Autocad 3D - Complete tutorial for beginners

>> Hello, people.
Welcome to

this tutorial
about autocad

3D modeling for beginners.

As this is a 45
minute video,

I divide this in

several chapters to be

easier for you to learn.

You can check out
the description

to easily access

the parts that you
want to learn. Part 1.

Here, we will talk about

different workspaces,
visual styles,

UCS coordinates,

work with viewports
in model space,

and basic techniques for

drawing in a 3D
perspective.

Let's start.

When you install Autocad

it has by default
three workspaces.

The difference
between them are

the taps and the icons

that appear on the ribbon.

To switch between them,

I need to click
on this wheel

that says
Workspace switch.

The first one,
drafting notation

is a current one and
used to drawing 2D.

Then there are two
workspaces for 3D drawing.

I'm going to click on

3D modeling and
as you see,

the ribbon has
changed completely.

There are lots
of icons here.

Alternatively, I can
choose 3D basics.

This one is a
bit more simple.

There are less icons on

the panels and their

placement is
slightly different.

However, I recommend
you to use 3D modeling

because if one
day you feel that

the 3D basics gets
limited for you,

there is no need to learn
a new ribbon again.

Now, imagine I have

this rectangle and I

want to make a
solid from it,

adding a dimension
on the Z axis.

I'm going to
hold the mouse

wheel and at
the same time,

hold the shift button.

I can change the view
to a 3D perspective.

Then I personally prefer

to use the green mode.

I can switch it on here.

This helps me
to understand

the position of
the XY plane,

and don't forget
to look to

the directions indicated

by the UCS coordinates.

Now I'm going
to show you how

to convert this
rectangle to a solid.

I click on icon
press pull.

It's this one here.

The first thing I have to

select a close boundary.

For example, if I place
the pointer inside

this rectangle, it
becomes highlighted.

I click with the
left button,

then I can extrude this
object up or down.

If I want it up,

I go on this direction and

type the height,
for example 300.

Let's continue.
In the workspace,

you can find these
controls here.

If I click on that
one at the right,

I can change the
visual style.

The first one is
2D wireframe.

This is the
standard view for

2D and it can get very

confusing when we draw

complex solids as there
is no perspective.

The style conceptual
has this appearance.

The edges are emphasized,

but it gives us a

good perception
of the solid.

X ray uses transparency
on the surfaces.

Then you can explore

the other styles to

understand which
one you prefer.

At the ribbon, there
is also a tab here on

the view panel to

select the same
view styles.

Here you can understand

better from the image.

View points UCS
and View Cube.

In this section, I will
talk about changing

the viewpoints and drawing

on the face of a solid.

So one essential tool
you must have on

the screen all the
time is the UCS icon.

It indicates the
direction of

the coordinates and
the current XY plane,

which is where the
grid is located.

I'm going to draw lines
in an empty space.

By default, they
are going to

be located on
the XY plane.

If I rotate the workspace,

you can notice it better.

However, the line
could also be

on the Z axis if I follow

the polar tracking
like here

or if I snap to

a point which is
not on that plane.

Now, let's talk about
the coordinate system.

The UCS here is in

the original position when

I created this file

and this means it is at

the word coordinate
system, WCS.

And the tab on

the coordinates panel
is set on word.

Let's move now the UCS
to another position.

For example, here. Now,
the tab says unnamed,

and the Cartesian 0.000
change to displace.

To restore the
original UCS position,

click on the tab and
select word again.

Did you notice it

move back to where
it was before?

Now I'm going to click on

this control to select
different viewpoints.

I choose, for example,
Southwest Isometric.

The workspace rotates
together with

the UCS to the
isometric position

indicated by
the view cube.

If you don't know
in geometry,

an isometric projection is

a view when the X, Y,

and Z axis have an angle

of 120 degrees
between them.

On this menu, again, apart

from the isometric views,

there are six standard
orthographic views.

Top, button, left,

right, front, and back.

They are indicated
by the view cube.

I'm going to show you
briefly how this works.

If I click on left,

the workspace shows
the left plane.

Instead, if I
click on right,

it's the plane on
the hidden face.

The workspace rotates

in the counter direction.

On the other hand, for
the orographic views,

the UCS is readjusted to

have the standard XY axis.

