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[wptabtitle] INTRODUCTION[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]

Using COE Plug-In to Import & Export Objects and Points in AutoCAD

Leica’s CloudWorx and COE (Cyclone Object Exchange) applications allow the user to view, import, and export files between Cyclone and CAD software while maintaining links and information. This relationship allows the user to take advantage of the accuracy of the point cloud data and the advanced modeling functions in AutoCAD; it also makes comparisons, analysis, and visualizations possible.

The COE import/export tool allows points and modeled objects to be imported/ exported/edited between Cyclone and ACAD (objects can be imported/exported with or without the point cloud data) and must be installed separately. Objects and points can be directly edited in the CAD environment. Importing/exporting points with the COE tool is only recommended for small point sets (less than 1,000,000 points).  See the GMV guide ‘Leica CloudWorx 4.2 and AutoCAD 2012’ for more information about the CloudWorx application.

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[wptabtitle] CONFIRM INSTALLATION AND SET UNITS[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]

I. In ACAD, confirm that the COE tool has been installed (enter COEIN in the command line in ACAD; an import options dialogue box should appear).  If it is not installed, download the installation file from the Leica downloads page – check for updates as the plug-in changes as versions update). During installation, the .exe will open AutoCAD, command line (F2) will note the installation and the availability of new commands such as COEIN & COEOUT.

II. UNITS -> To avoid complications, it is highly recommended to work in the same units as the Cyclone Files > CHECK UNITS IN ALL NEW DRAWINGS BEFORE DRAWING, MODELING, OR IMPORTING > In new ACAD drawing -> Command Line: UNITS > Adjust options to match Cyclone > Generally, Type: Decimal, Insertion Scale Units: Meters > OK

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[wptabtitle] COE COMMANDS[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]

III. The following COE commands may be accessed through these entries or through the toolbar

COEIN :Import COE files into ACAD
COEOUT: Export contents of drawing to COE file
COEXPLODE: explodes blocks into individual objects
COEANN: toggles annotations from cyclone on/off

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[wptabtitle] IMPORT OBJECTS INTO ACAD[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]

IV. To import objects into ACAD -> command line: COEIN -> dialogue box appears -> Under ‘Import File Name’ browse for file -> Import Options:

• Import objects as ACIS Solids -> imports objects as 3D ACIS solids
• Import Objects as Blocks -> Blocks are made up of one or more objects that are combined to create a single object; using blocks results in the best compression rate when objects are brought to ACAD (per Cyclone 7.0 Help) and are useful when repeating objects. When editing a block, all similar blocks are simultaneously edited. A block must be exploded or “re-written” to remove or adjust this link between identical blocks. Dynamic blocks are more easily editable and are only available in newer versions of ACAD. See ACAD help -> “Work with blocks” for more information
• Import Point Sets -> In general, CloudWorx is recommended for large point clouds (1,000,000+ points), while the COE tool is recommended for objects and smaller point clouds (less than 1,000,000 points) -> If Import Point Sets is selected and you experience problems/crashing, it is recommended that you either decrease the size of the point cloud for import or that you use CloudWorx to view the point cloud versus import it
• Log files -> log files are automatically created, adjust path as desired
• Units Preference -> UNITS MUST MATCH (see Step II) -> In most cases, scan data is acquired in meters; if imported in a different unit, ACAD should automatically apply a scale factor but using the same units avoids problems (If acquired and imported in the same unit, this scale factor will be 1)

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[wptabtitle] EXPORT OBJECTS FROM AUTOCAD[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]

V. To export objects from AutoCAD -> Toolbar or command line: COEOUT -> Dialogue box appears -> Browse to project folder and name file -> Select Objects to Export -> OK -> Export Options:

• Export objects USING ORIGINAL COE file as reference: When selected, the COE file that is created/exported from ACAD references the original Cyclone data set enabling as much original object information/data as possible to be maintained when the object is brought back into Cyclone; select when integrating ACAD data with the original COE file from Cyclone.Export objects WITHOUT original COE reference file: When selected, the COE file is new and maintains no connection or reference to Cyclone data set or original COE file.
• Export Objects: choose option All, Visible, or Selected objects
• Units: as in importing in Step VI, UNITS MUST MATCH -> In most cases, scan data is acquired in meters; if exported in a different unit, a scale factor should automatically apply but using the same units avoids problems (If acquired and imported in the same unit, this scale factor will be 1)

