Looking for the best book to learn how to do 3D

[StoneCold]

I am looking for suggestions for a book to learn 3D Autocad. I can do fairly well in 2D and I want to make some Plant layouts in 3D but I need a book with some examples to work through so that I can learn the tricks to 3D. Any suggestions?

Thanks
StoneCold

 

[MikeHalloran]

I learned AutoCAD, from scratch, from New Riders Publishing's "Inside AutoCAD", way back on version 10, which only had 'surfaces'. Later, ACAD gained a Constructive Solid Geometry capability called ACIS. The operators, and the objects they produce, are mostly distinct. Both have limitations, and virtues.

I suggest you start by just running centerlines from point to point in 3D space, without worrying about elbows and such right away. You just add a second comma and a third coordinate, and use '.z' a lot. You might want to work in multiple viewports. I prefer working in a single perspective viewport, but it takes some getting used to.
When you start radiusing intersections to represent bends and elbows, you'll learn to manipulate the UCS.

I have no idea how/if the fancy add-ons help in 3D; I've never had access to anything but bare AutoCAD.

First trick: if something doesn't work like you think it should, use 3D Orbit to get another perspective on exactly what is going on.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[BobM3]

"3d Modeling in Autocad" by John E. Wilson is good.