AutoCAD

Student’s Handout
shows objects flatly shaded
Flat Shaded

shows a realistic and

Gouraud Shaded smoother shaded
surfaces and edges

shows objects in combined

Flat Shaded, Edges On flat and wireframe modes

shows objects in combined

Gouraud Shaded, Edges On gouraud and wireframe
modes

SURFACE SYSTEM VARIABLES

The system variables that control wire frame in N and M directions generated by 3D
surface commands are Surftab1 and Surftab2.

Command : Surftab1 (Enter)

Prompt : Enter new value for SURFTAB1 <4>: 5 (Enter).

Command : Surftab2 (Enter)

Prompt : Enter new value for SURFTAB2 <4>: 4 (Enter).

The bigger the values of Surftab1 and Surftab2, the smoother curve surfaces would
become.

M direction
Surftab1 value is 5.

N direction
Surftab2 value is 4.

Figure 21. Surftab1 and Surftab2 Settings

27
 AutoCAD
Student’s Handout
BASIC SURFACE COMMANDS

 3DFACE Command – generates a flat surface with 3 or 4 sides.

Icon : (From Surface Toolbar)

Command : 3DFACE or 3F

Example: Output – Rectangular 3D Face (see Figure 22).

Step 1. Draw a rectangle (any dimension) on SW Isometric - UCS

Top.

Step 2. Command : 3DFACE

Prompts : Specify first point or [Invisible]: <Osnap on>: Pick point A.
: Specify second point or [Invisible]: Pick point B.
: Specify third point or [Invisible] <exit>: Pick point C.
: Specify fourth point or [Invisible] <create three-sided face>:
Pick point D.
: Specify third point or [Invisible] <exit>: (Enter).

Source Object 3D face output

from source object

Step 2

Step 1

Figure 22. Example of 3D Face Construction

 REVOLVE SURFACE Command – produces a revolved surface about an

axis.

Icon : (From Surface Toolbar)

Command : REVSURF

Example: Output – Round Table (See Figure 23)

28
 AutoCAD
Student’s Handout
Step 1. Set SURFTAB1 and SURFTAB2 = 50.

Step 2. From the View toolbar, pick Front icon ( ), then draw the
source object based on the given dimensions.

Step 3. Covert the source object into a polyline using PEDIT

Command.

Step 4. Draw the axis of revolution.

Step 5. Command : REVSURF (Enter)

Prompts : Select object to revolve: Pick the source object.
: Select object that defines the axis of revolution:
Pick the line.
: Specify start angle <0>: (Enter).
: Specify included angle (+=ccw, -=cw) <360>:
(Enter).

Step 6. From View toolbar, pick SW isometric ( )

From Shade toolbar, pick Gouraud ( )
Axis of
revolution

Source
object
Source
object

Source Object
Final Output
Step 2 Step 4

Figure 23. Example of Revolved Surface Construction

 TABULATED SURFACE Command – produces a tabulated surface from a

path curve following a direction vector.

Icon : (From Surface Toolbar)

Command : TABSURF

Example : Output – Corrugated Sheet (see Figure 24)

Solution :

29
 AutoCAD
Student’s Handout

Step 1. In the Format menu bar, pick point style. The Point Style
dialog box will be displayed. Select a visible point mark, then
click OK.

Step 2. In the View toolbar, pick Front icon ( ), then draw two parallel
lines.

Step 3. Divide the two given lines into 8 segments:

Command : Divide or (DIV) (Enter)

Prompts : Select object to divide: Pick line AB.
: Enter the number of segments or [Block]: 8.

Repeat the same with line CD

Step 4. Draw the path curve using Spline command and Node
OSNAP.

Step 5. Draw the direction vector z (line CD):

5.1. In the View toolbar, pick SW isometric ( )

5.2. Command : UCS (Enter)

Prompts : Enter an option [New/Move/
orthoGraphic/Prev/Restore/Save/
Del/Apply/?/World]<World>: G (Enter).
: Enter an option [Top/Bottom/Front/
BAck/Left/Right]<Top>: L (Enter).

5.3. Draw line CD, length equal to 10 (Ortho ON mode)

Step 6. Command : TABSURF (Enter)

Prompts : Select object for path curve: Pick the path curve
at a point near point C.
: Select object for direction vector: Pick direction
vector CD. Pick at a point near point C.

Step 2 Step 3

Step 1
Direction Vector
Path Curve

30
 AutoCAD
Student’s Handout

Pick here Step 4

(PathPick
Curve)
here
Step 5
Pick here
(Path Curve) (Direction Vector)

Step 6

Output in Wiremesh Shaded Output

Figure 24. Example of Tabulated Surface Construction

 RULED SURFACE Command – produces a ruled surface between two

curves.

Icon : (From Surface Toolbar)

Command : RULESURF

Example : Output – A plane bounded by two parabolic curves (see

Figure 25).

Solution :

Step 1. In the View toolbar, pick Front icon ( ),

then draw two parabolic curves
using Line, Offset and Spline
commands.

Step 2. Set Tabsurf1 and Tabsurf2 equal to 50.

Step 3. Command : RULESURF (Enter)

Prompts : Select first defining curve: Pick curve 1.
: Select second defining curve: Pick curve 2.

31
 AutoCAD
Student’s Handout

Wiremesh Output Shaded Output

Figure 25. Example of Ruled Surface Construction

SOLID SYSTEM VARIABLES

Solid system variables control 3D solid triangulations and isolines. They must be set
to desired values before drawing. Improper setting will affect quality of work.

 DISPSILH – manages silhouette curves display of solid objects in wireframe

and mesh suppression in hidden modes. It is recommended to set the value
to 1.

 ISOLINES – sets the number of visual elements of solid curves in wireframe.

The value can be is from 0 to 2047.

 FACETRES – improves the smoothness of curves in rendered, shaded and

hidden modes. The value is from 0 to 10.

Output when the Output when the

solid system solid system
variables are equal variables are equal
to the default values to the default values
of: of:
DISPSILH = 0 DISPSILH = 1
ISOLINES = 4 ISOLINES = 20
FACETRES = 0.05 FACETRES = 10

Figure 26. Solid System Variables Outputs

BASIC SOLID COMMANDS

32
 AutoCAD
Student’s Handout
 Extrude Command – produces solid from two dimensional source objects by
assigning the extrusion height or path and tapering angle.

Icon : (From Solid Toolbar)

Command : EXTRUDE or (EXT)

Example 1 : Convert some 2D Primitives (square, circle and ellipse) into

3D models as shown in Figure 27.

Solution :

Step 1. In the View toolbar, pick Top icon ( ),

then draw a square, circle and an ellipse.

Step 2. In the View toolbar, pick SW isometric icon ( ).

Step 3. Command : EXT (Enter)

Prompts : Select objects to extrude: Pick the circle, square and
the ellipse.
: Specify height of extrusion or [Path]: Enter value, say 10.
: Specify angle of taper for extrusion <0>: 0 (Enter).

Step 4. In the shade toolbar, select Gouraud ( ).

Step 1

Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Figure 27. Converting 2D Primitives Into 3D

Example 2 : Draw a round bar bended at 90 degrees (see Figure 28).

Solution :

Step 1. Set model space to SW isometric and UCS World. Draw a

circle with radius equal to 1.

33