Solid Section Cut

[M!chelle]

In my AutoCAD Architecture model I've been able to successfully cut 2d Wireframe sections.  Is there a way to cut sections in a realistic, conceptual, etc. view?  I'm Autodesk familiar but new to this program.

[alogan]

Select the section line and click the 'Enable Live Section' button in the 'Building Section Line' contextual ribbon.
You can change the visual style to anything you desire.

[M!chelle]

That is telling me to switch to an isometric view.  I'm looking to get my 73 cut slices to render in a realistic or filled shade mode - not wireframe.  Thoughts?

[dbroad]

If you are talking about an ACA style section, then right click on the section result and choose the style from the section/elevation styles list.  It will be regenerated to whatever appearance you want.

[M!chelle]

I'm still not able to achieve this.  Can you elaborate?  We do not have personalized or customized styles set up. It sounds as though you are flipping between your own display styles?

[dbroad]

I'm not sure it's worth the effort but section results can be regenerated.  The regeneration dialog allows you to modify the display representation and the section style.  There is only one built-in section styles in the template and 2 others in the Section-styles drawing: 2D Section Style 96, and 2D Section Style Backround.  I got to where I was using the section results as backgrounds for details most of the time.  If you have the time to invest, you can develop your own 2D Section/Elevation style that have a more rendered appearance for objects that aren't cut.

[M!chelle]

Thank you for the clarity.  So essentially there is NOT a way to render a cut in a realistic, conceptual, shaded view?  I'm cutting sections across 3d solids built as equipment pieces.  They are appearing hollow.  I attached an image if it helps explain.

[MarySeufert]

Try converting your 3D solids to mass elements (Right pick 3D solid->Convert To->Mass element).  Its been a while, but I believe you can modify a section style that will fill in the areas of mass elements to create a more realistic view.  3D solids do not have a display manager setting to tweak, mass elements do.  No longer have ACA at work, so I can't test this right now. 

[dbroad]

Section Elevation display controls relate to AEC materials.  3D solids cannot be assigned those.  @MarySeufert mentioned that you would need to convert those 3d solids to have the kind of display control you need.  You would also need to add various AEC materials and mass element styles.

You can also synthesize a view from several parts.  AutoCAD supports its own display system and has a separate means of doing sections for 3d objects (sectionplane). It is possible to use the xref system to overlay the views you need into a single view.

It should  be possible to add a section style to approximate the conceptual visual style but it won't be an exact match.  If you need a more rendered appearance, try the live section features in AutoCAD Architecture rather than the section generation system.