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PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project guides you through the creation of a grandfather clock. The procedures learned in this project can be applied to many other types of projects. All of the files needed for this tutorial are located in the Clock1.ZIP file located online. To view the final mesh file, load the file Clock1.MAX. To see the final animation, select View File from the File pull-down menu and select the Clock1.AVI.

Resetting the System

  1. Select Reset from the File pull-down menu.
  1. Select Configure… from the View pull-down menu. In the Viewport Configuration dialog box, select the Layout tab and then the lower-right layout.

Four viewports are displayed.

Creating the Frame for the Clock

  1. Make the Front viewport active and select Create>Geometry in the Command Panel.
  1. Select the Box button.
  1. In the Keyboard Entry rollout, type in length of 190, width of 50, and height of 25. Name it Frame.

3-D Studio Viz creates a box in the front viewport named Frame, Figure 1-xx.

  1. Make a second box slightly smaller than the original box. Select Box again. In the Keyboard Entry rollout, type in a length of 185, width of 45, and height of 22.5.

A second box is created named Box01.

  1. Make the top viewport active. Move the new box 01 so that it barely sticks out from the original frame.
  1. Click on Select by Name and choose Frame from the listing.
  1. Select Create>Geometry and open the rollout menu. Select Compound Objects.
  1. Next, pick the Boolean command. Make sure Subtract A-B is selected and choose Pick Operand B. Select the box 01 object to cut it out.

3-D Studio Viz removes Box01 from the Frame leaving a hole in its place.

  1. Make the Front viewport active. Make the upper windows by creating another box. Select Create>Geometry and choose the rollout menu. Select Standard Primitives and choose Box.
  1. Under the Keyboard Entry rollout, set length to 33, width to 55, and height to 15.

A box is created named box01.

  1. Make the Front viewport active. Select the Select and Move command and move Box01 up around 70 units along the Y-axis.
  1. Make the Top viewport active. Select the Select and Move command and move Box01 around -9.5 units along the Y-axis.

This positions Box01 to be removed from the Frame.

  1. Select the Frame in any viewport. Select Create>Geometry in the Command Panel and select Compound Objects from the rollout list. Pick the Boolean button and then select the Subtract A-B radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick the Box01 object.
  1. Make the Front viewport active. Select Create>Geometry and set it back to Standard Primitives. Create another box length of 120, width of 55, and height of 15.

A new box is created.

  1. Choose the Select and Move command. Move the new box around -9.5 units along the Y-axis in the top view and -20 units on the Y-axis in the front viewport. See Figure 1-01. Use the Boolean command to cut it out.

The Frame remains with four windows and no door.

Figure 1-01. The Frame is created with the window boxes ready to be removed.

Creating the Front of the Frame

  1. Make the Front viewport active. Select Create>Geometry and then Box. Under the Keyboard Entry rollout, type in box dimensions: length of 185, width of 45, and height of 2.5. Select the Select and Move button and move it so that it is flush with the front opening. Name it Front Face.

A box is created that matches the inner dimensions of the object Frame.

  1. Select Create>Geometry and then Box again. Now, draw another box with length of 160, width of 37.5, and height of 3. With the Select and Move command, place it just outside the front face and near the bottom. See Figure 1-02.

Figure 1-02. Placement of the box01 for removal.

  1. Select the Face in any viewport. Select Create>Geometry in the Command Panel and select Compound Objects from the rollout list. Pick the Boolean button and then select the Subtract A-B radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick the Box01 object.

The inner box is removed from the outer box, leaving a hole.

  1. Select Create>Geometry and the Cylinder button. Make the Front viewport active and draw a cylinder with a radius of 16 and a height of 3. Change the number of sides to 30 in the Parameters section.

A cylinder is created.

  1. With the Cylinder01 object selected, select Create>Geometry in the Command Panel and select Compound Objects from the rollout list. Pick the Boolean button and then select the Subtract A-B radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick the Cylinder01 object. See Figure 1-03.

The cylinder is removed from the box.

Figure 1-03. The completed Frame.

  1. Select the Select and Move Command. Select the frame and choose the Boolean option again. Select the Union radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick the Front Face.

The frame is now one entire piece.

Creating the Base and Shelf

  1. Make the Front viewport active. Open the Grid and Snap Settings dialog box and change the grid spacing to 1.0 in all viewports. In the grid spacing options set the grid to every second line. Turn on the snap. Close the dialog box. If the sub-grid is not visible, zoom in further to make it visible.
  1. Pick Create>Shapes in the Command Panel. Then, select the Line button and draw something similar to the object shown using the following coordinates. Draw a line from start point go 2,0,0: 1,0,-1: 0,0,-1: 2,0,-1: 0,0,-1: -2,0,0: 0,0,-12: 2,0,0: 0,0,-1: -2,0,-1: 0,0,-1: 2,0,-2: 1,0,-4: -1,0,-4: -2,0,-2: 2,0,-2: 1,0,-2: 0,0,-1: -12,0,0: 0,0,1: 1,0,2: 2,0,2: -2,0,2: -1,0,4: 1,0,4: 2,0,2: 0,0,1: -2,0,1: 0,0,1: 2,0,0: 0,0,12: -2,0,0: 0,0,1: 2,0,1: 0,0,1: 1,0,1: 2,0,0: close. Name the object Base. See Figure 1-04.

