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ОглавлениеThis Workbook is designed for classroom instruction or self-study and is suitable for both inch and metric users. There are 8 lessons and 4 modeling projects.
Each lesson starts with step-by-step instructions on how to create 3-dimensional (3D) solid models followed by exercises designed for practicing the commands you learned within that lesson. The modeling projects are designed so that you can create complex 3D models by combining many of the commands you learned within those lessons.
Downloadable sample files are provided to accompany some of the lessons and modeling projects.
How to get the supplied sample files?
The file “3d-modeling.zip” should be downloaded from our website:
http://new.industrialpress.com/ext/downloads/acad/3d-modeling.zip
Enter the address into your web browser and the download will start automatically.
Once the file has been downloaded you can unzip it to extract the sample files.
AutoCAD vs. AutoCAD LT
The LT version of AutoCAD has approximately 80 percent of the capabilities of the full version. It was originally created to be installed on the small hard drives that Laptops used to have. Hence, the name LT. (LT does not mean “Light”). In order to reduce the size of the program AutoCAD removed some of the high-end capabilities, such as Solid Modeling. As a result, AutoCAD LT is not suitable for this Workbook.
Steve Heather is a former Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Aided Design in England, UK. For the past 8 years he has been a Beta Tester for Autodesk®, testing the latest AutoCAD® software. Previous to teaching and for more than 30 years, he worked as a Precision Engineer in the Aerospace and Defense industries.
Steve can be contacted for questions or comments at: steve.heather@live.com
This Workbook was created using AutoCAD® 2017. You may have an earlier version. There are some cosmetic changes to the main interface but the commands are mostly the same. During some of the lessons you will be asked to start a new drawing file using either “acad.dwt” for inch users, or “acadiso.dwt” for metric users. These are the standard template files that are automatically installed on your system when you install the AutoCAD software.
How to start a new drawing file.
1. Start AutoCAD.
2. Left click on the large “A” in the top left-hand corner.
3. Left click on New.
4. In the Select Template dialog box, either click on “acad.dwt” if you are an inch user, or click on “acadiso.dwt” if you are a metric user.
5. Select Open if the drawing file hasn’t already opened.
The drawing file will open showing you the Workspace. I have changed certain colors on the Workspace. If you wish to do the same refer to the next page for instructions.
The default color scheme for AutoCAD is dark and the main drawing area is black. I prefer to have a light color scheme and a white drawing area. If you wish to change the color scheme or the drawing area color do the following.
1. Right click in the main drawing area and select Options from the list.
2. In the Options dialog box select the Display Tab.
3. To change the color scheme, select the Color scheme drop-down list and select either Dark or Light.
4. To change the color of the main drawing area select Colors.
5. In the Drawing Window Colors dialog box select 2D Model space (2D means 2-dimensional) in the Context window.
6. Select your preferred color in the Color drop-down list.
7. When you are happy with your choices select Apply & Close.
8. Select Apply and then OK in the Options dialog box.
Note: When you change either the color scheme or the drawing area color, the settings remain in the system regardless of which drawing file you use.
Also during the lessons and exercises you will be asked to change the drawing view to SE Isometric (the SE means South East). The default drawing view is Top. To change the drawing view do the following.
1. Left click on the word “Top” in the top left-hand corner of the main drawing area.
2. Select SE Isometric from the list.
You may use any of the drawing views but the SE Isometric view is the one used most in the lessons and exercises throughout this Workbook.
The example below shows a 3D solid model using the SE Isometric view.
If you were to change the drawing view to NE Isometric (North East) view your 3D solid model would look like the example below.
As well as changing the drawing view in the lessons and exercises, you will also be asked to change the Visual Style to Conceptual style. The default Visual Style is 2D Wireframe. To change the Visual Style do the following.
1. Left click on the word “2D Wireframe” in the top left-hand corner of the main drawing area.
2. Select Conceptual from the list.
You may wish to experiment with different Visual Styles such as Realistic style.
Note: You will notice that when you switch to Conceptual style, the main drawing area will revert back to a black color. You will need to open the Options dialog box and change the color for 3D parallel projection, similar to what you did for the 2D Model space.
You will also notice that in the main drawing area it displays Grid Lines.
If you prefer not to display the Grid Lines do the following.
1. Left click on the Grid Display button on the Status Bar at the bottom of the drawing area. Blue is ON and Grey is OFF. You can also use the Function key F7 on your keyboard to toggle the Grid Display on or off.
The Status Bar is located at the bottom of the drawing area and contains commonly used drawing tools. You can turn each tool off individually by clicking on the required button or by using the corresponding Function key on your keyboard such as F8 to turn on or off Ortho Mode (Ortho is short for Orthographic). A brief description of the Status Bar tools used throughout this Workbook is given below.
Ortho Mode (You may also use the F8 key to toggle Ortho Mode ON or OFF.)
Ortho Mode restricts the movement of the cursor to Horizontal or Vertical. When Ortho Mode is ON the cursor moves only in the horizontal or vertical directions. When Ortho Mode is OFF the cursor moves freely in any direction.
Object Snap (You may also use the F3 key to toggle 2D Object Snap ON or OFF.)
When the 2D Object Snap is ON the cursor will “snap” to preset locations on 2D objects. You will learn more about Object Snaps in Lesson 4.
AutoCAD versions 2015 or later.
AutoCAD versions 2014 or earlier.
If you have AutoCAD versions 2014 or earlier you can change the Status Bar tool buttons from icons to text labels. This option is not available for AutoCAD versions 2015 or later.
To change the Status Bar tool buttons to text labels.
1. Right click on any Status Bar tool button and then uncheck “Use Icons” in the list.
The Status Bar tool buttons will now show as text labels.
To revert back to icons instead of text labels, right click on any Status Bar tool button and click on “Use Icons” in the list.
Keyboard Function keys and what they are used for.
F1 - Opens the Help window.
F2 - Displays an Extended Command History list.
F3 - Turns the 2D Object Snaps on or off.
F4 - Turns the 3D Object Snaps on or off.
F5 - Toggles Isoplanes between Top, Right or Left.
F6 - Turns the Dynamic UCS on or off.
F7 - Turns the Grid on or off.
F8 - Turns Orthographic Mode on or off.
F9 - Turns Snap Mode on or off.
F10 - Turns Polar Tracking on or off.
F11 - Turns Object Snap Tracking on or off.
F12 - Turns Dynamic Input on or off.
Using a wheel mouse is by far the easiest and most efficient method of navigating your way around AutoCAD and for creating 3D solid models. The standard wheel mouse has left and right buttons and a central wheel that also doubles as a button. The default functions for the buttons and wheel are as follows.
Zooming and Panning with the Wheel.
Zoom
Rotate your Wheel forward to Zoom in.
Rotate your Wheel backward to Zoom out.
Pan
Press the Wheel and drag the mouse to move the drawing around the screen.
In addition to Zooming and Panning with the Wheel, you can also view the entire drawing by double clicking the Wheel. This is called Zoom Extents.
Application and Workspace Descriptions
A Workspace controls the display of Ribbons, Tabs, Menus, Toolbars and Palettes. There are 3 Workspaces to choose from: 2D Drafting & Annotation, 3D Basics and 3D Modeling. Throughout this Workbook you will be using the 2D Drafting & Annotation and 3D Modeling Workspaces.
The default Workspace is 2D Drafting & Annotation. A brief description of the Workspace elements are shown below. You will learn how to change Workspaces in Lesson 1.
Enlarged view of the Draw Panel on the Home Tab.
