Autocad Tutorial 14: Project Two - Creating a Soft-drink Cup

Then press ESCAPE to stop using the tool. Unlike the 2D line tool, the 2 lines we created are joined together. Next activate the 2D circle tool and draw a circle next to the line we just created with a radius of 0.5 and press ENTER:

Create another 2D circle and click at the centre of the circle we just created:

For the radius, input 0.3 and press ENTER:

You should have something similar to this:

Moving on, activate the sweep tool by clicking on it OR by typing “_sweep”:

Now while the sweep tool is active, select BOTH circles we just made and press ENTER:

For the sweep path, select the line we made earlier (the Polyline):

Now you should have something like this:

Change your view using the constraint orbit tool so you can see the end of the straw (either end, doesn't matter):

Select the subtraction tool, firstly select the outer round object as the source and press ENTER. Then select the inner object and press ENTER and you should have something like this:

Great! We have something that resembles a straw! All we need to do now is to put the pieces together and “colour it in”. Firstly let's deal with the cup lid. Adjust your view so you can see the cup lid:

Select the 3D move tool and select the cup lid with it and press ENTER:

Now the 2D line you created at the cup lid should be still there. Move the mouse cursor to the bottom of the 2D line's endpoint and click:

Now the cup lid should be moving with your mouse. Move your mouse so that it goes over the cup base and place it over the cup base's 2D line's endpoint and click:

Now we have something that looks like this (yes, the lid is meant to be bigger than the cup base, otherwise how can you put it on?):

All the cup is missing is a straw. Adjust your view so you can see your straw again:

Zoom in at the bottom end of the straw (the side without the bent end) you may need to use the pan tool to adjust your view:

Select the 3D rotate tool and click on the straw then press ENTER:

For the base point, click at the centre of the circle shaped end of the straw:

Then select the red axis (the one that is highlighted in yellow in the picture below):

For the angle starting point, click at the same spot as the base point (should have a snap):

Now the straw is freely moving! Hold SHIFT and move your mouse until the straw is standing upright, then click:

Just a few more steps to go, adjust your view so you can see the bottom part of the straw clearly:

Select the 3D move tool, and select the straw and press ENTER:

For the basepoint, select the centre of the straw end (or endpoint, if the 2D line is there):

Now the straw is freely moving. Here's a tip if you haven't already figured it out. While using other tools, you can use the view tools and change your views. Once you finished changing the views, press ESCAPE to stop the tool and resume using the previous tool.

Anyways, back on task move the straw and click at the centre point/ endpoint of the cup base using the tip I showed you above if needed:

So far, here's your cup:

Do you know what's wrong with it? The straw is standing upright. We are going to fix this. Select the 3D rotate tool and select the straw and press ENTER:

Now zoom in until you can see the outline of the highlighted straw clearly. For the basepoint, select the centre of the straw end OR, if the 2D line is still there from the first few step, use that:

For the rotational axis, select the green axis (the one highlighted in yellow in the picture below):

For the angle starting point, make it the same as the base point:

Now the straw is rotating with your mouse. Now move your mouse so that the straw appears to be touching the side of the cup lid. You may need to adjust your view to get a better look. Once you are satisfied, click to finalize it:

Anyways, once done select the explode tool by clicking on it OR by typing “_explode”:

This tool will break down an object. Once you selected it, select the cup base ONLY and press ENTER:

Now the cup base is now 3 different objects. Why did I explode it? Now that the cup base is in 3 parts, I can colour each part separately, the top part of the cup base could be coloured as the liquid that the cup contains so I don't have to draw another object and the other 2 parts could be the colour of the cup itself. Confused? Well in a moment I'll show you my cup and it will become clear.

Open the materials panel by right clicking at the top of the tools palette and selecting “materials”

Here you can “colour in” your cup with the different materials available. I'm not going to hold your hand and tell you which materials to select, you should decide that yourself. Anyways, here is my cup in render mode (I have never been good with colouring in):