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[wptabtitle]CONTINUE TO…[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]Continue to Using Leica’s COE Plug-In in Cyclone.[/wptabcontent]

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In updated versions of ACAD, drawings are scaled automatically when they’re inserted into a drawing with a different scale. However, in older versions and depending on how drawings were created, automatic scaling does not always work. Sometimes, objects within a DWG need to be scaled manually to a known dimension, another object, or an image. This example covers manually scaling and aligning ACAD object(s) by using another object as a reference. Please see ‘AutoCAD Interface and File StructureBasics’ for basic navigation and file structure information.

I. Aligning & Scaling an ACAD object using another ACAD object as a reference –

A. Open the reference drawing (ie: campus map) as read only > File > Open > Select file name > DO NOT click ‘Open’, use the pull-down arrow to select ‘Open Read-only’ > Locate the object (ie: individual building) that you are scaling

NOTE: Opening the reference DWG read-only allows you to use it freely as a reference without affecting the original drawing. It protects against accidently overriding the original source file.

B. Open the drawing with the objects to be adjusted (ie: individual floor plan) > It is recommended to ‘Open Read-only’ on this drawing as well >Adjust the layers so that only those layers that you want to use are visible > Confirm all visible lines are closed polylines

C. Select the object(s) > RC > Clipboard > Copy with base point > LC on a significant point on object(s) to specify the base point (See “Copying & Pasting Objects” in AutoCAD Basics for more information) > Using the lower, left corner consistently is recommended for ease in remembering and placing objects

D. Paste object(s) into reference drawing (ie: paste individual floor plan into campus plan) > Zoom into location for placement (reference object) > RC > Clipboard > Paste as block > LC at point that you want to place the base point defined in Step C

E. Align copied block object to correspond with reference object

1. Select block object

2. Command line: ALIGN

3. Prompt to specify the first source point – Select the original base point from previous steps

4. Prompt to specify the first destination point – Select the same original base point from previous steps

5. Specify second source point – select a significant point on the reference object

6. Specify second destination point – select the point on the block object which you want to correspond with the source point in Step 5

7. Click ENTER twice

F. Scale the block object to the scale of the reference object – we will use a significant feature on the reference object (in this case the length of a wall) to scale the block object. A significant feature has an easily identifiable start point and end point, which we will use to re-define the length of the block object. NOTE: ACAD uses the term ‘reference length’ in the command prompt- this is only applicable when the command is active and should not be confused with the reference object/drawing we have been using:

1. Select block object

2. Command line: SC or SCALE

3. Specify base point > LC to select original base point from previous steps (see Figure 10 – Selection 1)

4. Specify scale factor > command line: R or REFERENCE

5. Specify reference length > This is the significant length (wall) on the object being scaled and must be defined by selecting the start point and the end point

a) Select the start point – here it is the base point from previous steps (see Figure 10 – Selection 2 is the same point as Selection 1)

b) Specify the 2nd point/endpoint of the significant length (see Figure 10 – Selection 3)

6. Specify new length > This is the end point on the reference length, which is defined by the new endpoint only (see Figure 10 – Selection 4)

7. The block object (individual building) and reference object (campus map building) should now have the same scale and orientation

TIPS: If object is not scaling correctly, confirm that automatic settings within ACAD are not active and interfering. See the toolbar at bottom of screen (where OSNAPS icon is located) – confirm that the following settings are OFF Infer Constraints

Polar Tracking

Object Snap

Tracking

Dynamic Input

Clicking on the icon toggles it on/off, which is noted in the command line – click on each icon listed and confirm it is off

II. Adjusting the Coordinate System and Saving as an Individual Drawing

In the previous steps, the block object (individual building) was aligned and scaled to match the reference drawing (campus map). When the block was placed in the campus map, it was placed into the map’s coordinate system. By using the drawing origin (point 0, 0, 0 which is coincidental in all drawings) we can now create a new drawing with the same coordinates as the campus map so that scaled, aligned, and properly coordinated buildings can be saved individually.

