Tutorial: How to “cut“ a chamber into an object
By DarthD.U.C.K.

Some days ago I wrote a post, explaining how to make a hangar into a spaceship,
The post was confusing (I think) and because I cant find the thread anymore I’m writing this tut now.

Step 0:Open the XSI-Modtool, go to: Model\Modify\Component and click on the scissors-symbol
Now shrink the bar as you want, you only need the “add point” tool and move it to a place you want. Do the same with the “Poly.Mesh” box, here you only need the “add edge” command. The window should look like this now:

(this step is not necessary)

Step 1:Open the model, you want to cut the chamber/whatever into.
I made a simple grid:


Step 2:Now create the chamber’s outline, for each corner create one point with the “add edge” tool:
And connect them to another edge:


Step 3:Move the points to their exact place with the “move point” tool:

Well, I don’t made it too exactly…

Step 4:Now make a new edge for each edge of the outline and connect them to another:

You don’t have to make them exact now.

Step 5:Now move these points (the new created) into the ship/whatever:

Step 6:And now move the points behind the outline points and move the interior points so that theyre looking “clean” in the right view:


Step 7:Now, that your chamber/hangar/whatever is created, you could add e.g. a tunnel to it:
Do steps 2-x with the tunnels points:




Step 8:And to open the tunnel: connect the tunnel edges like this together:


Step 9:And now delete with the “delete component” tool under “Poly.Mesh”
The point in the middle: if you click on the point a popup will appear, click “grid.pnt[LAST]”
Now your tunnel is opened!


Congratulations, you’ve made a hangar and you are able to connect tunnels from shipped worlds on it!!

NOTES: I know everything is too small/big, but the size don’t matters in this tut.
The way I’m describing is very stupid and uncomfortable, but that would be the way
I would make such a hangar/whatever.

Any questions, suggestions, comment or criticism?

-uploading pictures-

EDIT: here is the dllink for the .doc

Nice tutorial ! I'll try it out when I get the chance .

Not to rain on your proverbial parade, but Boolean Difference, would be easier.

Try this demonstration.

Make a cube.

Make a longer, but smaller cube, that runs through the large one.

Select the large one, and under Modify>Poly Mesh>Boolean>Difference

It gives you a "pick" cursor, click the small, long cube.

Then freeze the large cube's modeling, and delete the small cube.
If done right, there will be a hole in, or through the large cube, depending on how the small cube was placed.

Boolean difference very rarely makes a clean cut - you get random polygons running around.

Once you have defined the outline of the cut, you can just use the extrude along axis tool to move the face in - what was the outside wall of your ship will now be the back wall of the hangar.

Yeah, boolean'd be better for irregular shapes though, I suppose.