Drawing Annotation

TAGMODES Command

Command: tagmodes

Arrow type

This image button and pop-up list is used to set the AutoCAD DIMBLK variable to one of several common types, including ARROW, DOT, FOOT, STRAIGHT, and TARGET. FOOT and TARGET are used for geometric tolerancing leaders, while arrows are used for dimensions. FOOT is used with the Leader TAG-GEODIM-DFS option, and TARGET is used with the TAG-GEODIM-DTS option.

Balloon type

This image button and pop-up list is used to set the SI Mechanical BALLBLK system variable to one of several common types, including, round (BALL-STD), triangle (BALL-TRI), ellipse (BALL-ELP), number only (BALL-NON), and square (BALL-SQR).

Balloon placement

This image button and button group is used to set the SI Mechanical BALLTAG system variable to control placement of balloons on leader tags. You can set it for horizontal or vertical placement and with or without a leader tail.

TAG Command

The TAG command sequence begins like this:

Command: tag
Leader start: Pick point.

Balloon/Geodim/Label/Point/Surfdim/Text/Weldim/<default>:

For information on Balloon, Geodim, Label, Surfdim, Text, and Weldim, see the appropriate SI Mechanical command.

Point Option for TAG Command

BALLOON Command

Command: balloon
Select entity <none>:

The entity can be any item created with the HARDWARE command, a shaft item with appropriate data fields, or a block with appropriate attributes. Any field names in the database that match field names in the balloon will have their values automatically added to the balloon. The TAGTRANS table can be used to translate non-standard attributes into SI Mechanical balloon attributes. If no data is found or no item is selected, you must manually enter the values. After the balloon is inserted, the Edit Attributes dialogue box is displayed. The AutoCAD DDATTE command can be used to edit balloon tags after insertion.

GEODIM Command

Command: geodim
DFS/DTS/FCF/PTS/<default>:
Insert point <options>: Pick point.
Change symbol? <N>:

GEODIM options

Option	Symbol	Description
DFS		Creates a Datum Feature Symbol
DTS		Creates a Datum Target Symbol
FCF		Creates a single or composite Feature Control Frame
PTS		Creates a Projected Tolerance zone Symbol

Inserting a GEODIM Symbol

All options except DTS allow different justifications for the symbol. A pop-up list labeled Justify: will be present.

FCF Option for GEODIM Command

The FCF option displays the Feature Control Frame dialogue box. You can convert between single, composite, and stacked frames inside the dialogue box.

The dialogue box shows a preview of the tolerance symbol. The pop-up list lets you pick the feature symbol. Depending on the symbol picked, various buttons will be activated. When a button is grayed out it indicates that the option is not valid for the current symbol settings.

Feature symbols

Selection	Symbol
ANGULARITY
CIRCULARITY
CONCENTRICITY
CYLINDRICITY
FLATNESS
PARALLELISM
PERPENDICULARITY
POSITION
PROFILE-LINE
PROFILE-SURFACE
RUNOUT-CIRCULAR
RUNOUT-TOTAL
STRAIGHTNESS
SYMMETRY

Spherical

This check box determines whether to include a spherical diameter symbol in the tolerance.

Diameter

This check box determines whether to include a diameter symbol in the tolerance. The diameter symbol indicates that the tolerance applies to a circular zone.

Single

This button determines whether a single tier feature control frame will be created. The First tier column is always available. The Second tier options are not available with this setting.

Composite

This button determines whether a composite feature control frame will be created.

Stacked

This button determines whether a stacked feature control frame with duplicate symbols will be created.

Tolerance

This group contains an edit box for entering the tolerance and buttons to select the tolerance modifier.

STatistical tolerance

This check box determines whether to include a statistical tolerance symbol in the frame.

Free state

This check box determines whether to include a free state symbol in the frame.

Tangent plane

This check box determines whether to include a tangent plane symbol in the frame.

Projected tolerance zone

This check box determines whether to include a projected tolerance zone symbol in the frame. The zone length can be entered in the adjacent edit box

Optional text

This edit box lets you enter optional text to include after the tolerance modifier.

Primary datum

This group contains a combination list box and edit box for setting the primary datum reference, and check boxes to select a primary datum modifier.

Secondary datum

This group contains a combination list box and edit box for setting the secondary datum reference, and check boxes to select a secondary datum modifier.

Tertiary datum

This group contains a combination list box and edit box for setting the tertiary datum reference, and check boxes to select a tertiary datum modifier.

DFS Option for GEODIM Command

The DFS option displays a dialogue box similar to the following figure:

Datum

This edit box and pop-list sets the datum identifier. Standard identifiers are available in the pop-up list. Any other valid identifier can be entered into the edit box.

