ellen finkelstein logo

Ellen Finkelstein.com
AutoCAD PowerPoint About Links
       

Over 165 AutoCAD tips and tutorials!

AutoCAD Tips
AutoCAD Tips Blog

Get a free dynamic block tutorial and free AutoCAD tips!


RSS: What is it? Why do I want it? How do I get it?

Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe with Bloglines

Buy a Book

E-mail This Page 
to a Friend

Submit a tip! If you include your name and I post your tip, I'll give you credit.

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.

AutoCAD 2010 Mesh Primitive Options dialog box

  1. 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

  1. 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.

AutoCAD 2010 mesh solid cube

  1. In the Subobject panel, choose Edge from the Object Filter drop-down. Then choose Move Gizmo just to the right.
  2. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the bottom edge of any corner, circles in the above image. The Move Gizmo appears.
  3. 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.

AutoCAd 2010 sold mesh

  1. 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.

AutoCAD 2010 solid mesh

  1. In the Subobject panel, switch to the Face filter and the Scale Gizmo.
  2. 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.

AutoCAD 2010 solid mesh modeling tutorial

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

AutoCAD 2010 solid mesh modeling

  1. 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.

AutoCAD 2010 solid mesh modeling

  1. 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.
  2. On inspection, it seems like it could use more smoothing, so choose Smooth More again and select the model.

AutoCAD 2010 sold mesh modeling

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.

AutoCAD 2010 mesh modeling

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

More Tips

+

101 Tips

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Books by Ellen

New!
AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009 Bible

This is the 9th edition of this book! Completely updated to conform to the new interface and, of course, it covers all the new features, such as the ribbon, Quick View, ShowMotion, the View Cube, the SteeringWheel, and more.

AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD LT 2008 Bible
Learn the great new features with wide application to all disciplines. Get the most comprehensive book on AutoCAD! DVD contains a 30-day trial of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Thorough exercises guide you through each feature.

AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible 
Discover the 2007 features, especially the radically improved 3D tools. CD has AutoCAD 30-day trial, 3rd-party software, and drawings for exercises.

AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD LT 2006 Bible 
Understand and use the 2006 features, including dynamic blocks and the new method of customizing menus and toolbars. CD-ROM has AutoCAD trial, software, and drawings for all exercises.


AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005 Bible
Fully explains latest 2005 features:  tables, fields, and sheet sets. For the first time, covers AutoCAD LT! CD-ROM comes with software and drawings for all exercises.


AutoCAD 2004 Bible

Covers all features in detail. Hands-on exercises. Over 1300 pages + CD-ROM with software and drawings for all exercises.

                                  Home  |  AutoCAD  |  PowerPoint  | E-StoreAbout  | Links | Contact | Site Map
Copyright Ellen Finkelstein, Inc.