Creating Solid Models

If surfaces cover a space, solid models enclose a volume. Only with solid objects can you use the MASSPROP command to calculate engineering properties such as volume, centroid, moments of inertia, and so on. Many of the solid modeling tools are the same as the surface modeling tools. If you start these commands with a closed path such as a circle, ellipse, or closed polyline, you will end up with a solid object while open paths generate surfaces. In the following sections you'll extrude and loft solid objects.

The EXTRUDE, REVOLVE, LOFT, and SWEEP commands have Mode options that allow you to select either Solid or Surface.

Extruding Solid Objects

The difference between a surface extrusion and a solid extrusion is what's ...

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