This tutorial is intended to work as a student centered learning resource. It will introduce you to the basics of creating 3D models of your building designs using AutoCAD. Use the AutoCAD help menu system as required.

You will be familiar with working in 2D (two dimensions). As you may have already found, this can be quite limiting. You are representing 3D objects in a 2D format, which has then to be interpreted in order to visualise in 3D. Working with a 3D model has many advantages over 2D representations, including:

• Ease of visualising from any view point.
• Ease of creating 2D draughting views.
• Creation of photo-realistic images, animations and virtual reality presentations.
• Use of geometry for computational analysis, e.g. FEA.
• Use of geometry for CNC manufacturing processes.

3D CAD offers tools to work not only on a plane, along the x and y axes as with 2D CAD, but also in 3D space along the z axis, giving depth to the drawing. This tutorial will introduce you to the three primary types of 3D modelling:
• Wireframe
• Surface
• Solid

Download