Support Files

This section describes the SI Mechanical drawing templates, menu, and the SI Mechanical text fonts.

SI Mechanical Drawing templates

SI Mechanical includes several drawing templates. The templates have standard dependent variables and styles preset to make drawing in a particular standard easier. It is possible to mix drafting standards in a single drawing, but you will have to set the dimension variables as needed. SI Mechanical includes the following drawing templates:

SIASMIN: ASME inch defaults
SIASMMM: ASME metric defaults
SIDINMM: DIN metric defaults
SIISOMM: ISO metric defaults
SIJISMM: JIS metric defaults

The drawing templates are in the SI Mechanical directory. You can use the AutoCAD PREFERENCES command to make it easier to locate the drawing templates. (see Tips - Drawing templates in the Getting Started section of this manual).

You can set the drawing template when you start a new drawing by using the Use a Template button in the NEW command dialogue box.

SI Mechanical Menu

SI Mechanical has specific menu files. The menu files can be merged with other menus. The SI Mechanical toolbar, pull-down, and tablet menus allow quick access to all of the features of SI Mechanical. The SI Mechanical pull-down menu occupies one of the positions on the pull-down menu bar.

SI Mechanical Toolbar menus

SI Mechanical has a main toolbar menu with flyouts for other toolbars. Other toolbars can also be placed on the screen for easy access. The DPTBARS command is used to show or hide the various toolbars.

SI-Mechanical
SI-Alpha
SI-Format
SI-Views
SI-Hardware
SI-General
SI-Leader Tags
SI-Geodim
SI-Geotag
SI-Layer Utility
SI-Modify

SI-MECH Pull-down Menu

Load SI Mechanical: Loads SI Mechanical. SI Mechanical can be configured to load automatically.
DPhelp...: Runs the DPHELP command. Displays the DPHELP dialogue box.
Symbol Change: Runs the SYMCHG command. Edits various SI Mechanical symbols.
Drawing Views: Switches to the Drawing Views submenu. See Drawing Views Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Formats: Switches to the Formats submenu. See Formats Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
General: Switches to the General submenu. See General Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Layer Utility: Switches to the Layer Utility submenu. See Layer Utility Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Leader Tags: Switches to the Leader Tag submenu. See Leader Tags Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Symbols - Annotate: Switches to the Symbols - annotate submenu. See Symbols - annotate Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Symbols - Parts: Switches to the Symbols - parts submenu. See Symbols - parts Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Text Utility: Switches to the Text Utility submenu. See Text Utility Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
XY Dimension: Switches to the XY Dimension submenu. See XY Dimension Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Alpha (use w/text)...: Displays a toolbar of alpha characters such as degree, countersink, and counterbore symbols. This menu returns the ASCII characters required to access this symbol.
Toolbars...: Runs the DPTBARS command. Displays a dialogue box to show or hide the various SI Mechanical toolbar menus.
Edit Database...: Runs the DBEDIT command. Displays the DBEDIT dialogue box. Used to view and edit the database tables.

Drawing Views Pull-down Submenu

This submenu lists commands to create drawing views.

Auxiliary/Section: Runs the AUX2D command. Draws an auxiliary or section view from solids or a MULTI2D view. Full section views are labeled.
Detail Enlargement: Runs the DETAIL command. Creates an enlarged copy of a detail in a drawing and labels it.
Multi View Setup: Runs the MULTI2D command. Draws a matrix of selected orthographic and isometric 2D views from solids.

Formats Pull-down Submenu

This submenu lists commands and features for detailing your drawing.

Setsht: Runs the SETSHT command. Makes a sheet active in a multiple sheet drawing.
Show Active: Runs the DPSHOWACT command. Highlights the active sheet in a multiple sheet drawing.
Setup: Runs the SETUP command. Sets up a drawing with default units, sheet type, sheet size, scale, and title block.
Setup Options...: Displays the SETUP dialogue box to setup a drawing. The default setup can be changed.
Part List - Automatic: Runs the APTLST command. Generates a parts list on a formatted drawing from information in balloon tags.
Part List - Single: Runs the PTLST command. Adds one part to the parts list on a formatted drawing.
Revision Block: Runs the REVS command. Adds one revision block to the revision list on a drawing.
BOM...: Runs the AutoCAD DDATTEXT command. Writes out a bill of materials text file from selected balloons or part list items.

General Pull-down Submenu

This submenu contains insertion and parametric type routines to speed the drawing process.