A. Create a new drawing > Adjust the units to match the reference drawing (here campus map drawing is in Architectural Units > 1/16″ Precision) > See ACAD Basics for more on Units

B. In the Reference Drawing (campus map) > RC > Clipboard > Copy the block object (individual floor plan) with base point > Base Point 0,0,0

B. In the new drawing created in Step A > RC > Clipboard > Paste to Original Coordinates > Command Line: ZE (Zoom Extents)

C. The floor plan is now scaled, aligned, and in the proper coordinate system with the Campus Map > Select block object > Command Line: EXPLODE > The floor plan is no longer grouped but is again composed of individual polylines

D. Command Line: Save As > Under files of type, use rolldown to find AutoCAD 2007 .dwg > Save and close

See AutoCAD’s help menu and the many free tutorials on-line to help with questions and steps. ACAD’s user interface is fairly friendly. Often just typing the command, all as one word without spaces, will either bring up the command or the appropriate help topic. Each new version of ACAD has changes in the interface but you can always access primary commands in this command line.  Those new to the 2009 version of CAD may find the New Features Tutorial helpful.

Creating/Opening Files

To Open an Existing File -> In ACAD -> Start Menu -> Open (see figure 1)

• When opening files from different versions of ACAD or containing different elements (such as an user-specific fonts or styles) a warning will appear when you open the file.  If dialogue box asks for shape file (.shp) or states it cannot locate the shape file, close the box by clicking ‘X’ and the file will open, replacing the unknown file with a default replacement file.
• If a message appears regarding updating AEC elements, be aware that older versions of AutoCAD cannot read files saved in newer versions; in order to open/manipulate a new file in an old version of CAD –> Open the file in the NEW version of ACAD –> File –> Save As –> File Type –> pull down to select the appropriate version of CAD.  See the information on file types .dwg versus .dxf in the overview ‘File Formats’.

To Create a New .DWG (ACAD drawing) -> Start Menu -> New -> Drawing -> Template Library opens -> to work with point clouds and other 3D work spaces choose “acad3D.dwt” -> template opens a 3D model space as a .DWG with a default file name -> adjust preferences as needed (see below) -> save file NOTE: The .dwt name varies w/ version of ACAD – the goal is choosing the 3D template)

File Formats

DWG – this is ACAD’s standard file format.  The type of .DWG format varies with each different release/version of ACAD in which the file was saved (by year).

DXF – or “Drawing eXchange Format” is a format that is standardized in different CAD and graphics programs.   This allows users to exchange drawings even if they don’t have the same program. When you use the DXF format, some objects may change their appearance when re-opened.  See DXFOUT and DXFIN commands for exporting and importing DXF files, respectively.

NOTE: 2004.dxf is a highly supported/interchangeable format and will often allow exchange with other software which may not successfully allow the .DWG.  To save an ACAD file as a .DXF -> file -> save as -> pull-down file type to .dxf

BAK – this is ACAD’s backup file format; ACAD automatically creates a duplicate backup file.  If you original file becomes corrupt or un-usable, rename the BAK file to a DWG file and open as usual.

SV$ –  This is AutoCAD’s format it uses whenever it performs an automatic save. AutoCAD will save the file automatically within a pre-determined time frame. Set the time frame and the location of automatic saves in Options > Files dialog box.

Navigation

There are several methods to navigate in ACAD

Command Line – simple commands such as PAN, ORBIT, ZOOM can be entered in the command line.

ZOOM – Use the zoom icon or the middle roller on your mouse to zoom in/out; also type ‘ZOOM’ in command line for zooming options. Type shortcut ‘ZE’ to zoom to the extents of all visible objects/points

Toolbars – Right click on the area where any visible toolbar is docked; this brings up your toolbar options.  ACAD contains the most basic toolbars. Activating the toolbars for ‘Orbit’,  ‘3D Navigation’, and ‘Views’ is recommended.

