3-D DRAUGHTING TECHNIQUES [MODELLING] With 3D modeling, you can create solid, wireframe, and mesh models of your

design. Modeling in 3D has several advantages. You can View the model from any vantage point Generate reliable standard and auxiliary 2D views automatically Create sections and 2D drawings Remove hidden lines and do realistic shading Check interferences Add lighting Create realistic renderings Navigate through the model Use the model to create an animation Perform engineering analysis Extract manufacturing data

You can create the basic solid shapes of box, cone, cylinder, sphere, torus, wedge, and pyramid. These shapes are called solid primitives.

Create a Solid Box

You can create a solid box. The base of the box is always drawn parallel to the XY plane of the current UCS (workplane). You can create a solid box. The base of the box is always drawn parallel to the XY plane of the current UCS (workplane).

SOLID MODELING When you create solid models, you use solids and surfaces as the building blocks for your model. A solid object represents the entire volume of an object. Solids are the most informationally complete and least ambiguous of the 3D modeling types. Complex solid shapes are also easier to construct and edit than wireframes and meshes. Create 3D Solids and Surfaces Overview of Creating 3D Solids and Surfaces You can create basic 3D shapes (solid primitives): boxes, cones, cylinders, spheres, wedges, pyramids, and tori (donuts). You can then combine these shapes to create more complex solids by joining or subtracting them or finding their intersecting (overlapping) volume. You can also create 3D solids and surfaces from existing objects through any of the following methods: Extruding objects Sweeping objects along a path Revolving objects around an axis Lofting through a set of curves Slicing a solid

You can use the Cube option of the BOX command to create a box with sides of equal length. If you use the Cube or Length option when you create a box, you can also specify the rotation of the box in the XY plane when clicking to specify the length. You can also use the Center Point option to create a box using a specified center point.

Create a Solid Wedge

You can create a solid wedge. The base of the wedge is drawn parallel to the XY plane of the current UCS with the sloped face opposite the first corner. The height of the wedge is parallel to the Z axis.

Converting planar objects with thickness into solids and surfaces Solids and surfaces are displayed in the visual style that is applied to the viewport. You can analyze solids for their mass properties (volume, moments of inertia, center of gravity, and so on). You can export data about a solid object to applications such as NC (numerical control) milling or FEM (finite element method) analysis. By exploding a solid, you can break it down to regions, bodies, surfaces, and wireframe objects. Create 3D Solid Primitives You can use the Cube option of the WEDGE command to create a wedge with sides of equal length. If you use the Cube or Length option when you create a wedge, you can also specify the rotation of the wedge in the XY plane when clicking to specify the length. You can also use the Center Point option to create a wedge using a specified center point.

Create a Solid Cylinder

You can create a solid cylinder with a circular or an elliptical base. You can create a solid cylinder with a circular or an elliptical base.

Create a Solid Cone

You can create a solid cone with a circular or an elliptical base tapering to a point. You can also create a cone frustum, which tapers to a circular or elliptical planar face that is parallel to its base.

You can use the Axis Endpoint option of the CYLINDER command to determine the height and orientation of the cone. The axis endpoint is the center point of the top plane of the cylinder. The axis endpoint can be located anywhere in 3D space. With the 3P (Three Points) option of the CYLINDER command, you can define the base of the cylinder by specifying three points anywhere in 3D space. If you want to construct a cylindrical form with special detail, such as grooves along its sides, create a 2D profile of its base with a closed PLINE and use EXTRUDE to define its height along the Z axis. This method, however, creates an extruded solid, not a true solid cylinder primitive.

You can create a solid pyramid. You can define the number of sides for a pyramid from 3 to 32.

You can use the Axis Endpoint option of the PYRAMID command to specify the endpoint location of the pyramid axis. This endpoint is the top point of the pyramid or the center of the top face if the Top Radius option is used. The axis endpoint can be located anywhere in 3D space. The axis endpoint defines the length and orientation of the pyramid.

Create a Solid Sphere

When you specify the center point, the sphere is positioned so that its central axis is parallel to the Z axis of the current user coordinate system (UCS).

You can use the Top Radius option to create a pyramid frustum, which tapers to a planar face that has the same number of sides as the base.

