If you are taking your printouts by using LAYOUTs, that you probably know that you have “Plot…” option when you write click on the layout tab. However, you cannot see “Plot…” option when you make multiple selection of layouts. Solution for this is using “Publish Selected Layouts…” option instead.

I hope you will get used to this small tip. Have a nice day…

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• See “Plotting” chapter in AutoCAD lessons.

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STL Exporter for Revit Family 2009 Now Available

We encouraged Revit users to send us feedback at labs.revit.stl@autodesk.com on how this works (or does not work) for them. So what about our AutoCAD users? Would this be a good thing for AutoCAD? What types of drawings would you print with a 3D printer? I await your feedback at that same email address.

I have been using Autocad for three years. I started to learn with version 2004. A valuable Computer Aided Technical Drawing Course teacher, which is the assistant of Prof.Dr. Ümit KOCABIÇAK but I can not remember his name, talked about a detail. This detail attracted my attention frequently later and even sometimes I was annoyed about it. This article is about this detail. I am looking forward to waiting your comments.

Let us enter the ‘Layers Properties’ window and change the ‘Linetype’ option of the active layer. Click the ‘Load’ button in the ‘Select Linetype’ menu to load a new linetype. Load any linetype form the menu.

Fig.1

Exiting the menu, you can see that the linetype we selected is not assigned to the layer if we additionally select the one we want after loading it. I wonder why Autodesk do such a thing like that. Please share your comments with me. Although it seems like a small detail, it can cost time and slows down our efficiency.

Have a good day!

With AutoCAD 2007, 3 dimensional drawing capabilities have increased dramatically. From now on, it is possible to draw helix and spiral. Moreover, it is also possible to use these entities as PATH, so that you can drag different profiles along them and create new 3 dimensional entities. By this way, main disadvantage of AutoCAD against Microstation™ has been overcame, thus now it is possible to draw screws or similar 3 dimensional entities. Besides, LOFTING has been added to the program as of 2007 version, which is possible in 3D Studio for years but not possible in AutoCAD. In this article, I will try to explain LOFT command to you by giving two examples.

Fig. 1

In first example, we will create the 3-dimensional entity shown on the right side by dragging 3 circles and 1 square along the path with red color. Actually, dictionary meaning of LOFT is attic and LOFTING means to throw something into air. If you imagine an attic carefully, you will notice that it is created by dragging a triangle along a rectangular plan. LOFT command in AutoCAD works the same way. It creates a 3-dimensional entity by dragging a number of sections over a certain path. However, there are certain rules while drawing:

1. Entities that make up the sections must form closed surfaces. These entities can be arcs, elliptical arcs, ellipses, circles, 2D polylines and 2D splines.
2. Entities that make up section must be chosen at a definite number.
3. Drawing that makes up the path can be either a closed or open route. Line, arc, elliptical arc, spline, ellipse, helix, circle, 2 or 3-dimensional polyline can be used to draw the path. If more than one main entity will be used (arc, line, elliptical arc), then they must be aligned from end to end and they must be combined into one polyline by using PEDIT command.
4. If sections will be dragged along guide lines as shown in Fig. 2, then guide lines must be again made up of polylines and/or splines. Guide lines cannot be closed routes.

Now, let’s proceed to our example:

Prepare the drawing that is shown on the left side in Fig. 1. While creating this drawing, I drew the red circle with 200 diameter, small circle with 40 diameter and the square as 50×50 dimensions. You can create different entities by changing the dimension and form the section as you like and create different entities. After completing the drawing, let’s proceed to LOFT command:

Command: LOFT ( Modeling toolbar, )
Select cross-sections in lofting order: 1 found, 2 total

After entering command, it will prompt us to select the sections in order!. You can start from any section. For example, I selected 4 sections one by one by starting from square and moving on in clockwise direction. I suggest you to make selection in the same manner. After selecting of entities are completed, than you can end selection by pressing ENTER. After doing this, this is what you will see on the screen:

Enter an option [Guides/ Path/ Cross-sections only] : p

As we will drag the sections along a path in our first example, we will use PATH option, and we select red circle as path. After making selection, AutoCAD will create 3 dimensional entity that is shown on the right side in Fig.1. If you examine this entity carefully, you will see that a section, which is passing from square to circle and again back from circle to square, is dragged along a circular path. It is surprising but true. From now on, AutoCAD can draw such shapes. Now, let’s move on to next example:

Fig. 2

In this example, we will use the second method and use guide lines. In this method, again, first the sections are entered. And, rules for entering a section are same. However, guide lines must be defined as they will show the outer boundaries of the section in 3rd dimension. In our example, I showed guide lines in red color.

