How to Train for 3D in Autocad 2008
AutoCAD 2008 is a computer-aided design (CAD) program used to design buildings and create graphics for engineering projects. Learning to use AutoCAD 2008's 3D functions is a task that includes these component activities: navigating in 3D space; creating 3D objects from 2D shapes; modifying and shaping 3D objects; and rendering objects. As you learn these skills, you'll discover that AutoCAD offers more than one way to complete a particular task. For example, many tools can be run via the keyboard or using the mouse.
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Instructions
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Open AutoCAD 2008 and create a triangle as follows: enter "pline" (which stands for "polyline") at the command prompt at the bottom of the screen. Polylines are chains of arc segments or line segments that form 2D shapes. You'll build a 3D object from the 2D shape.
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Click anywhere in the drawing window to start the first line segment. Then drag and click to complete the segment. Drag and click again to complete the second segment.
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Complete the triangle. Right-click the mouse and select "close" to make AutoCAD add a final segment that completes the triangle.
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Change to a 3D visual style: Enter "-visualstyle" at the command prompt, then select "Set Current." Choose "Conceptual" from the pop-up list to display a view that will shade the 3D object you'll make shortly.
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Select "View," "Orbit," then "Constrained Orbit." Then click anywhere in the drawing window and drag upward slightly. This action will change your viewpoint from directly above the triangle to one that's behind and above the triangle.
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Convert the triangle into a 3D object: Expose the 3D modeling toolbar by clicking "Tools," "Toolbars," "AutoCAD," then "Modeling."
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Click the new toolbar's "Extrude" tool, then click the triangle and press "Enter." Notice that the triangle has expanded into 3D space, and that you can adjust its height with your mouse. Click the mouse to end the extrusion. (Extrusion is the 3D modeling term for stretching or expanding a 2D surface into a 3D form.)
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Shape the object. Click anywhere on the object to select it, then hover your mouse over one of its blue points. When the point turns red, click and drag it. This action shows you a way of shaping objects: by re-positioning their vertices (AKA points).
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Prepare to add another vertex to the object, to enable more detailed shaping: Click "Draw," then "Polygon." Enter "3" for the number of sides, then press "Enter." Click and drag on the box's top face to make a triangle. This triangle will "cut" new vertices into the original box.
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Select the ribbon's "Home" tab, then click the "Solid Editing" panel's "Imprint" tool, which performs the cut operation mentioned in Step 9.
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Click the box, then the triangle. Press "Enter," then "N" to indicate that you don't want to retain the triangle. Notice the new edges on the original box's top face.
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Shape the box using one of its new vertices. Click the "Subobject" tab's "Vertex" tool, then "Control-Click" one of the box's new vertices. When it turns red, click and drag the vertex to move the vertex, which will reshape the box.
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Resources
- Photo Credit house plan image by Jon Le-Bon from Fotolia.com
