Can't Draw in 3D using autocad 2007

[therulebookman]

I just (friday) updated to AutoCad Mechanical 2007. I was trying to draw a helix and then rotate it into the proper position, but it would only let me rotate on the XY plane and not in any 3D motions. What I tried: going to a different view (front vs. top) and rotating. I also tried to just draw a solid while in front view and even when i clicked away from the XY plane it still selected a point on it. I'm baffled. please help.

 

[borgunit]

Not to be a smartalec, but have you looked in the help. I think helix is a newer built in feature for AutoCAD.

"Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects." — Will Rogers

 

[therulebookman]

yeah, the problem is totally unrelated to the helix. Its a fundamental matter that I can in no way use the cursor to select any coordinates that are not on the XY plane. I tried searching the help, but couldn't find anything.

 

[zuccus]

Did you try the rotate3d command as opposed to the rotate command which only rotates about the z axis?

Zuccus

 

[chicopee]

Try 3D orbit first--see what happens. I dont have 2007 so I could not say anything about your problem.

 

[drummervic]

To rotate in 3d in autocad2007 load the Orbit toolbar.

then either use constrained orbit or free orbit.

hope this helps,
-Vic

 

[Dan320]

AutoCad is only half-way 3D. Unlike Catia, you can only work in x-y-plane. Acad has to use different coordinate systems to get around this. Try switching to another coordinate system where your original Z-axle will be X or Y. That will fix it. A bit tedious at first, but one gets used to it...