Command: LOFT ( Modeling toolbar, )
Select cross-sections in lofting order: 1 found, 2 total
Enter an option [Guides/ Path/ Cross-sections only] : G
Select guide curves:

As soon as we select the entities that are shown in red color, we obtain 3-dimensional entitiy that is shown on the right side. By this way, we learned LOFT command. In my next article, I will try to explain how to draw a screw by using helix and SWEEP command.

Have a nice day.

Related Articles:

• Previous articles: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
• 3D Modeling 1: Introduction

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Hi,

Although dynamic UCS is brought and improved with the version 2007, you have to be aware of the model space and UCS icon and use them efficiently during a 3D drawing. The subject of this article is the UCS icon.

Fig.1

There is a typical UCS icon in a 3D mode in Figure 1. Its view changes according to your Visual Style setting yet, it always gives the direction of X, Y and Z axes. It is important to create a view angle in a way that the axes are seen through the positive sides as I have mentioned in the first article of the series and 3D Modeling Part 1.

Let us examine the Figure.1 together. At the end of the X and Y axes, there are arrows which indicate the positive directions. Z axis is positive if it raises perpendicular through the X-Y plane and it is negative if it goes down through the same plane (Figure 2).

Fig.2

Let us do some practice.

Command: _CIRCLE
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]: 0,0

Specify radius of circle or [Diameter] <5.9971>:

Fig.3 UCS is normal, i.e. the circle is drawn in the plan view.

Command: _ucs

Current ucs name: *WORLD*
Specify origin of UCS or [Face/NAmed/OBject/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/ZAxis] <World>: x

Specify rotation angle about X axis <90>:

Command: _CIRCLE
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]: 0,0

Specify radius of circle or [Diameter] <5.9971>:

Fig.4 The circle is drawn after UCS is rotated 90 degrees around the X axis.

Command: _ucs

Current ucs name: *NO NAME*
Specify origin of UCS or [Face/NAmed/OBject/Previous/View/World/X/Y/Z/ZAxis]
<World>: y
Specify rotation angle about Y axis <90>:

Command: _CIRCLE
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]: 0,0

Specify radius of circle or [Diameter] <6.3737>:

Fig.5 The circle is drawn after UCS is rotated 90 degrees around both X and Y axis.

Notice that Z axis is shown as dashed line. So, upon changing the UCS, we can draw in different planes and the UCS icon follows.

Now, let us use ROTATE command in 3D and make use of Z axis of the UCS icon. Actually when you are drawing in 2D mode, you rotate the drawing around Z axis. The only difference is that you see the Z axis in 3D mode. Simply, the command rotates the X-Y plane around the Z axis.

Fig.6

You can see how a circle perpendicular to the horizontal rotates using ROTATE command in Figure 6 when the UCS icon is in the horizontal mode.

You can pick the origin point of the UCS, move it to the lower left corner on the screen and change its settings when drawing in 3D. To do these you have to run the UCSICON command.

Command: _UCSICON

ON/OFF: Turns on and off the icon.
Noorigin: Move the icon to the lower left corner.
ORigin: Places on the origin point.
Properties: Opens the UCS icon settings window.

Fig.7 UCS icon settings window.

I tried to explain the UCS icon in 3D modeling. I will explain the UCS icon in detail and try to help you with upgrading your drawing habits in my next article.

Regards

Related Articles:

• Previous articles: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
• 3D Modeling 1: Introduction
• Tip: Send your UCSICON to lower left corner.

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Hello dailyautocad readers,

Due to the fact that Erhan Toker cannot make the example of gasket drawing that he has given in his live sections article , he just said that Orhan will do it. Indeed, as I made the drawing and gave him, I will show the application. We have taken the drawing for 3 dimensional example from book of our teacher Prof. Mustafa Alışverişçi from Yıldız Technical University (İstanbul-1989.edition) Figure II. (see Fig. 1)

Fig.1 Technical drawing for the part for which we will make solid modeling.

As we are trying to make 3 dimensional modeling from the technical drawing, I assume that you can read the drawing and proceed with the application. Let’s start by drawing the axis lines and circles that make up the boundaries (Fig. 2).

Fig.2 Model, axis and boundary circles of which was drawn.

Then, let’s draw the tangent lines for the adjacent circles (LINE tan tan). You can either repeat this process for four sides, or you can make one of them and make mirror of it with respect to one axis first and then again mirror it with respect to other axis. After the lines are completed, then form up the complete frame by using TRIM command to trim the leading edges of the lines (Fig. 3).

Fig.3 View after completing trim of leading edges.

