Replacing an extrusion profile with another profile

[Dan Kitchens]

A while back AutoCAD introduced semi-parametric extrusions, you could alter the polyline and the extrusion would update. It's a great feature, but has anyone heard of a way of replacing the polyline profile with a different one? This would be very handy for cabinetmakers who use a variety of profiles to their doors. It's a shame 2D blocks can't be extruded as blocks can be replaced... 

[Dadgad]

I am super busy, but have built lots of cabinets.

Are you familiar with the PUSHPULL command?

If not check it out, I believe it is under appreciated.

 

I am unfamiliar with the semi-parametric extrusion functionality you mentioned.

I might create a template with different layers for each of those router profiles,

and place those profiles oriented appropriately at the confluence of rail and stiles.

Or should I say inside corners?

 

Saved as a .DWT file it could speed up appreciably seeing different treatments by scrolling through your layer manager...OR

better still scroll through them using the LAYWALK command.

 

Or you could create a rather complex dynamic block to do the same things.

But the layered approach sounds interesting to me.

Want to add a new profile?

Just add as many new layers as you care to.

Sounds like fun actually.

Once you have that as your default   .DWT   file,

and have driven it around the block a few times, you'll be flyng along.

Good luck with it.

Nothing to it, but to do it.

There is a PUSHPULL tutorial on CadTutor which will really open your eyes as

to how helpful it can be.

Edited December 11 by Dadgad
Tutorial link added

[Dan Kitchens]

You mean the PRESSPULL command? I've never used it until you mentioned it. That'll come in handy. 

I make semi parametric cabinet doors in AutoCAD by first drawing the outside profile, drawing the outside path the profile needs to follow but, not creating a full loop, you need to stop the 2d path short of the profile. Next you use the EXTRUDE command, click the profile and choose the Path for the profile to extrude along. Once extruded, you grab the end of the extrusion grip and move it onto the start of the extrusion. This creates the rails of the door, lastly I extrude a rectangle in the centre to create the full door. This door can now be changed in size using by moving the grips of the extrusion, followed by the grips of the inside panel.

 

I asked the great Lee Mac my above question, he says the LISP API doesn't give much access to 3D commands so a LISP code wouldn't work.

[BIGAL]

I don't do much in 3d but why would you not just draw the correct sizes to start with, by that I mean use a front end. I just tend to do this type of thing from 1st principles, within lisp can do extrude, subtract etc.

[Dadgad]

PRESSPULL it is   .  I haven't used it in years, have a shortcall set as  PP. 

I've done quite a bit of sometimes rather complex 3D modeling.

PP is much easier to use than EXTRUDE, because it will work on just about anything.

Doesn't require a CLOSED polyline.

 

I am still under the gun, trying to get a new project issued for fabrication.

When time permits I'll come back and play with this a bit.

 

[Dan Kitchens]

1 hour ago, BIGAL said:

I don't do much in 3d but why would you not just draw the correct sizes to start with, by that I mean use a front end. I just tend to do this type of thing from 1st principles, within lisp can do extrude, subtract etc.

Is that a LISP? I'm wanting to change the profile after the doors have been made.

[BIGAL]

Why not do it all in one go ? That is what I am suggesting. @Dadgad is hinting can help he can use the front end if useful, was done using this. The profiles could be selected from images rather than just a description.

 

Multi GETVALS.lsp

Edited December 12 by BIGAL

[Dan Kitchens]

Multi GETVALS.lsp could be useful for all sorts of things. I'm currently working with Dynamic Blocks to make the doors, it will speed up my work flow, but I don't know if I'll be able to change the door profile of all the dynamic block doors after placing them in the model.

[Dadgad]

You might want, or be able to   xref them in?

 

I haven't really worked with Dynamic blocks much, although when they were first introduced,

I was keen to delve into them.  Using ProSteel add on these days, I don't have

nearly as much use for them as back in the day. 

 

[Dadgad]

If you place them on different layers, there can be a huge batch from which to select.

[BIGAL]

I have select a dynamic block you will then be asked to pick say a visibility state or in your case an extrusion shape. Not sure how that works. It is a global routine works for any dynamic block. It will need changing to suit your task. 

 

Post a block or send via PM if you have copyright problems. Need one to look at.

 

.Multi radio buttons.lsp

 

Dynamic block get-put-part2.lsp

[Dan Kitchens]

Rather than finding a way to change the profile, I thought what if the dynamic block contained all the different door profiles on different layers (Dadgad was this what you were pointing to?), so that changing the dimension of the dynamic block changes all the door profiles. You simply only need to turn on the layer with the door profile that you want. I've tested it, and it works perfectly, but I'm still inserting this block for every drawer and door (most are the same in a kitchen so not too bad if I use Copy). I could take this one more step deeper and find a way to work more at the cabinet level, eg cabinet w x h x d, number of doors/drawers etc.

[Dan Kitchens]

2 hours ago, BIGAL said:

I have select a dynamic block you will then be asked to pick say a visibility state or in your case an extrusion shape. Not sure how that works. It is a global routine works for any dynamic block. It will need changing to suit your task. 

 

Post a block or send via PM if you have copyright problems. Need one to look at.

 

.Multi radio buttons.lsp

 

Dynamic block get-put-part2.lsp 1.62 kB · 11 downloads

Thanks BIGAL

[Dadgad]

2 hours ago, Dan Kitchens said:

Rather than finding a way to change the profile, I thought what if the dynamic block contained all the different door profiles on different layers (Dadgad was this what you were pointing to?), so that changing the dimension of the dynamic block changes all the door profiles. You simply only need to turn on the layer with the door profile that you want. I've tested it, and it works perfectly, but I'm still inserting this block for every drawer and door (most are the same in a kitchen so not too bad if I use Copy). I could take this one more step deeper and find a way to work more at the cabinet level, eg cabinet w x h x d, number of doors/drawers etc.

BINGO!   Work smart, not hard.  Layer States, or rather the judicious

use of Layers can be extremely helpful, non-intuitive and highly effective.

[Dadgad]

If you are unfamiliar with it?  Check out the LAYERS 2  toolbar.

Lots of good and underutilized functionality there.

LAYWALK?   Very interesting,

especially in light of the magic to which you aspire.

 

With a customer seated next to you, you could extremely quickly scroll through

umpteen different layers, each of which would be rockin' different door profiles, applied

to the same cabinet structures.

 

VIEWBASE is another great tool for laying out nice views in viewports, or fabrication dwgs, on the fly.

 

ACTION MACROS from the MANAGE tab on the ribbon, or from the right click shortcut menu.

 

Time to kill, want to learn a lot about Autocad?

SYSVDIA  will teach you plenty, and help you set up the software so that it does what YOU

want, and enlighten you as to other non OTB options.

 

Look up any specific variable, or just get in a neck of the woods, alphabetically...

DIM  for example?  Then just scroll with your cursor up and down arrows to whatever catches your eye.

 

Before you go wild changing stuff, which you might later regret?

 

CLICK the SAVE ALL button at the bottom of the box, and put it somewhere safe, with an appropriate name...

in case you need to restore all those settings, or install  or share them with somebody else.

 

 

SPEND an hour or so doing that, and I am sure you will learn plenty. 

 

Got no problems, just solutions. 

 

Growing old beats the Hell out of the only other choice.