hidden jewel - flatshot

After all these years I cannot believe I never knew about flatshot. I always just used different viewports to which view I wanted. However, someone I guess figured out that cnc machines prefer 2D models. Was this the essential reason for the flatshot command or are there other reasons that I am not aware of? Still cant believe I never heard of the command

Just give viewbase a try. Makes flatshot seem archaic imho.

After all these years I cannot believe I never knew about flatshot. I always just used different viewports to which view I wanted. However, someone I guess figured out that cnc machines prefer 2D models. Was this the essential reason for the flatshot command or are there other reasons that I am not aware of? Still cant believe I never heard of the command

- that's 1 main reason I come on here!

seems there's loads of good stuff everyone else knows about.

Beginner's Area & LISP forum seem the most lucrative :-)

I have tried using viewbase. It still has 3D components behind what you are seeing. That defeats the purpose I am looking for. I need it to be in 2D. Older CNC machines process much better this way.

I have tried using viewbase. It still has 3D components behind what you are seeing. That defeats the purpose I am looking for. I need it to be in 2D. Older CNC machines process much better this way.

Ah, I see. Cool that it works for you.

You making out alright down there? I know S. Carolina is in real bad shape according to news.

Viewbase is fancy. And FLATSHOT still has it's purpose. Mainly it helps with exactly what bjenk8100 is using it for - prepping CNC profiles for G-code.

But Viewbase is a quirky little tool. At least it used to be. It simulates the parametric modeling applications, which is nice. Flatshot came out in.... 2007 I believe? It was a very much needed tool at its time, as back then only FLATTEN.lsp was available and it was less than par, especially with isometric flattening.

I never had luck with the flattening tool. My objects get all wacky and allover the place usually. I am so glad i learned about flatshot. I would draw 3D and then redraw each plan/elevation view again, lol. Talk about a waste of time that was. However, sometimes that can come in handy. Especially, if things change a lot. Editing 3D can get rough sometimes especially if your not an ace.

You making out alright down there? I know S. Carolina is in real bad shape according to news.

Thanks for asking but we, western NC, missed out on the flooding. I did get over 7" of rain in about 5 days but nothing like what the coasts of NC and SC got. My uncle is about 25 miles outside of Charleston and he is about had his fill of rain

I hope they have their moonshine up in the mountains

Man, I used to use this little trick of setting up a DXB printer to print hidden views to a DXB file. I would then bring those DXB files back into AutoCAD as flattened line work. Flatshot and Viewbase did away with that for me, thank goodness!

I have no idea what any of that means, lol. Its amazing what some CAD users do to get something done.

Texas had their share of floods earlier this year. 1.5 solid months of rain. #IFeelYourPain

I hope they have their moonshine up in the mountains

Yes and you can buy it at the liquor store now, all nice and legal.

http://www.juniorsmidnightmoon.com/spirits/

I have tried using viewbase. It still has 3D components behind what you are seeing. That defeats the purpose I am looking for. I need it to be in 2D. Older CNC machines process much better this way.

There's a neat little trick after using Viewbase to create your views - EXPORTLAYOUT. That will create a new drawing with your views as explodable objects leaving you with 2D objects.

ill check it out. why not just use flatshot. I never really messed around with base layout features. I will if i get time

VIEWBASE is dynamic, so you can make easy changes if needed. It just consolidates a few potential steps is all.

I use both (even the old SOLDRAW commands) depending on the desired output. One drawback with Viewbase is it only works with solid bodies, there are times I want simple objects as well.