3D in AutoCAD 2000
Part 2

Basics
Solid is better since it can be manipulated. You can use subtract, union, slice and other commands.
Once surface is created, there is not much you can do to it.

Create 3 Viewports
Select: View/Viewports/3 Viewports then enter
Change viewports into Plan, Front view, and Isometric
Click a viewport to activate it
Select View/3D View/Front for front view
Select View/3D View/SW Isometric for isometric view

UCS (Universal Coordinate System)
Understanding UCS makes it easier.
UCS is the drafting plane. As you cannot draw on the side of a paper, you cannot draft on other angles but X-Y plane. Turn the UCS X-Y plane to the view before drafting.

Click on the window (Viewport)
Type UCS then enter
Type V then enter
(W will bring it back to the original UCS)

3D Toolbars
Select View
Select Toolbars
Select Toolbar Tab
Select Solids
Select Solids Editing

Box with windows (20' x 30' x 24'h)

Draft a plan (20' by 30' for example)
Make another layer for 3D (optional)
Trace the outline of the wall using Polyline

Making solid
Type Pl then enter
Click on corners of the plan (make sure OSNAP is on. If not, press OSNAP now at the bottom)
For the last click to close the Polyline, you can use
Type C then enter (polyline closes by itself)

Type EXTRUDE then enter
Click on the polyline then enter
Type the height of the wall such as 24' then enter

You have a 24' high solid

Making of a shell
Shell is a solid with skin like walls floor and roof.

Type SOLIDEDIT then enter
Type B then enter (select Body)
Type S then enter (select Shell)
Click the solid then enter
Type the thickness such as 6 then enter

The solid is hollowed out (you may not be able to see it if SHADE is on)

Making holes
Make a box using BOX command

Type BOX then enter
Click one corner of a box you are making
Type @4',6' then enter (size of the box at bottom)
Type 3' (the height) then enter

Move the second box to the location of your choice

Horizontal move
Type M then enter
Click on the box then enter
Click at a base point (one corner of the box)
Click on the second point (where the box is moving to)

Vertical move
Type M then enter
Click on the box then enter
Click at a base point (click anywhere on screen)
Type @0,0,3' (for 3' up) (the numbers are X, Y, Z movements) (@ is relative to the base point)

Subtract
Type SUBTRACT then enter
Click on the larger box then enter (this is what you keep)
Click on the second box then enter (this box will disappear)

Box with Round Roof
On the Front viewport, create a shape (closed and joined Polyline)

Changing UCS
Universal Coordinate System is the picture plane of AutoCAD.
If it is in wire frame mode, you do not need to change UCS.
In shade mode, change UCS using the following:

Activate the viewport that you like to do drafting by clicking on the window

Click on the elevation window
Type UCS then enter
Type V then enter
You see the UCS icon flip to the plane

Making of round (vaulted) roof
Use Arc command to make an arc
Type ARC then enter
Click, click, click (beginning, middle, end of arc)

To modify the arc:
Click on the created arc, you see blue boxes
Click on one of the blue boxes then move mouse
Click to stop
Enter, enter to end

Offset the arc by the thickness such as 8" (thickness of the roof)

Close the ends using lines
Activate OSNAP by clicking on the button at the bottom of the screen

Change them into Polyline then Join them:
Type PE (Polyline Edit) then enter
Click on one line
Computer asks if you want to turn it into a Polyline
Press enter
Type J then enter
Select all 4 lines
Enter

Extrude it for a curved roof
Type EXTRUDE then enter
Click on the joined polyline then enter
Type the width of the roof such as 24' then enter

The roof is created but it is at a wrong location.
Move the roof on the plan view to the right location.

Click on the top view to activate the window
Type M then enter
Click on the roof then enter
Click on one corner of the roof
Click where the roof should be

Take away the top portion of the box
SLICE is an easy way to cut the portion of solids if the plane is straight.
In this case, it is a curved plane so SLICE does not work.

Create and solid shaped bigger than the portion of the box you like to remove and use SUBTRACT.

Follow the instruction Making of round (vaulted) roof above to make a solid bigger than the roof.

Orbit
Press ORBIT button
Right click the mouse
Select Preset Views and select one such as SW Isometric
Click and hold mouse at inside of the green circle (the object rotates in 3D)
When the mouse goes outside of green circle, it rotates 2D

Perspective View
Right click the mouse
Select Projection then Perspective

Smooth Shading
Right click the mouse
Select Shading Mode then Gouraud Shade

Adjusting Size
Right click the mouse
Select More then Adjust Distance
Click at image and move mouse up or down

Moving Orbit
Right click the mouse
Select More then Continuous Orbit
Click the image and spin the image
Click to stop

Clipping Planes (making section view)
Right click the mouse
Select More then Front Clipping On
Right click the mouse
Select More then Adjust Clipping Planes
Click and hold mouse and move up or down until the object is sliced

REVOLVE
Make a connected Polyline at Front Viewport

Click on the Front Viewport
Type UCS then enter
Type V then enter

Draw a connected shape you like with one vertical line on one side
Type PL then enter
Click mouse to create a shape
To close the shape:
Type C then enter

Type REVOLVE then enter
Click on the shape you created then enter
Specify the revolving center axis (a line):
Click on top of a line
Click on bottom of a line
Specify revolving angle such as 360 degrees
Then enter

Smoother Texture in Rendering
FACETRES (0.1 to 10) Changes in RENDER

Type RENDER then enter, enter
See if you like the smoothness
Type FACETRES then enter
Type a number (0.1 for rough to 10 for smooth) then enter
RENDER again

SURFACE

Commands are located at:
Draw/Surfaces/

Ruled Surface (RULESURF) - 2 sided surface
Draw 2 lines (3D or 2D, straight or curved)
Type RULESURF then enter
Click on the first line
Click on the second line
You see 6 segmented surface
(Make sure you click at the same side of the lines. If the surface is twisted, try again)

Edge Surface (EDGESURF) - 4 sided surface (good for compound curve)
Draw a 4 sided box (3D or 2D, straight or curved)
Type EDGESURFE then enter
Click on the first line, second line, third line, then the fourth line (clockwise)
You see 6x6 surface

To increase the number of segments
Type SURFTAB1 then enter
Type the number of segments you want such as 20 then enter
Type SURFTAB2 then enter
Type the number of segments you want such as 30 then enter
Your next Surface command will use these numbers