How to draw lines on 3d object?

[Mason Dixon]

I am trying to draw lines(orange colored) on this 3d object(crimson colored). Every time I go to select the lines to alter them I end up only being able to select the 3d object they are on. How do I turn off the selection of the 3d objects or anything on that layer?

 

[qball]

(I'm not sure if this all applies to Acad 2010)

You can Hide the box, or Isolate the orange lines, or Isolate the Layer that the orange lines are on.

Or does 2010 have Selection Cycling on the bottom left taskbar?

or this: http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2010/ENU/AutoCAD%202010%20User%20Documentation/index.html?url=WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-6783.htm,topicNumber=d0e101570

[Mason Dixon]

I've selectively cycled to get the face of the 3d object selected....when I go to draw lines on it I lose the selection of the 3d face....how do I keep that in place?

[qball]

I'm not a 3d expert. But is your Dynamic UCS on? That still takes a second to attach to the face and resets everytime you stop a command. UCS > Face would get it so you are always on that plane.

But the original question sounded like it was selecting the existing orange lines that was the issue. http://lynn.blogs.com/lynn_allens_blog/2008/08/let-the-sabbati.html

[Mason Dixon]

My problem is that I'll start drawing on what I think is the 3d face and come to find out i'm drawing in some other dimension. when i go to select the lines to correct them I can't because i can only select the 3d object i'm trying to draw the lines on....very frustrating.

 

Not sure how to tell if dynamic ucs is on.

 

Thanks for your help, i'll try over in the 3d forum.

[qball]

The Icon for Dynamic UCS is on the bottom left of the screen, with Snap, Ortho, etc.

http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2010/ENU/AutoCAD%202010%20User%20Documentation/files/WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-7192.htm

 

If you rotate your view I assume the orange lines are off in space somewhere? Away from the solid? If so, then UCS Face or Dynamic UCS is for you!

 

(some people on here hate double posting)

[Mason Dixon]

I'm trying to draw lines on a 3d object's face. 9 times out of 10 I'll be drawing and try to check my work by putting it in isometric view and find out I've been snapping my lines to points in other dimensions. How do I select a 2d face, keep it selected, and be able to draw only on that 2d face and not behind it on some other snapmode? thanks

[Mason Dixon]

Looks like I have been using Dynamic UCS.

[qball]

For doing a lot of things on one face I would change the UCS.

[Mason Dixon]

I tried UCS face but it doesn't seem to do anything

[Mason Dixon]

Side question...how do I make my 3d objects look shaded like this?

 

nm....figured it out, visual styles

[SEANT]

Perhaps set Dynamic UCS to on with OSNAPZ = 0. It costs AutoCAD some snapablity, however.

[qball]

View tab > Visual Styles. There's a pull down menu that probably says 3d hidden on yours right now.

 

Check out Cad Tutor main page and Youtube for some UCS tutorials. I can't seem to explain it any better.

[Mason Dixon]

thanks but it was already set to 0

 

My whole goal is to draw mortar joints for this architectural piece....its taken me hours to put those few simple little orange mortar lines in

 

 

This is what I typically run into with my lines snapping to points that are not on the face I want to draw on

Edited May 12, 2011 by Mason Dixon

[alanjt]

Does anyone else find it entertaining that Mason Dixon wants to draw a line or am I the only nerd?

[SEANT]

Oops, I should have said OSNAPZ = 1. Also, set NEA/MID, and PER running osnaps.

 

Does anyone else find it entertaining that Mason Dixon wants to draw a line or am I the only nerd?

 

Quite clever.

[SLW210]

I have merged your threads. Please only ask a question once, if you feel it was in the wrong section a moderator can move it for you.

 

Thanks.

[Mason Dixon]

Thanks, for some reason I still can't do it

[rkent]

Set 3DSELECTIONMODE to 0.

[CADguy209]

You might want to use UCSICON command and set it to ON.

 

Also the under the UCS command you can use the 3 point option to define the origin and x/y axis. This will allow you to align the ucs to faces on your model so that you can draw your lines or other features on it.

 

Under the View pull down or tab there should be the shade command wich will give you different options for displaying the sahding of your model. Or you can jsut type SHADEMODE at the command line.