Chapter 16

Creating 3D Geometry

Nothing in AutoCAD is quite as fascinating as drawing in 3D. While fascinating to create, 3D models are incredibly valuable project assets. Today’s architects and engineers are increasingly using AutoCAD’s 3D features not only to communicate designs with clients, but also as a design and analysis tool.

Consequently, acquiring some skills in working in 3D is becoming an employment requirement, and it’s also a lot of fun. This chapter covers 3D modeling, and the next chapter introduces materials and rendering.

Constructing a 3D model of a building requires many of the tools that you’ve been using throughout this book and some new ones that you’ll be introduced to in this chapter. Your competence in using the basic drawing, editing, and display commands is critical to your successful study of 3D for two reasons. First, drawing in 3D can seem more complex and difficult than drawing in 2D, and it can be frustrating until you get used to it. If you aren’t familiar with the basic commands, you’ll become that much more frustrated. Second, accuracy is critical in 3D drawing. The effect of errors is compounded, so you must be in the habit of using tools, such as the osnap modes, to maximize your precision.