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Most drafters who have used AutoCAD or IntelliCAD software for some time and
who have been creating designs (plans) in two dimensions (2D), find moving
to three dimensional modelling, quite an intimidating step. There are
two inherent problems in making the transition.
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Firstly, there is the challenge of properly
orienting oneself in a three dimensional design space while
working on a 2D screen.
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Secondly, the
complexity of the line work created when you are working in 3D, can create images which are very
difficult to interpret.
However, provided that you take your
learning one step at a time, it is surprisingly easy to master drawing in
3D. There are certain
basic procedures which, when followed, make 3D modelling a lot
easier than might appear at first. We are biased of course, but believe that this course will help
by showing you these steps and help overcome the 2D to 3D hurdle.
This course provides a cost efficient
way for you to make the leap into the third dimension!
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Click
here to play a movie
(6.2Mb) in which we look at a variety of 3D models in both the AutoCAD
and IntelliCAD environments. Please note that you do not have to do
anything while the movie plays, just watch! |
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Click
here to play a
movie (5.5Mb) which shows you how we used the 3D capabilities of IntelliCAD
to create a model for a garden design where we wanted to give our client
some appreciation of how the finished garden would look when
constructed. |
 To hear the
sound which accompanies the movie, make sure that you have your speakers connected and turned on.
The movie can be paused and re-started by hitting the space bar.
We assume that you have become
familiar with designing in 2D using your CAD software (IntelliCAD or
AutoCAD) and want to use the very same software in the 3D environment.
We
will provide some review of your 2D skills.
You will need a copy of IntelliCAD ($445.00) or the full
AutoCAD (circa $6000) to take this course. While AutoCAD LT can be
used to view 3D models created by the two applications mentioned, does
not allow access to a full range of 3D commands. For example, the 3DFACE
command has been inactivated in AutoCAD LT. It is a good idea to
download a (free) version of SketchUp from Google so you can practice
passing your models from IntelliCAD or AutoCAD into SketchUp.
An
understanding of basic 2D drafting using AutoCAD
or IntelliCAD where you have been working wholly
within tiled model space. We would normally
expect that you would have completed
QuickStart
CAD, Basic CAD
1, Basic CAD 2,
and Paper
Space & Model Space courses, prior to taking this course.
Module
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Description
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Extruding Entities |
Creating 3D models by taking
a 2D plan design file and extruding entities in it. We show how
the CHPROP and CHANGE commands can be used to edit an entity's
thickness value, producing an extrusion in the Z axis. By way of
example, we build a model for a
simple courtyard. The ELEVATION command is introduced - a
command which allows placing entities at different levels in
your design. The practical use of these three commands is shown in the context of "building" the walls of a 3D
house. We then introduce and explain the importance of controlling
layers when building 3D models. This makes subsequent rendering
of surfaces in the model (from
a materials library) much easier. We develop a default drawing suitable for
the creation of 3D models. As an extension, we build a 3d model
of a simple warehouse. |
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The 3DFACE command |
3DFACEs being like an extruded line,
can be oriented
in any direction and not just vertically. Various methods of
defining a 3DFACE - typing a coordinate, drawing 2D and then
moving the 3DFACE, stretching a 3DFACE, using 3D point filters,
.XY filters, draw in 2D and then rotate into position, use OSNAP
and adjacent geometry. We briefly introduce
the use of construction geometry to help define reference points
in 3D space. We use the 3DFACE entity
to create the roof panels of the simple 3D house.