And in the tab named

UCS como Control
shows right.

Let's move the
workspace using

the mouse wheel
and shift button.

And you can notice
the UCS is in

a different position
as it was before.

To use the tab DCS,

a change here to world.

Now it's on the
original position.

In this example, I'm

going to show
you how to draw

objects on the face of a

solid and this is the
example I will perform.

I'm going to move the UCS

coordinates to
this corner,

placing it on
this endpoint.

Then the face where
I want to draw

things has to be
on the XY plane.

For that, I can click on

the Y axis and

rotate it to a
vertical position.

I click in this endpoint

as I want the axis
in this direction.

Now, you can see
here the XY plane.

Then I have to draw
a line at a distance

of 150 from the endpoint.

Hove the pointer there,

move to the right, type

that value, and
press "Enter."

Then draw vertical line
here with length 100.

Finally, I can easily

draw the square
from this endpoint.

It has a side measure
of 100 and at the end,

I can erase the
support line.

Important tip for
drawing on faces.

Now, we are at the
world view style.

I'm going to draw
a circle here

and you can see this
face turning blue.

If I draw at this moment,

the circle is going to

be on the face and you can

also see that UCS

rearranged it
automatically.

In fact, this happened
because I have

the dynamic UCS turned on.

That icon, if it's not
on the status bar,

you can find it here.

In this list,
I can add and

remove icons from the
bar by ticking them.

However, it doesn't mean

these features are
switched on or off.

That's important
to have in mind.

I click on the
dynamic UCS,

and it's going to appear

here and it's switched on.

Now, I'm going to click
to deactivate it.

Then I try to draw on

the face and as you see,

it's not becoming
highlighted anymore.

The UCS is not
changing and

the objects I draw
go to the XY plane.

So turn on or off

the dynamic UCS
according to your needs.

I will introduce you to

viewports on the
model space.

There are two
ways to add them.

I can go to the visualized
tab on the ribbon.

Then on this panel,

click on Viewport
Configuration.

As you see, there are

several options for
viewport displaying.

I want to choose this
one, three left.

Another way, I can

click here on
Viewport Controls,

then go to Viewport
Configuration list,

and here you have
the options.

So at this moment,

what I have here is

three different
workspaces,

and in each of them,

I can activate
different features

in a way that it helps
me during the work.

This is very common for
making 3D projects,

especially if
you are using

a big screen on your PC.

Switch from different
workspaces.

The current workspace
is highlighted.

I can zoom in or switch
off a few icons at

the status bar and you can

notice that

the other workspaces
don't change.

Now, I'm going to
click on this part.

This is the
current viewport

now and this time,

I can click in
the Controls to

change the viewpoint or

the visual style,
for example.

The viewports can
also be resizable

although you must
keep in mind that

they fill the
entire workspace.

Look at this situation.

I click on the
remaining viewport.

I zoom in and

imagine I want to change

the UCS coordinates here.

I want to select it, but I

can't because it's
behind a command bar.

In this case, I can move

its position or resize it.

Example of using viewports
in the workspace.

The window on the
left is my main one,

so I want to have a
3D viewpoint there.

The other two, I can

set up orthographic
perspectives,

for example, top and left.

I click on the
viewports there,

then go to the control
and change it to top.

By the way, on
the viewport

below, I choose left.

Let's draw a line on
this face of the solid.

Oh, it's better to turn
on the dynamic UCS.

Then once highlighted
the plane,

I can draw lines

and you can see
them appearing

on the window
at the corner.

So you can try a few
ways to decide which one

you prefer. Part 2.

Here, we will

learn how to use
solid primitives,

bully and operations as

unions subtract
and intersect,

and commands to add

a third dimension
to objects.

Let's start. Let's
draw basic 3D objects.

I am going to use few

ports in the model space.

I choose this
option for right.

In the main one, I will be

drawing the objects
with 3D perspective.

The small windows will
be orthographic views,

top, left, and right.

Now, I'm going
to introduce

the solid primitives.

These are basic
3D objects,

and they are located
here in the home table.

Despite they might not

be very useful themselves

alone as most of

our drawings won't be
exactly those solids,

I'm going to draw
some of them.

It's very simple.

I start with the box.

