The Autocad 3D revolve function is an easy way of creating a 3d solid from a simple profile. We explain how in our Autocad 3d training courses.
Firstly, create a new drawing from the Metric acadiso.dwt template. Next make sure that Ortho (F8) is on, in order to draw horizontally or vertically. Then, using the Polyline tool (PL), draw a box in the X-Y plane, 100 x 100mm for example. This will represent our profile. Next draw a line for the profile to revolve around – this will be our rotational axis.
The Revolve function is clearly visible in the top left of the Ribbon bar stacked alongside the other 3D modify tools. (If you are using a pre-2009 version of Autocad, go to the 3D Make panel and choose the Revolve tool.) You then select the profile and the axis to revolve the box around the line, thus creating a 3D solid ring object. The default is 360˚.
To create a more complex object draw a more detailed profile shape, possibly adding chamfers and fillets to the corners.  Also create another axis to revolve around. Follow the same process, this time revolving the shape around the line by 270˚ to create the object shown above.
You will notice that sometimes when rotating an object using 3D Rotate function the document grid will change its axis. To return a Grid to the X-Y plane simply type UCS (for User Coordinate System) then W (for World), and hit Enter.
The 3d interface in Autocad is user-friendly and easy to learn, and we take time to teach a broad range of applications in our classes including modeling, materials, lighting and animation. See many examples of our clients’ work on our Facebook page. For more information there are lots of resources on the web, but try the Autodesk site to begin with: www.autodesk.com. Support options and user forums are also available from the home page.
Other related Autocad 3d Blog Posts:

• Autocad 3d introduction
• Autocad 3d modeling
• Autocad 3d blocks
• Autocad 3d commands
• Autocad 3d basics