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Part II: Working with Objects

As the geometry of the objects changes, the Hedra can have as many as three different types of polygons
making up the faces. These polygons are represented by the P, Q, and R Axis Scaling values. Each type of
face can be scaled, creating sharp points extending from each face. If only one unique polygon is used for
the faces, then only one Axis Scaling parameter is active. The Reset button simply returns the Axis Scaling
value to its default at 100. For example, using the R Axis Scaling value, pyramid shapes can be extended
from each face of a cube.
Figure 5.17 shows some results of using the Axis Scaling options. One of each family type has been created
and displayed in the top row for reference. The bottom row has had an axis scaled to a value of 170. This
setting causes one type of polygon face to be extended, thereby producing a new shape.

FIGURE 5.17
Hedras with extended faces, compliments of the Axis Scaling option

The Vertices parameter options add more vertices and edges to the center of each extended polygon. The
three options are Basic, which is the default and doesn’t add any new information to the Hedra; Center,
which adds vertices to the center of each extended polygon; and Center and Sides, which add both center
vertices and connecting edges for each face that is extended using the Axis Scaling options. With these
options set, you can extend the polygon faces at your own discretion.
Way at the bottom of the Parameters rollout is the Radius value, which generally sets the size of the hedra object.

ChamferBox
A chamfered object is one whose edges have been smoothed out, so a ChamferBox primitive is a box with
beveled edges. The parameter that determines the amount of roundness applied to an edge is Fillet. In many
ways, this object is just a simple extension of the Box primitive.
The only additions in the Parameters rollout are two fields for controlling the Fillet dimension and the Fillet
Segments. Figure 5.18 shows a ChamferBox with Fillet values of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 and the Smooth
option turned on.
Cylindrical Extended Primitives
The Extended Primitives include several objects based on the Cylinder primitive that are very similar. The
only real difference is the shape of the caps at either end. These four similar objects include the OilTank,
Spindle, ChamferCyl, and Capsule. Figure 5.19 shows these similar objects side by side.

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