Hi!I was hoping someone could refresh my memory on how to create a shell (roof) on my structure. Please see attached.I'd appreciate any help. It's been awhile since I've wanted to do this...Thank you,KimberlyTest.dwg

Hello Kmorgan, see my answer as a file in the CAD BIM Blocks library here in the site : Test[1]PJH.dwg ( file too big to be uploaded here ).
Please tell us if this helped or not.
See the remarks in red in the file.

philippe JOSEPH!I can't thank you enough for your response. The drawing was very helpful! I appreciate all your time and energy. As for the sweep, I guess I didn't give enough information. The Legs are to be uneven. Please see attached. If you have a solution or maybe some other great tips, I'll take'em! I thank you again, for some newly gained knowledge and information. It's people like you and John Connor that make this such a great site!Test2.dwg

Legs are uneven now?  Not the same height?  I'm not on my CAD computer at the moment so I cannot open your drawing.

Hey John!No, same height. It's an octagon. I thought it was noticeable, but I thought wrong...The more information the better. Lesson learned, again.? Sorry philippe JOSEPH. So, I put it on a section plan in "test2".

Something more like this?

Oh Yes! And How?

Kind of along the same lines as what philippe demonstrated except I did it for 1/8th of the roof then did a polar array to fill in the remainder.

Hmmm- I'll give it a Try...Thank you Both for all your help!

I used three profiles and the loft command.

Would it be too much to ask what three profiles?I'd really appreciate it...

One profile used three times.  It's the one for the main supports.

Hello KMORGAN and John, I have uploaded the updated study of it.
WARNING the first upload of today is NO GOOD ( Test22.dwg )
The second one is OK ( Test1PJH2.dwg ).

Thanks but I have what I need already.

Hello philippe JOSEPH!Please See Attached!I think I was successful!Thanks to your step by step.I will forever have it to remind me.Thank you so much! Test3.dwg

Hello kmorgan, I'm glad that you have succeded in doing your roof.
 
If you are new to 3D the important is to manage the viewpoints and the use of all the options of the UCS command.
The UCS settings will be an obligation for you to do some dimensionning in the 3D space.
In any case keep an example of each your 3D steps, it will allow you easy modifications or steps backward.
If you keep steps at an exact distance and in ortho mode ( F8 ) it will be a lot easier.
 
As for more about 3D and take a look at the bottom of my file with :
1-basic solids with parameters ( CTRL+1)
2-solids creation etc...
7-UCS settings for dimensions
 

Depending on the type of drawing being done dimensions can be placed in either model space or in a layout.

Yes John but with 3D it's another thing.

Yes, it is, since most newbies to 3D think they can dimension a 3D model as they would a 2D view.

philippe JOSEPHI couldn't make those UCS settings work for me. I'm really not sure what theproblem is? Most likely, User error. I only saw a prompt for UCSSELECTMODE = 1 or 0?

Are you telling us you do not know how to alter the orientation of your UCS?

No, I don't think I am? I use the UCS command in model space."Specify origin of UCS or [Face/NAmed/OBject/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/ZAxis] <World>:"Philippe JOSEPH drawings indicates a different dialog, I thought it was to beat the prompt? Must be some misinterpretation on my part.

I thought you were dimensioning your 3D model in model space.  So what could be the problem?

Not sure...I was following philippe JOSEPH drawing step #7 and it wasn't working for me? Lost in translation apparently. I think my boat sailed, and I wasn't on it! LOL C'est la vie!

So the answer is you really don't know what you are doing?  Try using the Dynamic UCS feature of AutoCAD to get you properly oriented to the 3D model you are trying to dimension.  First though, take a look in your HELP file to see how this feature works.And make sure osnaps are enabled.What visual style are you using?

John Connor2015-10-15 00:00:13

Hello kmorgan, when working in 3D it's important to know how to use the UCS settings and also manage the viewpoints.
Globaly you are comfortable when working in a plan defined by 3 points for example ( command : UCS , enter , 3 ( for UCS by 3 points ) , enter , clic 3 points , enter.
 