I click on the icon,

choose a start point.

Then I have to define

the width at the length
of the rectangle.

For example, I type 100
for this dimension.

Then I insert a
value for the other.

Again, 100.

So it's going
to be a square.

Finally, I need
the height.

I'm going to type 120.

>> Now, pay attention
how the solid is

projected on your
orthographic viewports.

This time, I'm going
to draw a cylinder.

The first part,
I draw a circle.

Then I insert the
height of the cylinder.

The cone is the
same process.

Then I need the height.

But this time, I'm

going down with
the pointer,

and you can
notice that this

solid will be inverted.

I typed the value for

the height and
press ''Enter.''

Now, I encourage
you to look

at the projection
in this viewport.

It seems strange.

However, if I rotate

the main viewport
to the left side,

you can understand this.

Remaining solid
primitives,

you can explore
by yourself.

For now, let's continue
to the next topic.

Extrude and
presple objects.

Basically, these two
commands allow us

to add a third dimension
to the objects.

With extrude,
we can convert

objects either to a
surface or to a solid.

That depends
on its nature.

If we extrude lines,

open body lines
or splines,

we add dimension
on the axis,

converting them
to a surface,

as you can see,

by the way, if we do

the same process to a
close boundary object,

like the examples
I show you here,

I activate extrude and

by adding a z dimension,

they are automatically
converted to a solid.

And there is also
an option to

extrude only the
boundary here.

I type EXT to activate
extrude again.

And before
selecting anything,

it says here, select

objects to
extrude or mold.

I type MO to choose mold,

and the prompt asks me
if I want to convert

a closed profile in a
surface or a solid.

I choose surface, type

the shortcut SU,
and press Enter.

Then I select the
objects at the height,

and I can realize they
convert to surfaces.

I'm going to rotate

the workspace so you
can see this better.

You see, it's a surface.

If you don't like
this visual style

because of the grids,

I can change it
to this one.

Command press pull.

This tool has
a similar use,

but there are a few
differences with Extrude.

First, it only works
for closed boundaries.

I'm going to activate
the command,

and then instead of
clicking on the objects,

I must click inside

the area when
it's highlighted.

Second example. In
this situation,

there are two
intersecting rectangles.

If I use press pull here,

I can extrude the
closed boundary

where my pointer is.

Then I can do the
same at this side.

Look how beautiful it is.

Using the command
extrude here,

I convert to a solid,

the wall polyline
that I select.

If I have an object in
script inside another,

sometimes I have to wait a

bit to highlight
both objects.

Now click.

If I want to extrude
just this area.

Three D polyline.

A 3D polyline can
change the z component.

For example, I'm going to

draw a normal 2D polyline.

As you see, I'm drawing
it in the XY plane,

and I can't see

ipolar tracking
on the Z axis.

Now, I will try

the same with a
three-dimensional.

It's this icon here.

I make a few segments,

and if I try to
move it vertically,

it recognizes
the set axis.

I click here and then

just draw a couple
of segments more.

If I rotate the workspace,

I can see the segment
on the set axis.

Another characteristic
as 3D polylines

is that I can only draw

straight line
segments like

the function to draw an
arc in a 2D polyline.

Union. This operation is

quite easy to understand.

Basically, it
consists in merging

intersect solids
in a single one.

For example, here I

have a box and
I'm going to

make a cylinder intersetting
it on this face.

I find a midpoint of

this edge to place the
center of the circle.

Then the cylinder
height is going

to be coincident
with the top edge.

Now I click on the icon

Union on the solid
Editing tab.

Then I just select

both objects and
press Enter.

As you see, this is
now a unique solid.

This works not only
for two solids,

but also for
several of them,

like in this example,

I select all and
press Enter.

Here you can
see the result.

Subtract. In this
operation, basically,

we remove part of a
solid using another.

Let's activate the
command, subtract.

If we wait a few seconds,

a label appears with

instructions on how
to use the command.

I find it quite clear.

First, I select the object

that I want to keep.

Press Enter, then I
click on the solid,

I want to subtract.

The box here will
disappear completely

along with the
intersected part

between both objects.

This tool can
still be used

for more than two solids.

Here, I want to subtract
these two boxes.

I reactivate the command,

select the wedge,
press Enter.

