Slicing according to a collided/overlapped object

[galshemesh]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and made a post regarding this that can be found here, and was suggested by Alfred DeFlaminis from technical support to submit a feature request on this matter.

It would be nice to be able to slice an object in multiple directions at once, according to another object that overlaps with it. Screenshots perhaps would describe it better along with words:

I wanted to model a PCI slot and started by measuring it from a physical motherboard, and once I had all the data I then created a long box at its size (white box in picture). Then I started measuring all the holes, depth and distances and made them out of other boxed-objects. The idea was to insert everything within the base shape to get the big picture of what it might look like when sliced. Once everything was in place I increased the height of all the boxes so they won't swollen within the base shape. All the boxes are for reference purpose to help me align the Slice Plane tool to them to make the cuttings.

I made the first slot transparent so you could see the size and depth of the holes:

The final result is in the screenshot below. To making this I had to slice the base shape with the Slice Plane tool, after aligning the slice plane MANUALLY according to each one of the reference boxes. Then I began extruding the holes down by aligning the action to the bottom of the desired reference hole boxes.

I really hope my explanation makes sense. It would be great if instead of doing all the slicing manually, there would be an option to make one object get sliced according to another object that overlaps with it - as stated, my reference hole boxes.

Thanks!

[PropChad]

You can achieve that result using ProBoolean set to Imprint.

1. If your reference boxes are all instances which will help; put an edit poly modifier on top of one.

2. Select all vertices and Break.

3. Change to Polygon mode, select all, and then scale on X and Y axis until the individual faces cross the mesh you want to cut. You now have a bunch of slicing planes.

4. Select your object you want sliced and apply ProBoolean.

5. In Advanced Options, set Planar Edge Removal to Remove Only Invisible.

6. In Parameters, make sure to check the box next to Imprint.

7. Select Start Picking and pick all of your boxes that have been turned into slicing planes.

8. Convert the ProBoolean mesh to Editable Poly or apply Edit Poly modifier.

9. Select all vertices and weld at a low tolerance just in case there are any overlapping ones.

That should give you that result.

[Anonymous]

Jesus!! You did all that with the slice plan..........manually. 🙂 As mentioned, you could have used Boolean/Proboolean or Procutter. Or even modular modeling. Please, before posting ideas here make sure there are not tools in Max that already do what you request. This only clutters the forum needlessly.

[galshemesh]

Thanks @PropChad, Appreciate it. I'll give it a try. 🙂

@Anonymous, yep 🙂 manually. As I wasn't aware of additional tools to achieving it by using boxes for reference. I googled a lot but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. Before posting the idea here I made a post in the 3ds Max Forum, and was then suggested by @Alfred.DeFlaminis from Autodesk tech support to raise here the idea. Didn't have any mean to clutter the forum. But anyway thanks for the reply. 🙂

[Kelly_Michels]

Pro Boolean workflow included below.

[electrotoast_old]

Thanks everyone for the input. Just an FYI, we updated the original Boolean tool with a new user experience. You can use that one for some improved performance.

@galshemesh Would the current Boolean solve your issue. If so, maybe this is something not needed currently.

[galshemesh]

Thanks @Kelly_Michels & @electrotoast_old,

I'll download a trial version of the latest 3dsmax and check whether the new Boolean tool can be used to achieve such purpose in future projects.