SOLIDUNFOLD / SOLIDFOLD

SOLIDUNFOLD unfolds a 3D solid into flat 2D polylines, one per face, so you get the flat pattern of the solid. The polylines remember their original 3D coordinates. SOLIDFOLD then folds them back into a 3D solid.

Starting

Type SOLIDUNFOLD or SOLIDFOLD on the command line, or use the buttons in the ribbon on the SCAD Core tab, Blocks panel.

How it works

SOLIDUNFOLD

1. Preselect one or more 3D solids, or pick them when the command asks: Select 3D solids:. Only 3D solids are accepted.
2. The command reports Unfolding N solid(s)... and lays the faces of each solid flat, connected along their shared edges. Holes in a face come along: round holes as a circle, other holes as a closed polyline.
3. If you picked several solids, each pattern is placed above the previous one with some space in between.
4. The command asks Specify placement point:. The pattern follows the cursor. Click to place it.
5. The new polylines stay selected. The original solid stays in the drawing.

If none of the solids can be unfolded, the command reports No faces could be unfolded.

SOLIDFOLD

1. Preselect the unfolded polylines, or pick them when the command asks: Select unfolded polylines:.
2. The command reports Folding N polyline(s) back to 3D solid... and rebuilds a 3D solid for each original solid from its polylines.
3. The command asks Specify placement point:. Click to place the folded solid.