Project 2_Creating a 3D rendered model for a Residential Building in AutoCad

AIM: To create a 3D rendered model for a Residential Building in AutoCAD

INTRODUCTION:

The main objective of this project is to understand about to create a Plan in 2D, then convert it into 3D using AutoCAD 3D, applying materials and rendering.

AutoCAD is primarily used for generating 2D sketches. While it is possible to create 3D objects, AutoCAD is built around a flat, sketch-based interface. There is a wide range of pre-defined 3D objects in AutoCAD. These objects are cylinders, spheres and wedges and many more. But then users use 2D objects and modify them using the 3D commands accordingly. So, AutoCAD 3D commands like Extrude, Sweep, Revolve, and Union are used by the users.

Also, the user must know the importance of the Viewport feature if they are working on 3D Models. The viewport command allows the user to split the drawing area into different windows to project multiple views of the model. These include the top, front, left/right views of the object. This feature works great for the user and helps them to observe the model from different aspects. Some 2D and 3D tools which was used while working on this project is as follows;

2D tools:

Line: The line object is the most basic and common object in AutoCAD drawings of any discipline. Each segment is a line object that can be edited separately, assigning properties such as layer, line type, and line weight.

Construction Lines: Construction lines (also known as xlines) are temporary line work entities that can be used as references when creating and positioning other objects or line work. Construction lines are either circles or straight lines that extend to infinity in both directions

Polygon: Creates an equilateral closed polyline. We can specify the number of sides of the polygon and whether it is inscribed or circumscribed.

Rectangle: When using the RECTANGLE command, absolute or relative coordinate values are used to define the size of the rectangle. Actual dimension values are preferred to create the length and width of the rectangle. Command used- REC

Circle: Created a circle Command used - CIRCLE or C

Erase: The erase command is used to remove or delete objects from the drawing. The selected objects can also be removed with the help of the 'Delete' button on the keyboard. We can also delete faces, vertices, and meshes in 3D with the help of Erase command.

Copy: Copies objects a specified distance in a specified direction. With the COPYMODE system variable, you can control whether multiple copies are created automatically.

Trim: Trims objects to meet the edges of other objects. Command used: TR

Layers: Use layers to control the visibility of objects and to assign properties such as colour and line type. Objects on a layer normally assume the properties of that layer. However, you can override any layer property of an object. For example, if an object’s colour property is set to BYLAYER, the object displays the colour of that layer. If the object’s colour is set to Red, the object displays as red, regardless of the colour assigned to that layer. Command used- LAYER

Mirror: The mirror command in AutoCAD is used to create a copy (mirror copy) of the selected object. We can also delete the source object after mirroring the object. The objects that represent the same as the half of their object can be mirrored across a center line to create the other half of the object.

Offset: Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves. Command used: OFFSET.

Extend: Extends objects to meet the edges of other objects. To extend objects, first select the boundaries. Then press Enter and select the objects that you want to extend. To use all objects as boundaries, press Enter at the first Select Objects prompt. Command used: EX

Array: Creates copies of objects arranged in a pattern. We can create copies of objects in a regularly spaced rectangular, polar, or path array.

Move: The move command in AutoCAD is used to move objects at a specified distance and direction.

To move the objects with precision, we can use object snaps, grid snaps, coordinates, etc.

Rotate: Used to rotate objects in our drawing around a specified base point. To determine the angle of rotation, we can enter an angle value, drag using the cursor, or specify a reference angle to align to an absolute angle. Command used: ROTATE

Dimension: Creates multiple dimensions and types of dimensions with a single command. We can select objects or points on objects to dimension, and then click to place the dimension line. When we hover over an object, the DIM command automatically generates a preview of a suitable dimension type to use.

Text: We can use single-line text to create one or more lines of text, where each text line is an independent object that you can move, format, or otherwise modify. Right-click in the text box to select options on the shortcut menu.

Fillet: The fillet tool helps form round corners between any two entities that form a sharp vertex. Command used: FILLETEtc.

3D tools:

Revolve

Draw> Modelling> Revolve

Extrude

Draw > Modeling > Extrude

This AutoCAD 3D Extrude command allows the user to create a 3D object by extruding a 2D face along a line or path. For example, A cylinder can be created by selecting a 2D circle and extruding it along with a path.

Sweep

Draw > Modeling > Sweep

This command helps the user to extrude the 2D objects without the 2D face being orthogonal to the beginning of the path.

Union

Modify > Solids Editing > Union

This AutoCAD 3D command allows the user to combine two objects converting them into one single object.

Subtract

Modify > Solids Editing > Subtract

This command is opposite to the union command; this command works when there is a common area in both the objects. Then this command subtracts the object A from the object B.

Intersect

Modify > Solid Editing > Intersect

With this AutoCAD 3D command, the user is left with the area that is common to both the objects.

RENDERING

Rendering is the process of creating a raster image based on the 3D objects in a scene. A renderer is used to calculate the appearance of the materials attached to the objects in a scene, and how lighting and shadows are calculated based on the lights placed in a scene. Environmental and exposure settings of the renderer can be adjusted to control the final rendered image.

APPLYING MATERIALS

1. Click Visualize tab Materials panel Materials Browser. Find
2. Select the objects which you want to assign the material.
3. In the Materials Browser, right-click the material to assign and choose Assign to Selection.

The material is assigned to the objects.

Applying a material using the tool Palettes

1. Click View tab Palettes panel Tool Palettes. Find
2. On the Tool Palettes window, click a tab to set the tool palette current.
3. Drag a material tool from the tool palette onto the object.

