Press and Pull Not Selecting

[inujuju]

Alright, so I was using this site earlier to create a 3D park where, because of how I cad, was told to use the "press and pull" command on closed objects as they will be pulled or pressed into 3D shapes.

 

Up to this point it has worked on every structure I can think of but this time around it has not.

 

I am working on a Whale Slide for the park and, for some reason, I am unable to press/pull the parts out in order to complet the 3D effect.

 

This is the area I am tryin to press/pull:

 

Now, as you can see the entire slide is not complete yet. The reason being that I don't want to cad it all out only to find that it doesn't work. The "tail" part of it was avle to form pefectly fine but this part will not.

I have tried the loft, swipe, etc. commands but they never make a solid object which is what I need. The lines are all connected and I've pressed/pulled angles before so I'm not to sure what is wrong.

 

Here is the file incase you need it: Whale Slide.dwg

 

Thanks for all the help you have given me! It truly means a lot!

[ReMark]

I made that piece using a polyline profile and the extrude command with no problem. Extrude distance = 60.

 

Did you know the bottom line does not lie flat? Was that intentional? The difference is less than 0.5 as far as I can tell.

 

More than one way to skin that cat. LOL

[JPlanera]

In order for the presspull to work here, the Z-Axis of your UCS needs to be parallel to the direction you wish to press/pull..

[inujuju]

In order for the presspull to work here, the Z-Axis of your UCS needs to be parallel to the direction you wish to press/pull..

 

I've tried rotating the objects by 90 degrees so that it's parallel to the Z-axis for me to push it out, yet whenever I go to highlight it, the "view" area on the cub automatically changes to back view, or side views, making me unable to pull it. Do you have any ideas on how to prevent this?

[rkent]

Rotate the UCS so the Z in pointing in the direction of the extrusion. Try UCS, 3, pick a point for 0,0 and then the next two points for X and Y. Then try PP again.

[inujuju]

This is the new area I am currently trying to make solid 3D. Rotating it and then using press/pull doesn't work and I am having difficulties using the other 3D options (like sweep) to get it at the angle that I have created.

 

Here is the file once more. This is the complete wire frame for the slide. Thanks for pointing out that not everything was straight, I have hopefully fixed it all.

Whale Slide.dwg

[ReMark]

You did not fix it all. The section you are having a problem with is twisted. Check it out using 3D Orbit.

[JD Mather]

Looks like Loft would be your friend on this design.

[ReMark]

JDM beat me to it. I just used the LOFT command to create the shape you are looking for. I did it by constructing the two ends using a 3Dpolyline and the arced lines as guides.

 

I'm assuming you did want this section of the slide to twist and drop right?

 

[inujuju]

JDM beat me to it. I just used the LOFT command to create the shape you are looking for. I did it by constructing the two ends using a 3Dpolyline and the arced lines as guides.

 

I'm assuming you did want this section of the slide to twist and drop right?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30777[/ATTACH]

 

Ah yes, I did. The slide is supposed to twist around as it comes off a complex structure (like a jungle gym) and has to avoid the other parts, so yes the slide is to twist and drop. From your comments I'm going to assume that push/pull cannot be used on shapes that drop down, rather having to be straight so that it can push it across the Z axis.

 

Thanks for all the help, I'll try out the loft command as soon as soon as I can.

[inujuju]

Alright so I am having some troubles with the loft comand.

 

Here's what I'm doing:

1. I remade the "faces" with the 3D polylines.

2. After that, I select the loft command.

3. I selected both faces individually and clicked enter.

4. I chose "guide" from the selection menu.

5. I selected the curved arc lines for them and pressed enter.

 

And then I get this error: "Modeling Operation Error: The guide curve does not intersect all profiles. The selected entities are not valid."

 

The tutorials I've read are difficult to understand. If you are able to just quickly type out what you did or point me towards a tutorial you feel is appropriate, I would greatly apprecieate it!

[ReMark]

You don't need a tutorial. My directions will work (proof was provided in the form of an image). I'll have to go back into your drawing and replicate what I did and copy/paste the text screen here. When I have a free moment.

