Topic: 3D HELP please

[notredave]

All,
I'm having to do alot of isometrics lately of Instrument and Electrical installations details. I have attached a simple 3D bolt drawing. I downloaded it from a website. I quit trying to download 2D drawings because people say I cant turn that into the different angles, iso views. My question is....Can someone help me or give me steps, or where to read about steps to go about using a 3D object and rotating it to either 30, 90, 150, 210 or 330 degree angles that 2D isometrics uses. I would like to learn how to rotate the bolt to all of those angles, I will be using just one of those angles of course for my drawing but would like to know how to do it for all of the angles I mentioned so if I need something in the future at another angle, I will know how to do it. Let me know if this is to time consuming or if it's something fairly easy. I do know to flatten it before I bring it in my 2D drawing. It's all the steps before getting to flatten is what I need help with. I have 2015 Autocad. I know to put my workspace to 3D modeling when I'm in 3D. if someone feels like doing a good deed for someone, this is it, lol. I've been doing autocad from 1990 but never have gotten in 3D. But I feel like 3D is the way to go for objects that I can turn into 2D easily. Please take a look at this bolt, I left it in the top view so I wouldn't mess anything up. Thanks a bunch for reading this and possibility for helping me out.
Thank you,
David

[kdub_nz]

See if this helps
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/video/youtube/watch-v-gm1rRFHWb4g.html

[Rob...]

The video is blocked here.

I suppose you could do it the way you describe. I would take a different approach, if it will work for you. I'd draw in 3D the way it would be built and then use isometric views for the sheet(s).

[notredave]

Rob....
That's my problem. I can't draw in 3D....yet. I don't have autocad at home and I am doing little things with 3D during my lunch hour, here at work. I download 3D cad blocks from manufacturer's websites, like bolts, unistrut, steel, junction boxes, instruments, etc...I just need the steps to converting those blocks into a 2D isometric and at the orientation I need them for my detail. All of my iso's are not facing northeast, at 30 degrees. I just need some guidance. Thank you for answering me!
David

[Rob...]

Your time would be better spent learning the 3D. The payoff will be much better.

To do what you are suggesting, you would need to set-up all of the isometric views for all of the parts. Then do something like FLATSHOT (I'm not sure if that is the best way but using it as an example.) for each of those views. Then make a block for each view or make a dynamic block of each part using visibility parameters.

That's a lot of of front end work for little return. Learning 3D would give you more valuable skills than drawing isometrics smartly. Talk to your immediate supervisor and see if they will allow you time to learn 3D. There is always the option of borrowing a license from your workplace, so that you can practice at home or a trial version will get you 30 days to learn at home.

[dgorsman]

To start with, don't rotate anything.  Draw/model it as it is in the real world (or a nominal orientation).  Then use paper space viewports to set the different viewing directions.

[mjfarrell]

Revolve

Extrude


Shell

(EDIT to add)  Union and Helix - you will need this to show the bolt threads...and to join (union) the bolt head to the bolt body....
Draw circle - extrude...Draw Hex - Extrude...Union them together....you have a bolt...
Draw circle - extrude...Draw Hex - Extrude..Subtract one from the other....you have a nut...

These basic 3d commands will get you very far....they are your friends  use them to model your parts.

Treat each component as a block it is easier to assemble the final model, this is also the approach Inventor uses. i.e. make each part, then aggregate them into an assembly.

Really you will be done way faster than trying to manually produce Isometric views of each part.

[notredave]

mjfarrell,
You make it sound so easy, lol...but, at the moment, I don't know much about 3D. i am working on that during lunch hour. My question is how do I make a 3D cad block that I have downloaded into an isometric? Do I rotate the 3D block 30 degrees for instance, then flatten it and ctrl copy to my 2D drawing, then trim and edit it? How do I do something like that?

[notredave]

like for instance of attached bolt drawing....

[Rob...]

Maybe you missed this in my first post.

To do what you are suggesting, you would need to set-up all of the isometric views for all of the parts. Then do something like FLATSHOT (I'm not sure if that is the best way but using it as an example.) for each of those views. Then make a block for each view or make a dynamic block of each part using visibility parameters.

[mjfarrell]

like for instance of attached bolt drawing....

see attached

[notredave]

mjfarrell, that is exactly what I would like to learn to do!! How did you do that? Thank you very much!

[mjfarrell]

mjfarrell, that is exactly what I would like to learn to do!! How did you do that? Thank you very much!

use or create 3d model


set up viewport

set it to NW,SE,SW,NE ISO or to user defined view orientation
then set to Hidden View, or shaded as desired...

done and done...


the other model view was done using a SECTIONPLANE

then selecting the plane a right-click gives option to create 2d/3d section of the model along that plane.

[Willie]

Have a look at http://www.tracepartsonline.net/.

There are a lot of 3D drawings available for download.

[notredave]

Hey Willie, thank you. That is where i get alot of my 3D parts from. I'm just having a time in 3D to get it to look right on my 2D isometrics. I have had several, inspiring responses. I just need to learn the 3D language that some of the guys have responded to me with, lol...
Thanks again,
David