Group Objects into Single Object

[Tiest van Gool]

Hi there and Happy New Year,

Looking for some help to combine multiple objects into a single object for laser cutting.

I am trying to create a roof line for a model I am scratch build. To do so, I drew a compound path shape (source two triangles), 4 elipses and used the Shaper Tool to cut away unwanted sections to the objects. The end result yielded the following:

Upon closed inspection, I can see that the various objects after cutting away the unwanted portions, still seem to be individual objects.

However, I cannot select these or group these using the pathfinder mode and 'unite' the items.

When burning this object on m laser cutter, it sees these items as individual objects and burns as such.

How do I combine these items into a single object? 

Any help is much appreciated,

-Tiest

[Bobby Henderson]

Have you tried expanding the results (using the Expand Appearance command)?

[Tiest van Gool]

Bobby - Thanks for your response. No I have not as I do not know how to do that. Ultimately I would expext a single path outlining my object. Can you explain to me how to use the Expand Appearance command? -Tiest

[Monika Gause]

There should be an expand option for the Shaper group in the Control panel.

You will need to inspect the result in outline mode, because you might need to combine it.

[Tiest van Gool]

Monika - Here the image in outline mode, everything is still there...

How do I combine the pieces to become 1 piece? I cant select the circles individually anymore...

Seems that using the Shaper Tool; the images is not really 'removed'.

Please help as I am at a loss how to accomplish such seemingly simple task... Thanks! -Tiest

[Monika Gause]

Did you expand it? 

[Tiest van Gool]

Apologize but I dont know what that means... Tiest 🙂

[Monika Gause]

When you select that SHaper group, then in the control panel as well as in the properties panel there should be a button named "Expand". Hit it.

[pixxxelschubser]

Hallo Monika,
ich vermute, dass er die Konturen überhaupt nicht benötigt. Dann wäre ein "Umwandeln" kontraproduktiv.

In English
… I suspect that it does not need the contours at all. Then “expand” would be counterproductive.

[Monika Gause]

Shaper group that has a stroke will be expanded to a path that has a stroke. I have set up a test case and couldn't find an issue with it. I don't have the original file, so ...

[pixxxelschubser]

Apologize but I dont know what that means... Tiest 🙂

By Tiest van Gool

But you certainly know whether you have to integrate the stroke width (red + yellow) - or whether only the areas on the path lines (red only) should be combined.

[pixxxelschubser]

What do you really need?
All “visible bounds” or all “geometric bounds”?

[Tiest van Gool]

I am simply trying to combine all the shapes together into one. Amazed how complex that is in AI.

As for your question, I do not know what the difference between these two bounds is.... Sorry! -Tiest

[pixxxelschubser]

1. The (only) red areas (along the blue paths) are the geometric bounds.
2. The red areas plus the yellow strokes are the visible bounds.
   
   

[Kurt Gold]

In case you have to create similar shapes frequently, I'd recommend to use the Shape Builder tool instead of the Shaper tool.

While the Shaper tool sometimes has some benefits, the Shape Builder tool usually works more straightforward for your purpose.

[renél80416020]

Bonjour,

Je ne vois pas où est le problème ?

René