By default, the program creates new two-dimensional entities with a zero elevation and thickness. The easiest way to create a three-dimensional entity is to change the elevation or thickness property of an existing two-dimensional entity.
The elevation of an entity is its z-coordinate position in relation to the xy plane in which the entity is drawn. An elevation of 0 indicates that the entity is drawn on the xy plane of the current UCS. Positive elevations are above this plane; negative elevations are below it.
The thickness of an entity is the distance it is extruded above or below its elevation. A positive thickness extrudes the entity upward in the positive z direction of the entity; a negative thickness extrudes it downward in the negative z direction. The thickness is applied uniformly to the entire entity. You can extrude any two-dimensional entity into a three-dimensional entity by changing the thickness of the entity to a nonzero value. For example, a circle becomes a cylinder, a line becomes a three-dimensional plane, and a rectangle becomes a box.
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Two-dimensional entities.
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Two-dimensional entities with thickness added.
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You can create three-dimensional entities using any of the following methods:
• Draw two-dimensional entities in three-dimensional space.
• Convert two-dimensional planar entities into three-dimensional entities by applying elevation and thickness.
• Convert two-dimensional planar entities into three-dimensional entities by revolving or extruding.
• Create three-dimensional entities such as boxes, cylinders, cones, domes, spheres, and wedges.
Three-dimensional solids are drawn as true solids with versions of CADdirect that support three-dimensional ACIS solids.
Three-dimensional solids that you can create include: box, cone, cylinder, dish, dome, pyramid, sphere, torus, and wedge.
You can change the default elevation and thickness values to create new entities with an elevation and thickness already applied.
To set the current elevation
1 Do one of the following to choose Elevation (
):
• On the ribbon, choose Draw > Elevation (in Settings).
• On the menu, choose Format > Elevation.
• On the Format toolbar, click the Elevation tool.
• Type elev and then press Enter.
2 Specify the New Current Value For Elevation, and then press Enter.
To set the current thickness
1 Do one of the following to choose Thickness (
):
• On the ribbon, choose Draw > Thickness (in Settings).
• On the menu, choose Format > Thickness.
• On the Format toolbar, click the Thickness tool.
• Type thickness and then press Enter.
2 Specify the New Current Value For Thickness, and then press Enter.
To set the current elevation and thickness using a dialog box
1 Do one of the following to choose Drawing Settings (
):
• On the ribbon, choose Application button > Drawing Utilities; Home > Drawing Settings (in Utilities); or Tools > Drawing Settings (in Manage).
• On the menu, choose Tools > Drawing Settings.
• On the Tools toolbar, click the Drawing Settings tool.
• Type dsettings and then press Enter.
2 Click the 3D Settings tab.
3 Click the Surfaces tab.
4 To change the current thickness, in the Current 3D Thickness box, type a new thickness value or click the arrows to select a new thickness.
5 To change the current elevation, in the Current 3D Elevation box, type a new elevation value or click the arrows to select a new elevation.
6 Click OK.
To change the thickness and elevation of an existing entity
1 Do one of the following to choose Properties (
):
• On the ribbon, choose View > Properties (in Panes).
• On the menu, choose View > Display > Properties or Modify > Properties.
• On the Modify toolbar, click the Properties tool.
• Type entprop and then press Enter.
2 Select the entity, and then press Enter.
CADdirect displays the Properties palette (its exact appearance depends on the type of entity you select).
3 To change the thickness, in the Thickness box, type a new thickness value or click the arrows to select the new thickness.
4 To change the elevation, in the Z coordinate box (or some entities have an Elevation box), type a new elevation value or click the arrows to select the new elevation.
5 Click OK.
When you change the thickness of an entity, you do not change the entity type.
If you want to extrude an entity and convert it to a three-dimensional solid, use the Extrude command. If you want to thicken a surface or mesh entity and convert it to a three-dimensional solid, use the Thicken command.
