AutoCAD 3D Modeling: Predefined Meshes
August 8, 2003 Sometimes you might need to create some 3D
geometrical shapes such as spheres, cubes, pyramids, and so on.
There is a command called 3D that helps you to create such
models. If you invoke 3D from Draw menu a special type of dialog
box called image tiled menu will appear [Figure 1]. You may
double-click the slide or the text to the left to invoke the
option you are looking for.
Fig. 1
Notes:
- This tutorial is designed for AutoCAD 2004 though might be
applicable for other releases.
- In this tutorial user entries are in boldface.
- The
8
symbol represents pressing Enter.
- To learn more on image tile menus as the one shown above
in Fig. 1, read, AutoCAD menus:
Image Tile Menus
1. Download
r16_pred_meshes.dwg
Note: If you are using AutoCAD 2002 or an earlier release
download
r15_pred_meshes.dwg
2. Open the drawing in AutoCAD.
3. Enable SE Isometric view point:
Command: -view
8
Enter an option [?/Orthographic/Delete/Restore/Save/Ucs/Window]:
seiso
8
Note: For more information on viewing 3D models read the
following tutorial: AutoCAD 3D
Modeling: 3D Views
4. Invoke Zoom-All.
5. On Draw menu click Surfaces > 3D Surfaces.
6. On 3D Objects dialog box double click the sphere
slide.
7. Draw a sphere based on the following inputs [Figure
2]:
Specify center point of sphere: -2,0,0
8
Specify radius of sphere or [Diameter]: 3
8
Enter number of longitudinal segments for surface of sphere
<16>: 36
8
Enter number of latitudinal segments for surface of sphere
<16>: 36
8
Figure 2
8. Repeat the command again. Draw a cube with the
following settings [Figure 3]:
Specify corner point of box: 4,4,-2
8
Specify length of box: 4
8
Specify width of box or [Cube]: c
8
Specify rotation angle of box about the Z axis or
[Reference]: -10
8
Figure 3
9. With the same method draw a cone [Figure 4]:
Specify center point for base of cone: 5,-3,-1
8
Specify radius for base of cone or [Diameter]: 4.5
8
Specify radius for top of cone or [Diameter] <0>: 1.5
8
Specify height of cone: 5
8
Enter number of segments for surface of cone <16>: 36
8
Figure 4
10. Draw other models such as pyramids, domes, and
dishes with this method [Figure 5].
Figure 5
About the Author
Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a
mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with
AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD
consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor
for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, an instructor
for AUGI Training Program, and an elected speaker for Autodesk
University 2002. He has written 7 books in Farsi, 3 booklets in
English, and more than 30 articles for different magazines and
newsletters. You can reach him at
alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website
www.cadpanel.com.
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