Included in Autocad’s variety of 3d modeling tools and functions is a set of tools for mesh modeling. A polygon mesh is a collection of vertices, edges and triangular faces which make up an organic solid . The whole object is known as a TIN – a triangulated integrated network, triangles being the most efficient shape to encompass and define an area of space. Meshes are often used to create terrain in civil or town planning, or the kind of plastic, non-geometrical forms you find in product design. We show you a variety of techniques for working with 3d meshes in our Autocad 3d courses. 
To explore the basics, first create a new document from one of Autocad’s 3d templates. Make sure you are in the Autocad 3d workspace (bottom right workspace shifter). There will appear a set of 3d tools in the Ribbon. To create the object above left, go to the Mesh Modeling section > Mesh tab > Primitives > and click the dialog box launch button (the small arrow) In Tessellations (= faces) type: L3 > W3 > H3 > OK
Then choose the Mesh box tool > first point 0,0 > 5000 > tab > 3000 > enter > 2000. Select the box > right-click > Smooth More > increase it by hitting Enter twice. Smoothness will be Level 3 – see the tool tip. To reshape hold Control and select two faces. Note the Gizmo axes highlight in yellow. Move upwards by 2000 and right-click on the Gizmo > select Rotate > and punch in 45º to add some curvature.
To manipulate individual vertices go into wireframe mode (VS > 3). Click on the Subobject tab and press No Filter to see the dropdown. Note the Vertex, Edge and Faces. Select Vertex and press Control to add to selected vertices. Then highlight the Z-axis and pull upwards in the Z direction > punch in a value > and hit Enter.
You can also split faces, create sections and loft terrain, as well as create meshes from curves and splines. The variations are endless. And like any 3d object in Autocad, materials and lighting can be added, and animations created from mesh models.
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.
Other related Autocad 3d Blog Posts:

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