roof by delusion

[georgehobel]

When creating a roof by extrusion, I realize that I have to set the work plane..just like when creating any other extrusion.  Here is a residential model where I needed to create a roof by extrusion in order to achieve the shape we were after.  Now, I'm looking to create a similar shape at the dormer over the garage, but the roof by extrusion tool wont let me select a work plane that corresponds to that part of the structure... I have included a jpeg of the 3d file showing the front elevation, as well as a screencast of my attempts at this roof by delusion....????

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

You can pick a surface of a wall, or draw a reference plane and name it then pick it as the workplane to draw a roof by extrusion.

[georgehobel]

Hey thanks for the reply... and please disregard the double post... I had tried to post this two hours ago and it never showed up...so i posted again..now they both appear..

I tried selecting the side of the wall at the dormer.... would not let me... I could not get the tool to select any part of any plane in the garage portion of the structure... I know it's askew from the main house, bu there are still planes there... just wondering why it wont select any.  Hadnt thought about naming my reference plane... that's a good tip.  I've sort of been using them as disposable elements.  Havent given any names out yet...

[barthbradley]

askew?  you mean it has non-planar surface?  how the heck did you get the wall to do that? Wall by Mass Face? 

[ToanDN]

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@georgehobel wrote:

Hey thanks for the reply... and please disregard the double post... I had tried to post this two hours ago and it never showed up...so i posted again..now they both appear..

I tried selecting the side of the wall at the dormer.... would not let me... I could not get the tool to select any part of any plane in the garage portion of the structure... I know it's askew from the main house, bu there are still planes there... just wondering why it wont select any.  Hadnt thought about naming my reference plane... that's a good tip.  I've sort of been using them as disposable elements.  Havent given any names out yet...

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After you start Roof by Extrusion, you see a dialog, choose Pick a plane then you can pick any vertical, planar surface to draw the profile of the roof.

[georgehobel]

no dude... the garage is turned 45% off the axis of the main house... I'm not cool enough to make a non-planar wall yet...

[SteveKStafford]

I typically add a named reference plane at the center line of a gable when I want to use Roof by Extrusion. Then I add a section view parallel to that and just in front of it so the view will "see" the reference plane and I can sketch the profile easily. Once I'm done with that I can extend the extrusion forward and backward to cover the whole gable as needed.

[barthbradley]

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@georgehobel wrote:

no dude... the garage is turned 45% off the axis of the main house.

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So what?  The garage walls don't know that.  

[georgehobel]

apparently not... it's like they have joined together to form their own little party...off to the left...the far left.  I could just delete them all.

[georgehobel]

I just thought it was odd that I was unable to "select" any planes at all at the garage portion of the house.  Clearly, there were dozens of planes available to me at the main structure... everything from windows, walls, roofs, casings.  Heck I bet it was even picking up shoe molding.... but at the garage, nothing.

[SteveKStafford]

In a 3D View you should have been able to select "any" work plane but in orthogonal view you'd have to be parallel to the plane you select.

[georgehobel]

exactly.... that's what i have become accustomed to... I can select the planes in the garage when performing other tasks... but if you look at my screencast... I am unable to select a plane that is in the garage area of the house.... all within the same 3d view.. there's something askew

[SteveKStafford]

I'd need to see the model to tell you for sure but if you're referring to the side wall of the gable it might be how that wall is created. For example, if you used Edit Profile and the actual extents of the wall is below the roof the Work Plane tool might not see it. Isolate that wall and see if you can set the current work plane to it alone. 

[ToanDN]

I watched your screencast and your sequence is off. 

Set the workplane to a level BEFORE you start the Roof by Extrusion.  Then start Roof by Extrusion and a dialog will pop up and you can choose a vertical face to draw the profile.

[georgehobel]

I'll try that... and report back....makes sense.... thank you....

[georgehobel]

OK... just went back into the same project... and attempted the same roof by extrusion.  I did not change my sequence yet, just to test the system.... and now.... it works fine.. I select roof by extrusion, then select a work plane - clicking the pick a plane option... then move to the model and I am able to select any plane... I tried all that before, and it wasnt working... now its working fine... go figure.... I think I'm going to find my beach.

[ToanDN]

Good for you.

If you care to watch your own screencast again, you will realize that the Select Workplane step there isn't the same as the Select Workplane you just described. The one in the screencast is to set the Level for the Roof (horizontal), the one you described is to set where to the profile for the roof (vertical).

Anyhow, it worked now so head to the beach instead.