Then I select the boxes.

For this case,
I want to have

an empty space where
the boxes are.

Here, I recommend to use

Union First for
the wedges.

Then we subtract I select
first a big solid,

press Enter, then
select the small ones,

and be sure you click

when they are highlight.

Intersect. With this
Bolan operation,

we just skip the
intersection part

of two objects.

Let's try for
this example.

I click on the
icon Intersect.

Select both solids
and press Enter.

As you can see,
everything here

was erased except the
intersect section.

I can also use
this tool when

the surface intersects
a solid, like here.

Now I can apply intersect

here and check
out the result.

The original line
is still here.

To the objects don't
work in intersect.

Important considerations.

Bolan operations, union,

and subtract are
effective for solids.

If I want to
merge solids with

two the objects
like a line,

it will not work.

The same if I try to merge

a solid and a surface.

On the other hand, the
operation intersect,

I can use the solid
and the surface,

as I explained before.

Before proceeding to teach

you the next commands,

look to the workspace.

You can see that I have

changed the grid colors.

I did it in order to
be easier to see.

Of course, as I have
a yellow grid now,

I will avoid to
draw objects in

the same color to
not be confusing.

Let's open the
Options window,

type options,
and press Enter.

Here, go to

the drafting tab and
click on Colors.

In this new window,

you can change the colors

of several drafting tools,

including grid major
and minor lines.

Have in mind that
the major lines

should be lighter
than the minor lines.

Now, let's continue with

more commands to draw

solids from the
two objects.

Loft. With loft,

we can create a solid
from cross sections.

The simplest way to use

loft is having
two surfaces.

Let's look at
this example.

I'm going to draw
a circle here.

Then from the center,

I draw a line on the
direction of the Z axis.

Then from the
top end point,

I draw circle on
the XY plane.

Now, I am going to
activate the command loft.

If you don't find there,

click in this arrow and

should be one
of this list.

I select both surfaces.

Press Enter, then choose,

select cross sections,

and this is the result.

For the second example,

I'm going to draw
another circle

from the line midpoint.

I activate left again,

select the three surfaces,
and press Enter.

The order of
selection also

determines how the
solid is drawn.

For the third example,

let's do it differently.

I select the circle
at the bottom,

then the top, and
finally, the middle one.

Of course, you have to

imagine what you
want to draw.

If you try to draw a solid

that is not
physically possible,

the program will
adjust it for you,

and the result may
not be as you expect.

Select a point.

Apart from
selecting surfaces,

we can still
select points.

For example, here, we
choose these circles.

Then we want to
left to this point.

If we look to
the command bar,

the prompt says,

select cross
sections in letting

order or these options.

I click on point
or type PO.

Finally, I can click on

the point and select
cross sections.

Another way to use loft
is through a path.

This time, I draw a
rectangle on the XY axis.

Next, I want to

snap to the
geometric center.

I click on the arrow
next to the object

snap and check if
that mode is on.

Now, I'm going to click on

the UCS and change

it to the center
of the rectangle.

By hovering the polyline,

I can see it appearing.

I place the UCS there.

Then I rotate the
UCS axis in order to

have the plane

XY perpendicular
with the rectangle.

In this way, for example.

My next step is drawing

a spine from the center
of the rectangle.

When I finish, I

press Enter to
place the object.

Now, I return the UCS
to the word position.

Then I draw a circle on

the endpoint of the spine.

So I'm going to
use loft again,

select the rectangle and

the circle. Press Enter.

Now, in this list,

I click on pass and

finally, select
the spline.

We reached the end
of the part 2 of

this tutorial. Part 3.

In this part, we will be

exploring the
commands, revolve,

slice, solid edit,

and some commands from
the modified panel.

Let's go through it.

Revolve. With this tool,

it's possible to create

a three-dimensional
object by

extruding to the
objects around an axis.

As it happens to the
command extrude,

if we select open objects

like a line or a
closed polyline,

we obtain a surface.

On the other hand, if

we revolve closed objects,

the result is a solid.

I am going to show you

how this command works.

It looks like a bit
tricky on the beginning.

First, we have
to find it on

the same place where

extrude and loft
are located.

Select the object to
revolve, press Enter,

then we have to define

an axis where the
polyline can rotate.

