Page 1

Introduction to AutoCAD 2012

Alf Yarwood

Chapter 12 Exercise 1
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. Click on Top in the ViewCube.

4. Call the Polyline tool from the Home/Draw panel and construct the pline outline.
5. Call the Polysolid tool from the Home panel. The command line shows:

Command: _Polysolid Height = 80.0000, Width = 5.0000, Justification =

Center
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify]
<Object>: enter h right-click
Specify height <80.0000>: enter 100 right-click
Height = 100.0000, Width = 5.0000, Justification = Center
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify]
<Object>: enter w right-click
Specify width <5.0000>: enter 3 right-click
Height = 100.0000, Width = 3.0000, Justification = Center
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify] <Object>: right-click
Select object: pick the polyline
Command:
6. Place in the ViewCube/Front view.
7. Call the Box tool from the 3D Modeling panel and construct boxes of a height
of 10 for the door and windows in the front of the polysolid,
8. In ViewCube/Right
view and construct boxes for the windows in the
right of the polysolid.
9. ViewCube/Back view and construct boxes for
the windows and door at the back of the polysolid
10. ViewCube/Left view and construct windows for
the left of the polysolid.
11. ViewCube/Top view and move the windows and
doors by 5 units inwards.
12. Subtract the boxes from the polysolid.
13. Place in the ViewCube/ Isometric view.
14. Save to a memory stick with the file name
13_Exercise01.dwg.
12. Close the drawing window.
Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD
2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf
Yarwood. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights
reserved.

Page 2

Chapter 12 Exercise 2
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. Place in the ViewCube/Top view.
4. Call the Polygon tool from the Home/Draw panel and construct a 6-sided polygon of edge length 30.
5. Call the Polysolid tool from the Home/3D Modeling panel. The command line shows:

Command: _Polysolid Height = 80.0000, Width = 5.0000, Justification = Center

Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify] <Object>: enter h right-click
Specify height <80.0000>: enter 40 right-click
Height = 40.0000, Width = 5.0000, Justification = Center
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify] <Object>: enter w right-click
Specify width <5.0000>: enter 5 right-click
Height = 40.0000, Width = 5.0000, Justification = Center
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify] <Object>: right-click
Select object: pick the polygon
Command:
6. Call the Copy tool from the Home/Modify panel and copy
the polysolid to form the four polysolids for the final model.
7. With the Union tool from the Home/Edit panel form a union
of the four polysolids.
8. Place in the ViewCube/Isometric view.
9. Save the drawing to a memory stick with the file name
12_Exercise02.dwg.
10. Close the drawing window.

Chapter 12 Exercise 3
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Open the drawing 12_Exercise02.dwg.
3. Call the Presspull tool from the Home/3D Modeling panel The command line shows:

Command:_presspull
Click inside bounded areas to press or pull. Click as shown
in illustration to the right and pull away from the selected surface
1 loop extracted.
1 region created.
Command:
4. Repeat for another face.
5. Change to the ViewCube/Isometric view and using
Presspull pull out two other faces.
6. Using Presspull pull out two other faces.
7. The result is shown on Page 3.
8. Save the drawing to a memory stick with the file name
12_Exercise03.dwg.
9. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012,

ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 3

Chapter 12 Exercise 4
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows
desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. Set the variable PELLIPSE to 1.
3. Call the Ellipse tool from the Home/Draw panel and construct two ellipses:

Command: _ellipse
Specify axis endpoint of ellipse or [Arc/Center]: -c
Specify center of ellipse: pick
Specify endpoint of axis: drag down and enter 104 right-click
Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation]: enter 45 right-click
Command:
4. Call the Offset tool from the Home/Modify panel and offset the ellipse outwards
by 2 units:

Command: _offset
Specify offset distance or [Through] <Through>: enter 2 rightclick
Select object to offset or <exit>: pick the ellipse
Specify point on side to offset: pick outside the ellipse
Select object to offset or <exit>: right-click
Command:
5. Enter region at the command line and

Command: enter region right-click

Select objects: <Snap off> pick one ellipse 1 found
Select objects: right-click
1 loop extracted.
1 Region created.
Command:
6. Make the other ellipse into a region.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved..

