AutoCAD Tips & Tutorials

AutoCAD Tutorial: Create a mesh solid jar

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:

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:

• Carve a solid with a surface
• 3D Tutorial: Draw a glass
• AutoCAD 2010 new features
  

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