1. 7cad_Unfold

In the first tab, to unfold a general 3D shape, you have to specify a layout paper first. A layout paper is a block names "7cad unfold layout". Its original size is A4, landscape. Insert it to the model and scale it up or down to match with your model scale. When unfold command runs, it will populate unfold faces into many layout papers.

There are option to insert face and edge tags to unfold faces. Print out these tags can help you to find the right position to connect cutouts together.

Because the results of the command are cutouts to make real world model, please make sure you have a decimated 3D model that simple enough for the tasks. In the screenshot, there are image of unfold layouts from a horse model. The horse mesh is too complicated, therefore, the result contains thousand of pieces and it is useless. In this case, the horse needs decimated to reduce the number of triangular faces.

2. 7cad_FoldUp

After unfold command has done the job, you can run 7cad_FoldUp command to see how the flatten unfold faces can be fold up and get back to the original. This command will create a block names "Fold Up Animation". Within the block, all animation items are put into layers name "Fold Up Animation 1", "Fold Up Animation 2", ... Click the "Forward" and "Back" arrow to see the animation.

This demonstration command has a pretty nice feature: it folds up not only the polylines, but also objects found within those polylines. If you decorate the unfold layout with some linework of flowers, (see screenshot), the Fold Up Animation will include all the flowers.

3. 7cad_Cutout

Manually edit your unfold layouts by moving faces back and forth. Finally, you can use this command to make cutout polylines. If you are using cutting machine, you can export these cutout polylines to dxf files and send.

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