AutoDesSys products: form&middotZ
 
Boolean operations

Considered by many the king of the solids modeling operations, Booleans in form·Z can be applied to both 2D shapes and 3D solids. They are complemented by the Trim and Stitch operations which can be applied to surfaces.

The unique ability of form·Z to apply Booleans to both 2D shapes and 3D solids allows you to mix the two as you model your designs. For example, you can start with basic 2D shapes, and then union or cut holes into them to derive a composite 2D shape. This shape can then be extruded or used by another operation to derive a 3D model. Or, you can begin with 3D solid primitives, and join or difference them directly as 3D solids.

Left: Boolean operation applied to 2D shapes to derive composite shapes, which are then extruded to derive 3D objects. Right: Boolean operations applied directly to 3D objects.

The Boolean operations in form·Z work, and can handle a variety of tricky cases where similar operations in other programs fail. Holes in particular are handled as true holes, and any number can be drilled into the same object.

A benchmark case for Booleans: Three holes drilled in each of the three directions of a cube.

The Boolean operations are the most universal modeling operation, and offer powerful sculpting capabilities that architects, product designers, mechanical engineers, and designers from all professions can use with ease, as the examples that follow should clearly illustrate.



Using booleans for architectural modeling. Top to bottom, left to right: Rooms are first sketched as double line shapes. They are unioned and their openings are differenced to derive a unified floor plan. The plan and the base slab are extruded to derive the first floor, to which additional windows are opened directly in 3D. Three stories and a roof are erected and unioned. Using difference one part of the building is cut away to be able to see inside.


Mechanical parts and tools by Bruce Paterson, Marsden High School, Australia. They were all created through an extensive use of Boolean operations.

Omega Valve by Tim Reynolds, Blackpool and The Fylde College, Blackpool, Lancashire, England. form·Z models created through extensive use of booleans.

 

 

form·Z feature list

Introduction


Interface


Modeling

Primitives
Spherical objects
Metaballs
3D solids and 2D shapes
Patterned polygons
Derivative surfaces, extrusions, enclosures
Parallel objects
Frames

Projection objects
Unfolding
Terrain models
Revolved objects
Helixes
Screws and bolts
Stairs
Sweeps
Draft Sweeps
Skinning
Lofting
S-lofts
Meshed objects
Subdivisions
Moving and disturbing meshes
Deformations
Bending along curves
Morphing
Image based displacements
Rounding
Blending and filleting
Draft angles
Splines and c-curves
C-Meshes
Nurbz
Formula curves and surfaces
Patches
Boolean operations
Trimming, splitting, and stitching
2D and 3D sections
Deriving contours
Lines of intersection
Grouping and ungrouping/Joining and separating
Placing and editing text
Symbols
Editing 3D lines
Converting representations of objects
Extracting controls
Inquiring and measuring
Repairing objects and projects
Moving, rotating, resizing, and mirroring
Clones
Attaching
Replace
Inserting
Deleting

Drafting


Rendering


Special features

Extensive import/export
Panoramic views
Straight up perspectives
View matching
Walk through animation
Rapid prototyping
2D/3D digitizing

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