Page 4
7. Call the Subtract tool from the Home/Edit panel:

Command: _subtract Select solids and regions to subtract

from ...
Select objects: pick the outer ellipse 1 found
Select objects: right-click
Select solids and regions to subtract...
Select objects: pick the inner ellipse 1 found
Select objects: right-click
Command:
8. Make further regions as shown in the drawing to the right.
9. With the Subtract tool from the Home/Solid Editing panel, subtract
the two rectangular regions from the elliptical region.
10. Call the Union tool from the Home/Edit panel:

Command: _union
Select objects: pick the quarter ellipse region 1 found
Select objects: pick the other region 1 found, 2 total
Select objects: right-click
Command:
The resulting region can now be revolved.
11. Set ISOLINES to 24.
12. Call the Revolve tool from the Home panel and revolve the
region through 360.
13. Place the model in the ViewCube/Isometric view.
14. In the Home/Layers & View panel select the Visual Styles/XRay.
15. Save the drawing to a memory stick with the file name
12_Exercise04.dwg.
16. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 5

Chapter 12 Exercise 5
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. With the Polyline tool from the Home/Draw panel construct the
outline Fig. 12.51 working to the given dimensions..
4. Set ISOLINES to 24 as follows:

Command: enter isolines right-click

Enter new value for ISOLINES <4>: enter 24 right-click
Command:
5. Call the Revolve tool with a click on its tool icon in the Home panel. The command line shows:

Command: _revolve
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=24
Select objects to revolve: pick the polyline 1 found
Select objects to revolve: right-click
Specify axis start point or define axis by [Object/X/
Y/Z] <Object>: enter o (Object) right-click
Select an object: pick the centre line
Specify angle of revolution or [STart angle] <360>:
right-click
Command:
6. Call the Mirror tool from the Home/
Modify panel and mirror the 3D solid
drawing. Erase the centre line.
7. Place the drawing in the View|Cube/Isometric view and Zoom in a window of reasonable size.
8. Place the model in Home/Layers/3D Hidden.
9. Save the drawing to a memory stick with the file name 12_Exercise05.dwg.
10. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 6

Chapter 12 Exercise 6
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. Place the screen in the ViewCube/Right view and Zoom to 1.
4. With the Polyline tool construct an outline for an extrusion of the angled part of the
bracket.
5. Call the Extrude tool with a left-click on its tool icon in the Home/3D Modeling
panel.

Command: _extrude
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Select objects: pick the outline 1 found
Select objects to extrude: right-click
Specify height of extrusion or [Direction/Path/Taper
angle]: enter 80 right-click
Command:
6. Place in the View/Cube/Front view and Zoom to 1.
7. Construct a closed polyline of the vertical sloping part of the bracket and the hole at
its upper end and extrude the outline and the circle to a height of 6.
8. With Subtract, subtract the hole from the back piece just extruded.
9. In the centre of the lower portion construct two circles of radii 15 and 5 and extrude
to a height of 12. Subtract the smaller extrusion from the larger.
10. Place in the ViewCube/Right view, Zoom to 1 and with the Move tool, move
the last two parts into their correct positions relative to the bottom part.
11. Construct a polyline outline for the web.
12. Place in the ViewCube/Front view and with the Move tool, move the web into
its correct position relative to the remainder of the model.
13. Place the model in the ViewCube/Isometric view and with the Union tool form
a union of the three extrusions.
14. Select the Conceptual visual style from the Home/Layers & View panel.
15. Save the drawing to a memory stick with the file name 12_Exercise06.dwg.
16. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 7

Chapter 12 Exercise 7
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. Create a new layer of colour magenta.

4. Using the Circle, Polyline and Ellipse tools,

construct the four outlines as shown.
5. Using the Region tool form each of the four
outlines into a region.

6. With the Subtract tool, subtract the circular and elliptical

regions from the rectangular region.

7. Extrude the region so formed to a

height of 5 units.
8. Place the extrusion in the
ViewCube/Isometric view and
Zoom to 1.

9. Select the Conceptual visual

style from the Home/Layers &
View panel.

10. Save your model drawing to a memory stick with the file name 12_Exercise07.dwg.
11. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 18

Chapter 12 Exercise 8
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. Place the screen in the ViewCube/Front view and Zoom to 1.

4. Make two new layers coloured magenta and red.

5. Using the Polyline tool, construct two closed plines on the two new layers - one
for the top part - red layer, and the other for the vertical part - magenta layer.

6. Set ISOLINES to 16.

Command: enter isolines right-click

Enter new value for ISOLINES <4>: enter 16 right-click
Command:
7. Call the Revolve tool from the Home panel:

Command: _revolve
Current wire frame density:
ISOLINES=16
Select objects: pick upper polyline 1
found
Select objects: right-click
Specify start point for axis of
revolution: pick
Specify endpoint of axis: pick
Specify angle of revolution <360>:
right-click
Command: right-click
REVOLVE Current wire frame
density: ISOLINES=16
Select objects: pick lower polyline 1
found
Select objects: right-click
Specify start point for axis of revolution: pick
Specify endpoint of axis: pick
Specify angle of revolution <360>: right-click
Command:
8. Place the model in the ViewCube/Isometric view.
9. Set Visual Style to Conceptual.
10. Save your model drawing to a memory stick with the file name
12_Exercise08.dwg.
11. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN

9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood. Published by
Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 9

Chapter 12 Exercise 9
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace
Settings menu.