2Dbox: Runs the 2DBOX command. Draws a rectangle.
Basicdim: Runs the BASICDIM command. Changes dimension text into a basic dimension.
Conversion Table: Runs the CNVTABLE command. Draws a conversion table for dimensions.
Detail Block: Inserts a detail block. Example: DETAIL A
Dpvar...: Runs the DDPVAR command and displays the DPVAR variable dialogue box.
Extension Line: Runs the EXLINE command. Draws an extension line between two points.
Limit Line: Runs the LIMLINE command. Draws a line between two points and extends that line to the limits of the drawing. The limits are defined by the AutoCAD LIMITS command.
Long Break: Runs the LONGBRK command. Inserts a break symbol indicating a part break on a long line.
Macro: Runs the MACRO command. Combines a sequence of commands into a temporary user-defined command.
Phatch: Runs the PHATCH command. Hatches an enclosed area with one pick.
Proto Stamp: Inserts a PROTOTYPE ONLY stamp block.
Quote Stamp: Inserts a QUOTATION ONLY stamp block.
Section Block: Inserts a section block. Example: SECTION A-A
Section Line: Runs the SLINE command. Draws a section line with section letters and arrow heads.
Shaft Break: Runs the SHFTBRK command. Draws a round-shaft break symbol.
Slot: Runs the SLOT command. Draws an oblong slot.
Table: Runs the TXTTABLE command. Draws a text table with user definable rows and columns.
Thread...: Runs the HARDWARE command with the THREAD category. Draws a threaded section.
View Block: Inserts a view block. Example: VIEW A

Layer Utility Pull-down Submenu

This submenu contains general command for creating, deleting and setting layers.

Dialogue: Runs the AutoCAD DDLMODES command. Displays the layer dialogue box.
Lyrchg: Runs the LYRCHG command. Moves (changes) picked entities from one layer to another.
Lyrdel: Runs the LYRDEL command. Deletes everything on a layer by picking an entity.
Lyrlst: Runs the LYRLST command. Creates (makes) a layer chosen from the layer table dialogue box.
Lyroff: Runs the LYROFF command. Turns off a layer by picking an entity.
Lyrset: Runs the LYRSET command. Sets a layer by picking an entity.
ON *: All layers are turned on.
OFF *: All layers are turned off except the current one.

Leader Tags Pull-down Submenu

This submenu sets different leader types and attaches one of many different items at the end of the leader.

Configure...: Runs the TAGMODES command. Sets the leader type and balloon placement.
Balloon: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a Balloon.
Renumber: Runs the BALLNUM command. Renumbers selected balloons sequentially.
Geodim-DFS: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a Datum Feature Symbol from defaults.
Geodim-DTS: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a Datum Target Symbol from defaults.
Geodim-FCF: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a Feature Control Symbol from defaults.
Geodim-PTS: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a Projected Tolerance zone Symbol from defaults.
Label: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a label for a selected piece of hardware or a hole.
Surface: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a surface finish symbol from defaults.
Text: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with single or multiple lines of text.
Weld: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader with a welding symbol from defaults.
XYZ Point: Runs the TAG command. Draws a leader followed by an XYZ point dimension at the end of the leader.

Symbols - Annotate Pull-down Submenu

This submenu contains symbol modify commands and insertion commands for GEODIM, SURFDIM, and WELDIM symbols.

Symchg: Runs the SYMCHG command. Edits various SI Mechanical symbols.
Symupd: Runs the SYMUPD command. Updates selected SI Mechanical symbols.
Geodim: Runs the GEODIM command. Inserts a Geometric Tolerance Symbol with the default settings.
Geodim Options...: Switches to the Geodim submenu. See Geodim Options Pull-down Submenu for explanation of options.
Surfdim: Runs the SURFDIM command. Inserts a surface finish symbol with the default settings.
Surfdim Options...: Displays the SURFDIM dialogue box.
Weldim: Runs the WELDIM command. Inserts a welding symbol with the default settings.
Weldim Options...: Displays the WELDIM dialogue box.

Geodim Pull-down Submenu

This submenu allows the user to set the default setting for GEODIM.

Feature Control: Runs the GEODIM command. Displays the feature control frame dialogue box
Datum Target: Runs the GEODIM command. Displays the datum target dialogue box.
Datum Feature: Runs the GEODIM command. Displays the datum feature dialogue box.
Projected Tolerance: Runs the GEODIM command. Displays the projected tolerance zone dialogue box.