In the file that I have worked with the different steps I have 3 other UCS settings registrated ( in addition of the UCS World and you can see them at the bottom of the file in the figure 7 - UCS SETTINGS FOR DIMENSIONS.
 
you can re-apply them with the command : UCS , enter , R for recall I hope because I use a french AtoCAD , 01 or 02 or G+.
 
Of course there are other possibilities with the "dynamic" mode but I found it difficult.
I use also the command PLAN to set a view in the paper space and set my viewport conformably to a certain UCS.
Try and find a book ( or a PDF file like : AutoCAD_2012_command-ref_enu_v2[1].pdf ) to be read instead of the F1 help that doesn't allow you working in AutoCAD at the same time ).
 
Try and find on the internet : AutoCAD 3D tutorials by Kristen S. KURLAND and read the pages 36 to 49. 
philippe JOSEPH2015-10-16 07:11:43

Dear Senior Member:I have read ALL your posts.(deleted included)And I just want to say, I have been a member of this site since 2010.I have a technical specialty degree in computer aided drafting and computer aided manufacturing. I have a Bachelors degree in interior design and pre-architecture.I've been drawing in Autocad for over 25 years. (Release 9)I have Programed (5) different 5- Axis CNC Router Machines.I have never been made to feel so stupid. And I Quote,"Forum: AutoCADTopic: Shell-3dConstruct?Posted By: John ConnorI guess I have to dumb this down.Are you dimensioning in model space? Yes or No?Do you know how to change the orientation of your UCS? Yes? Then what method are you using? Is it the manual method (typed in at the command line), or are you working off the options provided on the Ribbon, or are you using the Dynamic UCS? Do you know how to change the orientation of your UCS? No? STOP. Consult your Help file or visit either of the two websites listed below to find a tutorial about the subject:www.cadtutor.netwww.mycadsite.com​"​Parts of this CAD discussion were not conducive to learning, and were very condescending.Even at the age of fifty, I find it necessary to hone my autocad skills. There are seven solutions to every problem and ten ways to skin this CAD (cat).This post is not intended or directed to Philippe Joseph, to whom I am thankful

Are you attempting to do something like this?Yes?  Then one option would be to manually reorient your UCS.  For example, if I wanted to dimension the length of the object I would first use the UCS command > Origin option to place my UCS icon in the lower left hand corner.  Then I would repeat the command type "X" then type "90" so my icon would have the "Y" axis pointing towards the top of my screen.  Once I have that set I create my dimension which in this case is the 120.To dimension the width of the object I would relocate the origin of my UCS to the lower right hand corner via the UCS command > Origin option.  However, I need to rotate the UCS 90 degrees so I invoke the command again and first type "Y", hit Enter, then type "90" and hit Enter.  Now my UCS is properly aligned with the right hand side of the 3D model and I can go ahead and dimension it.  Now we have our 72 dimension.Finally, for the height I would first rotate my UCS by invoking the command and typing "Y", hit Enter, then "-90" and hit Enter.  Next I would relocate the origion to the back right hand corner then I would go ahead and dimension the height of 144 as shown.This was the original way 3D models were dimensioned before the advent of toolbars with 3D orientations already assigned and before the introduction of the Dynamic UCS.The downside is the user is doing a lot of typing at the command line to reorient the UCS but some CAD techs got so good at it they never adopted another method when it came along.And here is a sample taken from the mock up drawing used to create the image above.Command: UCSCurrent ucs name:  *NO NAME*Specify origin of UCS or [Face/NAmed/OBject/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/ZAxis] <World>: OSpecify new origin point <0,0,0>:Command: UCSCurrent ucs name:  *NO NAME*Specify origin of UCS or [Face/NAmed/OBject/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/ZAxis] <World>: YSpecify rotation angle about Y axis <90>: 90Command: _dimlinearSpecify first extension line origin or <select object>:Specify second extension line origin:Specify dimension line location or[Mtext/Text/Angle/Horizontal/Vertical/Rotated]:Dimension text = 72 

John Connor2015-10-17 23:17:49