Introduction to AutoCAD 3D modelling

AutoCAD 3D Chapter 12 and 13 pdf

AutoCAD provides an additional workspace called the 3D modelling workspace which allows the users to
draw and modify 3D objects, create 3D surfaces, etc. apart from this the 3D modelling workspace offers a
lot more such as the Material Library which allows the user to add materials to the objects in order to
make them look realistic. There are some basics of this workspace which will be discussed in this lecture.

How to switch from drafting and annotation work space to 3d modeling

workspace?

Visual style manager:

The visual style manager avails the user to see the objects in different visual styles. Visual style manager
is found in three places

 Under the home tab in view tab.

 Under the view tab in platelets.

 Under the visualize tab in the visual styles.

Viewport configuration:
In AutoCAD the view port can be dividing into different windows. Then each windows can be defined by
changing the view and the visual styles. Each window of the view port is independent of the other
viewport.

The viewport setting can be done by writing the command VIEWPORTS in the command line. A window
will appear as shown.

The user coordinate system of the 3D modelling workspace:

The user coordinate system provides an alternate movable coordinate system for coordinate entry (i.e.
either absolute, relative or polar coordinate system), planes of operation, and viewing (orbiting). Most of
the AutoCAD geometric editing commands are dependent on the orientation of the UCS.

Command activation:
Alias: UCS

Writing UCS (alias) at the command line

When the command is activated it asks to specify the origin where the new UCS has to be shifted then
certain options available at the command line [Face/Named/Object/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/Z-Axis]
on of them is to be selected accordingly.

Options:
1. Face: Aligns the UCS to the selected face of the solid object.
2. Object: lets you define a new coordinate system by pointing at an entity.
3. View: establishes a new coordinate system whose XY plane is parallel to your screen.
4. 3 point: specifies a UCS by its origin and a point on the positive X and Y axis.
5. X/Y/Z: rotates the UCS around a specified axis.
 6. World: returns the UCS icon back to its default position.

1. Solid:

1.1. Extrude command:

Creates unique solid/ surface by extruding to a
given height existing two dimensional objects.
A surface is created when a line, polyline or an
open traverse is extruded while a solid object
is created when a closed traverse is extruded.

Command activation:
Alias: EXT

By writing its alias EXT or full name

EXTRUDE in the command line. The
command can also be activated by
clicking on the extrude button
present in the modeling panel of the
home tab.

After the activation of the command

the objects which is to be extruded is
selected there are certain options
available in the command line such as
height of extrusion or
[Direction/Path/Taper
angle/Expression]

Options:
1. Path: the profile is extruded along a given specified path.
2. Tapper angle: the profile is extruded an angle. This angle can be positive or negative.

1.2. Press pull command:

This commands pulls the bounded area and creates either a solid surface or an object depending upon
the object which is to be pulled.

Command activation:
Press pull command can be activated by writing PRESSPULL in the command line or by selecting it from
the solid tab.
When the command is activated it needs an objected or bounded area to be selected after the object or
bounded area is selected a height to which the object is to be pulled.

1.3. Loft:
This command creates a surface or a 3d solid in the space between several cross-sections. Loft
crossections can closed, unclosed, planner, non-planner, and edge sub objects. Loft command creates
surfaces when crossections are open and vice versa.

Command activation:
This command can be activated by writing its full name LOFT in the command line or by selecting the loft
button under the home tab.
After the command is activated it requires to select at least two profiles and loft them to create a surface
or a 3d solid.

1.4. Revolve:
This command creates a revolved surface or solid by sweeping 2d or 3d curves about an axis. It creates a
solid when the solid tab is active and creates a surface when the surface tab is active.

Command activation:
This command can be activated by writing its full name REVOLVE or its alias REV in the command line or
by selecting the revolve command button under the solid tab.

After activating the command the objects which has to be revolved is selected and then an axis is specified
around which the profile is revolved to create solid or surface.
2. Solid primitives:
2.1. Sphere command:
This commands creates a sphere
of given dimensions. The sphere
can be drawn by specifying the
center and then radius or
diameter of the sphere. It can
also made with the help of three
points, two points and tangent,
tangent radius.

This command can be activated

by writing its full name SPHERE in
the command line or by selecting
the sphere button under the solid
tab.

2.2. Box:
With the help of this command a 3d box can be drawn. The base of the box is always drawn parallel to the
XY plane of the working UCS and the height of the box is specified in the Z axis direction which can be
negative or positive.
Command activation:
This command can be activated by
writing its full name BOX in the
command line or by selecting the box
button under the solid tab.

After the command is activated it

requires the first corner point. After
specifying the first corner point there
are two options available at the
command line i.e. cube, length.

Options:
3. Cube: By selecting cube a
cube of given dimension is
drawn
4. Length: by selecting length
option the length, width and height of the box is given

2.3. Cylinder:
With the help of this a 3d
cylinder is drawn. The base
of the cylinder is made
parallel to the XY plane of
the working UCS while the
height is specified in the Z
direction which can be
positive or negative.

Command activation:
This command can be
activated by writing its full
name CYLINDER or its alias
CYL in the command line or
by selecting the cylinder
button under the solid tab.

After the command is

activated then there are
some options available at the command line

Options:
By default this command requires a center for base and height however it can also be drawn with;

1. 3P: for drawing the base 3 points are specified just like drawing 2d circle then height is specified
2. 2p: it requires two points i.e. diameter of the base
 3. Elliptical: by choosing elliptical the base will be an ellipse it can be drawn by specifying the start
and end points or center of the ellipse.

Note: a circle base will be made in case of the 2p and 3p option while an elliptical base will be made by
choosing elliptical option.

2.4. Pyramid:

2.5. Cone:

3. Boolean operations/commands:
There are three Boolean Operations (Commands) in AutoCAD. They are UNION, SUBTRACT and
INTERSECT.
Boolean Commands are located under the HOME TAB in the SOLID EDITING panel.

3.1. Union:
This command combines 3D or 2D regions by addition. This command combines two or more 3D solids,
surfaces, 2D regions into a single, composite 3D solids, surfaces, and regions when same types of objects
are selected.

Command activation:
This command can be activated by writing its full name union in the command line or by selecting the
union button under the solid tab in Boolean panel.

After the command is activated it requires objects to be selected to combine it into single composite
object.

3.2. Intersect:
Creates a solid based on
the intersection of two
existing solids.

Command activation:
This command can be
activated by writing its full
name intersect in the
command line or by
selecting the intersect
button under the solid tab
in Boolean panel.
After activating the command pick cylinder and box Select objects: enter as shown.

3.3. Subtract:
It combines 3D solid, or 2D regions. Select the
objects which is to be kept and select the object
which is to be subtracted.

Command activation:
This command can be activated by writing its full
name subtract in the command line or by selecting
the subtract button under the solid tab in Boolean
panel

4. Solid editing:

4.1. Slice:
Create new 3D solids and surfaces by dividing or cutting existing objects. The cutting plane is defined with
2 points on the plane of the working UCS. Either one or both the sides of the sliced object can be retained.

Command activation:
This command can be activated by writing its full name SLICE in the command line or by selecting the slice
button under the solid tab in solid editing panel.
After the command is activated it requires the object to be selected then a cutting plane is defined with
the help of two points then either press enter to keep both the slices or the side which is to be kept a
point is specified with in it.

CREDITS FOR CONTRIBUTION:

Asfandyar Khan, kasfandy.ak@gmail.com