Lesson Four - 2D Views From a 3D Model

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.

The solids.arx program must be loaded prior to starting SI Mechanical. The MULTI2D and AUX2D commands will be used to create drawing views. In this session you will start SI Mechanical inside of AutoCAD and learn how to create 2D drawing views from a solid model. The 3D solid part was saved in Lesson Two. This session uses the pull-down menus primarily. Optionally, you can type the commands at the Command: prompt.

  1. Start SI Mechanical (see Starting SI Mechanical in the Getting Started section of this manual).
  2. Start a new drawing called lesson4.dwg.

Setup The Drawing

You can setup your drawing by setting the scale, sheet size and format.
  1. 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.
  2. 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:

    Setup parameters

  3. 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.

Create Part Views

After setting up the drawing, you will be in model space. You will create four views of the part using the MULTI2D command. The MULTI2D command creates 2D orthographic views from solid models.
  1. Run the MULTI2D command to create the views.
    1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
    2. Select the Drawing Views item in the menu.
    3. Select the Multi View Setup item in the Formats submenu.

      Current drawing/DWG file/SAT file/<DWG>: [Enter]

      Select bracket.dwg from the file dialogue box. Set the following MULTI2D options: Front, Top, Right, and SW Iso views selected, Front, Hidden lines checked, View spacing is 20. Set all options in the dialogue box according to the following figure:

      MULTI2D dialogue box

  2. Pick the OK button and enter insert points for orthographic and isometric views.

    Position - ortho views <done>: 60,45
    Position - ortho views <done>: [Enter]
    Position - iso views <done>: 10,10
    Position - iso views <done>: [Enter]

    MULTI2D views

Create a Section View

You can create auxiliary and section views with the AUX2D command. The AUX2D command creates 2D views from solid models or from MULTI2D views as long as the original solid model is available.
  1. Run the AUX2D command to create the views.
    1. Select the pull-down menu labeled SI-MECH.
    2. Select the Drawing Views item in the menu.
    3. Select the Auxiliary/Section item in the Formats submenu.

      First point on plane: 55,115
      Second point on plane: 125,115
      Continue/Flip/<options>>: c
      Insert point: 165,115
      Insert point <done>: [Enter]
      Section letter <A>: [Enter]

AUX2D section view added

The AUX2D and MULTI2D commands provide an easy way to create 2D views from 3D solid models. The resulting 2D views have no model intelligence. They are simple 2D blocks. SI Mechanical can create hardware, hole, and shaft items directly as intelligent 2D ojects. This is the preferred method of creating 2D views for these items.