the upper top plate when the product is redrawn.
   


Fig. 05



4. Now, let’s modify the two bottom plates with a different corner negotiation type. In this example, it is already setup as a miter type. Click the button “Edit extruded entity” again and select the upper of the two bottom plates in the 3D drawing. Drop down the list box for the property Extrusion Corner Negotiation Type and select “Distance_From_Corner.” Enter 11 inches (275 if working in metric units) for both the property Extrusion_Corner_Leading_Distance and Extrusion_Corner_Trailing_Distance.
   


Fig. 06




Notice the change made to the upper bottom plate when the product is redrawn.




Fig. 07



5. Click the button “Edit extruded entity” again and select the lower of the two bottom plates in the 3D drawing. Drop down the list box for the property Extrusion Corner Negotiation Type and select “Distance_From_Corner.” Enter 15 inches (381 if working in metric units) for both the property Extrusion_Corner_Leading_Distance and Extrusion_Corner_Trailing_Distance. Notice the change made to the upper bottom plate when the product is redrawn.
   


Fig. 08