to accompany some of the lessons and modeling projects.
How to get the supplied sample files?
The file “3d-modeling.zip” should be downloaded from our website:
http://new.industrialpress.com/ext/downloads/acad/3d-modeling.zip
Enter the address into your web browser and the download will start automatically.
Once the file has been downloaded you can unzip it to extract the sample files.
AutoCAD vs. AutoCAD LT
The LT version of AutoCAD has approximately 80 percent of the capabilities of the full version. It was originally created to be installed on the small hard drives that Laptops used to have. Hence, the name LT. (LT does not mean “Light”). In order to reduce the size of the program AutoCAD removed some of the high-end capabilities, such as Solid Modeling. As a result, AutoCAD LT is not suitable for this Workbook.
Steve Heather is a former Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Aided Design in England, UK. For the past 8 years he has been a Beta Tester for Autodesk®, testing the latest AutoCAD® software. Previous to teaching and for more than 30 years, he worked as a Precision Engineer in the Aerospace and Defense industries.
Steve can be contacted for questions or comments at: [email protected]
This Workbook was created using AutoCAD® 2017. You may have an earlier version. There are some cosmetic changes to the main interface but the commands are mostly the same. During some of the lessons you will be asked to start a new drawing file using either “acad.dwt” for inch users, or “acadiso.dwt” for metric users. These are the standard template files that are automatically installed on your system when you install the AutoCAD software.
How to start a new drawing file.
1. Start AutoCAD.
2. Left click on the large “A” in the top left-hand corner.
3. Left click on New.
4. In the Select Template dialog box, either click on “acad.dwt” if you are an inch user, or click on “acadiso.dwt” if you are a metric user.
5. Select Open if the drawing file hasn’t already opened.
The drawing file will open showing you the Workspace. I have changed certain colors on the Workspace. If you wish to do the same refer to the next page for instructions.
The default color scheme for AutoCAD is dark and the main drawing area is black. I prefer to have a light color scheme and a white drawing area. If you wish to change the color scheme or the drawing area color do the following.
1. Right click in the main drawing area and select Options from the list.
2. In the Options dialog box select the Display Tab.
3. To change the color scheme, select the Color scheme drop-down list and select either Dark or Light.
4. To change the color of the main drawing area select Colors.
5. In the Drawing Window Colors dialog box select 2D Model space (2D means 2-dimensional) in the Context window.
6. Select your preferred color in the Color drop-down list.
7. When you are happy with your choices select Apply & Close.
8. Select Apply and then OK in the Options dialog box.
Note: When you change either the color scheme or the drawing area color, the settings remain in the system regardless of which drawing file you use.
Also during the lessons and exercises you will be asked to change the drawing view to SE Isometric (the SE means South East). The default drawing view is Top. To change the drawing view do the following.
1. Left click on the word “Top” in the top left-hand corner of the main drawing area.
2. Select SE Isometric from the list.
You may use any of the drawing views but the SE Isometric view is the one used most in the lessons and exercises throughout this Workbook.
The example below shows a 3D solid model using the SE Isometric view.
If you were to change the drawing view to NE Isometric (North East) view your 3D solid model would look like the example below.
As well as changing the drawing view in the lessons and exercises, you will also be asked to change the Visual Style to Conceptual style. The default Visual Style
