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Drawing in three dimensions

Editing in three dimensions

You can copy, move, rotate, array, mirror, and align two-dimensional and three-dimensional entities in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional space. You can also change and edit properties of three-dimensional entities much like you change and edit properties for two-dimensional entities. When you modify three-dimensional entities in two-dimensional space, you modify the entity in relation to the current UCS.

Rotating in three dimensions

You can rotate selected entities about a specified axis in three-dimensional space. You select the entities to rotate and then define the axis of rotation either by specifying two points; selecting an existing entity; aligning the axis with the x-, y-, or z-axis of the current UCS; or aligning the axis with the current view.

To rotate an entity about an axis in three dimensions

Do one of the following:
Choose Modify > 3D Operation > Rotate 3D.
Type rotate3D and then press Enter.
Select the entities to rotate, and then press Enter.
Choose from one of the following options: Entity, Last, View, Xaxis, Yaxis, Zaxis.
Specify the rotation angle.
Specify the reference angle.


Select the entities to rotate ( A ), specify the endpoints of the axis of rotation ( B and C ), and then specify the rotation angle ( D ).		Result after rotating the entities.

Arraying in three dimensions

You can copy selected entities and arrange them in a three-dimensional rectangular or polar (circular) pattern. For a rectangular array, you control the number of copies in the array by specifying the number of rows and columns and the number of levels. You also specify the distance between each. For a polar array, you specify the axis around which to array the entities, the number of copies of the entities to create, and the angle subtended by the resulting array.

To create a three-dimensional rectangular array

Do one of the following:
Choose Modify > 3D Operation > 3D Array.
Type 3Darray and then press Enter.
Select the entities, and then press Enter.
In the prompt box, choose Rectangular.
Type the number of rows in the array.
Type the number of columns.
Type the number of levels.
Specify the vertical distance between the rows.
Specify the horizontal distance between the columns.
Specify the depth between the levels.

To create a three-dimensional rectangular array, select the entity to copy ( A ), type the number of rows, columns, and levels, and then specify the distance between each row ( B ), column ( C ), and level ( D ).

To create a three-dimensional polar array

Do one of the following:
Choose Modify > 3D Operation > 3D Array.
Type 3Darray and then press Enter.
Select the entities, and then press Enter.
In the prompt box, choose Polar.
Type the number of copies to make, including the original selection set.
Specify the angle the array is to fill, from 0 to 360 degrees.

The default setting for the angle is 360 degrees. Positive values create the array in a counterclockwise direction; negative values create the array in a clockwise direction.

In the prompt box, choose one of the following:
Yes-Rotate Entities to rotate entities as they are arrayed.
No-Do Not Rotate to retain the original orientation of each copy as it is arrayed.
Specify the center point of the array.
Specify a second point along the central axis of the array.

To create a three-dimensional polar array, select the entity to copy ( A ), type the number of copies to make, specify the angle the array is to fill ( B ), and then specify the center point of the array ( C ) and a second point along the central axis of the array ( D ).

Mirroring in three dimensions

You can create a mirror image of selected entities in three-dimensional space. You mirror the entities about a mirror plane that you define by either specifying three points; selecting an existing two-dimensional planar entity; aligning the plane parallel with the xy, yz, or xz plane of the current UCS; or aligning the plane with the current view. You can delete or retain the original entities.

To mirror an entity about a three-dimensional plane

Do one of the following:
Choose Modify > 3D Operation > Mirror 3D.
Type mirror3D and then press Enter.
Select the entities, and then press Enter.
In the prompt box, choose 3 Points, or press Enter to select the default.
Specify the first point on the mirror plane.
Specify the second and third points on the plane.
In the prompt box, choose one of the following:
Yes-Delete Entities to delete the original entities.
No-Keep Entities to retain the original entities.


Select the entity to mirror ( A ), and then specify the first point ( B ), second point ( C ), and third point ( D ) defining the mirror plane.		The resulting mirrored entity.

Aligning in three dimensions

You can align selected entities with other entities in three-dimensional space. You select the entities you wish to align, and specify one, two or three pairs of points to align the selected entities.

To align an entity an entity with another

Do one of the following:
Choose Modify > 3D Operation > Align.
Type align and then press Enter.
Select the entities, and then press Enter.
Specify the first source point.
Specify the first destination point.
Specify additional source and destination points if desired (up to three pairs).


Select the entities to align, and then specify the first source point ( A ), the first destination point ( B ), the second destination point (C), and the second destination point ( D ). You can specify up to three pairs of source/destination points.		The resulting mirrored entity.