Shell Solid

Use it!

(3D only) Used to create a hollowed out solid having faces of a defined thickness. One or more selected faces may be removed to create an opening. You can shell both standard solids and those that have been modified in some way.

In operation, you can select one or more faces as follows:

• After selecting the solid, as you move the screen pointer over it, the face nearest the pointer highlights. A data point selects the highlighted face, which remains highlighted.

• You can select additional faces using <Ctrl> data points. That is, press <Ctrl> and move the pointer until the required face highlights. Entering a data point, while holding down <Ctrl>, selects the highlighted face.

• To select a face that is behind another in the view, enter a data point (or <Ctrl> data point) on the face, which will highlight the nearest face. Then enter Resets until the required face highlights.

• You can use Resets also to deselect an incorrect face. Where a number of faces have been selected, consecutive Resets will deselect them in the reverse order (that is, the last face selected is the first face deselected).

Tool Setting	Effect
Shell Thickness	Sets the wall thickness for the remaining faces.
Shell Outward	If on, material is added to the outside; the original solid defines the inside of the walls.

To construct a shell solid with no faces removed

1. Select the Shell Solid tool.


2. In the Shell Thickness field, key in the desired thickness value.


3. If required, turn on Shell Outward.


4. Identify the solid.
   The solid highlights. Simultaneously, the face nearest the screen pointer location highlights also.


5. Accept, away from the solid, to create the hollowed out shell solid.

To construct a shell solid with one or more faces removed

1. Select the Shell Solid tool.


2. In the Shell Thickness field, key in the desired thickness value.


3. If necessary, turn on Shell Outward.


4. Identify the solid.
   The solid highlights. Simultaneously, the face nearest the screen pointer location highlights also.


5. Identify the face to remove (with a data point).
   The face highlights.


6. Accept, to create the shell solid
   or
   Identify further faces for removal (with <Ctrl> data points).


7. Accept, to create the shell solid.

   Creating a shell solid Left: Identify the solid (1). Center: Identify the first face to remove with a data point (2) and the second face with a <Ctrl> data point (3). Right: Accept (4), to create the shell solid.

   Rendered view of the shell solid.

Key-in: CONSTRUCT SHELL