Drawing Setup

You can setup your drawing to conform to ASME, ISO, or other standards. It should be done prior to any dimensioning and drawing annotation. The standard determines the size of dimension text, arrow heads, and other annotation features in a drawing. SI Mechanical's SETUP command will set all of these for you to insure that subsequent text and dimensions are to the correct standard.

You can use SI Mechanical to setup 2D views from solid models and create enlargements from 2D views.

SETUP Command

The SETUP command sets up a drawing according to units, scale, standard, and format type and size.

Command: setup
MM unit, 1.0 scale, ASME-MM standard, ASM000A3 format
Insert point <options>: Pick point.

The command line shows the current settings. The settings can be changed by responding with [Enter] to the insert point prompt. A dialogue box similar to the following figure will be displayed:

SETUP dialogue box

Unit: This pair of buttons sets the drawing units. You can choose either INCH or MM. If you want to change units to something else, you should change the setting of the UNIT DPVAR variable as well as any other variables and then run the SETUP command from the command line without entering new options.
Standard:: This pop-up list sets the drafting standard. The standards are specified in the STANDARD table (see Database Tables in the Customizing section of this manual).
Add/Edit...: These three buttons display the Edit Row dialogue box for the current record in the standard, format, or scale table.
Format: This group of buttons sets the format type. You can choose any one of the four buttons. None will setup the drawing without a format but to the correct size. Border will setup the drawing with a single line border running around the drawing limits. Standard will determine which group of formats and drawing scales to choose from, and annotation parameters. Alternate will cause a search for a selected format with the prefix set by the ALTFMT DPVAR variable. If no alternate format is found a standard format is drawn instead.
Size: This group contains a pop-up list of available sizes. The list of sizes can be different for different standards. Some sizes are available in various lengths enabling the Length... button. The Horizontal, Vertical, and Booktype buttons only apply to some format sizes. The 1st and 2nd supplement check boxes control the optional title block supplements on some formats.
Sheet: This pair of buttons sets either the Face or Continuation type sheet.
Scale:: This pop-up list sets the scale of your final drawing. You have your choice of standard drawing scales. The scales are specified in a scale table associated with each drafting standard list in the STANDARD table (see Database Tables in the Customizing section of this manual). If you want to use a different scale, you can change the setting of the DWGSCALE DPVAR variable before you run the SETUP command. See Pspace below for plotting scale.
Pspace: This check box determines if the format will be in paper space or model space. The drawing will normally be plotted at full scale if this box is checked. Otherwise you will plot at the scale chosen from the Scale: pop-up list
Attributes...: This button displays the Edit Attributes dialogue box for the current drawing format. You can use it to change information in the title block. The AutoCAD DDATTE command can also be used to edit attributes.

Screen display of format attributes

SETUP automatically establishes drawing limits, dimension variables, text height, line scales, and other drawing parameters. You choose a format, it is inserted, and a dialogue box is displayed to fill in the remaining title block information.

The SYMCHG command can be used at any time to change the format size, type or scale. Any information in the current title block that is usable in the new one is transferred so that you won't have to refill the new title block. Parts lists and revision blocks are also transferred.

Multiple sheets can be setup in the same file by repeating the SETUP command and picking a new insert point. Sheets must not overlap each other. The setup will be based on the following DPVAR variable settings:

ALTFMT, DWGSCALE, FORMAT, STANDARD, UNIT

Annotation Scale

Unlike manual drafting, the drawing scale setting does not indicate the scale that you draw at. Except in special cases, you will draw at full scale. SI Mechanical will utilize the DWGSCALE setting differently, depending on the TILEMODE setting and whether model space or paper space is being used.

Drawing scale affect
TILEMODE	SPACE	Scaling
0	PSPACE	All annotation symbols, dimensions, and text are drawn at full scale.
0	MSPACE	All annotation is drawn at a scale based on the inverse of the current viewport scale.
1	MSPACE	All annotation is drawn at a scale based on the inverse of the DWGSCALE DPVAR variable.

Drawing Scale

You should normally draw all parts and assemblies at full scale. The exception is when you are working in 2D model space and have to show a detail or view at a different scale than the rest of the drawing. When you work in paper space, you can show views at different scales even if your parts are created at full scale.

2D versus 3D

Even though there are no restrictions in AutoCAD, it is generally easier to annotate 2D drawings in model space and 3D models in paper space. You may encounter exceptions based on special drawing requirements, and it is possible to create 2D drawings from 3D models (see AUX2D and MULTI2D commands).

APTLST Command

The APTLST (Automatic ParTs LiST) command uses information in the balloons (see BALLOON and TAG commands) to create a parts list on a formatted drawing. If balloons with duplicate item numbers are found, the text in the first balloon is used in the parts list. Quantities in duplicate balloons are totaled in the parts list. Any prior parts list is deleted.

Parts list example

Command: aptlst
Balloons to process...
Select objects: Do so.

If no drawing sheet is active, you will be prompted to select one. The AutoCAD COPY, DDATE, ERASE, and MOVE commands can modify the parts list.

PTLST Command

The PTLST (ParTs LiST) command lets you add to a drawing's parts list by inserting a single parts list block at the next available location in the table.

Command: ptlst

A dialogue box is displayed to fill in the necessary information.

Screen display of parts list attributes

The AutoCAD COPY, DDATE, ERASE, and MOVE commands can modify the parts list.

REVS Command

The REVS (REViSion) command lets you add to a drawing's revision table by inserting a revision block at the next available location in the table.

Revision block example

Command: revs

A dialogue box is displayed to fill in the necessary information.

