Newbie Modeling Question

[ivanjay]

I am a long time modeler in AutoCAD and than bring geometry into Max for rendering purposes. i did a short test and created the same geometry in CAD as Max and found that Cad took 7 minutes 52 secs to render and max 5 minutes 40 seconds. This was just a basic blah test render. The difference in time blew me away and probably means that a real full size model would have a much bigger difference in rendering time.

 

Now I am trying another test... I built my counters (I model cafeteria's etc..) as three separate boxes. One for the stainless toe kick, one for the cabinet fascia itself, and one for the stone top.

 

I am trying now to build the above as one box and apply a multisubobject material. My thought process was the overlapping geometry of the three boxes creates additional polygons which creates more rendering time.... hence the test to see if I am right.

 

The problem is I made a box to fit the overall size of my counter. I seperated into three height segments for the above breakdowns. I have no idea how to adjust the size of each without affecting the other. IE when I move the toe kick in 3" to provide toe space the cabinet fascia becomes angular as it moves in as well.

 

Attached is a screenshot illustrating the issue. I want each vertical segment to reamin perpendicular to the floor. I did make it an edit poly, now I do not know where to go from here...

[Peter M. Gruhn]

Leave the box perfectly up and down to start with.

Go into Polygon selection mode. Select the two panels above the toe kick. Use Extrude to pull them forward.

 

Another approach is to use the spline tools (Line) to create the section through the unit, then extrude that the length of the counter.

[ivanjay]

Leave the box perfectly up and down to start with.

Go into Polygon selection mode. Select the two panels above the toe kick. Use Extrude to pull them forward.

 

Another approach is to use the spline tools (Line) to create the section through the unit, then extrude that the length of the counter.

 

I am kind of embarassed. I cannot believe it was that simple I didnt think of that. I find the max modeling a bit intimidating as I am long time CAD modeler so I guess I just overthought it.