This tutorial has been prepared for students studying:
ARCH7221 Computer Modelling and Rendering, and
ARCH5222 Computer Applications 1,
at the School of Architecture, University of New South Wales, Australia. |
Introduction
 |
| Throughout these
tutorials I'll put commentary and hints in the left column (as well
as most of the images). |
This first tutorial will take you through the basics of creating
a very simple drawing using the Solid Modelling tools of AutoCAD
R13 for Windows, it should require 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
Please read carefully through the text of this document(!), I am
liable to put important bits of information at the end of paragraphs,
to see if you are paying attention! Once you've logged on, start
AutoCAD (select Start
- Programs - CAD Applications - AutoCAD R13).
Move your mouse cursor (slowly) along the toolbar icons (AutoCAD
will display a "bubble" with the command name), to get
a feel for the commands there. Note that if you drag one of the
floating toolbars to the top of the window, the toolbar becomes
integrated into the top toolbars! |
Create
a Box
|
| |
Select: Tools -
Toolbars - Solids, the solids toolbar will be
displayed, move it up towards the top of the "window".
Note that the first icon (the box) has a small arrow in the bottom
right of the icon, this indicates that it has a "flyout"
(with more options). If you click on the icon, the box command
is executed using the current default option; if
you press and hold down the left mouse button (over the icon)
then the flyout toolbar will be displayed. The current default
option should be "center", the other option is "corner".
|
| Make some of the
boxes centre-boxes and others corner-boxes... |
Draw a couple of boxes - remember to watch the prompts - make
some intersect others! |
Create
Some Spheres
|
| The ".xy"
forces AutoCAD to filter the input to use only the specified coordinates
(in this case the x and y coordinates).
This ensures that the sphere is not centred
at a height of 0 (zero).
|
Select the second icon to draw a sphere, AutoCAD will request
the "Center of sphere", type .xy ,
move your crosshair until it is near one of your boxes and click
(the left mouse button). AutoCAD will respond with "need Z",
type in a height (Z) value (for example 3). |
| Remember that
you can press (the
"Enter" key) to recall the last command. |
For the radius: move your cursor (AutoCAD will draw a line), until
the line passes through one of your boxes, then click the left mouse
button. AutoCAD will draw a strange "shape" - the outer
circle represents the sphere's "equator".
Draw a few more spheres.
|
Create
Some More Shapes
|
 |
Now you’ll create some cylinders and cones! Select the cylinder
icon, and then type c
(for "center"), pick a point to be the centre of the base
of the cylinder. AutoCAD now prompts for the "Axis endpoint",
pick a point somewhere near the centre; and then pick another point
to be the "other axis distance". Enter a value (for example
10)
for the height of the cylinder.
Select the cone icon, and then type c
(for "center"), pick a point to be the centre of the
base of the cone. AutoCAD now prompts for the "Axis endpoint",
type @3,0,0
for the other axis distance type @0,3,0
type 3
for the height. This should produce a cone with a circular base
(with a radius of 3) and height of 3.
Now, draw some more cylinders and cones and note how the commands
are subtly different (this is because we have changed the "default").
|
Looking
at the Objects in 3D
|
 |
Select: View - Tiled
Viewports - 2 Viewports; and then type v
(to have the "screen" split vertically into two views).
Then move your mouse cursor into the right-hand viewport and click,
this will make that viewport the "active viewport".
Select: View - 3D
Viewports Presets - NE isometric. The right
viewport should change into an isometric view of your objects.
If you want to, select some of the other preset views to view
your objects.
When you’re finished looking at the preset views, select:
View - 3D Viewpoint
- Tripod.
AutoCAD will display a dynamic 3D axis and the double circle.
Note the cross in the circles - that represents your "position";
the inner circle represents the "equator" of an arbitrary
sphere. By moving the cross into the "NE" quadrant inside
the inner circle, you are specifying you want to view the objects
from the north-east, from above the horizon. Move the cross around
and watch the 3D axis change until you understand what’s
happening, then select a viewpoint and click the left mouse button.
|
"Shade"
the View
|
|
Use the "3D axis and Tripod" (explained above) to get
a view looking at your objects from just above the "horizon"
(the inner circle). When you’re satisfied with the view, type
"shade". This command will produce a shaded view of your
objects! If the drawing area is white then your objects should be
black with white lines defining edges (and facets); if the drawing
area is black, your objects will be white . . .
The "type" of shade produced can to altered by issuing
the "shadedge" command and (the valid values are 0,
1, 2 and 3); after resetting the "shadedge", re-issue
the "shade" command.
Remember to save your drawing and exit AutoCAD, before you log-out.
Investigate....!
|
  |
| Shades using shadedge
= 0 & 1 respectively |
  |
| Shades using shadedge
= 2 & 3 respectively |
|
FBE
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