Intersect With Model Tool

Use the Intersect With Model Tool to create complex geometry. This tool allows you intersect two elements, such as a box and a tube, to automatically create new edges and faces where the elements intersect. These faces can then be pushed, pulled or deleted to create new geometry. Activate the Intersect With Model Tool from either context menu or the Edit menu.

Creating Complex Geometry

To create complex geometry using the Intersect With Model Tool:

1. Create two distinct geometries, such as a box and a tube.

2. Select the Select Tool. The changes to an arrow.
3. Triple-click on the tube to select all of the entities of the tube
4. Select the Move Tool. The cursor will change to a four-way arrow.
5. Move the tube such that it intersects the box completely in any way you like. Notice that no edges exist where the tube meets the faces of the box on the box's top face. The tube should remain selected although it is within the box.

6. Context-click on the selected tube.
7. Select Intersect With Model from the context commands menu. The tool creates edges where the tube intersects the box.

8. Delete or move the portions of the tube that you do not want to keep. Notice that SketchUp will have created new subdivided faces where the tube intersected the box.

Intersect With Model, Groups, and Components

Edges created by the Intersect With Model Tool are drawn in the current context. For example, if one of your intersecting entities is a group, and you perform the Intersect with Model while editing that group (such as while editing the tube), the intersection lines will be applied within the group (right-most image below).