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3.2 - ISOMETRIC DRAWING 2D TO LOOK LIKE 3D

LESSON 3-1

INTRODUCTION TO 3-D

LESSON 3-9

ADDING MATERIALS

LESSON 3-2

ISOMETRIC DRAWING

LESSON 3-10

PRIMITIVE SOLIDS

LESSON 3-3

WORKING IN 3 DIMENSIONS

LESSON 3-11

BOOLEAN OPERATIONS

LESSON 3-4

VIEWING 3-D OBJECTS

LESSON 3-12

CHANGING FROM THE WCS TO THE UCS

LESSON 3-5

BASIC WIREFRAME MODELS

LESSON 3-13

MAPPING MATERIALS

LESSON 3-6

LINE THICKNESS

LESSON 3-14

CREATING NEW MATERIALS

LESSON 3-7

REGIONS AND 3-D FACES

LESSON 3-15

EXTRA PROJECTS AND A TUTORIAL

LESSON 3-7a

MORE ABOUT EXTRUDING & LOFTING

LESSON 3-16

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER - MODEL A BUILDING

LESSON 3-8

REVOLVED OBJECTS

LESSON 3-17

INTRODUCTION TO RENDERING AND LIGHTING

3 D Printer 3d Buyers Guide

Latest Guide - Choose the Right 3D Printer for Your Application.

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Topics covered in this Lesson:

Isometric drawing procedures
LESSON 3-2 - 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 ISOPLANEwhich 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
By invoking this command, AutoCAD is now set to draw on the top isoplane. Your other choices would be Left or Right. Your first exercise will be to draw the object
shown above using isometric methods.
Exercise 1 - ISOMETRIC DRAWING
Begin a new drawing using the acad.dwt template
Create a layer called OBJECT and give it a green color. Make this your current layer.
Type in DDRMODESto bring up the Drawing Aids dialog box. Make your settings the same as what you see below (just turn on Isometric Snap).

Press OK and you'll see that the grid is set up for isometric drawing for the left isoplane in 1/2" increments. Your crosshairs are now angled to show you which
isoplane you are currently on and the Grid is laid out differently from what you may be used to..
Begin by drawing the left side of the box (shown at the top of the lesson) using the linecommand. Ignore the hole at this point. You will want to use the Direct
Distance Entry System for this exercise and make sure that you have Ortho (F8) and Osnaps (F3) turned on.
Switch to your right isoplane (F5) and draw the right side.
Switch to your top isoplane (F5) and draw the top view.
Create the angle lines to add the angled surface.
Switch back to the left isoplane and start the ELLIPSEcommand. At the command prompt, press Ifor isocircle. This will allow you to create an ellipse at the
correct angle based on the radius of the circle in the orthographic drawing. Use the Osnap to pick the correct center point.
Save your drawing in your CAD folder.
To dimension an isometric drawing, you have to do a few things first. Create a text style called Left, and give it a 30o obliquing angle, then create another called right
with a -30o obliquing angle. Then create a new dimension style that has the text aligned with the dimension line. After you have placed a dimension, use the
DIMEDITcommand to change the obliquing angle of the dimension + or - 30 degrees. You may also need to use the properties to change the text in the dimension
to left or right depending upon the orientation of the dimension.
Keep in mind that this is still only 2D. Remember that in some instances, it may be quicker and easier to use this method rather than the more complex 3-D methods
you'll be learning in the following lessons.
View the video about Isometric Drawing.

Extra Practice: Copy this drawing using isometric drawing methods.

Extra Practice: Copy this drawing using isometric drawing methods. If you want to add the hidden lines, jump ahead to Lesson 4-3 to learn about linetypes.
Even More Practice: Try to reproduce these drawings. (Also keep this link in mind when are looking for practice in 3D techniques.)
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