COMPUTER 2 CADD/CAM

WHAT IS 3D CAD MODEL ING?

The acronym CAD stands for Computer Aided Design and covers a wide variety of design tools used by several
industry professionals like architects, game designers, artists, manufacturers, and of course engineers. CAD
systems help their users by performing thousands of complex geometrical calculations in the background without
anyone having to even think about it.

While 3D Drawing (3 Dimensional Drawing) displays a picture or item in a form that appears to be physically
present with a designated structure. Essentially, it allows items that appeared flat to the human eye to be display in a
form that allows for various dimensions to be represented. These dimensions include width, depth, and height of an
object.:X-axis will identify the WIDTH, Y-axis LENGTH and the Z-axis the DEPTH of an object.

Below is an example of 3D Object, by extruding a 2D sketch, a solid cube is created. By extruding the 2D sketch
farther, a rectangular block is created.

CAD started with being limited to just 2D capabilities (like drawing on a flat sheet of paper). You could
design/draw objects using basic views; top, bottom, left, right, front, back, and an angled view called isometric. It
basically worked just like drawing something in 2D on paper, but the complex math was done for you. Then came
along 3D CAD programs which allowed the user to take these 2D views and pull them out of the page into a 3D
object on the screen. Think of drawing a 2D square on a piece of paper and then pulling it out of the page into a
cube, or pulling it really far into a long rectangular bar. This is what 3D CAD Modeling allows us to do, all in the
computer program.
When using 3D CAD Modeling, youre essentially creating a virtual reality object that can have all of the same
properties as an actual physical object: material, weight, size, optical properties, physical properties, etc. This allows
us to create a virtual model of how the object will behave or look like in the real world, even before it is ever
built. This is where things get really interesting and the math problems get insanely long. With 3D CAD modeling we
can create assemblies of parts to see how they fit together, evaluate how they will be manufactured using
simulations, and render near perfect images to see how products will look in real life. Once we have created a 3D
CAD Model of an object, there is a lot that we can figure out from there but of course there are limitations and it is still
a just model but pretty cool and extremely useful none-the-less.

HOW TO SWITCH WORKSPACE FROM 2D TO 2D 1

The first thing to learn is to switch workspaces. AutoCAD Workspaces offer different working
environment based on your AutoCAD use. It changes the display of ribbons and toolbars. If
you have certain toolbars/panels ribbon arrangements that are located in certain

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places on your screen, you can save a workspace and have that arrangemnet apply to
whatever profile that might be loaded.

Refer to Figure 1 below to see where to switch workspaces. Or the command to use in
the command line is WSCURRENT <enter>. Then you enter the name of the workspace.

Figure 1. Workspace Switching

Different Workspace:

1. Drafting & Annotation:

In AutoCAD 2014 this is default workspace Option for 2d Darfting and Annotation. This includes
Ribbon and Panel features to categories Command tabs meaningfully based on use.

You can minimize this ribbon to Tabs/ Panel Titles or Panel Buttons. Also you can Cycle through all
four ribbon states.

2. 3D Basics:
If you want to work in basic 3D environment to carry out Extrude or revolve of your sketch then use
this workspace.

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3. 3D Modeling:
Use this workspace for 3D Modeling. This workspace ribbon contains different modeling ribbon tabs
such as Solid, Surface, Mesh , Render , etc.

4. AutoCAD Classic:
This is classic workspace used in AutoCAD 2007 with Toolbar and Palette.

Save Workspace:
You can make changes in Workspace and save current workspace with tab Save Current As from
workspace drop down list.

You can later use this workspace from workspace list.

Change Workspace Settings:

You can reorder specific workspace in list, Add Separator . You can also choose option to save
workspace changes automatically or not.

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Customize Workspace:
You can customize workspace Quick Access Toolbar, Toolbars, menus, Palettes and Ribbon Tabs
from Customize User Interface

Common UI elements in all Workspaces:

1. Command ToolTip (Small & Large):
If you hover any command tab in any workspace then you will see a short explanation of what that
command does.

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If you wait for couple of seconds (3 to 5 sec) then you will a large Tool tip explaining Command use
in details along with Pictures.

2. AutoCAD Icon Tab:

When you will press AutoCAD Icon tab on Top Left corner then you will see a list of Command
Tabs and List of commands inside them will be shown if you hover each command tab .

You can close Drawing file , Go to Options or Exit from AutoCAD 2014 .

3. Command Window/Line :
This command window is available in all Workspaces

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4. View Cube and Navigation Toolbar:
View Cube on Drawing top right corner is available in workspaces . Navigation toolbar is also
available in workspaces except AutoCAD Classic.

