Chapter 24: Creating Solids and Editing in 3D
In This Chapter
Creating basic geometrical shapes Drawing extruded, swept, revolved, lofted, and polyline solids Manipulating solids directly Creating mesh shapes Building complex solids Create cross-section views of your 3D models Working with editing commands in 3D Editing solids in 3D Determining solid properties
Although you can create great-looking models with surfaces, if you want truly realistic models, you need to create solids. After all, in real life, objects have solidity. Even a thin object such as a wastepaper basket or a drape has some thickness. Solids enable you to create more realistic models than surfaces. AutoCAD offers two types of solids: smooth and mesh. You can also combine or subtract solids and get information about their physical properties. Figure 24.1 shows a complex model created using solids.
AutoCAD Only
AutoCAD LT doesn't draw solids. For the 3D capabilities of AutoCAD LT, see Chapters 21 and 22. •
As I explain in Chapter 21, when working in 3D, you should use a 3D environment, including the 3D Modeling workspace and the acad3d.dwt (or similar) template.
Note
A 3D Basics workspace is available in AutoCAD for simple 3D work. •
Figure 24.1
You can create complex and realistic models using solids.
Thanks to Hans-Joachim Fach, Bremen, Germany, for this drawing.
Drawing Basic Smooth Solids
AutoCAD makes ...
