Lesson One - Detailing a 2D Drawing

This is one of several tutorials that give step-by-step examples of the various approaches to creating a drawing. Experiment with all methods to see what best suites your type of work.

This lesson represents the most common approach to drawing and is entirely 2D, including the model for the part. You will learn how to setup a simple 2D drawing, apply symbols, and add annotation. Before starting this tutorial, SI Mechanical must be installed and you should have some proficiency with AutoCAD.

In this session you will start SI Mechanical inside of AutoCAD and learn how to work on 2D drawings. All work is done in model space. This session uses the pull-down menus primarily. Optionally, you can type the commands at the Command: prompt.

Start SI Mechanical (see Starting SI Mechanical in the Getting Started section of this manual).

Setup The Drawing

You start your drawing by setting the scale, sheet size, and format.

Run the SETUP command.
1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
2. Select the Formats item in the menu.
3. Select the Setup Options... item in the Formats submenu.
Setup a drawing with these parameters: MM units, ASME-MM standard, Standard format, A3 size, Horizontal, Face sheet, 2:1 scale. Set all options in the dialogue box to specify a drawing according to the following figure:
Pick the OK button and enter an insert point for the format.
MM unit, 2.0 scale, ASME-MM standard, ASM000A3 format Insert point <options>: 0,0
When you are presented with the Edit Attributes dialogue box, fill in the Company name and Drawn by fields.

Draw Part

You will now create three views to represent a simple part. You will use SI Mechanical to add features to the views. The coordinates can be entered at the keyboard. Optionally, you can turn your coordinate display on and set the snap spacing to 5.0 allowing you to easily pick points on the screen.

Use the AutoCAD LINE command to draw the part views:
Command: line
From point: 40,40
To point: 100,40
To point: 100,60
To point: 60,60
To point: 60,80
To point: 40,80
To point: c

Command: line
From point: 40,100
To point: 100,100
To point: 100,120
To point: 40,120
To point: c

Command: line
From point: 60,100
To point: 60,120
To point: [Enter]

Command: line
From point: 130,40
To point: 150,40
To point: 150,80
To point: 130,80
To point: c

Command: line
From point: 130,60
To point: 150,60
To point: [Enter]
Use the HOLE command to add a countersunk hole and a tapped hole to all views.
1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
2. Select the Symbols - Parts item in the menu.
3. Select the Hole Options... item in the Symbols submenu.
The first hole will have these parameters: Type is METRIC HOLES, Size is M6 X 1, Start is Csk, Hole depth is Thru, Orientation is Front. Set all options in the dialogue box to specify a hole according to the following figure:
Use the Modes... button to set the Model type to 2D. Also set the Centers to Draw center lines and Draw Center marks.
Pick the OK button to continue with the hole insertion.
This is a plan view of a through hole so it projects into the drawing. Enter the insert point:
2D, Front, MM-STD, M6 X 1, CSK, Drill thru
Insert point <options>: 140,70
Add another hole except set the Orientation to Right. This is a side view of a through hole. Enter the insert point and through point:
2D, Right, MM-STD, M6 X 1, CSK, Drill thru
Insert point <options>: 60,70
Through point: 40,70
Repeat step six with the following responses:
2D, Right, MM-STD, M6 X 1, CSK, Drill thru
Insert point <options>: 60,110
Through point: 40,110
Repeat step seven except set Csk off and Tap depth to Thru. This is a side view of a tapped through hole. Enter the insert point and through point:
2D, Right, MM-STD, M6 X 1, Drill thru, Tap thru
Insert point <options>: 90,60
Through point: 90,40
Repeat step nine with the following responses:
2D, Right, MM-STD, M6 X 1, Drill thru, Tap thru
Insert point <options>: 140,60
Through point: 140,40
Repeat step nine except set Orientation to Front. This is a plan view of a tapped through hole. Enter the insert point:
2D-Front, MM-STD, M6 X 1, Drill thru, Tap thru
Insert point <options>: 90,110
Use the LYRCHG command to change the side views of the holes to the hidden line layer.
1. Set the AutoCAD pickstyle variable to 0. This will allow you to select the holes without their center lines.
2. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
3. Select the Layer Utility item in the menu.
4. Select the Lyrchg item in the Layer Utility submenu.
5. Select the two side views of the countersunk holes and the two side views of the tapped holes.
  Select objects: Pick holes.
  Select objects: [Enter]
  Select entity to specify layer <options>: [Enter]
  The LYRCHG dialogue box will be displayed.
  
  Select the HID layer from the list box and pick the OK button. The HID layer will be created and the holes will be changed to that layer.

You should now have the three views of the part inside the format.

Completed part views

Add Annotation Tags

You will now use SI Mechanical to add several tags to the drawing.

Run the TAG command to label the holes.
1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
2. Select the Leader Tags item in the menu.
3. Select the Label item in the Leader Tags submenu.
4. Select the tapped hole in the right drawing view. Finish the prompt sequence to draw a leader pointing to the hole.
  Select object: Pick hole.
  Leader start: Pick point.
  To point: Pick point.
  To point: [Enter]
5. Repeat the previous four steps for the countersunk hole in the main view.
Run the TAG command to add a feature control symbol.
1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
2. Select the Leader Tags item in the menu.
3. Select the Geodim - FCF item in the Leader Tags submenu.
4. Finish the prompt sequence to draw a leader pointing to the tapped hole in the top drawing view.
  Leader start: Pick point.
  To point: Pick point.
  To point: [Enter]
  Change symbol <N>: [Enter]
Use the TAGMODES command to set the arrow type to FOOT.
1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
2. Select the Leader Tags item in the menu.
3. Select the Configure... item in the menu in the Leader Tags submenu.
4. Change the Arrow type: to foot.
Run the TAG command to add datum feature symbols.
1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
2. Select the Leader Tags item in the menu.
3. Select the Geodim - DFS item in the Leader Tags submenu.
4. Finish the prompt sequence to draw a leader pointing to the bottom surface of the main view.
  Leader start: 50,40
  To point: 50,35
  Change options <N>: Y
5. Set the Datum: to A and Justify: to TC.
6. Add another datum on a leader tag using 150,60 and 155,60 for the start and end point of the leader. Change the options to set the Datum: to B and Justify: to ML.
7. Add another datum on a leader tag using 100,50 and 105,60 for the start and end point of the leader. Set the Datum: to C and Justify: to ML.
8. Use the TAGMODES command to change the leader back to ARROW.
Run the TXTIN command to add notes.
1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
2. Select the Text Utility item in the menu.
3. Select the Import Text... item in the General submenu.
4. Select the Import... button in the Text Editor dialogue box.
5. Select general.txt from the file dialogue box.
6. Pick the OK button in the Text Editor dialogue box.
  Justify/Style/<Start point>: 15,135
Complete the drawing using AutoCAD commands to add the dimensions. The following figure shows a completed drawing:

Dimensioned drawing