DTS Option for GEODIM Command

The DTS option is normally used with the TAG command. However, you can use it with the GEODIM command to create a symbol without a leader. The DTS option displays a dialogue box similar to the following figure:

Size

This edit box indicates the size of the target on the physical part. The value is displayed in the upper portion of the symbol. A value of 0.0 will not be displayed in the symbol.

Identifier

This edit box and pop-up list sets the target identifier. This string is displayed in the lower portion of the symbol.

PTS Option for GEODIM Command

The PTS option displays a dialogue box similar to the following figure:

Length

This edit box sets the length value that will be displayed inside the symbol.

The symbols are created as a single entity. You can snap to many points on the symbol including the insert point. If the symbol is exploded it reverts back to the base entities. Once a symbol has been exploded it cannot be edited with SYMCHG or SYMUPD.

See the following DPVAR variables that directly affect the GEODIM command:

GEODAT, GEOSYM, GEOTGT, GEOTOL, GEOTSZ, GEOPTS

BASICDIM Command

Command: basicdim
Select object: Do so.

BASICDIM

Before	After

Dimensions that have plus/minus or maximum/minimum tolerances cannot be basic dimensions. BASICDIM does not work on them.

WELDIM Command

Command: weldim
Insert point <options>: Pick point.
Change symbol? <N>:

All welding symbols are created using default values to set the initial form. The symbol is changed by responding with [Enter] to the insert point prompt or [Y] to the change symbol prompt. A dialogue box similar to the following figure will be displayed:

The Main side and Opposite side groups are similar. Depending on settings in the Main side, the Opposite side may be grayed out. The dialogue box shows a preview of the welding symbol.

This pop-up list sets the weld symbol type.

Weld symbols

Selection	Symbol	Description
BACKING		Backing weld
BEV		Bevel weld
COR-FLG		Corner flange weld
EDGE-FLG		Edge flange weld
FIL		Fillet weld
FLARE-BEV		Flared bevel weld
FLARE-V		Flared V weld
J-GRV		J groove weld
PLUG		Plug weld
SCARF		Scarf weld
SEAM		Seam weld
SPOT		Spot weld
SQ		Square weld
STUD		Stud weld
SURF		Surface weld
U-GRV		U groove weld
V-GRV		V groove weld

This pop-up list sets the finish designation for the symbol.

Weld finish designation

Selection	Symbol
Chip
Grind
Hammer
Machine
Roll
Unspecified

This pop-up list sets the contour symbol that will be displayed on the symbol.

Weld contour symbols

Selection	Symbol
Concave
Convex
Flush

This group of buttons sets the side of the material that the weld will appear on.

Weld side options

Selection	Symbol
Arrow
Neither
Other

This pair of buttons controls the justification of the symbol.

Weld symbol justification options

Left	Right

The SYMCHG command can be used to change welding symbols at a later time. See the SYMCHG and SYMUPD commands for more information.

The symbols are created as a single entity. You can snap to many points on the symbol including the insert point. If the symbol is exploded it reverts back to the base entities. Once a symbol has been exploded it cannot be edited with SYMCHG or SYMUPD. See the following DPVAR variables that directly affect the WELDIM command:

WELDALL, WELDANG, WELDBACK, WELDCON, WELDFIN, WELDFLD, WELDLG, WELDMELT, WELDNUM, WELDOPP, WELDPIT, WELDROOT, WELDSIZE, WELDSPEC, WELDSYM, WELDTHRT

SURFDIM Command

The SURFDIM (SURFace DIMension) command inserts surface finish symbols.

Command: surfdim
Insert point <options>: Pick point.
Change symbol? <N>:

All surface finish symbols are created using default values to set the initial form. The symbol is changed by responding with [Enter] to the insert point prompt or [Y] to the change symbol prompt. A dialogue box similar to the following figure will be displayed:

The dialogue box shows a preview of the surface finish symbol.

Surface type

This group of buttons sets the surface type designation to display on the symbol.

Surface type options

Selection	Symbol
Default
Machine
Natural

Lay:

This pop-up list sets the lay designation that will be displayed on the symbol.

Allowance:

This edit box sets a value for material removal allowance to display on the symbol. A value of 0.0 will not be displayed.

Contact %:

This edit box sets a value for the percentage contact area to display on the symbol. A value of 0 will not be displayed.

Text:

This edit box lets you enter optional text to display on the symbol.

Roughness

This group of edit boxes controls the display of four different roughness values. Values of 0.0 will not display.