We highlight how useful the 3DFACE command is, but how difficult it
is to define the corner points in 3D space when using the
command. |
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3DMESH entities |
The 3DMESH command can be
used to construct complex surfaces. A 3D Mesh entity is a series of connected 3D
faces. The surfacing commands REVSURF, TABSURF,
RULESURF and EDGESURF, are used in conjunction with the 3DMESH
command to automatically create 3D meshes in
simple ways. The effect of the SURFTAB1 and SURFTAB2
variables, and tips on how they can control the density of the meshes
produced is demonstrated. |
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The VPORTS & DVIEW commands |
Previous modules concentrated
on techniques for building 3D models. The value of a block
library containing 3D objects - 3DPlant symbols, furniture,
light poles, benches, table tennis tables etc. is illustrated. In this module, we
illustrate how important it is to understand and be able to
control your view of the model with VPORTS, VPOINT and the DVIEW command.
We show how perspective views of 3D models are possible
using options within the DVIEW command. |
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Creating Intelligent 3D entities |
Building some 3D objects with
appropriate layers and attributes such that subsequent rendering is made
convenient. The importance of layers for
assigning materials to surfaces. |
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The UCS and its operation |
We introduce the UCS and its
operation and recommend that the manipulation of the UCS
provides an easy way to help with drawing
in 3D. The previous problems shown with defining the corners of
a 3DFACE entity will be used as an illustration
as the UCS can be initially a little confusing to understand.
WE will also re-inforce the
value and operation of the VPOINT command at this stage. The VPOINT command
sets the viewing location while the UCS defines the current
drawing plane. We show that the best way to use VPOINT is to use
the "R" (rotate) option. This involves setting the viewing
direction, followed by the viewing elevation angle. This
a very easy way to use, and understand, the VPOINT command.
To begin with, we show that the best starting point to
show the UCS operation is to set a 3D VPOINT (say, VPOINT R 30
30) and then the demonstrate several of the UCS options.
The 3D view will
show the UCS icon changing position. WE make sure that the UCS icon is
ON and discuss the UCS variable UCSICON and its
options at this stage. The most useful UCS functions are
illustrated - UCS X 90 (to rotate 90 degrees about the X axis) and
UCS Y 90 (to rotate 90 degrees about the Y axis). We show how these two
commands can be used to switch the drawing planes between the X,
Y and Z axes. The UCS W option which will return you to the WORLD UCS
is covered as is
PLAN will revert to looking straight down on the current UCS.
By the end of the module, students should know enough about the UCS to enable practical 3D
drawing. |
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Third Party rendering |
We
discuss how a third-party rendering program may be required to
render good 3D images, and show how to export the AutoCAD 3D
geometry in the best possible way. Comments here address how
the values for the SURFTAB variables, when creating meshes, will
have a key influence on how good the 3D geometry may appear in a
third-party rendering program. |
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Solid modelling |
All we've covered so far
relates to "surface" modelling. If appropriate, the specific
operation of "solid" modelling may be introduced. If the
students were mechanical designers then solid modelling would be
very helpful to them. If the students were Architects then solid
modelling would be less helpful. Solid modelling duplicates
the way machine parts are made. You add or subtract material
from a base solid object. This results in some 3D operations
being far easier than surface modelling, while other operations
are much more complex. One issue which will determine whether
you can address solid modelling will be the version of
AutoCAD/IntelliCAD you're using. The standard version of
IntelliCAD doesn't offer solids. |
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Preliminaries
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Setting up your CAD program for 3D CAD
work. More on wire frame modelling vs. solid modelling.
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Some 3D Blocks |
Bringing it all
together. Given a site plan, part of a house located on the site
and back yard with some existing trees, your task is to populate
the design with trees and other furniture taken from the block
library. Setting up a site plan for design work. Using the VPORTS command to save several configurations for ease of
working in 3D. Setting a suitable GRID and SNAP value, rotating
the design grid. Placing edging and paving on the plan. Examining a composite view of plant symbols and using
them in a garden design. Scaling 3D blocks for added interest. |
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Sample Project 1 |
We build a design for an outdoor area
in a garden. |
Here we offer some background to
those contemplating taking the course. It is taken from the first module
in the course.