A complex shape is made that will be used to form the base of the clock.

  1. Pick Modify in the Command Panel and select the Sub-object and Vertex commands.

This allows you to modify all the vertexes in the line.

  1. Select a vertex and right click to bring up the options menu. Choose the Bezier command to smooth the sharp edges near the bottom. Close the Sub-object command. You should come up with something as shown. See Figure 1-05.

The edges are now smooth.

Figure 1-04. A profile of the base object.

Figure 1-05. The base profile with smooth edges.

  1. Make the Top viewport active. Pick Create>Shapes and Rectangle. In the Keyboard Entry rollout give it a length of 28 and width of 52. Pick the Select and Move command to center it about the frame and move it to the bottom.
  1. Make sure the rectangle is selected. Pick Create>Geometry and go to Compound Objects in the drop-down list. Select the Loft command. Choose Get Shape and then pick the line you just created. Leave the Skin Steps and Path Steps at zero. Change the Shape Steps to 5. Name this object Clock Base.

The line previously made is lofted creating a 3-D shape.

  1. To create the shelf, make the top view active. Pick Create>Geometry and Box. In the Keyboard Entry rollout, give it a length of 20, width of 45, and height of 2.5. Name the object Shelf.
  1. Pick the Select and Move command to move the shelf into position between the windows. See Figure 1-06.

Figure 1-06. The Frame with the Base and Shelf added.

Creating the Top

  1. Make the Left viewport active. Pick Create>Geometry and box. In the Keyboard Entry rollout, give it a length of 17, a width of 35, and a height of 55. Pick the Select and Move command to move it to the top of the clock. Name this object Top01.
  1. Pick Create>Geometry and Box. Create a second box using a length of 12, width of 5, and height of 55 in the Keyboard Entry rollout. Pick the Select and Move command to move it to the front and top of the previous box. Name this object Top02.
  1. Pick the Top01 object in any viewport. Pick Create>Geometry and select Compound Objects from the drop-down list. Select the Boolean command. Pick the Union radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick the Top 02 object.

3-D Studio Viz makes the two separate objects a single entity.

  1. Name the new object Top. See Figure 1-07.

Figure 1-07. The Top is positioned on the Frame.

  1. Make the Front viewport active. Pick Create>Geometry and cylinder. In the Keyboard Entry rollout, give it a radius of 19 and depth of 45. In the Parameters rollout, change the Sides to 50.
  1. Pick the Select and Move command. Move it up to create a hole in the top matching the front opening.
  1. Pick Top in any viewport. Pick Create>Geometry and select Compound Objects from the drop-down list. Select the Boolean command. Pick the Subtract A-B radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick the Cylinder01 object.

The Top now follows the curve of the front of the Frame.

  1. Pick Create>Geometry and Cylinder. Make four more cylinders. Two of the cylinders will have a radius of 8 and depth of 20 and two will have a radius of 10.5 and a depth of 20. Pick Select and Move and place them at the top of the clock. Make certain the two outer cylinders and flush with the upper surface of object Top. See Figure 1-08.
  1. Pick the Top object in any viewport. Pick Create>Geometry and select Compound Objects from the drop-down list. Select the Boolean command. Pick the Subtract A-B radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick one of the cylinders. Pick on the Select button to reset the commands. Repeat this step for the other three cylinders.

The cylinders are removed from the object Top.

Figure 1-08. Cylinder placement for the Top Boolean.

  1. Make the Left viewport active. Pick Create>Shapes and Line. Use the Zoom function to zoom in near the Top. Make sure snap is turned on. If necessary, change the Grid Settings to 0.25 Grid Spacing. Draw a Line shape using the following coordinates. Start the line and go 0,-.5,0: 0, -.5, .25: 0, 0, .25: 0, -.5, .5: 0, -.5, .25: 0, -.25, .5: 0, -.75, .25: 0, 0, .25: 0, 10, 0: 0, 0, -.25: 0, -.75, -.25: 0, -.25, -.5: 0, -.5, -.25: 0, -.5, -.5: 0, 0, -.25: 0, -.5, -.25: close. See Figure 1-09.

This creates the profile of a cap-like shape.

Figure 1-09. The cap-like shape in profile.

  1. Now the cap is ready to be put on. Make the Left viewport active. Pick Create>Shapes and Line. Draw a line stretching from the back of object Top to just past the front of it. Name this object Left. See Figure 1-10.

A line is created that the cap-like profile can be lofted to.

Figure 1-10. Placement of line related the object Top.

  1. Make the Top viewport active. Pick the Select and Move command. Pick the line and hold down the [Shift] key on the keyboard. Move the object to the other side. A pop-up menu will appear and click the Instance radio button. Name this object Right.

