Drafting and Dimensioning in Solid Edge Tutorial

Ally PLM has created another wonderful Lunch Bytes Solid Edge video tutorial. This time the topic they cover is Solid Edge drafting, dimensioning, and annotation tips and tricks. More detailed topics include how to create drawings in Solid Edge, how to create a quicksheet template, how to add different views, how to create dimensions and annotations, how to make sheet metal callouts, and more. Watch this awesome Solid Edge tutorial below:

Importing AutoCAD Drawings into CATIA

 How to convert DXF drawings into CATIA CATPart sketches 

There's a little trick I use when I need to copy and paste DXF 2D drawing views from AutoCAD into a sketch for a CATPart file. First of all, if you attempt to simply copy and paste a drawing view directly into the part file you may get something that looks the image picture below- a jumbled mess of data, points, and lines. 

In order to fix this problem to import the drawing data completely, open the dxf file in CATIA. Next, save the drawing as an IG2 file (which is a 2D iges file). Now open the IG2 file and copy the main view into the CATPart. Or, another option is you can rename your IG2 2D file in Windows as .igs and then open that file and it will be imported in CATIA as a 3D part file. Sometimes you have to get creative and employ these little work-arounds to get the software to do exactly what you want it to do.

How to Insert Symbols in Excel

I've created a new "How To" video tutorial showing you how to insert symbols, like the degree sign, into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, using three different methods including the character map.

Learn AutoCAD for Dummies Review

AutoCAD is one of the leading 2D software used by engineers, architects, and designers. AutoCAD 2012 for Dummies quickly brings readers up-to-date on the latest version with all the new additions and revisions to the program. This book includes great colored illustrations and tutorials to help users better understand the material. This book was a huge help to me, someone used to running AutoCAD 2005 when I needed to, but am now making the upgrade to AutoCAD 2012. Believe it or not, even with model based definition where data is contained with 3D models, I am still needing to go to AutoCAD from time to time to whip up a quick drawing for a fixture or jig. As a mechanical engineer, it never hurts to stay up to date on the latest software available and this book is a great way to do that.

I do want to note this book is written specially for Windows users (sorry MAC peeps).

Purchase AutoCAD 2012 for Dummies and start learning how to use AutoCAD today!

Download Architects Cad Drawings

Are you looking for AutoCAD symbols, details & drawings? Download Architects Cad Drawings contains a huge database of downloadable CAD symbols, drawings, details, and building templates in AutoCAD format. This symbols are perfect for creating floor plans or site layouts.

This is the perfect resource for CAD draftsmen and CAD technicians. There are over 6500 CAD files to download from. Click Here!

New DraftSight Learning Resources Flipbook Available

We invite you to check out the DraftSight Master Series – an online flipbook designed to help you maximize your design skills. The book includes a collection of tips, tricks, videos, webinars and more from DraftSight’s training guru, Mark Lyons.

We hope you’ll find this to be a useful tool, and invite you to share it with your friends and colleagues. 
Thanks for using DraftSight! - The DraftSight Team

What are typical scales used in drafting?

•2:1 – double scale – 1” on the drawing = ½” in actual life

•1:1 – full scale – 1” on the drawing = 1” in actual life

•1:2 – half scale – 1” on the drawing = 2” in actual life

•1:4 – quarter scale – 1” on the drawing = 4” in actual life

•1:10 – 1 tenth scale – Etc..

•1:20 – 1 twentieth scale – Etc..

What is a Mylar drawing?

Mylar is a trade name for bopet (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) polyester film. Also known as Melinex or Hostaphan, this transparent, durable material is used in food storage, insulation and sailing, but it is perhaps best known for its applications in the graphic arts, most notably for CAD drawings. A few customary drawing techniques enhance its positive attributes.


Architects and engineers use Mylar in designing their work. The schematics are drawn up, usually by a computer program such as AutoCAD, and then printed. Schematics on Mylar reflect the depth and dimension of the finished project more easily than blueprints. Once the Mylar is drawn up, these illustrations become part of the legally binding agreement between contractors, the employer and the design firm. 

   
Many companies today are in the process of taking their un-dimensioned drawings on stable-based material (Mylars) and preserving them by fully integrating the legacy Mylars into the automated work environment through digitization and subsequent storage capacities.

One frequent problem often encountered in this transfer of data is projects may require a very precise tolerance of +/-.005" accuracy over any five- or ten-inch area for the digital scanned files. The drawings are on Mylar, which is a plastic sheeting material that may be affected over the years by changes in temperature. This means that the older drawings may have stretched or otherwise changed in size, affecting the accuracy of the drawing itself. The accuracy of the final digital file is of paramount importance. These digital files are stored in an electronic repository as a permanent archive for all of our drawings. If we need to refer to these digital drawings, or print out a new paper drawing, it is essential that the measurements be as accurate as, if not better than the original Mylar drawing when it was new.

  More information on un-dimensioned Mylars:

• An un-dimensioned drawing presents the engineering definition graphically without the use of numerical dimensions.
  
• Sizes and relationships of un-dimensioned features are determined by scaling the original drawing or by scaling a stable reproduction made from it.
  
• Un-dimensioned drawing forms are identified by the letters PCM or "Photo Contact Master."
  
• Effectivity notes indicate part replacement, upgrades and modifications for various models.
  

Un-dimensioned drawings are typically used to define parts with all or a majority of tolerances plus or minus .030" or greater. This includes sheet metal parts, extrusions, cable assemblies, and wiring harnesses.

What are the components of a Mylar drawing?

• Title block
  
• Bill of materials
  

What information can be found in a bill of material?

• Part number
  
• Description
  
• Zone
  
• Quantity
  
• Material Specifications
  
• Extrusion callouts
  
• Thickness and size
  
• Flag notes
  
• Revision level
  

What are common abbreviations found on Mylar drawings?

• ECN: Engineering Change Notice
• ECO: Engineering Change Order
• PCR: Project Change Request
• PCM: Photo Contact Master
• A.N.D: Army Navy Drawing
• BDN: bend down
• BUP: bend up
• BR: bend radius
• R: radius
• TYP: typical
• JOG: joggle
• SHN: shown
• OPP: opposite
• FLG: flange
• EOP: edge of part

Download Architects Cad Drawings - CAD symbols, drawings, and details

 

How do you create a title block in ProEngineer?

There are two primary methods to bring a title block into a drawing in ProEngineer. To insert a title block into an existing drawing:

First, open the existing drawing: File/Open/directory/filename. The existing drawing appears. Now, clean a space for the title block by selection of a view (mouse left button click). The goal is to get enough space for the title block in the lower right corner. Next, use the new placement of the views and the space for the title block will be ready.

Using "Sketch" tools, select the "Line" tool and draw a title block. In this method, the form is fully defined by a drafter and should comply with the rules adopted by the company or client. To finish drafting, click the middle mouse button somewhere in the area of the drawing.


 
To fill in the title block simply hit the "Insert Note" option of the main menu. Next, select the type of notes in the Menu Manager (Default options: No Leader, Horizontal, Default justification – Make Note). In the actual title block, similar to regular notes, we can fill the lines with letters, numbers and symbol. Notes can be modified by a right mouse button click and select option "Properties" in the menu.

Note properties window appears. Bookmarks: Text & Text Style. Select the bookmark with the Text Style window. We can change here the font, letter height, line thickness, width factor between the letters.

Text parameters can also be modified, for example, height of the letters: from 0.156250 to 0.25". The note can also be moved in the drawing area into any other position (Left Button click & hold). This title block is used only once, in this particular drawing, and cannot be used anywhere else.