AutoCAD 2000 Tutorials

In this project, you learn how to create walls and doors using 3D Studio VIZ. The 3D walls, table top and stage area used in this demonstration was taken from an AutoCAD drawing. 3D Studio VIZ can read both 2D and 3D Release 14 drawings in their native format, and can even import solid models as well as objects created with AutoCAD's surface modeling commands.

In this particular instance, we used the PEDIT command to join the polylines into closed curves. We then used the AutoCAD EXTRUDE command to turn the polylines into 3D solids. This procedure seals the top and bottom of each wall. We followed a similar procedure for the table tops, though we could have created them easily in 3D Studio VIZ. We also assigned most of the objects a different color, in order to help VIZ determine which groups of entities should be considered "objects."

You could use the Properties icon to change the thickness of the polylines in order to create double-line walls. This makes it somewhat easier to apply different materials to either side of the wall, but it can make your walls more difficult to manage. In this example, we didn't place any 3D doors in the drawing. 3D Studio VIZ features sophisticated tools for creating parametric doors. We just left gaps in the walls where we can add doors later.

Click here to download the .dwg file for this project.
Open viz01.dwg prior to continuing with this lesson.

You may also click here to download a file containing all the files for this project.

Part 2