Unusaul Divisions Created when using Subtract Tool

I have one last thing to add after trying Richard’s thoughts. andnbsp;I was building a freight car truck and needed to cut a hole into the basic side shape. andnbsp;I used a cylinder, laid on end through the shape, which I first distorted to the shape I needed (sort of a rounded triangle) andnbsp;Sometimes it would cut a perfect hole, sometimes not. andnbsp;After the first hole, the second one would never cut out right. andnbsp;What I did was andquot;subtractandquot; the hole using a non-distorted cylinder, then move the points from the front orthographic view. andnbsp;As Richard suggested, a non-distorted shape seems to andquot;subtractandquot; perfectly every time.

Mike

Sometimes when I need to cut a hole in something or merge two objects they seem to make really strange cuts, leaving faces in the middle of the hole. andnbsp;Or sometimes leaving gaps in the remaining object. andnbsp;This can result in textures showing through on the completed model. andnbsp;Is there a way to control this better? andnbsp;Does it have something to do with the placement/size of the objects being cut? andnbsp;Sometimes I can undo/redo and get a different result. andnbsp;Sometimes better, sometimes worse. andnbsp;I am really trying to get the most out of this software and create professional looking models.

Mike

If an object is deformed, or even if a few points have been moved around you can get this issue. If this is the case, it can be helped considerably by triangulating the objects involved.

Richard

I’ll try that.
Thanks
Mike

I sometimes find that if I am cutting a hole in an object with subtract, I make my cutting object longer than my target object. If they are the same length (ie the points match up in line) I have problems.

just a thought.

Though I must say, I am using boolean lots less now and prefer to extrude / shift to create a really accurate wireframe. You get no unexplained cuts /points /lines/ illegal operations that way.

I am also thinking of writing my experience into a tutorial… but that’s some way off at this stage!

JonG