A copy of the line is made.

  1. Pick the Left object in any viewport. Select the Compound Objects command and then choose Loft. Pick the Get Shape button and select the Line01 object. If necessary, use the Select and Rotate command to rotate the objects. See Figure 1-11.

Figure 1-11. Placement of objects Left and Right.

  1. Make the Front viewport active. Pick Create>Shapes and Line. Draw a line just above Top with multiple segments. To do this, drag the line a short distance and click the mouse. Keep creating segments until the line is about half as long as Top is wide. The reason for this is to allow bending after rotation if the loft needs to be rotated.
  1. With the new line selected, select the Modify command and then choose Loft. Select the Get Shape button and choose Line01. If necessary, use the Select and Rotate command to rotate the objects. If rotation is necessary, be certain to select both the original line and the loft as well. Name the Object Cap01.

The shape is lofted onto the line creating a 3-D shape.

  1. Pick the Select and Move command and move the line down such that the left side sticks out and just above the left cylinder Boolean of Top. Pick the Modify command and choose the Sub-object button. Make sure the rollout is set to the Vertex option. Using the Select and Move command, follow the curve of the cap. As you move the line you will notice the loft changing shape as well. See Figure 1-12.

Figure 1-12. Following the Top arc with a lofted object.

  1. Right-click on the vertexes to open the sub-menu. Choose the Bezier function to smooth the corners of the line to better fit the Top.

The edges are now smoothed out.

  1. Once Cap01 fits the outer curve of Top, use the Select and Move command and right click to make an Instance of it. Name the object Cap02. Use the Select and Rotate command to rotate it 180 degrees to fit it on the other side.
  1. The edges of the four lofts fit together awkwardly so a 45 degree cut needs to be made on all the corners. Pick Create>Geometry and Box. In the Keyboard Entry rollout, give it a length of 15, width of 15, and height of 15. Use the Select and Move command and right click to make three copies of the box.

The boxes will be used to cut the edges off the caps.

  1. Pick Select and Move and choose a box. Move the box so it overlaps the corners of the lofts as they are placed. Pick the loft the box now overlaps and then pick Create>Geometry and select Compound Objects from the drop-down list. Select the Boolean command. Pick the Subtract A-B radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick the box just moved. Pick the Select command to reset the Boolean command. Repeat for all the lofts. See Figure 1-13.

The cap now has a corner that fits perfectly with the other caps.

Figure 1-13. The edges of the Cap fit exactly.

  1. For the clock base cutout, pick the Create>Shapes and Line command. Make the Front viewport active. Draw a line using the following coordinates. Start: 32,0,0: 2,0,2: -2,0,4: -4,0,-3: -6,0,2: -6,0,-2: -6,0,2: -6,0,-2: -4,0,3: -2,0,-4: 2,0,-2: close.

A figure is made resembling half of a figure-eight.

  1. Pick Modify select the Sub-object command. Make sure the Vertex option is in the rollout. Right-click on the vertexes and Bezier the corners. See Figure 1-14.
  1. Pick the Modify command and Extrude. Under the rollout, give it a length of 50. Make a Copy of it for the other direction and rotate it 90 degrees. Use Uniform Scale command to make it small enough to fit within the base. Use the Modify command to change the Extrusion to 100.

A second partial figure-eight is made.

  1. Pick the Select and Move command and move both of the extrusions flush with the base.

Figure 1-14. Profile of the base Extrusion.

  1. Select the Base in any viewport. Pick Create>Geometry and select Compound Objects from the drop-down list. Select the Boolean command. Pick the Subtract A-B radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick one of the extrusions. Pick the Select command to reset the Boolean command. Repeat for both extrusions. See Figure 1-15.

Cut outs are now created in the base.

Figure 1-15. A view of the Base with the Extrusions removed.

  1. Select Cap01 in any viewport. Pick Create>Geometry and select Compound Objects from the drop-down list. Select the Boolean command. Pick the Union radio button in the Parameters rollout. Now, select the Pick Operand B button and pick object Left. Pick the Select command to reset the Boolean command. Repeat for Cap02 and Right. Rename the objects Cap Left and Cap Right.
  1. Make the Front viewport active. Use the Zoom button to zoom in between the Cap Left and Cap Right.
  1. Pick Create>Shapes and Line. Create a line using this guide: start: 4,0,0: 0,0,-.5: -1,0,-.5: -.5,0,1: -1,0,0: -.5,0,1: -1,0,.5: 0,0,.5: close. Name the object Line04.
  1. Make the Top viewport active. Pick Create>Shapes and Rectangle. In the Keyboard Entry rollout, type in a length of 26 and width of 2. Pick the Modify command and Loft. Use the Get Shape button and select line04.
  1. Pick the Select and Move command. Move the loft into place at the top of the cap just above the flat parts of Cap Left and Cap Right. Right-click to make an instance for the other side.
  1. Name the objects Upper Left and Upper Right respectively. See Figure 1-16.