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AutoCAD 3D Conceptual Design 104

Before I begin designing the air hockey paddle, I’ll set my 3D Modeling workspace active. AutoCAD 2010 includes three default workspaces: 2D Drafting and Annotation, 3D Modeling, and AutoCAD Classic. They’re accessible from the status bar.

The 3D Modeling workspace provides easy access to 3D modeling and visualization tools via the AutoCAD ribbon. It also displays the tool palettes on the right side of the AutoCAD window.

For now, I’ll close the tool palettes to maximize my drawing area.

 
Key concept:

• 3D Modeling workspace provides easy access to 3D modeling and visualization tools

AutoCAD 3D Conceptual Design 103

Were you able to identify some of the basic shapes in the air hockey paddle and house from my previous post? The air hockey paddle has several cylinders, an array of boxes, a sphere at the top and even an inverted cone of removed material. The house has many boxes and wedges, and a cylinder.

In the next post I’ll set up my drawing environment to begin designing the air hockey paddle.

AutoCAD 3D Conceptual Design 102

To get started on your journey to the world of 3D conceptual design, consider your thought process as you create a 2 dimensional drawing in AutoCAD. You probably start with an idea… an image in your head. 

 
 
You then flatten the image in your head by picturing it from different angles and using your drafting knowledge to identify basic 2D shapes such as lines, arcs, and circles.

 
From there, you apply your AutoCAD knowledge by selecting appropriate drawing tools such as LINE, PLINE, ARC, and CIRCLE as well as editing tools such as OFFSET and TRIM. As you create those 2D drawings, you continually refer back to the 3 dimensional image in your head.

The process for designing in 3D is similar… but even easier because you don’t have to flatten the image! Instead, skip that step and jump right into identifying basic shapes. Instead of identifying 2D shapes, focus on 3D shapes.

Can you identify some of the basic shapes in the air hockey paddle and the house? Think about it.

In future posts, I’ll step you through the process of creating the air hockey paddle. It has four parts: Two plastic pieces fit together to form the main paddle, a piece of felt is attached to the bottom, and a removable rubber hand grip is on the top.

  

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