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Your CAD software has some in-built
tools to assist in orienting you in space. It is possible to select one of set of fixed
preset viewpoints which
orient you in 3D space. The cyan colour on the seat of the
chair is an indicator
that you are looking above the model in the non axis views. |
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An example of the crowded line work seen when
you work in 3D. Your software already has tools to
help resolve this problem. The HIDE command
can be used to remove lines hidden by those in front as
shown in the figure
below. |
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The same view after applying the HIDE command. |
Put simply, when working in the third
dimension,
elements are placed into a three dimensional space by giving them not
pairs of Cartesian coordinates as you are used to doing in 2D work, but supplying a
third (Z) coordinate whenever you are asked for a 'From:' or 'To:' point
as you place the entity.
It
is not as difficult as it sounds. In many cases, we still draw in 2D,
but either give the entities (lines, arcs or polyines etc.) a thickness
(extruding in the Z direction) or simply move the entities to a new
elevation (height off the ground).
You do not need to start up a special default
drawing to do this, IntelliCAD is always working in a 3D design area;
it's just that in 2D drafting, you normally ignore the third Cartesian
point and IntelliCAD/AutoCAD assumes automatically that the third
coordinate is zero.
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Listing the line which runs to the top of the
frame out to the right, shows a Z value (or height above the ground - elevation)
of zero. |
IntelliCAD and AutoCAD support a
number of profoundly different types of three-dimensional models - wire frame
models, surface models and solid models.
We will not cover solid modelling
(where essentially the software works with blocks of solid material such
as steel or wood) in this course, but will we show you how to construct both wire
frame and surface models.
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Wire-frame models, consist
of lines and curves that define the edges of a three-dimensional
entity. You can create a wire-frame model by drawing lines, arcs, polylines, and other two-dimensional entities anywhere in
three-dimensional space. Wire-frame models have no surfaces; they
always appear as outlines. Because you must individually draw and
position each entity that makes up a wire-frame model, creating them
can be exacting and time-consuming.
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Surface models, which
consist of both edges and the surfaces between those edges. You
create surface models by applying elevation and thickness to
two-dimensional planar entities or by using specific
three-dimensional entity-creation commands. Surface models consist
of individual planes forming a faceted, polygonal mesh.
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A rectangle 500x400 mm, a circle, an arc, a
polyline and a polygon; each given a thickness (extruded in the
Z direction) |
Now we will look at these
very same entities from one of the preset non axis views.
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The same entities viewed from
an non axis view above and to the right. |
IntelliCAD supports the creation
of lots of surface models. There is even a toolbar to place them -
cones, cubes, tubes, etc.
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Several 3D surface mesh shapes have been
placed into this drawing. |
The RULESURF command is of
interest as it can be used to create some surface mesh models of
great complexity in a very short space of time indeed.
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An urn created using REVSURF. Note the use of
three VPORTS to better visualize the model. |
As you create three-dimensional
entities, the program displays both wire-frame and surface models in
wire-frame view, which makes it difficult to visualize your
three-dimensional models.
To better visualize the model, the
software allows the use of a command (HIDE) which allows you to
remove all the lines that are hidden behind other entities or surfaces
when seen from the current viewpoint.
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Surface mesh wire-frame on the left and the
same model with the HIDE command applied on the right. |
Shading goes a step further by
removing hidden lines and then assigning flat colours to the visible
surfaces, making them appear solid. Shaded images are useful when you
want to quickly visualize your model as a solid object, though they lack
depth and definition.
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The SHADE command applied to portion of the
ControlRoom drawing |
Rendering provides an even
more realistic image of your model, complete with light sources,
shadows, surface material properties, and reflections, giving your model
a photo-realistic look. When you render a model, the program removes
hidden lines and then shades the surface as though it were illuminated
from an imaginary light source.
