Office Automation Example -
Isometric Drawing and Dimensioning
[Setup] [Isoplane] [Circles] [Text] [Dimensions]
In AutoCAD 2000 or higher, right-click the SNAP toggle in the Status
Bar.
Select (x) Grid snap and (x) Isometric snap
You could also type SNAPSTYL and set it to "1"
Now, set the (x) Polar snap on and set the Polar Spacing. If
you think you will be using the grid, set the Grid Y spacing to the same number.
Under the Polar tab, set [x] Polar Tracking On and select the
Increment angle 30 degrees from the list.
(x) Track using all polar angle settings and (x) Absolute.
Try to draw a box like this:
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In AutoCAD, use [F5] to toggle through the isometric planes.
In the picture above, you see the cursor set to the <Isoplane Right> setting.
The crosshairs will switch to the different sides of an imaginary
box. You will also see which isoplane you are on from the messages that appear on
the command line and by the cursor crosshairs. If you imagine the crosshairs being
the centerline of a circle, which side of the box would the circle be on?
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To draw a circle in Isometric, start the EL Ellipse
command. While you have the Isometric Snap turned on, AutoCAD gives you an
additional selection of "Isocircle".
For greater accuracy in placement, turn OSNAP MIDpoint, ENDpoint and
OTRACK On.
Command: EL ELLIPSE
Specify axis endpoint of ellipse or [Arc/Center/Isocircle]: I
Specify center of isocircle: <Pick Point>
Specify radius of isocircle or [Diameter]: <Pick Point>
Command:
The isocircle will align itself to the Isoplane side that is
currently active.
Drawing a vertical tank is done with isoplane top active.
You may have to switch to another isoplane before copying the top and
drawing the vertical lines.
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In AutoCAD, start the ST Style command and create
two text styles... ISO30 and ISO-30. Set the angle of ISO30 to 30 degrees
(positive). Set the angle of ISO-30 to -30 degrees (negative).
Start the DT Dynamic Text command and start typing
your label. You will have to rotate the text into position. Once you create a
correct label, you can use MA Match Properties to copy the rotation and
text angle to a plain piece of text.
To create isometric dimensions in AutoCAD, you need to first use DDIM
to create a dimension style for ISO1 and ISO2 (or ISORight and ISOLeft, etc). Assign
these two dimension styles the text styles you created earlier (ISO30 and ISO-30).
See "Draw Isometric Text" above.
The two styles ISO1 and ISO2 will alternate around the box, and the
text should be aligned 30 degrees to the right then 30 degrees to the left.
Now, start the DAL Dimaligned command and type in
all the responses you see here:
Command: <Osnap on> (set to ENDpoint)
Command: DDIM (set to ISO1 dimension style)
Command: DAL _.dimaligned
Specify first extension line origin or <select object>: <P1>
Specify second extension line origin: <P2>
Specify dimension line location or [Mtext/Text/Angle]: <P3>
Dimension text = 4'-1 5/16"
Command: _.setvar Enter variable name or [?] <CLAYER>: textsize
Enter new value for TEXTSIZE <0'-4 1/2">: 4.500000000000000
Command: _.setvar Enter variable name or [?] <TEXTSIZE>: textstyle
Enter new value for TEXTSTYLE <"DIM">: ROMANS
Command: _.setvar Enter variable name or [?] <TEXTSTYLE>: cmdecho
Enter new value for CMDECHO <1>: 0
Command: DIMEDIT
Enter type of dimension editing [Home/New/Rotate/Oblique] <Home>: O
Select objects: L 1 found
Select objects: <enter>
Enter obliquing angle (press ENTER for none): <P4>
Specify second point: <P5>
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