CAD TIPS for AutoCad and Solid Works DWGeditor
AutoCAD 2005 or Draft Sight
Change Part Zero Orientation
In order for you to write your program correctly, you will need to define the proper coordinate system for your drawings with AutoCAD. Here’s how to do it:
1) Open your drawing
2) In command line type: UCS and press enter
3) type New and press enter
4) type Int and press enter
5) with your mouse click on the two lines that intersect in the bottom
left hand corner of your drawing where X-zero and Y-zero are shown.
6)Verify that the new coordinate system has been changed by placing
your mouse cursor over the X-Y zero corner of your drawing and read
off the coordinates that are displayed on the bottom left of your
screen. (Note: these coordinates change as you move your mouse so the
value shown will be an approximate value but should be very close to
zero-zero.)
Check location of an end point
Type: ID à <enter> à select end point with mouse à read values on lower display menu. Note: be sure “OSNAP” button is on (located at the bottom of the screen)
Check location of an arc center
Type: ID à <enter> à cent à <enter> à click on the arc or circle to see its center coordinates displayed.
Check the radius of an arc
Click on Dimension (located at top of screen) à click on Radius à Use mouse to select the desired radius and place the dimension.
Changing decimal place output
Click on FORMAT à UNITS à set the unit precision on the left side of the dialog box and click OK.
Note: you will need at least 3-place precision in order to properly program your part.
Viewing entire drawing on screen
Click on VIEW à ZOOM à EXTENTS
Setting Print options to print properly
Click on FILE à Plot à Under Printer/Plotter select your printer à Set “Plot Area”, to “Extents” à For “Plot Scale”, click on “Fit to paper” à For “Plot offset”, click on “Center plot” You can click “Preview to preview your plot or click OK to print out your drawing.
** Note for DraftSight, click All Geometry instead of Extents **
Moving dimensions
You can move dimensions in Autocad by left clicking or dragging a window around the dimension then right click and choose “cut” then right click and paste the dimension in the new location. You can also double click on a dimension to drag it or double click on a Note to drag it or edit it.
Changing text color
Left click or drag a window around the desired object à right click and choose “properties” à change the color properties.
Set Dimension Text height
Click on FORMAT à Dimension style à Modify à Choose the “Lines and Arrows” tab and set the arrow size à Choose the “Text” tab and set the text height à Click OK à Click Close.
Creating Text Notes or Comments
Click on “Draw” à Text à Pick single line or Multiline text option à Type desired text and place with mouse.
Turn On and Off Layers
Click on FORMAT à Layers and then turn on or off the light bulbs in order to view or hide the layer.
SOLIDWORKS DWGeditor
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Change Part Zero Orientation
Select MODIFY à MOVE à Pick “select all entities” à Enter key à select the point on the drawing that you would like to make the originàtype 0,0à press Enter keyà press Esc key
Check location of an end point
Toolsà Inquiryà ID coordinatesà move cursor to desired end point when the cursor snaps to the end point click the left mouseà the coordinates will be displayed in the lower left hand corner of the screen. (NOTE: you can also click the ID coordinates icon or just type ID at the command prompt)
Check Radius size and Center location
Just double click on the desired radius. An information box will appear.
INSERTING DIMENSIONS
InsertàDimensionsàchoose the appropriate command and then click on the desired geometry.
Setting Drawing decimal point output (What you see displayed when using ID command)
SettingsàDrawing Settings à Display Precisionà set desired decimal output
Setting Dimension decimal point output
SettingsàDimension settingsà UNITS tabà set desired decimal output