5. Status Bar:
Status bar is same and available in all workspaces. It consist of GRID, SNAP, ORTHO, OSNAP,
DYN etc..

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3D VIEWS:

CREATING SIMPLE 3D OBJECTS:

To create 3D object in AUTOCADD, we need to use the 3rd axis which is defined as the Z axis. IT represent the depth
of an object. IN this context the X-axis will identify the WIDTH, the Y-axis will identify the LEGTH and the Z-axis
determines the DEPTH of an object.

Lets try this: in Drating and Annotation Workspace and in imperial UNITS

Create a rectangle : Click rec , click and drag at the drawing area, type @ 4, 6, press ENTER
EXTRUDE select the object , press enter, then type EXT Height = 5, ENTER
Go to VIEW TAB, select SW Isometric in order to check if the object is already in 3D.
It should look like the object in :Figure A
Change the VISUAL STYLES to REALISTIC. See FIGURE B

Figure A Figure B

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 MULTIPLE VIEWPORTS-

How to apply multiple viewport:

1. Click View tab Viewports panel New.

2. In the Viewports dialog box, New Viewports tab, under Standard Viewports, select Three:Right
3. Click to specify three corner of the new layout viewport.
4. Click to specify the opposite corner. A new layout viewport object is specified. See Figure C.

Figure C

3D NAVIGATION TOOLS2 i

3D navigation tools allow you to view objects in a drawing from different angles, heights, and distances.

Use the following 3D tools : orbit, swivel, adjust distance, zoom, and pan in a 3D view.

3D Orbit. Moves around a target. The target of the view stays stationary while the camera location, or point of
view, moves. The target point displays temporarily as a small, dark sphere. The method used for locating the
target point is determined by the ORBITAUTOTARGET system variable.
Constrained Orbit. Constrains 3D Orbit along the XY plane or the Z axis.

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 Free Orbit. Orbits in any direction without reference to the planes. The point of view is not constrained along
the XY plane of the Z axis.
Continuous Orbit. Orbits continuously. Click and drag in the direction you want the continuous orbit to move,
and then release the mouse button. The orbit continues to move in that direction.
Adjust Distance. Changes the distance of objects as you move the cursor vertically. You can make objects
appear larger or smaller, and you can adjust the distance.
Swivel. Simulates panning with a camera in the direction that you drag. The target of the view changes. You can
swivel the view along the XY plane or along the Z axis.
Zoom. Simulates moving the camera closer to an object or farther away. Zooming in magnifies the image.
Pan. Starts the interactive 3D view and enables you to drag the view horizontally and vertically.

Figure D. Orbit Figure E. ZOOM

TRY EXERCISES 1 to 3 (see attached file)

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SOLID PRIMITIVES:

A primitive solid is a building block' that you can use to work with in 3D. Rather than extruding or
revolving an object, AutoCAD has some basic 3D shape commands at your disposal. From these basic
primitives, you can start building your 3D models. In many cases, you get the same result from drawing
circles and rectangles and then extruding them, but doing it in one command is generally faster. Using
these with Boolean operations (SEE DISCUSSION IN BOOLEAN OPERATION PPT ) can be a very
effective way of drawing in 3D. There are six (6) different shapes that you can choose from:

SHAPE COMMAND ICON DESCRIPTION

Creates a solid box after you provide 2
BOX BOX opposite corners.

Creates a solid sphere from a center point

SPHERE SPHERE and radius.

Creates a straight cylinder from a center

CYLINDER CYLINDER point, radius and height.

Creates a tapered cone from a center

CONE CONE point, radius and height.

Creates a triangular wedge from 2

WEDGE WEDGE opposite points.

Creates a torus (donut shape) based on

TORUS TORUS center point, radius and tube radius.

Draws a solid object with width and height

POLYSOLID PSOLID as would draw a polyline.

TRY EXERCISES 4-6

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EXERCISES 4 HOW TO CREATE A BOX

Here is an example of this:

Command: box
Specify corner of box or [Center]: @2,3 {Enter}
Extrude {Enter}
Specify height of extrusion : 4 {Enter}

This draws a box that is 2 units in the X-axis wide, 3 units long in the Y-axis and has a depth of
4 units in the positive Z-axis.

Here is another way of drawing that same box:

Command: BOX
Specify corner of box or [Center]: @2,6 {Enter}
Extrude {Enter}
Specify height: 1 {Enter}

Using this method, you establish the first corner as before, but only enter the X and Y co-
ordinates of the opposite corner. AutoCAD will then prompt for the height.

Another way of drawing a box is to establish where the center of the box will be:

Command: BOX
Specify corner of box or [CEnter] <0,0,0>: C
Center of box <0,0,0>: <ENTER> or <PICK A POINT>
Specify corner or [Cube/Length]: @2,3,4

This draws a box that is 4x6x8 based about the center of 0,0,0.

