AutoCAD Tips Blog » base http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog AutoCAD tips & tutorials to help you work faster & smarter Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:18:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Working with Blocks: The BASE command, the Basepoint option, and the Basepoint parameter http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/working-with-blocks-the-base-command-the-basepoint-option-and-the-basepoint-parameter/ http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/working-with-blocks-the-base-command-the-basepoint-option-and-the-basepoint-parameter/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:32:58 +0000 Ellen http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/?p=138 Blocks and basepoints go hand-in-hand. Knowing how to work with basepoints can make your life much easier. It’s so frustrating to insert a block and have it disappear into outer space because the basepoint is in the wrong location!

The Basepoint option of the INSERT command

When you insert a block, a Basepoint option appears with the [...]]]>

Blocks and basepoints go hand-in-hand. Knowing how to work with basepoints can make your life much easier. It’s so frustrating to insert a block and have it disappear into outer space because the basepoint is in the wrong location!

The Basepoint option of the INSERT command

When you insert a block, a Basepoint option appears with the Specify insertion point: prompt. When you use this option, you can move the insertion base point of the block to anywhere you want. This option can be really helpful sometimes but I don’t think it’s used very often.

The BASE command

A block library often has one block per drawing. You save each block in its own drawing. By default, the basepoint of a drawing is 0,0. But unless you put the block right at 0,0, you’ll want to change that. (Another option that works is to use WBLOCK and choose to write just the block. Then, the basepoint is taken from the block and is in the right place.)

Use the BASE command in the drawing containing the block to specify the origin of the drawing, which is usually on an object snap somewhere on the block. Then, when you insert the drawing, your basepoint will be right on the block.

The Basepoint parameter for dynamic blocks

The Basepoint parameter for dynamic blocks

Creating a Basepoint parameter

For a dynamic block, the Basepoint parameter  sets a base point for the block. This is useful when you’re turning a block into a dynamic block and want to change the basepoint. You add a Basepoint parameter in the Block Editor, from the Parameters tab of the Block Authoring Palettes, as you see here. The basepoint functions like any other block basepoint.

During insertion of a dynamic block, you can use the Basepoint option as I described earlier.

But you can do something else with dynamic blocks.

While you’re inserting a dynamic block, you can press Ctrl to cycle among the grips if their Cycling property is set to Yes. (By default, it is.) Each time you press Ctrl, the cursor moves to another grip on the block. This lets you visually see the results of each basepoint before you commit to inserting the block.

To check the Cycling property, double-click the block to open the Edit Block Definition dialog box, and click OK to open the Block Editor. Click any grip and open the Properties palette. Look for the Cycling property in the Misc section, as you see here.

Cycling property of dynamic blocks in AutoCAD

Cycling property of dynamic blocks in AutoCAD

If the Cycling property is set to No, click the item, click the drop-down arrow, and choose Yes.

Do you have any other tips for controlling blocks with basepoints?

]]> http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/working-with-blocks-the-base-command-the-basepoint-option-and-the-basepoint-parameter/feed/ 3 AutoCAD Tutorial: Create a mesh solid jar http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/autocad-tutorial-create-a-mesh-solid-jar/ http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/autocad-tutorial-create-a-mesh-solid-jar/#comments Wed, 26 Jan 2000 14:42:38 +0000 Ellen http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/?p=330 This tutorial requires AutoCAD 2010 and shows how to create a mesh solid jar.

Start a new drawing using acad3d.dwt. Switch to the 3D Modeling workspace by choosing it from the Workspace Switching pop-up menu on the right side of the status bar. Check that the tessellation divisions are the default 3 in each direction by clicking the [...]]]>

This tutorial requires AutoCAD 2010 and shows how to create a mesh solid jar.

  1. Start a new drawing using acad3d.dwt.
  2. Switch to the 3D Modeling workspace by choosing it from the Workspace Switching pop-up menu on the right side of the status bar.
  3. Check that the tessellation divisions are the default 3 in each direction by clicking the Mesh Modeling tab, and then the dialog box launcher arrow at the right end of the Primitives panel title bar. Click OK.

  4. Still on the Mesh Modeling tab, in the Primitives panel, click Mesh Box. Follow the prompts:

    5. Specify first corner or [Center]: Click anywhere on the XY plane.
    Specify other corner or [Cube/Length]: c (for the Cube option)
    Specify length: 2

  5. My mesh cube was rotated so I use the ROTATE command, selected the cube, specified a corner for the base point, and then used the Reference option. At the Specify the reference angle <0>: prompt, I picked one corner, and at the Specify second point: prompt, I picked the next corner. At the Specify the new angle or [Points] <0>: prompt, I pressed Enter to align the cube with the X axis.

  6. In the Subobject panel, choose Edge from the Object Filter drop-down. Then choose Move Gizmo just to the right.
  7. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the bottom edge of any corner, circles in the above image. The Move Gizmo appears.
  8. Move your cursor until the XY plane (yellow) highlights, then push inward (into the cube). At the Specify stretch point or [Base point/Undo/eXit]: prompt, type .25.

  9. Repeat for the other corners, being careful to deselect the previous edge first by pressing Esc. I hold Shift and my mouse’s wheel to transparently orbit, but you can use any method to change the viewpoint and access the other corners.

  10. In the Subobject panel, switch to the Face filter and the Scale Gizmo.
  11. Select the top center face. The Scale Gizmo appears. Select the XY plane (it becomes yellow — this isn’t always easy, but keep trying). At the Specify scale factor or [Base point/Undo/Reference/eXit]: prompt, enter 2.

  12. On the Mesh Modeling tab, Mesh panel, click Smooth More. Select the mesh solid, and end selection.

  13. To create the neck of the jar, choose Extrude Face from the Mesh Edit panel. Ctrl-select the top middle face and drag it upward. At the Specify height of extrusion or [Direction/Path/Taper angle] <2.0000>: prompt, enter .75.
  14. To flatten the top, choose Add Crease from the Mesh panel. Ctrl-select the top, middle face and end selection. At the Specify crease value [Always] <Always>: prompt, press Enter.
  15. On inspection, it seems like it could use more smoothing, so choose Smooth More again and select the model.

I wanted to shell out the inside, but every time I tried, AutoCAD stalled or told me “No solution for an edge.” You can try it at your own risk:

  1. On the Convert Mesh panel, choose Convert to Solid.

  2. On the Home tab, Solid Editing panel, click the bottom drop-down list and choose Shell. Select the solid and end selection.
  3. At the Remove faces or [Undo/Add/ALL]: prompt, select the top faces. I find this difficult to impossible.
  4. At the Enter the shell offset distance: prompt, enter .1.

I also tried making a copy, scaling it down, putting the smaller version inside the larger one, and using the SUBTRACT command. I wasn’t successful with that either. I’m open to suggestions. You can contact me through the Contact link at the bottom of this page.

Related tips:

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