Exploded Axonometric

Workflow Tutorial

Rhino 3D → Illustrator → InDesign

Before you model (do not skip)

Goal: make geometry that can become a clear exploded axonometric drawing.

If you cannot select and move parts independently, your exploded axon will fail

01 | Prep Rhino File

This tutorial works with any system - but the files are set up in the metric system (centimeters).
Turn on Gridsnap, Gumball, Osnap (end, mid, int, perp, and point)
Setup Layers
- 00_Workline | to use for work-in-progress objects
- 10_Groove | for Groove 3D member
- 10_Tongue | for Tongue 3D member
- 10_Inlet | for Inlet 3D member
- 20_Make2D | for 2D projection layers & sublayers
- 30_Annotations lines
- 30_Leading Lines
Set up Exploded Axon View Port
- Choose ViewPort > Set View > Isometric > SE
- Adjust View
- Choose ViewPort > Set View > Named Views > Save As
- to update - repeat

Milestone 01 — Clean Rhino Setup EA_01_Layers_Setup.3dm

Hints & Tips:

Keep layer Numeric prefixes improve sort order. Clear distinction between timber and annotation layers helps with Make2D output after export.
Adjust the Isometric view using the Orbit and Zoom tools to avoid overlapping lines
If the view is bumped, double-click the saved Named View to restore it.
Do NOT click the viewport title and switch to Perspective. If you need both Perspective and Parallel, use 2 different viewports.
If the viewport title says Perspective, stop and switch to Parallel immediately.

02 | Basic Timber Members

Build 2D profiles of Tongue and Groove Members. Make sure they are polylines
- Through tracing with Polyline
- Or Join segments
ExtrudeCrv > Solid
- If extrusion is still not solid, use the Cap command
Build the Inlet member directly in 3D
- Trim the surface to open the solid to receive the Inlet
- trace opening with a polyline
- ExtrudeCrv in Plan view
- Select Member an Inlet > Boolean > Union

Milestone 02 — Basic Timber Members EA_02_Basic_Timber_Model.3dm

Hints & Tips:

Select polylines after joining to make sure all segments are included in the profile
- If unsuccessful, that means some lines are not intersecting - use the extend command to make sure lines are intersecting.
Select the 3D Inlet object after the Boolean command to make sure the member is it is one object
- If unsuccessful, turn on Osnap>End and use a move command to move from end point to end point to make sure the edges align

03 | Joint Cuts and Member Fit

Before you start, make a copy of the members and move out of Exploded Axon View
Before you rotate, turn on Ortho
Use GumBall to rotate in Top, Front, and Perspective (or Right) views to assemble objects.
Use BooleanDifference to subtract the Inlet member from both the Tongue and Groove members.
- DeleteInputs = Yes, Delete Cutters = No

Milestone 03 — Joint Geometry Complete EA_03_Joint_Cut_Complete.3dm

Hints & Tips:

You can hold shift to temporarily step into Ortho Mode, BUT, if your ortho is already on, this will turn off Ortho.
After BooleanDifference, turn the Layers on and off to ensure cutting is successful.

04 | Exploded Axon Setup

Before you start, make a copy of the assembled members and move out of Exploded Axon View
Use Gumball in the top, front, and right views to pull apart the members along clear axes
Adjust Exploded Axon View and resave - if needed
Optional: add light guide lines on a separate layer. Can also be added after the Make2D step - before exporting to Illustrator

Milestone 04 — Exploded Axon Setup EA_04_Exploded_Axon_Setup.3dm

Hints & Tips:

05 | Make2D Output

Before you start, make sure the Exploded Axon view was not pumped or changed to perspective. If the view is perspective, your Make2D will be incorrect.
Select exploded parts and use the Make2D command.
- Settings to use:
  - View: Exploded Axon
  - Projection: View
  - Object Properties > Maintain source layers: ON
  - Tangent edges: OFF (for timber details)
  - Hidden lines: ON
  - Scene silhouette: ON
  - Viewport Rectangle: OFF
  - Layer name: 20_Make2D
    (layer previously created)
Before you export - add Annotation lines + fill layers
- Add lines that will be arrows in Illustrator
- Copy Sillhoette Sublayer > Duplicate layer and Objects
  - When asked to duplicate sublayers > Yes to All
- Right-click each layer > Select Object > Join
- Add leading lines for dimensions and annotations
Once the lines are ready for export:
- Select all 2D lines: File > Export >Save as type> Adobe Illustrator (*.ai)
- Before you press Save! Select Options
  - Preserve Model Scale 1cm = 1cm
  - Choose CMYK to make sure colors print as intended

Hints & Tips:

The viewport Rectangle usually is a rectangle and changes the aspect ratio when exported to Illustrator - add a square frame instead.
Output curves should land on sublayers under the layer you created, namely 20_MAKE2D.
Dimension lines do not travel well from Rhino to Illustrator - need to be built manually.
Adjust leading lines to line up with each other and receive text.

06 | Prep Illustrator File

Milestone 06 — Illustrator Base File EA_06_Illustrator_Base.ai

Hints & Tips

The geometry will land in relationship to the Rhino origin
- Select All and move corner to x = 0 and y = 0
- Scale all to fit on Artboard
The orientation of the Artboard should be mediated by the design - Not everything needs to be in Landscape
General Architectural Fonts:
- Arial
- Century Gothic
- Architect’s Hand

Developed for ARCH 2020 Studio — Iowa State University.

Adaptable for cross-section instruction.