Waviness

This group of edit boxes controls the display of the two waviness values. Values of 0.0 will not display.

The SYMCHG command can be used to change surface finish symbols at a later time. See the SYMCHG and SYMUPD commands for more information.

The symbols are created as a single entity. You can snap to many points on the symbol including the insert point. If the symbol is exploded it reverts back to the base entities. Once a symbol has been exploded it cannot be edited with SYMCHG or SYMUPD.

See the following DPVAR variables that directly affect the SURFDIM command:

SURFAREA, SURFLAY, SURFMAXR, SURFMAT, SURFMINR, SURFSPEC, SURFTYPE, SURFWAVH, SURFWAVW, SURFWIDC, SURFWIDM

PHATCH Command

The PHATCH (Point HATCH) command hatches an enclosed area by picking a point.

Command: phatch
Pick inside area <options>: Pick point.

If you press [Enter], PHATCH displays a dialogue box similar to the following figure:

The dialogue box allows you to set hatch parameters.

Pattern

This pop-up list sets the hatch pattern. The standard AutoCAD hatch patterns are available. You can also define your own.

Double

This check box sets the double hatch option for user-defined patterns.

Spacing:

This edit box sets the line spacing for user-defined hatch patterns.

Angle:

This edit box sets the hatch pattern angle. Unless the pattern is user-defined, it is normally set to 0.0.

Scale:

This edit box sets the scale for hatch patterns. It does not apply to user-defined patterns.

The SYMCHG command can be used to change the hatch pattern at a later time. See the SYMCHG and SYMUPD commands for more information. If the hatch pattern is exploded it reverts back to the base entities. Once a hatch pattern has been exploded it cannot be edited with SYMCHG or SYMUPD.

CNVTABLE Command

The CNVTABLE (CoNVersion TABLE) command draws a conversion table for selected dimensions and text in the drawing. It is the preferred method of showing alternate dimension units on a drawing.

Command: cnvtable
Select objects: Do so.
Upper left corner of table: Pick point.

The conversion is based on AutoCAD dimension variable settings. The variables are DIMALTD, DIMALTF, and DIMAPOST. DIMALTD sets the decimal places to show in the converted dimensions. DIMALTF sets the scale factor to use for the conversion. If you are converting from inch to millimeter, it should be set to 25.4, and if you are converting from millimeter to inch, it should be set to 0.03937. DIMAPOST sets a suffix string to add to the converted dimension.

EXLINE Command

The EXLINE (EXtension LINE) command draws an extension line between two points and automatically provides the correct offset.

Command: exline
From reference point: Pick point.
To reference point: Pick point.

See the XLINEO DPVAR variable to control the offset of the start point and endpoint of the extension line. The DIMEXE AutoCAD system variable controls the offset distance.

LABEL Command

The LABEL command is normally used inside the TAG command. The LABEL command will label existing hardware, hole, and shaft items created with SI Mechanical.

Command: label
Select object: Pick hardware, hole, or shaft.
Justify/Style/<Start point>: Pick point.

You can also specify a new justification or style prior to picking a start point.

LONGBRK Command

The LONGBRK (LONG BReaK) command inserts a break symbol along a line intended to show a part break.

Command: longbrk
Select line to insert break tag: Pick point on line.

SHFTBRK Command

The SHFTBRK (SHaFT BReaK) command draws a shaft break symbol between two lines. Optionally, you can have it trim away the broken area.

Command: shftbrk
First point on diameter: Pick point on first line.
Opposite point: Pick point on second line.
Attempt shaft trim <Y>:

TXTTABLE Command

The TXTTABLE (TeXT TABLE) command draws a text table with user defined rows, columns, characters per column, and column justification.

Command: txttable
Number of rows (---): Enter number.
Number of columns (|||): Enter number.
Number of characters in column 1, <1>: Enter number.
Justification of column 1, L/C/R/<L>: Enter justification.

Depending on the number rows and columns specified, the prompts for number of characters per column and justification for each column are repeated.

Number of characters in column X, <1>:
Justification of column X, L/C/R/<L>:

When all columns are fully defined, you are prompted to place the table in the drawing.

Upper left corner of table: Pick point.

SLINE Command

The SLINE (Section LINE) command draws section lines with section letters and arrow heads.

Command: sline
Section letter <A>:
From point: Pick point.
To point: Pick point.
To point:

To end the section line, press [Enter].

You can run SLINE with the ortho mode on to keep the lines straight. SLINE ends with a break command so that you can break away the portion of the section line that crosses the object. If a break is not needed, you can press [Esc].