Creating a Music Box Part 2

Here is the one side of our box that we will be recreating.

As we did in the Part 1 we need to place the original box in the top left hand corner so that we can do proper measure measurements.

In our measurements we have established that the tabs are like those in Part 1. The tabs are .25 inches in size and there is a .25 inch space between them.. They start at the .25 inch mark on the Y axis.

The lower tabs measurements are as follows. The top of the tabs are at 2.75. The bottom of the tabs are at 2.5 inches. Each tab is the same in size .25 inches wide and the space is .25 inches.

Now that we have measured out for the tabs we need to measure out for the legs. If we look at the legs you will notice that they are based on a semi circle or oval. Thus to create these will require us to create an oval to trim into the shape of the two legs. Because I have the original drawing I could just by eye create a circle

Now that we have got our measurements done up and our guidelines in place we can now start to create our box. Our overall box size with the tabs is 3.25 inches wide and 2 inches tall. Because we have the tabs to concern ourselves with we need to subtract his from our measurement. there are two tabs that are .25 inches in size sticking out from the edge so we need to take off 5 inches in width from the 3.25 inches. Seeing the height has no tabs we do not need to concern ourselves with this side. Thus our rectangle has to be 2.75 inches wide (3.25 – .5) and 2 inches. First create the rectangle and than can place the rectangle height and width in the property bar. Make sure the “Lock” icon is unchecked (step 1 with blue box) as this allows you to place in the two separate values.

With the rectangle sized properly we need to place it at the top left corner of our document. Open up the position menu in the Transformation docker. First make sure that the Relative Position is unchecked (1). Next check the top left handle so the values we enter relate to the top left hand of the box (2). Place in the values that we ned H = 0.25 and V = 4.0 (3). Set copies to 0 (4) and than click on Apply (5).

Our rectangle is now placed properly .25 inches away from the left corner and right on the top edge. We now need to make the oval to cutout our legs.

Select the Ellipse tool from the tool bar (1).

The reason we have drawing the guidelines is for 2 reasons. The first is that it allows us to measure the piece so that we can get the proper dimensions. The second reason is that it allows is to create a starting point for our ellipse. This is standard with drawing any circles. I learned this trick years ago. So start to draw your ellipse by dragging from the intersection points of the guidelines see step one and where the arrow is pointing to. Next drag to the right and down to create your ellipse (2).

I have now finished off the ellipse so that it is recreating the legs of the box. Because I have used the original image as my template I need to place the oval in place along with the rectangle. I have the rectangle on page 2 and the original image is on page 1. So all I need to do is to cut the image (ctrl X) and than go to page 2 and paste the image (ctrl V). This will place the oval in the exact position that it was when it was on page 1.

Open up the Trim command in the shaping docker. Make sure that nothing is selected in the docker in terms of Source or Target objects. Next select the oval (1) and than click on the Trim button in the shaping docker (2).

When you move your cursor out you will see it turn into the two boxes (1). Click on the rectangle.

If you look at our original image the top of the ellipse is squared off. If I go back and measure the squared off piece you will see that I have placed guidelines to correspond with the measurements. I have a horizontal guideline at the 3.5 inch mark (1) and two vertical lines at 1 inch (2) and 2.25 inches (3).

Note: Because we have used the guidelines to do an exact placement of the rectangle that we need to create to draw the box exactly is easiest if we turn our “Snap to Guidelines” on. Go to View (1) “Snap to Guidelines” (2).

Now with the snap function turned on I can draw the rectangle and the cursor will snap to the guideline as I draw the shape of the box, My rectangle location is 1.625 inches (1) on the H and 2.5 on the V (2) measured from the bottom center handle (3).

Select the two shapes because we will be welding them together.

Make sure that the Shaping Docker is open and docked on the right side of the screen. Select the Weld option (1). Click on “Weld To” (2). Your cursor will turn into a black arrow and two rectangles welded together (3). With your cursor click on the rectangle as per step 3.

Here is our finished shape that has been welded together. We can now add in our tabs.

Draw a rectangle and than resize it so that it is .25 inches wide by .5 inches tall.

I need to place the tab in the proper place. To do this requires that the Transformation docker be opened and the position menu it available. Set your anchor point as the middle left (1). Next set your copies to 0 (2). Your H position is 1.0 and your V position is 2.5 (3). Click on the Apply button.

We need to create two more tabs to finish off the bottom tabs. Select the Relative Position (1). Next set your H position to .5 as this is the offset distance. make your copies 2 (3).

Here is our 3 tabs along the bottom.

We now need to duplicate the 3 tabs. Because there is no tabs at the top we will need to duplicate our tabs to the right and the left on our rectangle. Because the tabs need to be duplicated the best thing to due is to copy and paste the tabs. I like to do it this was because the extra tabs are out of the way.

Select EDIT (1) | Copy (2). This copies the tabs to the clipboard

Make sure that the 3 tabs and the rectangle are both selected. We are now going to Trim the Tabs so that we create the interlocking tabs at the bottom. Make sure the Shaping Docker is open. Open the Trim menu (1). Click on Trim (2). WIth your cursor now as two rectangles click on the original rectangle (3).

Here is our image finished with the completed Trim

Now we are going to paste in our tabs that we copied to the clipboard in our previous step. Go to EDIT (1) and than Paste (2).

Our pasted in tabs are in the exact same location as the original tabs (1).

Here is our original image and you can see from guidelines the location of where the tabs are suppose to be

Make sure that the tabs are selected (1). In the property bar make the rotation angle 90 degrees (2).

We are going to move the tabs to the right side. Select our anchor point as the top left corner (1). make your copies 1 (2). Than make our H position (3.25 and our V position 3.75 (3). Click the Apply button (4).

Make sure that you have the right hand tabs still selected as we will be coping them. Make sure that you have Relative Position checked (1). Make your copies 1 (2). Our H distance is -2.75 has I am going left (3). Click on the Apply button (4).

Our left hand tabs are done.

Now that the tabs are created select them and the rectangle.

We will now use the Trim command that is in the shaping docker. With all the tabs and the rectangle selected make sure that the trim command is open (1). Click on Trim (2). Now once you mouse has changed to the two rectangles click on the rectangle. You object is now complete.

After we have trimmed the tabs / rectangles we are left with a completed side to our box.