Tutorial 2.

Plotting 3D Models
Learning Objectives
After completing this tutorial, you will be able to: Plot a 3D model from Model Tab with hidden lines removed. Plot a 3D model from a Layout Tab (Paper Space) with hidden lines removed. Create multiple Floating Viewports for plotting in a layout.

Required Com entencies

Competency #1 Last

Plotting three-dimensional models presents some challenges that are not encountered when plotting two-dimensional drawings. The designer must chose the desired display of the model and decide whether hidden lines or a shaded display will be shown in the plot. In addition, the drafter can also use floating viewports to show multiple views of the model in a single plot.

Plotting !rom Model Tab

A 3D model can be plotted from the Model Tab or from the Layout Tab. owever, there are limitations to model tab plotting. !nly a single view can be plotted from model tab and the scale of the plot is difficult to set accurately.

Plotting a 3D model !rom t"e Model Tab

The following tutorial will ta"e the student through the steps necessary to plot a 3D model from the model tab. #. $. !pen drawing file 3D Tutorial 2.dwg. %se 3D Orbit to orient the ob&ect within the drawing area. 'hoose a descriptive viewpoint and a scale that shows the entire model within the drawing area (see )igure $.#-#*. +otice that the !S icon is a wire"ra#e a,is, therefore the display mode is set at 2D Wireframe. If the %'- icon were the colored a,is, then the display mode would be set at 3D wireframe. The difference between these two modes will be shown in the ne,t few steps.

Tutorial 2

Plotting 3D Models

#igure 2.1$1. 3D model after view change.

3.

-et the display mode by going to the View menu and selecting SHADE, then choosing the Hidden mode (see )igure $.#-$*. This mode displays the model with hidden lines, or edges that are behind surfaces positioned closer to the viewer, removed. The display mode setting will have no effect on the display mode of the print. That will be set later.

#igure 2.1$2. 3D model displayed in hidden mode.

Explanation The lines that are visible on the curved surfaces are tessellation lines. They are generated by Auto'AD when the curved surfaces of a 3D ob&ect are appro,imated by flat triangular or rectangular surfaces. Auto'AD cannot ma"e true curved 3D surfaces and must appro,imate them with planar surfaces. The tessellation lines are the edges of these planar surfaces. .. To hide the tessellation lines, type DISPSILH at the !o##and Line and set it e/ual to one. Then type HIDE on the command line. If the tessellations remain, then the model is in 3D Wireframe mode. -imply switch the display mode to 2D

Introduction to 3D Modeling

Wireframe from the SHADE menu at then type HIDE, again, at the command line (see )igure $.#-3*. Explanation The HIDE command is similar to the $idden Lines %e#o&ed mode in the SHADE menu, e,cept that HIDE is only for display purposes 0 no editing is possible. +otice that as soon as the view is changed (by 3D ORBI , etc.* the display will switch bac" to 'ire"ra#e mode or show the tessellation lines. !OO" and PA# are also disabled. To switch out of HIDE, simply type RE$E# at the command line.
#igure 2.1$3. 3D model with DISPSIL !1 and hidden lines removed " ID# command$.

)rom the %ILE menu, select the PLO command. This will open the Plot dialo& box' 1. -elect the Plot De(i)e tab (see )igure $.#-.*. This tab must always be selected first, otherwise plot settings made later will not be saved.

Tutorial 2

Plotting 3D Models

#igure 2.1$%. Plot dialog %o& with Plot Device ta% displayed.

Plot Device tab

-elect a plotter from the Plotter )onfi&*ration drop-down list. -elect an appropriate plot style table from the Plot +t,le table drop-down list2 for blac" and white plots (most common* select the Monoc(ro#e plot style table3 for color plots select the )cad plot style table (Note: the plotter must also support color printing for this plot style to function properly*. 4. -elect the Plot +ettin& tab, then ma"e changes to the following plot setting areas (see )igure $.#-1*2

Paper si*e and paper units2 -elect letter si5e paper from the drop-down list and put a chec" in the inc(es units chec"-bo,. Plot area2 -elect Extent+. Plot scale2 -elect Scaled to "it from the drop-down list. S(aded &iewport options2 -elect the wireframe display for the plot. +ote t(at t(is is independent o" t(e display in t(e drawing area. Plot o""set2 Place a chec" in the -enter t.e plot chec"-bo,.

Introduction to 3D Modeling

#igure 2.1$&. Plot dialog %o& with Plot Settings ta% displayed.

Plot -ettings tab

6.

Pic" the %*ll Pre(iew button in the bottom left corner of the Plot dialog bo,. This shows how the plot will loo" when it is completed. +otice that the edges are still visible behind front surfaces. +otice that the model fits within the paper boundaries. Press the right mouse button and pic" Exit to return to the Plot dialog bo, without printing.