NOTE: When orbiting, a sphere is displayed with nodes shown on the top, bottom, left, and right – the cursor must be within this sphere (even if the objects/points are outside of it) in order to rotate/orbit; placing your cursor over the nodes helps control orbit; the objects and points are not visible during orbit but re-appear when the command ends

Mouse – by default the mouse is set to zoom in/out; RC also displays navigation options

Preferences/ Setup

UNITS – one of the most important preference to consider is units -> Command line -> UNITS -> Insertion Scale -> Set unit (maintaining the same unit as the scan data, which is usually meters, is recommended)

NOTE: If point cloud data and CAD need to be in different units or coordinate systems, use ACAD’s point cloud dialogue box to define units and coordinates as they will be used in ACAD -> Command Line -> POINTCLOUD -> Locate data -> Define units/coordinates -> data is converted to the scale/coordinates of the ACAD drawing

Other Preferences -> Command line –> ‘PREFERENCES’

Files –> displays and allows you to edit paths for file saves (including auto saves), backups, etc

Display –> Screen & element colors, crosshair size, & display performance

Open & Save –> Automatic Save setting options (set to 10 minutes between automatic backup/autosave by default; this can be an invaluable backup or it can be a frustrating time consumer – adjust this setting as needed based on file size and backup issues)

Explore other preferences and file options

Command Lines & Help Menu – Tips

Entering basic commands in their entirety or abbreviated into the command line is often successful and quick — ZOOM (Z), PAN (P), ORBIT, LINE (L), UNDO (U), SAVEAS; You can scroll through the command history with the up arrow in the command line or by entering ‘F2’

Snap Icons – Directly below the command line, Snap icons allow quick toggling of drawing constraints used during modeling

Help – ACAD has strong help/search capabilities so when in question, a good place to start is the help menu accessed through -> command prompt –> HELP or File –> Help or F1 Key or Typing keyword or phrase in search box located in upper right hand side of screen

Model Space, Paper Space, & Viewports

These are the names for the virtual spaces within ACAD.  They are controlled through the layout tabs

Model Space = infinite 3D modeling space at 1:1 scale

**It is extremely important that from the very first step, you utilize the coordinate system in CAD. CAD is made up of infinite space and in order to keep your project organized, understanding this infinite space is essential. By default, every ModelSpace has the same origin point located at 0,0,0 (meaning the x, y, z coordinates are all at 0 – enter this value into the command line with no spaces). Recognizing and using the origin maintains a point of reference among various drawings. See the ‘Copying & Pasting Objects’ section below.

Layout/Paper Space = Virtual sheet of paper containing windows (or “viewports”) into model space.  Layout/Paper space can be scaled, labeled, and manipulated without affecting the objects in model space.  Layout is the preferred space from which to print/plot.

• Each layout is an individual “sheet of paper” containing an infinite number of viewports, labels, and text
• elements & layers can be viewed independently between model & paper space by adjusting their visibility in the Layers Manager

Viewports = a 2d view used to project the 3d model space into the layout view.  It is similar to a ‘window’ that you place in paper space to look into Model Space.

Osnaps / Constraints

Osnaps and constraints are essential to utilizing the full accuracy and proficiency of ACAD.  Icons to toggle them on/off are located along the bottom of the screen, below the command line (see figure 2)

Osnaps – when ON, they allow the user to “snap” drawing, modeling, and measurement tools to specific points on objects and point clouds (these points such as midpoint or end point appear when the cursor hovers above the location on the object).  When OFF, these grips are not highlighted while drawing.

Infer Constraints – infers where objects, lines, or references would continue into space, allowing the user to snap to intersections/points that might not literally exist

Ortho Mode – restricts the user to orthogonal modeling/drawing

Polar Tracking – User can set a degree as a guide for modeling/drawing

Layers

Layers are the primary means of controlling objects in ACAD; organized, clearly-named layers are essential to managing the drawing.

Note if importing data from Leica Cyclone: When a point cloud is loaded into CloudWorx, Cyclone’s layers are transferred into ACAD layers (Cyclone names transfer preceded by “~”).  Unless you have changed layer names in Cyclone, the point cloud is on “~Default” upon import.