It's going to
be this line.

I click on both endpoints.

Now, I can rotate

around the line
as you can see.

>> Also, notice that UCS

adjusted its position to

the rotation point here.

Finally, to
create a solid,

I can set up the angle

or I click on the
place that I want.

Let's check out
a few examples.

If I type the angle

zero degrees or
360 degrees,

it creates a wheel shape.

So the command
revolve can be

useful to create
these objects,

especially those

ones used on
mechanical drawing.

It's also possible
to change

the direction of
the rotation.

We can click on "Reverse"

on the command bar or

type R. However,

at the moment of selecting
the rotation axis,

if I click on the points
in an inverse order,

the rotation angle is

automatically on
the other side.

Be careful with the
axis of rotation.

The rotation axis
that we select

needs to permit the
object to rotate.

For example, if we

select this line
as our axis,

the object cannot
rotate around there.

Start angle.

Let's suppose for
the same object,

we don't want to
start extruding here,

but on that line.

If I click on
"Start Angle",

then I click on a
point on this line,

and finally,
revolve the object

to the second
line, for example.

Slice. The command slice

allows us to cut
objects in two parts.

It's like a knife.

However, if you try to

use the command for
the first time,

it's possible
that you don't

get the point immediately.

But I'm going to explain
the things clearly.

The way slice works is,

we draw a line
on the XY plane,

and it generates

the cutting plane
along the z-axis.

I click on the icon,

select the
object to slice,

this one. Press "Enter".

Now, I draw the line

between these
intersections.

Then I have to

select the side of

the solid that
I want to keep.

If I click here,

the part to the right of

the cutting line
disappears.

So if instead I

would click on
the other side,

that is what happens.

Let's draw a line in a
different direction.

But this time, I
select both solids.

I draw the line and
click on this side.

Keep both sides.

Sometimes we just want

to divide the object in

two without erasing any
side. That's simple.

Do the whole process
identically.

But this time, I don't
click on the side.

I select this option,
"Keep Both Sides".

The two solids were
divided into two others.

Using slice in a standard
orthographic view,

a 2D perspective,
is way easier.

I move to this viewport,

which is on the top view.

I activate slice,
select "Both Objects".

Then when I draw a line,

I realize it's easier to

understand the
cutting plane.

I'm going to make
it diagonal.

To use a cutting plane

that is not on
the direction

of the z-axis and
the word UCS,

I need to rotate
the UCS icon.

Here, I just go to

this viewport where I
am at the right view.

Turn on slice, select

the objects and draw
the cutting line here.

I select this side,

and here it is.

The solid above
remained untouched.

That was because I didn't

cross it with the
cutting line.

One last thing.

Just say that for
the cutting line,

it doesn't matter
its length.

Even if I draw
it until here,

it applies to
all the objects.

Solidedit, as
well as Pedit,

this is a complex
command that

allows me to edit
parts of a solid,

such as edges,
faces, or the body.

In the ribbon,
you can find

the solid edit options
in several icons.

In this tutorial,
I am going to

explain to you
some of them.

Extracting edges.

In a solid object,

it's possible to extract
the edges easily.

Click on the icon,

select the object,
press "Enter",

and the action
is completed.

If I click on this edge,

the selection cycling
window opens.

As you see, I can

select a 3D
solid or a line.

I am going to move the
solid to the right.

Look, the extracted
edge is there.

Imprint. If I draw

objects on the
face of a solid,

for example,
these circles,

I can use imprint

to merge them
with the solid.

I go to this arrow and
click on the icon.

Then select the
solid, press "Enter".

Select the circle
to imprint.

Now, if I decide I

want to erase the
original circle,

I click on "Yes".

After, I can select

the circle and
do the same.

What happened is that

the circles are now
edges of the solid,

and I can perform

operations like
presspull here.

Extrude faces.

This is another solid
editing option.

We can extrude a
face of a solid.

I am going to
click on the icon,

select the face on

this object, and
press "Enter".

Then I can either insert

the extrusion height or

define it by
drawing a line.

I click on a point
on the face.

I move up and insert 50.

For the angle of taper for

extrusion, I type zero.

Here you have the result.

Select two faces.

We can select more
than one face

at the same time.