3. Place the screen in the ViewCube/Front

view and Zoom to 1.
4. Make a new layer of colour red.
5. Using the Polyline tool, construct two
plines on the new layer - one for the path,
and the other for the object to sweep.

6. Place the screen in the ViewCube/Isometric view and move the two so that the path is central to the object.
7. Call the Sweep tool from the Home panel. The command line
shows:

Command: _sweep
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Select objects to sweep: pick the object 1 found
Select objects to sweep: right-click
Select sweep path or [Alignment/Base point/Scale/
Twist]: pick the path line
Command:

8. Select Conceptual from Visual Styles.

9. Save your model drawing to a memory stick with the file name 12_Exercise09.dwg.
10. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 10

Chapter 12 Exercise 10
1. Open AutoCAD 2012 with a double-click on its shortcut icon in the Windows desktop.
2. Select 3D Basics from the Workspace Settings menu.
3. Place the screen in the ViewCube/Top view and Zoom to 1.
4. Make four layers of colours red, blue, green and magenta.
5. Construct the two square rectangles and four circles for the lofting.
6. Place the screen in the ViewCube/Front view and Zoom to 1.
7. Move the six cross-sections to suitable positions relative to each
other.
8. Make the layer colour red current.
9. Place the screen in the ViewCube/Isometric view and call the
Loft tool with a click on its tool icon in the Home panel. The
command line shows:

Command: _loft
Select cross-sections in lofting order: pick the lowest
rectangle 1 found
Select cross-sections in lofting order: pick the next rectangle 1 found, 2 total
Select cross-sections in lofting order: right-click
Enter an option [Guides/Path/Cross-sections only] <Cross-sections only>:
Command:
The lowest loft appears.

10. Continue lofting the other two lofts.

11. Set the visual style to Realistic.

12. Save your model drawing to a memory stick with the file name
12_Exercise10.dwg.
13. Close the drawing window.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 11

Additional exercises
1. A two-view drawing of a pulley
wheel is given. Construct a 3D
model drawing of the wheel in the
following steps:
a) Part 1 - Construct the outline
shown to the right and Revolve
around the centre of the wheel.

b) Part 2 - Construct the central boss and move it to its correct position
relative to the outer cylinder.

c) Construct an elliptical cylinder in its correct position relative to the

first two parts and array it four times around the central boss.
d) Place in 3D Views/SW Isometric view and call Hide.

2. Construct the 3D solid model drawing of a gear wheel as shown in the righthand drawing working to the stages shown in the drawings which follow.
Note
The illustrations for Exercise 2 on the next page do not show a correct method
of drawing gear teeth. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and for
constructing the 3D model for this exercise.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473.

Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 12

3. The two-view drawing is of a cover. Construct the 3D solid model drawing shown below from the details
given in the two-view drawing.

Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page 13

Multiple choice questions

1. The Region tool can be called from:
(a) The Home/Modify panel
(b) The Home/Block panel
(c) The Home/Draw panel
(d) The tool cannot be called from the ribbon
2. When using the Extrude tool the set variable ISOLINES must be set to:
(a) 4
b) 16
(c) Any number
(d) Any number below 2047
3. When using the Extrude tool which of the following can be extruded?
(a) Regions
(b) An outline constructed using the Line tool
(c) Circles
(d) Closed plines
(e) Ellipses
(f) Any outline
(g) Another extrusion
4. When using the Revolve tool which of the following can be revolved?
(a) Regions
(b) An outline constructed using the Line tool
(c) Circles
(d) Closed plines
(e) Ellipses
(f) Any outline
(g) Another solid of revolution
5. Can the Union tool be used to form 3D solid drawings from a number of objects constructed using any of the
3D Objects tools Box, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone, Torus and Wedge?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Only from the Box and Cone tools
(d) Yes, but not from the Torus tool
6. Which of the following tools from the Home/Draw panel can be used when constructing 3D solid model
drawings - Move, Copy, Chamfer, Fillet, Mirror, Rotate, Scale?
(a) None of them
(b) Only the Chamfer and Fillet tools
(c) Any of them
(d) Only Move and Copy
7. Why is the name Boolean operators given to the tools Union, Subtract and Intersect?
(a) It is the name assigned for this purpose by computer programmers
(b) It is just a name selected for this purpose
(c) It is based on the name of the scientist George Boole
(d) Boolean is a name always given to this type of construction
8. Is it possible to form unions from solids constructed using the Extrude tool with solids formed using the 3D
Objects tools?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Only when the 3D Objects tool is the Box or Sphere tool
(d) Only when the 3D Objects tool is the Cone tool
Material accompanying Introduction to AutoCAD 2012, ISBN 9780080969473. Copyright 2011, Alf Yarwood.
Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.