[inujuju]

You don't need a tutorial. My directions will work (proof was provided in the form of an image). I'll have to go back into your drawing and replicate what I did and copy/paste the text screen here. When I have a free moment.

 

Ah thank you very much. This truly means a lot to me

[ReMark]

Well you still don't need a tutorial and printing the contents of my text screen will probably only confuse you. Let's see if I can simplify it for you.

 

I copied the four arc-type lines to one side.

I changed the orientation of my UCS.

I used the 3D Orbit command to better position the linework so I could accurately make my picks.

I used the 3Dpoly command and drew a rectangle at each end of the arc-type lines.

Invoked the Loft command. Selected my two rectangles.

Then I utilized the Guides option and selected the two bottom arced lines. I did not pick all four.

Done.

 

It worked the second time I tried it 5 minutes ago. Just like yesterday.

 

My advice: take your time, try again, and make accurate picks. Go...do...and succeed.

[inujuju]

Alright, so I've tried doing what you have written but I'm still having problems (really sorry guys). When you say "make accurate picks", what exactly do you mean? And what UCS orientation did you change to? This is a copy of the command code that I have after I created the 3D polylines for the rectangles and attempt to loft them:

 

Command: _loft

Select cross sections in lofting order: 1 found

Select cross sections in lofting order: 1 found, 2 total

Select cross sections in lofting order:

Enter an option [Guides/Path/Cross sections only] : G

Select guide curves:1 found

Select guide curves:1 found, 2 total

Select guide curves:

The selected entities are not valid.

 

I select the two rectangles, press senter and choose the guide option in which I then choose the bottom to splines as you have done.

 

Thanks again for all your help!

[ReMark]

Make accurate picks simply means to use your OSNAPS and pick the ENDPOINTS of the four arced lines.

 

I rotated my UCS to a position I find more suitable to work with. Nothing complex or mysterious about that. No magic involved either.

 

I've done it twice now without a single problem and I'm having trouble figuring out why you cannot achieve the same results. Maybe using 3Dorbit and viewing your geometry from a better perspective will increase the chances of success.

Edited November 3, 2011 by ReMark

[ReMark]

Last time for Show-and-Tell.

 

 

Upper arcs = red. Lower arcs = blue.

Invoke 3DPOLY. Draw a rectangle (do not use RECTANGLE command) at nearest end.

Invoke 3DORBIT (not shown here) to better view geometry. Invoke 3DPOLY and draw a rectangle at furthest end.

Invoke LOFT command. Select rectangles in any order. Result shown second from right (cyan color).

Use GUIDES option and select two lower arcs. Result shown at end (green color).

Easy.

 

OK....now it's your turn.

Edited October 28, 2011 by ReMark

[inujuju]

I am so sorry but even with the pictures and step by step instructions, neither myself nor my teacher can get it to loft. If you are still willing to help me, here is a file of the shape after I have copied the arcs and added the 3D polylines. All that's left is to loft it and my teacher cannot figure out why the command isn't working.

 

Slide Attempt.dwg

 

The only assumption we have is that AutoCad2010 isn't agreeing with it, but we aren't too positive. The only other assumption we can make is that the polylines are not fully connected but we cannot see where.

[ReMark]

First. YOU should have gotten it on the third attempt. But I'll give you a "pass" since you are a student.

 

Second. Your teacher should have been able to solve this on his first attempt and he should have been able to show you how to do it. Some teacher. His grade for this part of the assignment is an "F".

 

Third. Rather than go through this yet again I've decided to use your latest drawing to demonstrate that the task, as I see it, is still doable using the method I previously outlined. The drawing file attached has been saved in 2007 file format.

 

I expect to get an "A++" for this part of the assignment since I've now done it multiple times.

Slide Attempt Solved.dwg

[JD Mather]

...nor my teacher can get it to loft...

 

See the tutorials in my signature. (for 2007, but you should be able to figure it out)

I would be doing something like this in a modern program like Autodesk Inventor rather than AutoCAD.

Students can download Inventor for free from http://www.autodesk.com/edcommunity