With these two,
I press "Enter",

then I can type the
extrusion height 50.

Press "Enter" again.

Angle of taper.

After selecting the
height of extrusion,

the prompt asks,
select angle of taper.

I am going to type 10,

and you will
see the result.

All the edges rotated
to 10 degrees inside,

and it creates this roof.

Let's type 30
for the angle.

Look, of course,

have in mind that I cannot

intersect the faces here,

because the distance
on this side is

higher than in the section

where the roof intersects.

Taper faces.

This tool allows
me to change

the face of a
solid in a slope.

I click on this arrow

and then on "Taper Faces".

Select the face
that I want.

Then I have to specify
an axis of tapering.

I draw a line here,

and the first point is

where the face
rotates around.

I'm going to rotate 30
degrees in the side.

Now, let's repeat
this process.

This time, invert

the order of
selecting points.

By typing a
negative value,

makes the slope
outside of the

solid, in this way.

Separate. With this tool,

we can separate
a solid that

has non continuous
sections.

In this example, we
have two solids,

but I have in mind that

we can use union to merge

them even if they don't
intersect physically.

Now I have a
unique 3D solid.

So with the
option separate,

it's this icon,
click there.

Then I select
the solid and it

separates the
non-continuous volumes.

I can press "Escape"
here or click on "Exit".

Then Exit again.

Let's now talk about

some commands on
the section Modify.

Rotation 3D.

This tool allows
us to rotate the

solid around a
specific axis.

I am going to show you.

Click on the command

located in the
"Modify Tab",

select this solid, and

the gizmo appears
on its center.

I can click on the axis

that I want to
rotate around,

for example, the
y-axis, this one.

If I rotate the
pointer to the side,

I am at the
start position.

It says here,
zero degrees.

Then as you can see,

I rotate around the
center of the solid.

By clicking at
this moment,

I place the solid at
this current position,

or I can specify
a rotation angle.

I type, for example,
90 degrees.

To rotate around
the x-axis,

choose the red circle.

This time, the start
position is here.

Then I move the
pointer and you can

see how the rotation
looks like now.

Specify a base point.

Instead of choosing

a rotation axis
on the gizmo,

I can specify
a new position

for the rotation point.

As it's written
in the prompt,

I can type the
coordinates for

the base point or choose
it with the mouse.

I click on this endpoint

and the gizmo move there.

Then I need to specify

the angle for
the start point.

I click across
the track line

to start a rotation here.

Now, we have the

solid on the
strange position.

Let's rotate it to
where it was before.

Activate 3D rotate again,

select the solid,

specify the base point
on the corner again.

The rotation axis
is the green one.

For the angle start point,

click on this edge.

It can be the
other corner.

Finally, find a track
line for the x-axis and

click there. 3D move.

To understand the
command 3D move,

let's remember first
how the command move,

the normal move, works
in a 3D perspective.

After specifying
the base point,

we can move the object
around the XY plane.

When we click
on "3D Move",

we select the object,

and then the gizmo
appears there.

Basically, here we select

the plane where we want

the solid to move around.

If I click on this one,

it's the XZ plane.

The y coordinate
doesn't change.

Look at the left viewport

here to understand
how this wedge moves.

3D mirror.

To use the command
3D mirror,

instead of drawing
a mirror line,

we need a mirror plane.

Let's have this
example that we

want to draw a
symmetric wedge there.

Unlike normal mirror, we

should draw here
an auxiliary line.

Hold this endpoint,

move left along
the x-axis,

then type 30 to place
the first point.

The line, we will place
it along the y axis.

Then we activate
3D mirror.

Select the object,
press "Enter".

Then we need three points

to define the plane.

Click on two points
of the line,

and the third
point is going

to be along the z-axis.

Second example,

I want to mirror
the wedge there.

That means our
mirror plane

will be when the z
coordinate is zero.

Select the object,

press "Enter"
for the plane.

Click on three points
on the XY plane.

For example, these two,

and the third can
be along this axis.

So here you have
the result.

It's very simple.

[MUSIC] So it's everything
on this tutorial.

Thank you very much
for watching and

subscribe to the channel

if you haven't
done it yet.

Still, if you need
online private lessons,

send me an email to

the address that's
showing there.

See you next time. [MUSIC]