can someone tell me how to set the depth of a cirlce?  what i need to do is cut a 2" diameter hole that is 3/8" deep in a 3/4" piece of wood .  so i've set up the 3/4" piece of wood but when i place a 3/8" deep hole in it,  it reeds it from the bottom up.  i need it from the surface of the piece down.  thanks!

I gather that you are working in 3D. If so you can create a [CMD]CYLINDER[/CMD] on or in your object  2" dia. at the desired location. Then move the cylinder along the z axis with the [CMD]MOVE[/CMD] command  0, 0, 0.375. That will place the object 3/8 from the bottom and [CMD]SUBTRACT[/CMD] the cylinder fom the wood block. I hope that helps.
 



two_die_four

it doesn't seem to work.  what am i doing wrong?  first i draw the cylinder inside the square block at a thickness of 3/8.  so if i look at it from the side view the cylinder is sitting on the bottom of the 3/4" block.  now i select the cylinder and type "move" .  the command bar says "specify base point or displacement"  so i click the center of the cylinder.  now the command line says "... specify second point..."  so i type 0,0,3/8"  the the object moves way outside of the box.  what am i doing wrong? 

If you are moving the cylinder while in th side view USC orgin is changed and the cylinder will move in the wrong direction. Perform this operation in the top view and then change view to see the results.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22555644@N07/sets/72157611158649177/

ok that worked!  but i have a few more questions haha.  once you go into the "orbit" view mode,  how do you return to the top view? and also how do you subtract the area of that cylinder.  and also how did you get that realistic view?  i appreciate all the help!!!!

If you right click on any toolbar a dropdown menu with all the available toolbars on it. For realistic and wire frame toolbar choose "visual style" and for top view ect. choose "view". and get a good book.
two_die_four