Newbie Overwhelmed

Hello.

About a month ago, I was given Autocad 2010 and the responsibility for updating ( read computerizing ) all our hand drawings, sketches and blueprints. I have no CAD experience. I did buy the FOR DUMMIES book and am working my way through it.

Here's my question / dilemma.... I need to be able to make a drawing of each individual part as well as a sub-assembly drawing, then an assembly drawing. I want to be able to use what I've already done for each step up. Is this feasible? I'm really overwhelmed and don't have the on-site resources to ask. Ergo, the forums!

Anyway, each individual part needs to be dimensioned, but not necessarily the assembly drawings. I think I can do that with layers, but can I take a series of drawings, and make each a layer in a new drawing? Is there a better way?

Thanks in advance

Look at the bright side...you'll have gainful employment for some time to come.

Personally I would draw all my parts in model space at full size then switch to a layout and create viewports for viewing the individual parts. Viewports are kind of like windows that allow us to see the objects we created back in model space. Viewports can be assigned a scale (ex. - 1"=1'). Every viewport can even have a different scale if required. The beauty of using a layout is that when it comes time to plot, your plot scale is 1:1. The layout is where we place our titleblock and border.

Now, as for text (like notes and callouts) and dimensioning, well there are at least three different ways they can be handled. Each has its pros and cons but for the moment maybe we should leave that for later. Concentrate on drawing the parts first OK?

All of the above is my personal opinion. Another forum member may respond with a different method. That doesn't mean one method is "wrong" and the other method is "right". It just means that AutoCAD has given the user more than one way to accomplish a task. It is up to the user to decide what works best for him/her and the company that employs them.

Good luck. If you have any questions post them and we will do our best to guide you.

BTW...Welcome to the CADTutor forums.

Thanks for the reply. You can bet that I'll have questions.

As far as the drawings....I can save them in model space, then save the drawing as a part number? And later combine them?

It does not matter to AutoCAD if you save a drawing while in model space or in the drawing's layout. AutoCAD gives the user the ability to go back and forth between the two.

How you name your drawing is something you really need to give some thought to before you get too many done and decide you want to rename them. That can get to be a bit of a pain.

If using part numbers as your drawing name works for you, and ultimately the company, then go right ahead and do it. How do you currently keep track of your non-CAD drawings? Is there a master database?

Do you want to have one drawing for each part or can more than one part be included in each drawing? Again, how has it been done in the past using manually produced drawings?

Here is an option. Let's say you have an assembly made up of ten different parts. All ten parts could be drawn in model space and then ten different layouts could be created (one for each part). All of this could be contained within one CAD drawing and not split up amongst ten different drawings.

By the way, why AutoCAD and not Inventor?

Right now, I have filing cabinets full of a variety of drawings. No database, NO COMPUTERIZATION. I am dragging the company ( a family organization) out of the pencil and paper ages. There has been no set way for doing drawings, some are a single piece, some are exploded, some I can't even begin to decipher. Part numbers seem to be the most effective way to do it for me, maybe because I started out as a wrench and learned everything by the numbers.

I really can't say what led the company to AutoCAD except maybe reputation or sales pitch.

To take your example a step further though, could I then print out only one part of the assembly complete with dimensions that a machinist would find necessary?

Why are the existing drawings being brought over into CAD?

Are some, most or all of these drawings still used today?

Had you given any thought to just having the drawings scanned by a service bureau (reprographics company) and then cataloging them?

How many drawings are we talking about?

What criteria do you use to prioritize which drawings are going to be reproduced in CAD?

How are drawings located currently? There must be some sort of list or do people just root through file draws until they find what they need?

Given the example I illustrated the answer to your question would be "Yes". Each of the layouts would have its own titleblock and border. Layouts could be plotted independent of each other if so desired.

Suggestion: Pick up a good after-market AutoCAD book as it will help you with the basics. Remember that you can also access the built-in AutoCAD Help just by pressing the F1 key.

Currently, the drawings are listed by part number ( ie: AB 1234 YZ ) , We have file drawers full of them, so to guess a quantity....2500?....

Right now, I can't even look at the help function intelligently. I AM trying to work my way through that, there's just so much information, even with it catalogued that I am back and forth between multiple pages.