7.

Pic" the Window button from the Plot area. The ob&ect in the drawing area is now visible. %se the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the si5e of the ob&ect. Pic" the top and bottom corners of a window around the ob&ect, allowing a little e,tra space around the ob&ect. 'hange the S(ade Plot mode in the S(aded &iewport options area to Hidden. If DISPSILH 9 # then the Hidden display will have no tessellation lines regardless of whether the drawing is in 2D Wireframe or 3D Wireframe mode. If DISPSILH 9 : then the Hidden display will have tessellation lines.

8.

#:.

Pic" the %*ll Pre(iew button, again. If the drawing loo"s satisfactory, then press the right mouse button and pic" Plot to print the drawing, or pic" Exit to return to the Plot dialog bo, and then pic" the O/ button in the bottom right corner of the Plot dialog bo,.

Tutorial 2

Plotting 3D Models

Plotting !rom a La'out

Plotting a 3D model from a layout tab allows the user to setup one or more viewports with the ob&ect displayed with different view points, and at different scales. ;emember that the viewports in a layout are of the <floating= variety and, as such, may be of different si5es and locations. Plotting a 3D model !rom a la'out The following tutorial will ta"e the student through the steps necessary to setup multiple floating viewports in a layout in order to plot a 3D model. #. $. !pen drawing file 3D Tutorial 2.dwg. >o to Paper Space by selecting the Layout , tab below the drawing area (see )igure $.#-4*.

#igure 2.1$(. Layout ta%.

3.

?hen the Pa&e Settin&+ dialog bo, appears, go to the Plot De(i)e tab and select the plotter and plot style table then press the -. button (see )igure $.#-6*. All other plot settings will be made later. The drawing will automatically switch to the layout with a single viewport displaying the model (see )igure $.#-7*.

Introduction to 3D Modeling

#igure 2.1$). Page Setup dialog %o&.

Plot Device tab

#igure 2.1$*. Layout with single viewport.

..

@ove the cursor to the Paper /utton and pic" it. The &iewport will become active. Aou are now in Model Space. +otice that the paper space icon in the bottom left corner of the layout area has been replaced with the %'- icon inside of the viewport (see )igure $.#-8*.

Tutorial 2

Plotting 3D Models

#igure 2.1$+. 'odel space with one active viewport. (ctive floating model space viewport in the layout.

1.

%se 3D ORBI to manipulate the display of the model within the viewport window. -elect a descriptive pictorial view of the model (see )igure $.#-#:*. Additionally, you can select any of the preset views from 3D VIEWS in the View menu.

#igure 1$1,. Pictorial display of model in floating model space viewport.

4. 6.

!nce the best display has been chosen for the model, pic" the @odel Button to switch bac" to Paper space within the layout. In a layout, the display mode for printing is set individually for each viewport. This gives the designer the power print a drawing with multiple viewports so that each viewport has a different display mode. To set the display mode for the viewport, select the viewport by pic"ing it with the left mouse button. Then press the right mouse button, which will bring up the pop-up menu. -elect S.ade Plot from the menu and pic" Hidden (see )igure $.#-##*.

Introduction to 3D Modeling

#igure 2$11. Shade plot setting for the viewport.

7.

-elect Plot from the %ile menu. This will bring up the Plot dialog bo,. -ince the plotter and plot style table were set in -tep 3, go to the Plot Setting tab. If any changes need to be made to the plotter or plot style table, simply go to the Plot De&ice tab and ad&ust the settings as needed. @a"e changes to the following plot setting areas (see )igure $.#-#$*2

Paper si*e and paper units2 -elect letter si5e paper from the drop-down list and put a chec" in the inc(es units chec"-bo,. Plot area2 -elect La,o*t. Plot scale2 -elect ,0, from the drop-down list.

+otice that the S(aded Viewport -ptions area is grayed out. This is because the display option was set at in the viewport properties (step 6*.

Tutorial 2

Plotting 3D Models

#igure 2.1$12. Plot settings ta% in the Plot dialog %o&.

Plot -ettings tab

8.

-elect the %*ll Pre(iew button at the lower left corner of the Plot dialog bo,. This will display e,actly how the plot will appear. Are tessellation lines visible in the preview of the modelC If so, right-clic" with the mouse and Exit from the preview. 'ancel the plot and return to the layout. At the co##and line, set DISPSILH 9 #. Then, return to -tep 7 above and continue.

#:.

If the preview is satisfactory, press -. in the Plot dialog bo, to print the drawing.

10

Introduction to 3D Modeling