Modelling the Bottom Base

By

Pat Connelly

This first picture is from the Spline Editor with a backdrop picture loaded.  I have outlined 1/2 of the bottom base and saved it as a spline object.   I also added and saved points to make an object for the detail editor.

This is the cleaned up 1/2 outline object within the detail editor.   I have deleted the center line which is nuisance needed by the Spline editor.   Spline objects must be closed before points can be added and saved.  Now the object axis has been carefully placed at the midpoint of the object.  I then can copy/paste the object ontop of itself in preparation for mirroring the new copy.

This is the completed outline of the object.  I mirrored the new object along the x-axis and with accurate axis placement beforehand, the two objects lined up perfectly.  Then the objects were joined.  I now have a single perfectly symmetrical copy of the outline of the bottom base.  It has no faces as can be seen in all the windows.

Faces have been added now.  To add faces to an outline object, extrude the object for an arbitrary distance - say 50 units.  In point mode select the new end and join all the points together.  This can be seen graphically in the trestle explanation.  Then use the transformation requestor and move the joined end a negative 50 units to place it within the original outline.  Faces have been added.

The object has no depth or thickness.  Place the axis carefully with scaling so the axis dimensions are the same as the object.  The object was extrude to the correct thickness and the x and z dimensions were also set to the correct value.   The bottom base is finished.

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