Education_m_001 – Introduction to 3D Modeling

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Introduction to 3D Modeling
In this exercise you will create a simple 3D model using simple tools and commands. You can then use this model to create drawings using a new concept called Viewports. We will be using a quick command to create the viewports from the 3-D model. This command is only available if you using Vectorworks Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, or Designer. The command we will be using is not available if you have Vectorworks Fundamentals.

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Create a New File
We will start by creating a new blank file. This will allow us to learn about setting up our Layer Scale, Units, and Page Setup.

Go to the Menu bar.
Choose File > New…

Choose Create blank document.
Click on the OK button.

You now have a completely new, blank file and you can set this up to suit your project.

Page Setup
Before you start drawing or modeling it is important to set up your page. This is where you tell Vectorworks what size printer you are using, and what the orientation of your page should be.

Go to the Menu bar.
Choose File > Page Setup…

This will open a dialog box for you to choose your page size, printer, and page orientation.
Click on the Printer Setup… button.

Choose your printer and page size.
Set the page orientation to landscape.

Click on the OK button to close the Page Setup dialog box.
Set the pages Horizontal and Vertical to 1.

Click on the OK button to close the dialog box.

Set the Layer Scale
It is important to set the scale of your design layer, as this will make it easier to create your viewports and annotate your designs.

Right-click (contol-click with a one-button mouse) in the drawing area.
Choose Active Layer Scale…

Choose a suitable layer scale, 1:5 will be suitable for this project.

Click on the OK button to return to the drawing.

Create the First 3D Object
Now that you have your drawing file ready, you can create your first object.

Go to the View bar.
Click on the Active View pop-up menu.

Choose Right Isometric.

Go to the Basic tool palette.
Double click on the Rectangle tool.

Edit the settings to create a rectangle 150 x 15mm (6″ x 6″), with the Box Position at the centre and the X/Y coordinates at 0,0
Turn off Position at Next Click.
Click on the OK button.

The rectangle will be placed in the centre of the page.

Move your mouse onto the rectangle, it will highlight.

Click once.
Move your mouse up the screen.

Hit the Tab key once to enter the Floating Data bar.
Type in the required height, 650mm (26″).
Hit the Enter or Return key twice.

Create the Second 3D Object
To create this object you will use a new technique. This technique allows you to automatically build one object on another. The technique is called Automatic Working planes and makes it very fast to create 3D models.

Go to the Basic tool palette.
Double click on the Rectangle tool.

Go to the View bar.
Click on the Active Plane pop-up menu.
Choose Automatic.

If you see this dialog box, click on the OK button.

Go to the Tool bar.
Click on the second mode for creating rectangles.

Move the cursor to the top centre of the first object.
The top plane of the extrusion will highlight. This is Vectorworks detecting the plane of the object.

Click once to start the rectangle.
Move the cursor.
Use the Tab key to access the Floating Data bar.
Enter the required size of the rectangle. When using this mode, you enter half the dimension that you want.
In this case enter 50mm (2″) for the X hit the Tab key once, enter 50mm (2″) for the Y, then hit the Enter or Return key twice.

Move your cursor to the new rectangle. It will highlight.
Click once.

Move your mouse up the screen.
Hit the Tab key once to enter the Floating Data bar.
Type in the required height, 50mm (2″).

Hit the Enter or Return key twice to complete the object.

Create the Last Object
Use the same automatic working plane technique to crate the last object.

Move the cursor to the top centre of the first object.
The top plane of the extrusion will highlight. This is Vectorworks detecting the plane of the object.

Click once to start the rectangle.
Move the cursor.
Use the Tab key to access the Floating Data bar.
Enter the required size of the rectangle. When using this mode, you enter half the dimension that you want.
In this case enter 75mm (3″) for the X hit the Tab key once, enter 75mm (3″) for the Y, then hit the Enter or Return key twice.

Move your cursor to the new rectangle. It will highlight.
Click once.

Move your mouse up the screen.
Hit the Tab key once to enter the Floating Data bar.
Type in the required height, 100mm (4″).

Hit the Enter or Return key twice to complete the object.

Viewing your Model

Go to Basic tool palette.
Double click on Selection tool. This will de-select everything.
Click on the Fit to Objects button on the View bar to see the complete model.

Use the Active View pop-up menu from the View bar to change the view.

Creating a Drawing from a Model
There is a command on the View menu that you can use to quickly create a drawing of your object that shows the plan and elevations. This command is only available if you use the Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, or Designer workspaces. It is not available if you use the Fundamentals workspace.