LEVEL 3D Beginner 2D Intermediate - Last updated 08/02/03

This tutorial shows how to draw a simple archway such as in an architecture drawing utilising POLYLINE, EXTRUDE and REVOLVE.
Typeable Commands are in uppercase and ORANGE.

Here is the completed autocad drawing file.

:: To help visualise the model later and UCS icon better, turn on shading -SHADEMODE- and use the Gouraud option.

:: Next, to make editing easier, turn on both UCS icon and UCS display @ ORIGIN. Pull down the VIEW menu.

:: Now draw a POLYLINE box, making sure it's CLOSED. If it's open then it will not EXTRUDE.

:: Now EXTRUDE the POLYLINE making sure to read the command line carefully at each step, do not use a taper angle. Command: extrude hit enter Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4 this will come itself, it's the density in the wireframe view Select objects: 1 found Select objects: hit enter Specify height of extrusion or [Path]: 100 Specify angle of taper for extrusion <0>: hit enter

:: The extrude is now evident, but since we are in the WORLD UCS PLAN VIEW at the moment, we can tell it's 3D.

:: Pull down the view menu and turn the view into a 3D SE Isometric View.

:: Now it's obvious we are in 3D. Well done if you got this far first time !

:: Now you should see that the UCS icon has soun round and is showing a 3D axis, with Z up. This is the EXTRUDE direction.

:: Now draw a line, I used ORTHO as well, 150mm in the 'Y' direction. If you are unfamiliar with X,Y,Z Co-Ordinate entry then use ortho-snap and 'from the last point'. This will be used to construct the REVOLVE later. 1) snap to the bottom right of the box 2) type @0,150,0 This depends on what you have your COORDS set at, I use 2.

:: Now copy the extruded box dropping it at the end if the 150 line.

:: Now you should see the boxs as below, with the 150 between but snapping to the 150 line.

:: Now you draw a rectangle, fig12, on top of the right hand extruded box, fig13. You must use osnap or co-ordinate entry. OSNAP makes life quick and easy here.

:: Now MOVE the line up to the midle of the top of the boxes. I used midpoint snap. Also copy and ROTATE the line through 90 degrees, or just draw one as below. This new line, bottom-left to top-right, will be the 'axis of revolution', the bit we will REVOLVE about.

:: Now REVOLVE the rectangle you drew in fig 13, about the axis from before. Command: revolve hit enter Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4 Select objects: 1 found Select objects: Specify start point for axis of revolution or define axis by [Object/X (axis)/Y (axis)]: this should be the new line, bottom-left to top-right Specify endpoint of axis: somewhere else along the same line Specify angle of revolution <360>: 180 not the default 360 but half a circle

:: Now change layers to see the different bits.

:: Now show off and do some cool profiles like below, remember they should be CLOSED.

:: This is the profile I used for the extrude in Fig17.

:: Extruded and copied up profile for revolving.

:: Revolved

:: Looks cool shaded.

:: Try drawing a wheel like profile.

:: Wheel like profile. Note the large gap between the profile and the axis line. This creates the Hole in the wheel once revolved.

More soon................................


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