Applying a material by layer

Click Visualize tab Materials panel (expanded) Attach by Layer. Find

1. In the Material Attachment Options dialog box, drag a material from the Materials list onto a layer in the Layers list.

The material is assigned to all objects on the layer whose Material property is set to ByLayer. (ByLayer is the default for the Material property when you create an object.)

To remove applied materials

1. Click Visualize tab Materials panel (expanded) Remove Materials.
2. Select an object whose material you want to remove.

The material is removed from the object and replaced by the ByLayer material.

Etc.

OBJECTIVE:

The main objective of this project is to review and refresh almost most of the tools which will be used by a Professional engineer while drafting a 3D drawing. This will start from the initial drafting in 2D using lines and rectangles to rendering in 3D. The entire project can be completed in 14 steps and are as follows.

1. To draw the plan using AutoCAD 2D.
2. To project walls to convert the plan from AutoCAD 2d to AutoCAD 3D.
3. To design the staircase
4. Designing and placing of 3D doors, swinging louver,sliding window, normal window and glass grill.
5. Adding lights and colouring of walls
6. Adding chajja and 3D mirroring of the flat.
7. Adding lift and roof.
8. Designing and placement of staircase rails.
9. Adding mumty, parapet wall and copying floors
10. Rendering.

PROCEDURE:

Step 1: To draw the plan using AutoCAD 2D.

Type UN and press enter Under Drawing Units, select Architectural (feet and inches) Now the lower limit is set to 0', 0' and upper limit to 100', 100' Type Z enter to zoom and A enter to all. Default layers for materials like walls, windows, grills, steps and stairs, dimensions and text was made and was assigned with a colour.
Using the line, rectangle, construction lines the plan layout of a single residential building was prepared as shown. Doors and windows was provided at places necessary as shown in plan. By providing a suitable style all the required texts was also made
Using the DIMLIM command the dimensioning was completed.
The staircase and steps, Common corridor was made next. Using the mirror command, the plan prepared was mirrored to obtain the ground floor of residential flat as shown. The residential flat has the same plan throughout 4 floors. As plan layout is same throughout the entire designing will be carried out in the single residential building than the entire floor. In order to do that a copy of the single residential flat was made and all the works was carried on it.
STEP 2: To project walls to convert the plan from AutoCAD 2d to AutoCAD 3D.
Now in settings select 3D Modelling and visual style control to 2D wireframe to move to AutoCAD 3D. A copy of the residential flat was made to work with. View use is south west isometric view. Turn off all layers except the wall layer. Select the entire drawing and type J to join the entire drawing. Now click on Extrude command in the home tab and press enter, move mouse in upward direction and specify height as 9’6” and press enter. Now the 3D wall is formed.
Door Cut-outs: Using the REC command draw a rectangle connecting the top of all door openings. After drawing all the rectangles select the Extrude command in the home tab and press enter, move mouse in downward direction and specify height as 2’6” and press enter. Now the door cut-outs of 7’ is formed. Also it means that the lintel beam will be at a height of 7’ from the plinth level.
Now using the Union option in solid editing panel select the complete drawing to union all the elements in the drawing. Window cut-outs Now turn off the wall layer and turn on the window layer. Using the REC command rectangle was drawn across all the window portion at the plinth level. Select all the rectangles just formed and move rectangle upwards by 7’. All the main windows was extruded by 4’ and the small toilet windows was extruded by 2’ downward. Using the subtract option in solid editing panel the window rectangles was subtracted from the wall and thus the window cut-outs was made.
Turn off the window layer and turn on the grill layer. In the same way windows was made rectangles was drawn at plinth level at the grills in the balcony. They are then moved upwards by 2’6”. Select all the rectangles and extrude them by 6’ in upward direction. Using the subtract option in solid editing panel the grill cuboids was subtracted from the wall and thus the balcony portion was made.
Floor Level: Using the polyline draw lines connecting the outer wall of the building at the top. Now Using the Move command, move the polyline made downwards to the plinth level. Using the extrude command extrude the polyline by 2’ hence forming the floor.
Common Corridor and plinth From the 2D plan created, using the polyline draw lines connecting the staircase, common corridor and lift room. Then with copy command copy the polyline and place it in 3D plan using the end points selected. Now extrude the polyline downwards by 2’ to obtain the common corridor. Also draw polylines at the plinth level throughout and using offset command offset it outward by 6”. Join all the polylines just created using the joint command and then extrude the polyline by 2’ upwards to create the plinth
STEP 3: To design the staircase
STAIRCASE In the layer panel turn on the staircase layer. Now using the press pull option in home tab press pull each step by 6” (6”, 12”, 18” etc.) that is in every successive step the extrusion height will be increased by 6”. Using the union option in solid editing panel union all the steps to become a single unit.
Using the press pull command in the solid editing panel press pull the bottom portion of staircase by drawing a line using the line command as required. It has to be done 3 times to remove all the below portions and to complete the loop.
Using the move command the staircase was selected and moved to the exact position in the 3D drawing using the end points.
STEPS: Turn off staircase layer and turn on the steps layer. Rectangle was made first as per the 2d dimension and then the 3 steps was extruded by Height of 6”, 12” and 18”. Use union command to join the steps.
Using the move command the steps was selected and moved to the exact position in the 3D drawing using the end points. Now with 3dmirror command mirror the steps with respect to a plane parallel to YZ plane that is we have to specify the planes by clicking on 3 points and step will be formed it at the other end of the corridor.