Create new layer(s) for all modeling work through the Layer Property Manager To create/manage layers -> RC on any ACAD toolbar -> LC Layers -> On Layers toolbar, LC Layer Property Manager icon (see Figure 4)

Selecting Objects

Lines, blocks, solids, and other objects can be selected individually or in groups/sets.

Select Single Object > LC directly on the object.  It’s grips will highlight showing it has been selected > Use Shift + LC to select multiple grips

One or more objects > LC + move with the mouse to draw a selection window

• If the selection window is drawn from left-to-right, only objects that are COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BY THE WINDOW are selected
• If the window is drawn from right-to-left, every object that TOUCHES THE WINDOW is selected

De-select > LC + Re-selecting an object will de-select it from a set; ESCAPE will de-select the entire selection

Figure 5 – (Left) Selection Window drawn left-to-right with start and end points marked. (Right) The grips (blue “dots”) of all objects selected are highlighted – Note the yellow rectangle in the lower right hand of the screen; although the selection window touched the rectangle, it did not enclose it, therefore it is not selected

Copying & Pasting Objects

Objects may be copied and pasted within a single drawing or copied from one drawing and pasted into another. In all cases, when objects are copied a base point is assigned. This base point is the “handle” of the copied object – you might think of it as the point at which the mouse is “holding onto” the object.

I. Copying Object(s) – clipboard

A. Select the object(s) to be copied

B. RC > Clipboard > Copy Options:

Copy = Objects are copied to the clipboard and a default base point is assigned; this base point’s location depends on how the object was created but it is often located in the lower left-hand corner of the object(s)

Copy with base point = Objects are copied to the clipboard and the user assigns the base point, which is useful when placing the object accurately

Assigning a base point – the base point may be assigned to a point on the object or to a point in the coordinate system. Using a point on the object is useful when you are trying to place objects and the coordinate system is not important. Using the coordinate system origin (0,0,0) is useful when copying object(s) from one coordinate system to another or when objects do not provide accurate references.

Point on Object > LC on a point on the object to specify it as the base point

Point in Coordinate System > When prompted to specify a base point, manually enter coordinates in the command line (#,#,# – digits separated by commas and NO spaces) > ENTER

NOTE: Copying by the origin point 0, 0, 0 (x=0, y=o, z=0) allows the user to paste by the same origin point; in this way, object(s) can be copied from one DWG and can be pasted into the exact same location in a different DWG regardless of differing scales or coordinate systems

II. Pasting Object(s) – clipboard

A. Paste by base point on the object(s) > RC > Clipboard > Paste > LC to place the object – the point that you LC represents the location that the base point of the copied object is placed

B. Paste by coordinates > RC > Clipboard > Paste options:

Paste to original coordinates = object is placed at the x, y, z coordinates of the original drawing that were defined as the base point by the user when the object was copied

Paste = Command line prompts for insertion point:

Enter coordinates in the command line (#,#,# – digits separated by commas and NO spaces) > ENTER

LC at point in new drawing > object(s) are placed according to the point that you specified as the base point in the original drawing with this LC

C. Paste as Block > Object(s) are converted into a single block/entity upon pasting; this is useful when copying complex drawings to keep everything together

NOTE: Blocks are groups or components that exist within a single drawing or multiple drawings. When copied or inserted, they retain the characteristics of the original block and when pasted, the block is placed on whatever layer is current; when one block is edited, all blocks are edited simultaneously.

NOTE: <EXPLODE> separates blocks into the individual, original objects (and their individual layers); when copying/placing multiple objects at the same time, pasting them as blocks helps to keep multiple objects grouped and positioned correctly until they are adjusted/placed, at which point they can be exploded

III. Copying/pasting within a single drawing – command line

A. Select the object(s) to be copied > command line: <CO> or <COPY>

B. Object is copied and remains visible and command line prompts the user to specify the base point > LC on a point on the original object to specify the base point

C. Dragging the mouse, moves the object to the point where the copied object is to be placed > LC on the point you want to paste the base point of the object

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[wptabtitle] IMPORTANT NOTE ON OBJECTS IN ACAD[/wptabtitle]

[wptabcontent]IMPORTANT NOTE ON OBJECTS IN ACAD: When using the following methods (EXTRUDE, SWEEPT LOFT, REVOLVE) you can create solids or surfaces. Whether the object is solid or surface is determined by 2 things:

(1) Whether the polyline is open or closed: Open polygons and curves always create surfaces but closed polylines and curves can create either.

