Workaround to subtract Region from 3D solid

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to subtract a region from a 3d solid, which it isn't allowing me to do.

[maxim_k]

Hi,

If you mean the region which is the hole in letter "a", then you need to explode it with EXPLODE command, you will get closed Spline, then EXTRUDE the resulting Spline and subtract it from main "a" body.

[Anonymous]

Sorry I should’ve been more clear. I’m trying to subtract the text from the card holder

[maxim_k]

I don't have any problems with subtracting text (yellow) from card holder.
I use SUBTRACT command and select card holder at first, then hit Return and select 3D text, then hit Return again. That is all:

Command: SUBTRACT
Select solids, surfaces, and regions to subtract from ..
Select objects: 1 found <- here I select card holder and hit Return
Select objects: Select solids, surfaces, and regions to subtract ..
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 29 found <- here I select text
Select objects: <- and hit Return

[Anonymous]

That's so strange. I'm not getting the same results. I tried a different layer as well.

[maxim_k]

As AutoCAD alerts in the command window - you are trying to subtract surfaces from 3D solid. So you need to check creation of 3D text - looks like for some reason it created as surfaces, but not as 3D solid.
BTW - in the drawing you attached in your initial post the text elements are 3D solids, then everything goes well with subtract.

[Anonymous]

I think I figured out the differences between what we're trying to do. The file I sent was just the extruded text.

The selected layer of the file I had sent earlier was extruded all the way through the card holder, and it works, yes. 

However, if you subtract the text from the card holder to get the curve of the card, then explode to delete the unwanted half of the text, then move down half way into the card holder, it does not work. 

Check my file attached now.

Should I try the projectgeometry tool and see if that maintains a 3d object?

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

I think you exploded 3D Solid text at some moment - that is why you cannot subtract it from main cardholder body.

I attached drawing with steps:

1 - initial 3D text

2- initial 3D text with additional copy of cardholder

3 - cardholder subtracted from text

4- separated 3d text - I marked unnecessary parts with red - to separate use menu Modify -> Solid editing -> separate and select 3d text you got in step 3

5- I moved remaining parts of 3d text 0.015 units toward the cardholder

6 - I subtracted 3d text from cardholder

[Anonymous]

I've been using Explode all the time. Are they different? The command always shows up Separate (explode), so I just type in explode 

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Separate (Modify -> Solid editing -> separate) and EXPLODE are different commands.
EXPLODE explodes (almost everything):
https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2018/ENU/index.html?guid=GUID-B38FD713-AD2F-4D9E-AD68-60E3F7E3...

And Separate is an option for "Body" inside SOLIDEDIT command:
https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2018/ENU/index.html?guid=GUID-D54C266B-2B68-4660-ACA5-0579432F...

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot for explaining that. That's why I kept getting random surfaces and edges as different pieces, makes sense now