You can also use any of the following options in the SPHERE command to define the sphere: 3P (Three Points). Defines the circumference of the sphere by specifying three points anywhere in 3D space. The three specified points also define the plane of the circumference. 2P (Two Points). Defines the circumference of the sphere by specifying two points anywhere in 3D space. The plane of the circumference is defined by the Z value of the first point. TTR (Tangent, Tangent, Radius). Defines the sphere with a specified radius tangent to two objects. The specified tangency points are projected onto the current UCS.

Create a Solid Torus

You can use the TORUS command to create a ring-shaped solid similar to the inner tube of a tire. You can use the TORUS command to create a ring-shaped solid similar to the inner tube of a tire.

Create a Solid Pyramid

You can create a solid pyramid. You can define the number of sides for a pyramid from 3 to 32.

A torus is defined by two radius values, one for the tube and the other for the distance from the center of the torus to the center of the tube. With the 3P (Three Points) option of the TORUS command, you can define the circumference of the torus by specifying three points anywhere in 3D space. The torus is drawn parallel to and bisected by the XY plane of the current UCS (this may not be true if you use the 3P [Three Points] option of the TORUS command). A torus may be self-intersecting. A self-intersecting torus has no center hole because the radius of the tube is greater than the radius of the torus.

Create Solids and Surfaces from Lines and Curves

You can create solids and surfaces from existing lines and curves. You can use these objects to define both the profile and path for the solid or surface.

Extrude Objects

Create a Polysolid

A polysolid is drawn the same way you draw a polyline. By default, a polysolid always has a rectangular profile. You can specify the height and width of the profile. Use POLYSOLID to create walls in your model.

You can create solids and surfaces by extruding selected objects. Use the EXTRUDE command to create a solid or surface from a common profile of an object. You can create solids and surfaces by extruding selected objects. Use the EXTRUDE command to create a solid or surface from a common profile of an object. If you extrude a closed object, the resulting object is a solid. If you extrude an open object, the resulting object is a surface.

With the POLYSOLID command, you can also create a polysolid from an existing line, 2D polyline, arc, or circle.

You can extrude the following objects and sub objects: Lines, Arcs, Elliptical arcs, 2D polylines, 2D splines, Circles, Ellipses, 3D faces, 2D solids, Traces, Regions, Planar surfaces, Planar faces on solids You can also select faces on solids or surfaces by pressing and holding CTRL, and then selecting one or more faces. You cannot extrude the following: Polylines that have crossing or self-intersecting segments, Objects contained within a block If a selected polyline has width, the width is ignored and the polyline is extruded from the center of the polyline path. If a selected object has thickness, the thickness is ignored.

If you want to create a solid from a profile using lines or arcs, use the Join option of the PEDIT command to convert them to a single polyline object. You can also convert the objects to a region before you use EXTRUDE. When you extrude objects, you can specify any of the following options: Path, Taper angle, Direction Specify a Path for an Extruded Solid With the Path option, you can specify an object as the path for the extrusion. The profile of the selected object is extruded along the chosen path to create a solid or surface. For best results, it is recommended that the path lie on or within the boundary of the object being extruded. Extruding is different from sweeping. When you extrude a profile along a path, the path is moved to the profile if it does not already intersect the profile. Then the profile is swept along the path. Using a path with the SWEEP command provides greater control and better results. The extruded solid starts from the plane of the profile and ends on a plane perpendicular to the path at the path's endpoint. The following objects can be paths: Lines, Circles, Arcs, Ellipses, Elliptical arcs, 2D polylines, 3D polylines, 2D splines, 3D splines, Edges of solids, Edges of surfaces, Helixes Specify a Taper Angle for an Extruded Solid Tapering the extrusion is useful specifically for parts that need their sides defined along an angle, such as a mold used to create metal products in a foundry. Avoid using large tapered angles. If the angle is too large, the profile can taper to a point before it reaches the specified height. Specify a Direction for an Extruded Solid With the Direction option, you can specify the length and direction of the extrusion by specifying two points.

Create a Solid or Surface by Sweeping

With the SWEEP command, you can create a new solid or surface by sweeping an open or closed planar curve (profile) along an open or closed 2D or 3D path.

Create a Solid or Surface by Lofting

With the LOFT command, you can create a 3D solid or surface by lofting (drawing a solid or surface) through a set of two or more cross-section curves.

Create a Solid or Surface by Revolving

With the REVOLVE command, you can create a solid or surface by revolving open or closed objects about an axis. The revolved objects define the profile of the solid or surface.