If you want to draw a perfect cube, you can use this option:

Command: BOX
Specify corner of box or [CEnter]<0,0,0>: <pick point>
Specify corner or [Cube/Length]: C
Length: 4

This draws a cube with all sides equal to 4 units based of off a picked point.

The last way of drawing a cube allows you to enter the Length, Width and Height as separate distances,
and not based on co-ordinate points.

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bCommand: BOX
Center/<Corner of box> <0,0,0>:
Cube/Length/<other corner>: L
Length: 5 (X AXIS)
Width: 4 (Y AXIS)
Height: 6 (Z AXIS)

Of course you can also draw a box by picking two opposite corners with your mouse. This is useful for
filling in areas and can be very quick. Make sure to use your OSNAP BUTTON.

Change the visual styles from WIREFRAME TO REALISTIC OR SHADED.

EXERCISES 4 HOW TO CREATE A SPHERE

A Sphere is a globe-like shape. It is very similar to drawing a circle in that you pick a center point and
then input either the radius (default) or diameter. Both methods draw the same sphere in the following
examples:

Command: SPHERE
Specify center point or [3P/2P/Ttr]: <PICK POINT>
Specify radius or [Diameter] <2.3756>: 6 <ENTER>

Command: SPHERE
Specify center point or [3P/2P/Ttr]: <PICK POINT>
Specify radius of sphere or [Diameter]:D
Specify Diameter: 12

Both of the above methods will give you the same result.

You also have the options of selecting 3 Points, 2 Points, or using 2 tangents and radius (TTR).

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A cylinder is just like an extruded circle. Creating one is very similar to creating a circle, except that you
are giving depth to it.

These two examples would draw the same cylinder:

Command: CYLINDER
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Specify center point for base of cylinder or [Elliptical]
<0,0,0>:
Diameter/<Radius>: 6
Center of other end/<Height>: 4

Command: CYLINDER
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Specify center point for base of cylinder or [Elliptical]
<0,0,0>:
Specify radius for base of cylinder or [Diameter]: D
Diameter: 12
Specify height of cylinder or [Center of other end]: 4

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Drawing a cone is the same as drawing a cylinder, except that the resulting object tapers smoothly from
the bottom to a point at the top.

Command: CONE
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Specify center point for base of cone or [Elliptical]
<0,0,0>:
Specify radius for base of cone or [Diameter]: 4
Specify height of cone or [Apex]: 8

Command: CONE
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Specify center point for base of cone or [Elliptical]
<0,0,0>:
Specify radius for base of cone or [Diameter]: D
Specify diameter for base of cone: 8
Apex/<Height>: 8

Another way of drawing a cone is to enter in the center point, the radius (or diameter) and then establish
where you want the apex (point of cone) to be. You can either type in co-ordinate points or pick a point
with your cursor.

Command: CONE
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Specify center point for base of cone or [Elliptical] <0,0,0>: <PICK>
Specify radius for base of cone or [Diameter]: 5
Specify height of cone or [Apex]: A
Specify apex point: @5,5,6

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In creating wedge object, you have to be careful which co-ordinates you input to make the wedge lie in
the position you want. If it doesn't turn out just as you hoped for, you can always rotate it.

Here is an example of drawing a wedge:

Command: WEDGE
Specify first corner of wedge or [CEnter]<0,0,0>: <PICK>
Specify corner or [Cube/Length]: @5,2,4

Once the first corner is established, you can either enter points, or pick a spot. AutoCAD will draw the
shape like it would draw a cube except it is slice in half along the length starting at the point above the
first corner. There are other options to drawing wedges and see the box examples for these.

A torus is a donut-like shape or something resembling an inner tube. When drawing one you have to
enter the center point, a radius to the center of the tube and the radius of the tube itself.

Command: TORUS
Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Specify center of torus <0,0,0>:
Specify radius of torus or [Diameter]: 3
Specify radius of tube or [Diameter]:.25

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The diagram on the right shows the resulting diameters from the input above. A center mark indicates the
picked center of the torus.

A polysolid allows you to draw a solid object while defining the height and the width. I think this command
is aimed at the architects, who will enjoy the ability to quickly draw solid walls.

Command: PSOLID
POLYSOLID Specify start point or
[Object/Height/Width/Justify] <Object>: H
Specify height <96.0000>: 96
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify]
<Object>: W
Specify width <6.0000>: 6
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify]
<Object>: J
Enter justification [Left/Center/Right] <Center>: L
Specify start point or [Object/Height/Width/Justify]
<Object>: <Pick 1st point>

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