WORKSHOP
I
J
K
Fig. I: Prepare to rotate the leg.
Fig. J: Rotate the leg 90º.
Phase II. Design Engineering
5. Choose components.
5a. Create a new layer (Window Layers). Name it
Construction Layer, and make the layer active.
5b. Open the Component window by clicking Window
Components, and then choose Construction from
the drop-down menu. Here you’ll find the 2× 4 we’ll
need. Click-drag the 12'-long 2× 4 stud from the
Component window to your scene.
6. Cut lumber.
6a. Right-click on the stud and choose Explode
from the menu. Sorry, nothing dramatic happens,
but this does let you edit the stud.
6b. You’ll measure the cut with the Tape Measure
tool. Create a measurement guide by clicking on
a corner point at the bottom of the stud and then
click again partway up the same edge. Type in the
height of your leg cut, 34", and press Enter (Figure G).
6c. Use the Push/Pull tool to drag the top face of
the stud down until it snaps to the Guide Point you
measured, thus cutting the leg down to 34".
6d. With the Select tool, triple-click the stud to
select all connected faces, and then group them
by clicking Edit Make Group (Figure H).
126 Make: Volume 10
L
Fig. K: Create an upper support stud.
Fig. L: Duplicate the upper parts for the lower frame.
7. Make copies.
7a. Select the leg, then choose Tools Rotate and
rotate the leg 90° on the z-axis (the protractor should
be blue). Then, click Tools Move and move the
leg into position over one of the legs of the rough
model. Do so by clicking once on one of its bottom
points, and then a second time on the equivalent
point on the rough model (Figures I and J).
7b. With the leg still selected, duplicate it by clicking
on Edit Copy, and then Edit Paste. Position the
new leg and then repeat for the remaining legs.
7c. Clean up the screen by turning off the Rough
Layer visibility in the Layers window.
8. Support frame.
8a. Paste, move, rotate, and resize (phew!) one of
the legs to create the front upper support. In order
to edit the length of the stud, double-click the group
with the Select tool, then use the Push/Pull tool on
one end face. Repeat this step 3 times to complete
the frame (Figure K).
8b. Duplicate the frame parts downward to support
the lower legs, about 6" up from the bottom. Do this
by shift-selecting the parts and using Edit Copy,
then Edit Paste (Figure L).
