Assignment
# 2
3D CAD Software:-
CAD (computer-aided design):-
CAD (computer-aided design) software is used
by architects, engineers, drafters, artists, and others to create precision
drawings or technical illustrations. CAD software can be used to create
two-dimensional (2-D) drawings or three-dimensional (3-D) models. Computer-aided design (CAD) is the
use of computer systems to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or
optimization of a design. CAD software is used to increase the productivity of
the designer, improve the quality of design, improve communications through
documentation, and to create a database for manufacturing. CAD output is often
in the form of electronic files for print, machining, or other manufacturing
operations.
3D CAD Software
Since
introducing AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed a broad portfolio
of 3D CAD software programs to help users explore design ideas, visualize
concepts, and simulate how designs will perform in the real world.
Autodesk’s
Digital Prototyping tools help engineers and designers experience their 3D CAD
designs virtually, before they’re built. By connecting every phase of your
design process through a single digital model, our Digital Prototyping
solutions let your teams test and optimize 3D CAD designs, helping to drive
innovation, achieve higher quality, and speed time to market.
INTRODUCTION - WHY 3-D?
You may have
already figured out why CAD has many advantages over manual drafting. One big
advantage is that once you've drawn something, you shouldn't have to draw it
again. If you manually drew a house plan, you would have to draw a front
elevation, side elevations, and possibly a perspective view. With one 3-D CAD
model, you can generate views from any angle either inside or outside the house
and animations. Afterwards, if your client needs something changed, you can
then make the changes once and re-render your views. If you're drawing
mechanical parts, you can generate virtual prototypes or even create rapid
prototypes. In this manner Boeing was able to design and prototype the 777
jetliner. This level of engineering would be impossible without CAD.
Your company
may not do a lot of 3D work, but it is still a good skill to have and it's also
more fun than 2D.
3-D concepts
in the following order:
· Isometric Drawings (not true 3D)
· Wire-frame (very basic 3D)
· Surfaces / Regions (primitive 3D)
· Solid Objects (advanced 3D)
Will have a
chance to draw the same object different ways to see the differences between
the various methods.
Before
entering the exciting world of 3-D, you'll have to learn some more CAD
terminology.
3-D CAD TERMINOLOGY
2-D: A concept of displaying real-world
objects on a flat surface showing only height and width. This system uses only
the X and Y axes.
3-D: A way of displaying real-world object
in a more natural way by adding depth to the height and width. This system uses
the X Y and Z axes.
Boolean operations: Commands that allow you to add,
subtract or intersect solid objects in AutoCAD.
Complex surface: Generally a curved surface. Examples:
car fender, landscape contour.
Elevation: The difference between an object
being at zero on the Z-axis and the height that it is above zero.
Extrude: The extrude command raises the shape
of a 2D outline into a 3D solid. For example, a circle would be extruded into a
cylinder.
Face: The simplest true 3-D surface.
Facet: A three or four sided polygon that
represents a piece (or section) of a 3-D surface.
Hidden line removal: A way of hiding lines that would not
be visible if you were viewing the actual object you have drawn in AutoCAD.
Isometric Drawing: A simple way of achieving a '3-D'
appearance using 2-D drawing methods.
Plan View: Also known as the top view, a plan
view looks directly down the WCS Z-axis to the X-Y axis.
Primitive: A basic solid building block.
Examples would be boxes, cones, cylinders.
Region: A 2-D area consisting of lines, arcs,
etc.
Rendering: A complex way of adding
photo-realistic qualities to a 3-D model you have created.
Shading: A quick way of adding color to a 3-D
object you have drawn. (Command: SHADE)
Solid Model: A 3-D model creating using solid
'building blocks'. This is the most accurate way of representing real-world
objects in CAD.
Surface Model: A 3-D model defined by surfaces. The
surface consists of polygons. (See facets.)
Thickness: A property of lines and other objects
that gives them a 3-D like appearance.
UCS: The user co-ordinate system. This is
defined by the person drawing to have easier access to portions of a 3-D model.
View: A particular view of the object you
have created.
Viewport: A window into your drawing showing a
particular view. You can have several viewports on your screen. Different from
the viewports used in plotting.
Wire-frame Model: A 3-D shape that is defined by lines
and curves. A skeletal representation. Hidden line removal is not possible with
this model.
Z-Axis: The third axis that defines the
depth.
Isometric Drawing
Using
Isometric commands is one of the simplest ways to give a 3-D representation
while using only 2-D commands. This has been the usual way of doing things
before CAD allowed true 3-D work to be done. Many times an isometric drawing is
used to compliment or give more information to a 3 view orthographic drawing.
See the sample below.
You can see that it is a very simple drawing. This basic
isometric drawing of the object gives a very good idea of what it looks like.
If this is all that is needed then isometric works well. Unfortunately, as soon
as you change anything, like the block's height, you'll need to redraw all four
views. AutoCAD has a command called ISOPLANE which allows you to easily draw at
a 30 degree angle as needed for an isometric drawing. You can switch between
the three 'isoplanes' (top, right, left) by using this command or by pressing
the F5 key.
Command: ISOPLANE <ENTER>
Current isoplane: Right
Enter isometric plane setting [Left/Top/Right] <Left>: T <ENTER>
Current isoplane: Top
Current isoplane: Right
Enter isometric plane setting [Left/Top/Right] <Left>: T <ENTER>
Current isoplane: Top
The 3-D Co-ordinate system
By now you
should be very comfortable working your way around the X-Y coordinate system.
Anyway, here is a quick review. Looking from the plan view, this is what you
see to figure out where is positive X and positive Y.
If you were to look at the same picture, but at a slight
angle, you would see the third axis. This new axis is called the Z-axis.
Imagine that the positive Z-axis is coming towards you out of the monitor.
3D Rotation
Now for the
confusing part. You already know how to rotate 2D objects, but you also have to
know how AutoCAD measures angles of rotation in 3-D. There is a somewhat simple
rule for this called "The Right Hand Rule". To figure out which is
the positive rotation angle, imagine that you are wrapping your right hand
around the axis with your thumb pointing towards the positive end. The direction
that your fingers are wrapped is the positive direction of rotation. This
applies to all three axes.
Direction of positive
rotation using the right hand rule
The main point of this lesson is to tell you that objects
can trick you in 3D space. Shortcuts don't always work, you have to be careful
with Osnaps and your drawing can turn into a mess very quickly if you're not
paying attention. Trust me, I've seen enough students take the easy route and
have to start over. If you want to learn 3D, review each lesson before
progressing. Make sure you know the concepts inside and out. This is just an
introduction to the concepts, you will learn more in the following lessons. You
may still want to refer back to this tutorial, though.