Now, let’s make up the upper side of out part. After making our horizontal axis OFFSET by 70 units up and down and vertical axis 35 units left and right, make necessary trims, and our frame is completed. Don’t forget to make the R20 radius at the location where the upper side is connected to the body (Fig. 4). Fig.4 As the upper side is also completed and converted to POLYLINE.

Fig.4 Upper side is completed

Then, convert this external frame that you have drawn into POLYLINE by using PEDIT+JOIN and go to perspective view by using VPOINT command (Fig. 5). Now, we can proceed with solid modeling. At this stage, don’t forget that you should have some UCS knowledge.

Fig.5 Isometric view

First thing to do is to extrude the entity that will have just completed and converted into POLYLINE which will be the main body of our model. In order to do these, you have to open the “Solids” and “Solid Editing” toolbars. Now, let’s give some height to the POLYLINE. Use the “Extrude” option from “Solids” toolbar and select the entity. Enter 30 for height and continue over the other questions. Then, you will obtain what is shown in Fig. 6.

Fig.6 We obtained the first solid by using EXTRUDE command.

Now, let’s make the holes at two sides of the part. Draw one number of circles with 21 diameter to each of the axis and EXTRUDE then by 30 units as explained above. Then, extract these two cylinders from the body by using “subtract” from “Solid Modify” toolbar (Fig. 7). SUBTRACT command is quite simple. First, you will select the body and then select the entities that will be subtracted.

Fig.7 Let’s open the holes by using SUBTRACT command.

Before the part will get complicated, let’s prepare the oil chamber and subtract it from the main body. You can either draw this shape in another place and move it to its location, or directly draw it at its location. In order to test you UCS knowledge, I will draw it in its own location. First, rotate the UCS 90 degrees around X axis. You will execute the command as UCS / x / 90. Now, you will see that your cursor will become parallel to the rectangular face on the upper side of the part. Let’s draw a 60×20 rectangle on the corner and place it in the middle by using MOVE command. If you pay attention, you can see that you can enter coordinates for drawing the rectangle and the MOVE command as if you are drawing in the ground plane. Draw the lower left corner of the rectangle by using the lower left corner of the face as reference and you will notice that it is done with the command that you are already familiar with (Fig.8).

Fig.8 Let’s start opening a hole on the rectangular inlet by rotation UCS around X axis.

Now, let’s EXTRUDE the rectangle by 30 units. Now, it’s time to make the oil opening. Hole has 10 radius and has a depth same as of wall thickness of shaft opening, which is 10. Let’s add it now. First, draw a circle with 5 radius in the lower middle of the front of rectangle and shift it by using MOVE command. As you have placed the circle in the middle now, you can EXTRUDE the circle by 15 units and then combine it with the rectangle box by suing UNION from “solid editing” toolbar (Fig. 9).

Fig.9 Inlet opening of Oil chamber, let it be on the side…

You can set your UCS back to its original buy using UCS / w. We are almost finished. Let’s complete the part by making the shaft opening in the middle. Let’s draw a circle with 80 radius and make it higher by 60 units. Then, let’s carry this cylinder, which will be the outlet opening of shaft opening to its location. MOVE 0,0 and @0,0,-25. As you can see, I moved this cylinder 25 units in z axis without moving it in x and y directions. Now, let’s make UNION to merge this cylinder with the main part. You should draw one more cylinder to make the opening in the middle. You can draw it your self by the same method as I described above. Then, SUBRACT it from the main body. You can also SUBTRACT the layer, which we have prepared previously, that represents the oil chamber and hole from the main body (If you did it ad that time, then there wouldn’t be any holes on the shaft opening). Fig. 10.

Fig.10 Finally completed model.

Have a nice day.

Related Articles:

• 3D Modeling Series
• 3D Section
• 3D Modeling Application: Drawing a 3D rim
• 3D Modeling Application: Drawing a 3D chain

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Hi,

Today, I want to mention how TRIM command which is a living and useful command of AutoCAD can be used more effectively. First, let us start with remembering the command. TRIM is used for clipping the extended parts of any intersecting line group. The basic and common use of the command is that cutting object(s) is(are) selected first and then the one(s) to be trimmed. To end the process, one has to press ‘Enter’.

Figure.1 The steps of the Trim command.

I suppose you say; ‘This procedure is already handy, how it is possible to make it more practical?’. That is true if the case is just a single clipping. Yet, the more the lines are, the more the process gets complicated. For instance, let us assume the case is like the one in Figure 2; you have to trim the extended parts on all sides. If you do this with traditional way, you will have to select the cutting edges first and then the extended parts individually. That means four selections has to be made in the first step and twenty-four in the second step which is a troublesome and boring process.

Figure.2 A Complicated Trim Case.

