Extrude

Form:  Extrude Points to Frames/Cables, Extrude Lines to Areas, Extrude Areas to Solids, Shell to Shell Extrusion, Line to Line Extrusion, Define Extrusion Path

Use the Advanced > Edit > More > Extrude command to sweep selected objects through space to create new objects of higher dimension or to convert lines to areas and areas to solids with the same thickness as the original line or area object. The process of extrusion increases the dimensional space of an existing object by one. In other words, line objects are of one dimension that can be generated from a dimensionless object, the point object. In a similar manner, a two-dimensional object, area or plate/shell can be generated from a one-dimensional object, the line object. This feature is especially suited to creating solid objects from plate/shells, plate/shell objects from beams and beams/columns from points/nodes.

  1. Select the object to be extruded.

  2. Click the Advanced > Edit > More > Extrude command and select the appropriate sub-command

  1. If the Extrude Points to Lines form, Extrude Lines to Areas form or Extrude Areas to Solids form is displayed, choose the Linear, Radial, or Advanced tab and specify the appropriate parameters. The parameters will extrude the object linearly, radially, or along any defined path. Specify the number of new objects to be created during the extrusion process, and specify if the original object of lower dimension should be retained or deleted.

Linear Extrusion Tab

Example:

 

 

Radial Extrusion Tab

A typical use of this type of extrusion is to generate a cylindrical surface from radial extrusion of a single line about the central axis of the cylinder.

The object is then extruded the specified number of times, each time incrementing the location of the objects by the specified rotation angle.

Example:

 

 

Advanced Extrusion Tab

Points, lines and areas can be extruded along any defined curve. The extrusion path may be defined by specifying the Global X, Y and Z coordinates. Twist, skew and scaling may also be applied to the extruding entities.

Important:  After making a selection from the drop-down list be sure to click the Insert button to "insert" the data for the selected curve type into the Extrusion Path spreadsheet.

      • From General Ref Line option. This option is included in the drop-down list if a General Reference Line has been drawn in the model. When this option is selected, the replication will occur relative to the General Reference Line, and the X, Y, and Z coordinates will be automatically specified on the Extrude {Object Type} to {Object Type} form when the OK button is clicked to close the Define Extrusion Path form.

Note:  If after closing the Define Extrusion Path form the OK button is not available on the Extrude {Object Type} to {Object Type} form, try changing to another view (XY, XZ, YZ).

Also, the From General Ref Line option can only be used with the Relative Coordinates options. If the Absolute Coordinates Option is chosen, the program will ignore the General Reference Line.