Symbols - Parts Pull-down Submenu

This submenu contains symbol modify commands and insertion commands for hardware, hole, and shaft items.

Configure...: Runs the ITEMODES command. Sets modes that control creation of items.
Modify: Switches to the Modify submenu. See Modify Symbols Pull-down Submenu for explanation.
Hardware: Runs the HARDWARE command. Inserts a hardware item based on default settings.
Hardware Options...: Displays the HARDWARE dialogue box.
Hole: Runs the HOLE command. Inserts a hole based on the default settings.
Hole Options...: Displays the HOLE dialogue box.
Shaft Generator: Runs the SHAFT command. Inserts a shaft based on default settings.
Shaft Options...: Displays the SHAFT dialogue box. The default shaft can be changed.

Modify Symbols - Parts Pull-down Submenu

This submenu contains symbol modification commands for hardware, hole, and shaft items.

Ctrline: Runs the CTRLINE command. Adds center lines and center marks on hardware, hole, and shaft items.
Holeclip: Runs the HOLECLIP command. Clips the end of a hole side view at an angle.
Itemclip: Runs the ITEMCLIP command. Clips out a section of an item in a two dimensional view.
Symchg: Runs the SYMCHG command. Edits various SI Mechanical symbols.
Symupd: Runs the SYMUPD command. Updates selected SI Mechanical symbols.
Group by size: Runs the GRPSIZE command. Groups hardware and hole items together by size.
Group by type: Runs the GRPTYPE command. Groups hardware items together by type.
Set to Current Length: Runs the NEWLG command. Updates length of selected hardware to match the HDWLG DPVAR variable.
Set to Current Size: Runs the NEWSIZE command. Updates size of selected hardware and hole items to match the ITEMSIZE DPVAR variable.
Set to Current Type: Runs the NEWTYPE command. Updates type of selected hardware and holes to match the HDWTYPE and HOLETYPE DPVAR variables.
Set to Current View: Runs the NEWVIEW command. Update selected items to match the ITEMVIEW DPVAR variable.

Text Utility Pull-down Submenu

This submenu provides access to the text editor and text manipulation commands.

Edit text: Runs the TXTEDIT command and displays the text editor dialogue box to edit text in the drawing.
Import text...: Runs the TXTIN command and displays the text editor dialogue box to insert new text into the drawing.
Txthight: Runs the TXTHIGHT command. Changes the height of selected text entities.
Txtjust: Runs the TXTJUST command. Changes the justification of selected text entities.
Txtstyle: Runs the TXTSTYLE command. Changes the style of selected text entities.
Txttable: Runs the TXTTABLE command. Draws a table of text in rows and columns.
Txtwidth: Runs the TXTWIDTH command. Changes the width factor of selected text entities.

XY Dimension Pull-down Submenu

This submenu provides access to SI Mechanical datum dimensioning commands.

Automatic: Runs the AXYDIM command. Automatic dimensioning of a part.
AXYdim Options...: Runs the AXYDIM command and displays the AXYDIM dialogue box.
XYtable: Runs the XYTABLE command. Automatically dimension a series of holes and draws a cross reference table.
XYtable Options...: Runs the XYTABLE command. Displays the XYTABLE dialogue box.
XYdim: Runs the XYDIM command. Manual XY dimensioning.
X: Runs the XYDIM command. Dimensions an X coordinate.
Y: Runs the XYDIM command. Dimensions a Y coordinate.
Zero: Runs the XYDIM command. Sets the Zero point.

SI-MECH Tablet menu

The SI Mechanical tablet menu area is located in the upper area of the AutoCAD tablet menu. The SI Mechanical tablet overlay is designed to work with the standard AutoCAD tablet overlay. The tablet menu is not required but it can enhance productivity. See the following figure of the SI Mechanical tablet menu overlay. @TBLFIGANCHOR = <$&TABLET[-]>

SI Mechanical Text Fonts

SI Mechanical defines a text style called SI-MECH that contains geometric tolerancing and drafting symbols. You can use the AutoCAD STYLE command to change the default font files used by SI Mechanical. You can also define a style called GEODIM that uses the GDTSYM bigfont as an alternate. This will allow you to attach a different bigfont to the SI-MECH style. Fonts that use the IGES geometric tolerancing character set (iges1003.shx and gdt.shx) do not support the new geometric tolerancing standard.

GDTSYM: The bigfont used by SI Mechanical for geometric tolerancing and drafting symbols.
SI-MECH: Standard character set font matching the style of the GDTSYM font.