Screen display of revision attributes

The AutoCAD COPY, DDATE, ERASE, and MOVE commands can modify the revision block.

SETSHT Command

The SETSHT (SET SHeeT) command sets the active drawing sheet. Since more than one sheet can exist in a drawing, one sheet must be active to perform commands such as APTLST, PTLST, and REVS that operate on a particular drawing format.

Command: setsht
Select sheet: Do so.

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

SHTSET

DPSHOWACT Command

The DPSHOWACT (Design Pacifica SHOW ACTive) command highlights the active sheet in a drawing (see SETSHT command).

Command: dpshowact

AUX2D Command

The AUX2D (AUXiliary 2D view) command projects a 2D orthographic view off of a solid model in the current drawing. The view can be a partial section, full section, or full view. Composite sections can be created where only some parts in an assembly are sectioned. Views can also be projected from MULTI2D views when the original solid is available.

Command: aux2d
First point on plane: Pick point.
Second point on plane: Pick point.

The line between the two points defines a perpendicular plane for viewing the solid. When the plane crosses one or more solids, it acts as a cutting plane for section views. When the plane does not cross any solids, then the view can only be an auxiliary view and you will be prompted to select the solids to use for the view projection:

Select objects: Do so.

From the main prompt you can Continue, Flip the view direction, or display and change the view options. If you enter Flip, the view direction will be reversed. When you enter Continue, the command will continue using the current option settings. The default option settings draws an auxilary view from solids that are not crossed, or a full section from solids that are crossed.

Continue/Flip/<options>:

The settings can be changed by responding with [Enter] to the main prompt. A dialogue box similar to the following figure will be displayed:

AUX2D dialogue box

View type: This group specifies the type of view to draw.
Auxiliary: This button indicates a full view projected from the selected solids. None of the section options will be available.
Section only: This button indicates a section projected from the selected solids with no background object lines shown.
Full section: This button indicates a full section projected from the solids crossed by the cutting plane with all background object lines shown.
Partial section: This button indicates a partial section projected from the selected solids with all background and unsectioned forground object lines shown. You will be prompted to select which solids you want in the view.
Items in view...
Select objects: Do so.; The section begins at the first point picked on the cutting plane and extends only in the direction of the second point.
Layers: This group specifies the layers to use for the different types of lines in the projected draw.
Composite view: This toggle indicates a composite view where some of the solids used in the view projection will not be sectioned even if the cutting plane intersects them. You will be prompted to select which solids you want sectioned.
Items to section...
Select objects: Do so.; All selected solids will be used in the view projection. Only solids that are crossed by the cutting plane and selected for sectioning will be sectioned.
Explode views: This toggle indicates that the view will be composed of individual entities rather than a block.
Tangent lines: This toggle indicates that tangent lines will be drawn on projected views. For instance, an edge that shows the transition between a fillet and a straight side can be displayed or not.
Hidden lines: This toggle indicates that hidden lines will be drawn on projected views.
Hatch pattern...: This button displays the SI Mechanical hatch pattern dialogue box. The hatch pattern used for section views can be set. See the PHATCH command.

MULTI2D Command

The MULTI2D (MULTIple 2D views) command projects 2D orthographic and isometric views off of a solid model. The solid model can be in the current drawing or an external file.

Command: multi2d
Current drawing/DWG file/SAT file/<DWG>:

If you respond with DWG or SAT, a file dialogue box is displayed. When more then one solid is available, you will be prompted to select the solids to use. You can select one or more solids to use in the views.

Select objects: Do so.

Multi2D dialogue box

There are eleven view groups. Each view group has an image button that acts as a toggle to select or disable the view. The Hidden lines toggle in each view group indicates hidden lines will be drawn for that view.

Explode views: This toggle indicates that the views will be composed of individual entities rather than a block.
Tangent lines: This toggle indicates that tangent lines will be drawn on all views. For instance, an edge that shows the transition between a fillet and a straight side can be displayed or not.
Adjust limits: This toggle indicates that the drawing limits will be expanded to encompass the views as they are positioned. This will insure that the drawing views are always visible as they are placed.
View spacing: This edit box specifies the distance between the edge of a view and the edge of any adjacent views. The default distance is equal to the snap spacing.
Layers: This group specifies the layers to use for the different types of lines in the projected views.

When you pick the OK button you will be prompted to enter insert points for orthographic and isometric views. A view matrix for the orthographic views shows the bounding box for each view as you position them. You can keep picking new points until the views are in the desired positions. A second view matrix is displayed to position the isometric views.

Position - ortho views <done>: Pick point.
Position - ortho views <done>: [Enter]
Position - iso views <done>: Pick point.
Position - iso views <done>: [Enter]

Once the views are positioned, they will be created and placed in the drawing.

DETAIL Command

The DETAIL command creates an enlargement of a specified area of a 2D drawing. It also labels the detail and the enlargement with the detail name and scale factor.

Command: detail
Detail name <default>: Enter letter.
Center of detail area: Pick point.
Radius point: Pick point.
Radius point <OK>:
Relative scale factor <default>: Enter scale.
Center of scaled detail: Pick point.

Detail enlargement

The radius point indicates the point on the detail radius where the detail letter will appear. You can keep picking a new point until it appears in a satisfactory position, then press [Enter].

The relative scale factor specifies how much to enlarge the detail, but is not the same as the final scale. If you specify a relative scale factor of 2.0 and the drawing scale is 5/1, the final plotted scale of the enlargement will be 10/1.

Text entities that lie partially outside the enlargement radius will not be included in the enlargement. Solid filled areas that lie partially outside the enlargement will show up as line boundaries. Attributes are ignored.