Instead, let us proceed as follows. When trim command is run, the cutting edges are requested. Press ‘Enter’ for the selection (no selection means all objects are considered as cutting edges). In the next step, the extended parts are requested. Instead of selecting them one by one, we are going to use FENCE option. To do this, simply type ‘F’ into the command line when ‘select objects’ expression is displayed. The first FENCE point is requested and one more each time until you end the line. So, only thing you have to do is just drawing a line that passes through the extended parts and press ‘ENTER’. The command process can be seen in Figure 4.

Figure.3 Trim with FENCE option

Figure.4 The command flow.

Bye,

Related Articles:

• Hip tip: Multiple EXTEND and TRIM by using FENCE option.
• FILLET command in 2D

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Most of us use Outlook Express (comes with Windows) for managing our e-mails. Some new security features were added with Sp2 Attachment Manager. Searching attachments and preventing possible threats from being opened is one of them. This option is turned on as default option. You have to turn it off if you want to access the video, music, picture and application files sent to you.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to Tools menu.
• Click options.

Figure

• Open the security tab.

Figure

• Uncheck the ‘Do not save and open the attachments with possible threat’ option.

Now you can open any attachment without any problem.

Command: _INSERT
Enter block name or [?]: (Browse the drawing that contains the layers you want)
Insertion point: Press ESC key.

If there is a same layer with the one in the inserted drawing, the current one will stay. Do not forget; you may use PURGE command to erase unused layers in the drawing when you finished with it.

Related Articles:

• Layers [1][2][3]
• Layer property filters in AutoCAD
• Tip: Use layers when modeling in 3D

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Since AutoCAD 12, there is a module that will make the geometrical calculations. However, this command, which is not added to user interface and can only be accessed from the command line, has not been very popular among users. Nevertheless, AutoDESK continued to support this feature and upgraded it as tool palette together with the new versions. In article Surprise egg in AutoCAD: QUICKCALC written by Orhan Toker, he explains about calculator but he did not mention about the geometrical functions. In this article, I will explain about the geometrical functions and give an example for one of them (Fig. 1).

Figure 1

When you enter QUICKCALC command, you can see in the bottom part ‘Variables’ list. In this list, you can think of those shown with ‘k’ symbol in the list as a kind of memory. Like Kin1, Kin2 of calculators that we were using during university. And the ones that has ‘X’ symbol beside them shows the functions. AutoCAD comes with a default variable ( pi number ) and 7 number of functions. We will examine the mee function as an example. This function finds the midpoints of two end points. Its function can also be understood from the long name: Mid/End/End. Now, let’s take a look at the example drawing (Fig. 2).

Figure 2

Let’s assume that we would like to draw a new line in the middle of these two lines. In such case, we have two options. We will either connect the two ends by another line and use the mid-point of that line or use the calculator. Due to the fact that user interface of the calculator is not existing in the previous versions of AutoCAD, I will complete the example by using command line. Let’s start:

Command: LINE
LINE Specify first point: ‘cal

At this stage, we enter < ’CAL > option and enter the calculator for the first point. By entering command by using < ‘ > during another command, you can freely use the new command without exiting the old one. However, not every command can use this feature. For example, you can use < ‘REDRAW > command while drawing a line but not the < ‘CIRCLE > command. After this small tip, let’s continue with what’s happening in the command line.

>>>> Expression: mee
>>>> Select one endpoint for MEE:

Figure 3

As you can see the command line is now under control of calculator and it asks us to enter a mathematical expression. When we enter mee function (You must use ENTER to finalize the expression, not the SPACE button!), AutoCAD will wait for you to select the end points (Fig. 3).

Resuming LINE command.
Specify first point: 183.072268,136.906786,0

After you completing the selection, than you can return back to LINE command and then the first point that is calculated will be accepted as the first point. We can do the same thing for the second end too (Fig. 4).

Figure 4

Specify next point or [Undo]: ‘cal
>>>> Expression: mee
>>>> Select one endpoint for MEE:
>>>> Select another endpoint for MEE:
Resuming LINE command.
Specify next point or [Undo]: 279.398506,136.906786,0
Specify next point or [Undo]: ENTER

We are completing the drawing in this way. In my opinion this is a very useful and practical application, however because of the reasons that I have explained above, it is not known by many of the users and not being used. I hope this article will be useful for you. Finally, I will explain more about some of the other functions that you can use in the same manner as I have explained above.

dee : Finds the distance between two end points.
ille : It gives the intersection point of two imaginary or real end points of lines.
nee : It finds the vector that is perpendicular to the two points that you select.
rad : It finds the radius of a selected arc or circle.
vee : Finds the vector of two end-points that you select.
vee1 : It finds the unit vector of two end-points that you select.

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• Bu yazinin Turkce’sini okumak icin basiniz.