I did take an armful of drawings to Staples to be scanned, just so I could have them accessible during down time.

Can you recommend a better book than the FOR DUMMIES?

There are some good video tutorials on this website.

I see you skipped answering most of the questions. Not good. The more information we have the better we can assist you. I'm sure you understand this.

George Omura and Ellen Finkelstein are two noted authors with good reputations.

Did you take the opportunity to order your free User's Guide from AutoDesk yet?

I really can't say what led the company to AutoCAD except maybe reputation or sales pitch.

AutoCAD is the present day paper and pencil. I would use one of the next generation CAD programs like Autodesk Inventor for the type of work you describe.

The 3D model is the single source of truth (represents your real world 3D assemblies). The modern programs create the 2D drawings automatically (or at least semi-automatically). Converting exisiting drawings is an excellent method of learning the new techniques.

Since you are new to this and haven't yet invested a lot of time and legacy issues I would call your VAR and get a demonstration on modern solutions ASAP.

I would save each and ever detail as it's own dwg with an unique part number.

Then you can use the external reference option to combine multiple parts into one assembly and/or sub-assemblies.

The existing drawings are on paper that in some circumstances is old, stained, and/or falling apart. I can't tell you why Autocad....I was not part of the decision making process.

The drawings mostly are still used, although some have been extensively modified by various people over the years....including me.:wink:

The only criteria I have right now is the most used and/ or the worst shape. In some cases these two go hand in hand with the most modified.

I did not order the User's guide....simply because I did not know of it's existence. I'll be getting ontheir sight next.

Thanks.

Re: User's Guide. I can't recall if there was a card for ordering this (or the Customization Guide) included with the packaging of the software or whether I got an email from AutoDesk after receiving my authorization code for 2010. One way or the other if you decide to retain AutoCAD then take advantage of the opportunity and get your free copy.

Before you get too far into this I'd consider talking to the powers-that-be whether plain AutoCAD or Inventor is the way to go as JDM has mentioned. You don't want to end up investing a lot of time and effort in this only to find out you should have used Inventor instead. It's not too late to reconsider.

We still have no idea how you keep track of drawings. It must be a state secret. That's fine but of what value is it to modernize the way drawings are done if you're going to rely on gathering a search party to find one drawing among 2500? You need to track drawings and their revisions...electronically.

Re: User's Guide. I can't recall if there was a card for ordering this (or the Customization Guide) included with the packaging of the software or whether I got an email from AutoDesk after receiving my authorization code for 2010. One way or the other if you decide to retain AutoCAD then take advantage of the opportunity and get your free copy.

 

Before you get too far into this I'd consider talking to the powers-that-be whether plain AutoCAD or Inventor is the way to go as JDM has mentioned. You don't want to end up investing a lot of time and effort in this only to find out you should have used Inventor instead. It's not too late to reconsider.

 

We still have no idea how you keep track of drawings. It must be a state secret. That's fine but of what value is it to modernize the way drawings are done if you're going to rely on gathering a search party to find one drawing among 2500? You need to track drawings and their revisions...electronically.

SERIOUSLY, It's not a state secret. I'm telling you, they're in file cabinet draws. The first manila folder in the draw has drawings in it that'll go from C32-70-1111 TO C32-70-1200 or some variation on their part number. It goes sequentially by part number. No database...No notebook listing everything.....No registry.....Nothing.

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions and advice.

Guess I'll be talking to the Boss about getting the sales rep in here for a talk about Inventor.

Please excuse me if I come across wrong. I don't mean to.

No apologies required as no offense was taken. We're cool.

Well...it's a system as rudimentary as it is. Then your CAD files (AutoCAD or Inventor) should probably be set up similar to the file cabinet and placed in folders on your computer. A database would however help you keep track of them though. Databases are "searchable" so as long as a person has a part number, or part description, or some piece of information that is tracked in the database (client name for instance) it can be found.

Note: Inventor is nothing like plain AutoCAD but as foreign as that may be it could be a better choice for you and your company in the long term. At least look into it before plunging wholeheartedly into AutoCAD.

When you call your Authorized AutoDesk Reseller ask them to send the person that is the most knowledgeable in Inventor to speak with you and your boss.