How to cut parts of a body from overlapping bodies?

[Anonymous]

I feel like this is really easy and right under my nose.. but I can't seem to figure this out and I've been searching for a while now.

I have 4 bodies, and a 5th body that partially overlaps the other 4.  I simply want to remove any parts of the 5th body that overlaps/intersects with the other 4.

See below, it's the base of a table.  I want to cut the corners out of the shelf based on the table leg intersections:

I mean sure, I could just sketch out the shape around the legs manually, but it seems it would be so much easier to just cut out the intersections. 

The Combine->Cut function doesn't do what I want.  It just cuts notches out of the table legs and the shelf disappears

What am I missing here?  Thanks

[James.Youmatz · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I think you are right for using Combine->Cut, you just want to ensure that you check the box "Keep Tools" before hitting okay. This will make the cut and KEEP the tool body, which is the shelf.

Let me know if that is what you were looking for.

Thanks,

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous, you are 99% of the way there.  You just need to check the "keep tools" box in the Combine command:

[Anonymous]

That was exactly it... thank you.  I've never clicked that box but it would have made my life so much easier so many times.  Ha.

I wish these options had tooltips when you hover over them to explain what they do.