I'm designing an aluminium extrusion frame. I normally work in parametric mode, but today I'm trying direct modelling to "sketch out" ideas. This is my first time using direct modelling.
I'm using a "base" alu extrusion component that was created as a separated project. The base component length is 1000 mm, and I want to make it longer or shorter to create pieces of different lengths which will later be assembled to create the frame.
1. Absolute dimensions: In direct modelling, is there any way to set the length of a feature to an absolute value, rather than using relative values? So instead of saying "add 200 mm to the length", say "make the total length 1200".
2. Various tools: When the goal is to offset a face, the following three tools give results that are effectively the same:
- Extrude > Join
- Press Pull (offset faces)
- Move > Faces
What's considered best practice here?
3. In direct modelling, I can see a bunch of 'Extrude' features in the browser which kind of resemble a feature history, but these can't be edited and some times even deleted. What's the use of these browser items?
The above error happens if I first extrude a sketch to create a body (Extrude1), and then I extrude-join one of the faces of the body (Extrude2), even if the second extrude is in the same direction. I assume I'm looking at this the wrong way. Are there any good video tutorials on direct modelling?
4. 'Offset Faces' is nowhere to be found in the menus, it's only available, indirectly, through the Press Pull tool. Is this intentional?
Thanks!!