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A wire frame image of the
International Space Station on the left and a rendered image on
the right. Textures have been applied to the surfaces of the model
to create the photo-realistic effect. |
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A fully rendered design. Note the shadows
being cast. We can even set the latitude of the site and watch the shadows changing
over different times of the day in our design. |
So, in summary, the sequence when
working in 3D is:
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Construct a wire-frame model. Try
simple extrusions first, then surface meshes.
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Apply hidden-line removal to the
image while you build the model.
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Apply shaded to the model when
nearing completion.
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Finally render the image
It is
recommended as a standard procedure, that you construct individual
objects or components in isolation a separate drawings and then import
them into an 'assembly' drawing moving the object into position as you do
so. This is an approach that greatly simplifies the task of creating 3D
models. If you were constructing a 3D drawing of (say) a factory/warehouse
then it would contain (among many other things) a reception desk, some
chairs, WC, urinal, windows etc. These should all be created separately.
In garden design work, you would build separate drawings
of (say) garden seats, water features, tree guards etc.
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Garden seat created as a separate 3d
block
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Work first in 2D to lay
out the plan. Then give entities 3d coordinates firstly by extrusion
(thickness), then by positioning elements in 3D space.
In this course, we want take you on a journey through the complete
3D modelling process; from an
initial design idea, to the generation of a professional model. We will concentrate on the 'garden
design' profession first because everyone is familiar with gardens and
the importance they play in our lives.
We
hope that you will return to our Computer Learning Centre and complete
the companion to this course - 'Advanced 3D Modelling' and learn more about
modelling with your computer.
We offer three different pricing models covering
the same material:
1.
group or one-on-one courses (Adelaide or Canberra - in our offices or
yours)
Each course takes one day and
costs $AUD750.00. A
comprehensive workbook on CD-ROM and sample files is provided
to each participant. Participants are given access to the same
materials on our broadband learning web site. Here you can
complete additional exercises, join various forums, take
multiple choice tests and submit work for comment.
2. CD-ROM based distance learning -
Many courses are available via
our
distance learning program at a
substantial discount -$AUD280.00. Again, we provide a CD-ROM containing many instructional on-screen
movies. The whole course can be completed at home or at work, on
your own computer, at your pace. No Internet connection is
required.
3. Online learning via broadband - fast Internet connection required
Many courses are available by online
learning at $AUD250.00 - these courses feature rapid enrolment,
online forums, multi choice reviews questionnaires etc. Click
here to visit our online
learning site. A reasonably fast broadband Internet connection is
required. Dial up access is not suitable.
Experience over many years has taught us that adults learn best by
progressing through a course of study at their own pace and at times
that suit them. Wherever possible, they like to learn by working on
their own materials, rather than work through long practice exercises. Our courses are specifically designed so that this can
occur- we introduce a topic, provide a movie which shows you how to do
it and then give detailed step-by-step instructions for you to follow.
Courses may be taken at Thebarton in Adelaide, South Australia, in
Canberra in hired facilities, or by distance learning or
broadband learning.
If a course is taken 'in-house' at Thebarton, it normally runs for a
whole day
with a break for lunch. Starting time is 9.15 am and finish time around
4.15 - 4.30 pm. We usually work group or one-on-one, but can take up to 3 students
in our training room. **We only run groups if all students come
from the same organization.** A substantial discount (20%) is given for
groups from the same organization.
The full day course runs on demand -
please send an email
to
info@designcad.com.au and we will reply with some
possible dates. Training in this software is offered in both Adelaide and
Canberra, but in
Canberra, we need a minimum of three students in a group
to cover costs as we hire a training room. The cost (and
number of students) can be reduced if your company can
provide a venue.
When taken in-house, Model Space &
Paper Space normally runs over a full day session.
When taken
externally, experience has shown us that students take
significantly longer to complete the course, primarily
because they are able to break up their learning into
small 'chunks' as time permits. AutoCAD and IntelliCAD
are large
programs - please allow plenty of time to work through
our materials. We would estimate that you have 40-50
hours of work in front of you!
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