(2) Which tab is active at the top of the ACAD workspace (See Figure 1) – If the Solid tab is active, a solid is created; if the Surface tab is active, a surface object is created; if the Home tab is active, by default, a solid is created from closed polylines (this default can be changed once a command is active by entering ‘M’ for Mode at the prompt) – Solids seem to translate into the COE format and import into Cyclone much better than surfaces, which sometimes will not show up in Cyclone at all in the COE format.

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[wptabtitle] EXAMPLE[/wptabtitle]

[wptabcontent]Method 1: Slicing Cross Sections and Lofting – Point Clouds may be sliced to view specific sections or profiles to model; these slices are made across the x, y, or z axis based on the current UCS. Slicing large areas is useful when looking to see which features are the most intact/complete across a site. Slicing small areas allows for precise drawing/modeling. In this method, a column will be sliced and the section’s profile (ie: cross sections) will be traced and lofted into solid or surface objects.

In the first example, the column is sliced 3 times on the y-axis. Tracing the slices creates 3 polylines representing the section cuts from the bottom, middle, and top sections of the columns -> These cross sections will then be lofted to one another, forming the modeled column object.[/wptabcontent]

[wptabtitle] USE THE CLOUDWORX SLICE TOOLBAR[/wptabtitle]

[wptabcontent]II. Use the CloudWorx Slice Toolbar to slice the point cloud along the y-axis as the first section cut at the bottom of the column. Slices can be made in several ways.  NOTE: a slice must be named in the Cutplane Manager (main Cloudworx toolbar) in order to be saved; if unnamed, it will be deleted once it is deactivated!!!

1. Clip Point to Slice -> uses two parallel planes to define the slice; only those points between the two planes are shown > Command line: CWSLICE or Cloudworx > Clip Point Cloud > Slice > Define Axis > LC in viewport to place 1st and 2nd clipping planes.  NOTE: Current Slice can be moved one step (equal to width of the slice) forward (CWSLICEF) or backward (CWSLICEB) along its axis

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[wptabtitle] CLIP POINTS TO SECTION[/wptabtitle]

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2. Clip Points to Section > uses single plane with only those points on one side of the plane visible > Command line: CWSECTION or Cloudworx > Clip Point Cloud> Section View > LC in viewport to define axis and direction (positive or negative)

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[wptabtitle] TRACE AND SNAP TO POINT CLOUD[/wptabtitle]

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3. Trace first section cut, snapping directly to point cloud > Top View > Make correct layer current > Zoom in to view points comfortably and refresh point cloud to confirm all points visible (do this periodically, especially when zooming in/out) >Command Line: PL or POLYLINE to trace the profile/outline of the bottom slice of the column

REMEMBER: (1) Enable OSNAP “NODE” to snap to points (2) At command line: type “U” during active polyline command to undo vertices/go back without ending the command (3) At command line: PEDIT allows polyline(s) to be edited, joined, etc. (4) See ACAD Help: Drawing and Editing Polylines for more information

3A. Repeat Steps to create the polylines for the remaining section cuts (note you may create more or less slices as desired – a higher number of slices and/or increased complexity results in a more accurate tracing but also requires a higher and more difficult set of calculations to loft/join the separate sections; when too complex, the lofting command may fail to calculate the final object as desired) > Confirm each section is made of only one polyline (use PEDIT -> JOIN and PEDIT -> CLOSE to join and close multiple polylines)

3B. Once all section cuts are traced, hide the visibility of the point cloud -> make the column object layer current

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[wptabtitle] 3D MODELING MAIN TOOLBAR[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]III. 3D Modeling main toolbar > EXTRUDE tab pulls down to LOFT (see figure 4) or at command line: LOFT > Select cross sections in the order they are to be lofted to one another (here from bottom to top) > ENTER after selection > ENTER a 2nd time to accept “Cross Sections Only”

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[wptabtitle] EXAMPLES OF LOFTING[/wptabtitle] [wptabcontent]

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