@dave r said:

feel free to ask for clarification as needed.

Thank-you Dave.

Well.. I spent a few hours trying to figure out what you mean, but unfortunately I was bamboozled right from when you said; "When creating geometry for things such as the holes in this block, I like to work outside the component.", and then followed that up with:
"The hole cutting shapes are drawn in situ". Those two statements to me seem to be polar opposites, but I am a bit thick.

I then tried to follow your {edit > cut / paste} instructions but had trouble placing the bolt-hole component. Next thing I know (after much intersection, etc.), it's not a component any more. Don't ask me how I managed that, but the attached will give you an exact idea of what I'm after. I'd like to do the same with all four holes, and if what I have done thus far is any indication, it will take me about another three days.

As you can see, I have changed the axes to help me align the 6s nut shape (which I made separately and plonked on top of the circular hole).

Anyway.. I think I'd do better to put this on hold and spend another couple of weeks learning wtf I'm doing and then come back to it.

Thanks for all your help.. I'm sure it will become clear the more tutorials I do.

Cheers.

The extension so far

@dave r said:

Check your PMs.

I don't seem to have permission to reply to PM's, but thank-you very much for your advice.

I'm working my way through it as we speak but may have trouble with your non-beginner parlance.

Cheers!

@dave r said:

I'm curious about what the OP is drawing and wondering if simply move the top over to one side is the best way to draw it.

Thank-you all so much for your fabulous help. There are some things that the videos just don't mention.

Here's my *.skp but I'm stuck again. The object is a rear-view mirror extension and goes between the fairing and the mirror.
A 'straight' version would of course be easier as only one set of bolts need be used, but I was looking to lower the mirrors a little also. Now I'm stuck trying to make the bolt holes. The top seemed to work OK but I can't seem to select the two circles on the bottom surface any more - even to remove them.

Also, I need to make a cut-out at the lower end of each bolt-hole for the nuts to fit.

Can you people point me in the right direction of some tutorials on this kind of process?

Thanks so much again. Cheers. M.

Stuck on the lower bolt holes

Hello there.

I'm trying to design a component for my motorcycle and after learning the basics (scale, groups, etc.) I can't find a way to make an object 'lean'.
Basically, I want to make the object on the left (imagine it's the end of a brick) lean over but leaving the top and bottom surfaces the original dimensions and changing the dimensions of the sides (and obviously the thickness of the object) to suit the angle of lean: