The tetrahedron is the simplest of the Platonic Solids. We will learn how to create one using equilateral triangles and the Snap tool.
We will start the creation of our tetrahedron with an equilateral triangle centered on the origin.
Set the 2D Polygon Tool number of sides to 3.
Draw an equilateral triangle centered on the origin.
Then, replicate the triangle rotating the copy 70.53 degrees on the z-axis (this is the angle between faces of a tetrahedron).
Replicate the triangle.
After replicating, move the centerpoint of the new triangle, then replicate again with the settings shown below.
Move the centerpoint and replicate two more triangles rotating them 120º on the y-axis.
Replicate again.
Now – using the Snap tool – snap all the pieces together.
Time to snap.
It now looks like a tetrahedron. Select all 4 triangles, group and convert into a polygon mesh. The weld tolerance has been lowered to make sure the faces weld.
All triangles snapped into place.
That’s how you make a tetrahedron. Convert it into a shape and save the shape so the tetrahedron is always available.
