A very common request when working in 3D is how to create 2D sections from 3D objects. These 2D drawings may represent elevation sections, cross-sections, or 3D sections.

It is possible to draw product sections from Toolbox, but this tutorial will show you how to create these using AutoCAD commands. The equivalent Toolbox command includes the ability to draw the section with library drawing tokens, and draw the section left or right facing. Also, the Toolbox command creates a section left or right facing. Also, the Toolbox command creates a section that is linked to the 3D model. In other words, if the dimensions of the model are modified, the section will be automatically updated.

On the other hand, the AutoCAD command is quicker to execute and offers the ability to quickly flip around the section plane to draw different types of sections more quickly. We will use the AutoCAD “Section Plane” group of commands in this tutorial to generate 2D drawings from a Microvellum product drawn in 3D.

The section plane AutoCAD object is represented by a special line object that defines the section plane through the 3D model and provides a way to analyze that model by moving the section object to various points through the object. For example, with Live Sectioning turned on, if you want to verify the depths of dowel machining, or hardware, or whatever else, slide the section object through the cabinet to those locations and watch the model change. You can also use this method to locate the section plane at various points in the model and create section view blocks that you can save and use at other locations in the drawing.

Tutorial:

1. Draw a “2 Door Base with Divisions” from the Microvellum library.
   


2. At the AutoCAD command prompt, enter “SECTIONPLANE.”
   
1. Draw the section plane so that it passes through the middle of the cabinet in the positive X direction.
   


2. Click on the section plane line for use in the next steps
   


3. Enter the command SECTIONPLANESETTINGS at the AutoCAD command prompt.
   

Set the following properties.


First, click the “Live Section settings” option button and reset:


1. FaceHatch = ANSI31
   
2. HatchScale = 5.000
   

Next, click the “2D section/elevation block creation settings” button and reset:


1. FaceHatch = No
   
2. Background Lines.Show = No
   
3. Background Lines.Hidden Line = No
   
4. Cut-AwayGeometry.Show = No
   
5. Cut-AwayGeometry.HiddenLine = No
   
6. Show = No
   


4. Enter the command SECTIONPLANETOBLOCK at the AutoCAD command prompt.
   
1. 2D Section/Elevation
   
2. Insert a new block
   


3. There are two ways to adjust the section plane. The first involves the use of the grip ‘move’ to adjust the cutting plane as needed.
   
4. The second is much more flexible and involves using the AutoCAD MOVE command, as explained below…
   


5. Enter UPL at the command prompt to change the view to Plan.
   


6. MOVE command to adjust the cutting plane so it passes through the doors to show the hinge cup and door pull machining.
   




7. Enter SECTIONPLANETOBLOCK at the command prompt.
   
1. 2D Section/Elevation
   
2. Insert a new block
   




8. Enter ROTATE at the command prompt and select the midpoint of the section plane line. Enter a rotation angle of 270 degrees.
   




9. Enter SECTIONPLANETOBLOCK at the command prompt.
   
1. 2D Section/Elevation
   
2. Insert a new block
   




10. Enter ROTATE at the command prompt and select the midpoint of the section plane line. Enter a rotation angle of 270 degrees (should show the front of the cabinet with the back clipped away).
    
1. Click the grip toggle ‘clip back’ and ‘clip front’ to change the visible portion of the cabinet.
   


11. Enter SECTIONPLANETOBLOCK at the command prompt.
    
1. 3D Section
   
2. Insert a new block
   

This video will demonstrate the steps outlined in this article.