AutoCAD 2010 trial :: simple railway 2D scheme

[johnyjj2]

Hello!

 

I just downloaded one hour ago and installed AutoCAD 2010 trial. I need urgently to create graph in AutoCAD. I'd like to learn AutoCAD from professional course-book but now at this moment . Now I need to create five simple 2D railway schemes.

 

I just created rail with some basic elements and changed all the elements into one block. I wanted to change it into something like background (with thiner lines or gray not black or anything like this) but I didn't know how. This is basic scheme of the rail which will be background to five different schemes.

 

LAYERS. I also know there are layers (because I see this word layer in some places in this AutoCAD) but I don't know how to create new layer. I've got one default layer. I create new element - one of options is to choose which layer it is. I'd like to change this layer no. 0 into the other one but there is only this default layer available. I entered "New" but I don't see any option "Create new layer".

 

height - wys, width - szer

 

LINE WIDTH. I created line (it is one of those specific elements for first of five graphs). I though - OK, I don't know how to change layers or create background with the basic graph. So let me change width of all specific elements to bigger value. I create line, click double on it, I choose in "General" ->

"Width" (I guess it is width because I use different language version) and I change value from 0 to 10. Unfortunately line is not bolder (doesn't have bigger width). I also noticed there is other value (that first one which I noticed was let's say width with value to be written; this other option which I noticed is list with graphically shown different width lines), let's call it "second width" because I have no idea how these two words are distinguished in English version. I changed also this value but the line is still as thin as it was. How to change line width?

 

ELECTRONIC SYMBOLS. How to add symbol of voltage source (circle with little symbol of sine wave inside it)?

 

OTHER SYMBOLS. And how to create let's say five periods of sinusoidal wave with arrow on its end?

 

POINT. How to create little point? I tried to create circle but I couldn't change colour inside the circle. So I tried to change its width (as explained in "line width") but I couldn't as well.

 

ENVIRONMENT. How to hide these lines X-Y arrow which are all the time in the middle of the graph?

 

WIDTH OF LINES IN THE BLOCK. Can I change width of lines which are already parts of the created block?

 

ENVIRONMENT - POINTS. When I create something, the environment "helps" me to place it properly and it glues it to already existing elements. How can I disable this option (temporarily, I guess maybe it is some kind of shortcut)?

 

Thanks very much for your help :-)

Greetings!

[GE13579]

Hi Johny,

 

Briefly, if you type LA you will bring up the Layer Properties Manager from which you will be able to find your way a little better with layers.

 

For everything else, looks like you should have a look through the CADTutor tutorials which will give you a better basic understanding of AutoCAD.

 

Welcome to the forum!

[ReMark]

Regular lines, which are different than polylines, can only have their lineweight changed in the Layer Properties Manager. The lineweight will only show up if you toggle on the Show/Hide Lineweight button at the bottom of your screen.

 

Polylines can be assigned a width. Type PLINEWID on the command line. The default of 0.0000 should be indicated. Type in the width you want to use.

 

Symbols are blocks. Full AutoCAD does not come with a symbol library for electronics. These can either be purchased, possibly downloaded for free from a website such as the CAD Block Exchange Network, or created by the CAD user. I suggest you create your own block (symbol).

 

There is a "Point" command. The graphic representation of that "point" can be choosen from a list supplied by AutoCAD. It can be a , or a , or a , just to name a few. Look in the Help files under Point command for further information.

 

The UCS icon (X / Y arrow) can be turned off. Type UCSICON at the command line. The option should be there.

[ReMark]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say the "environment helps me to place it properly". Are you talking about OSnaps, Snap or Grips or a combination of the three?

[ReMark]

Line widths in blocks. I cannot recall a time I ever needed to edit the width of a line in a block. I suppose I'd do it the old fashioned way and explode the block, modify it, and then recreate the block. All instances of the block would be updated. I'm sure there is a better way to do this.

[johnyjj2]

Thanks very much for your help :-).

 

After all I have decided to do beginning in the AutoCAD and then edit it in MS Paint :-P. The example of sketch is here

Which program is the best for this kind of sketches? This one is very simple but I am sure it could've be done really better. I thought about MS Visio. I also heard that Eplan may be good choice but I haven't found any website when typing "eplan rail" on google. Which program can you suggest me? And where can I find tutorials proper for creating this kind of schemes for railway applications?

 

Greetings!

[ReMark]

It's been several years since I worked on anything to do with a railroad and it mostly had to do with structures like bridges. I think there are a couple of forum members who work in that field though.

 

I don't think starting a drawing in AutoCAD and then editting it in MS Paint is a good idea. Yes, I've heard of Visio too. I think of it as a program more suitable to diagrams and schematics.

 

I know nothing about EPlan Rail. Sorry.

[ReMark]

From what I've seen of your image I don't see why Visio wouldn't work. AutoCAD seems like overkill. Is that an electrical schematic of some sort? How complex do your drawings get?

[Ryder76]

From the sketch this can be done with Corel Draw as well.

[johnyjj2]

From what I've seen of your image I don't see why Visio wouldn't work. AutoCAD seems like overkill. Is that an electrical schematic of some sort? How complex do your drawings get?

 

They aren't more complex than on the previous link or here

I thought about using AutoCAD because it is really useful to know this program to get good job in the future . Is there any addition (overlay) application or plug-in for AutoCAD for railway solutions?

 

I don't know too well this kind of schemes - somebody has drawn me five pictures and told to prepare it on the computer. He told it can be AutoCAD or Visio and the other person in the company told me about eplan. It looks like eplan is local solution because I found their website - it is eplan.pl. I began intern in IT company which works really often with companies repairing railway stocks or creating interlockings, sidings, frogs and so on. This intern is after second year of studies and AutoCAD will be on the third year. Nevertheless, I think we'll be using AutoCAD for different applications than railway solutions.

 

Greetings!

[Cad64]

How to add images to your posts

[GE13579]

But (I think) you need 10 posts before you can post?

[ReMark]

I don't know of a railway add-on specific to AutoCAD but it would not surprise me if there was one.

 

AutoCAD would be the better program to learn compared to Visio. You'll see more job openings available for someone with knowledge of AutoCAD than Visio too.

[BruceLei]

If you are talking about EPLAN Electric P8, I have heard much about this more and more. Seems to be very big in Europe. Saw a demo at the Rockwell automation show in houston...looked very nice and user friendly. ACADE is nice but i've been having way to much of a hard time keeping up with error checking.. would anyone have any info on EPLAN?

[Cad64]

But (I think) you need 10 posts before you can post?

 

Hmmmmm, must've missed this reply back in July.

 

Anyone can add images to their posts. Even someone with a zero post count can upload images, as described on the page I linked to. They just can't post links to external image hosting sites or websites until they get the required 10 posts.

[Strix]

It would be helpful to know which country the OP is posting from or working for as rail standards vary across the globe (as they do with most things)

 

Network Rail seem to use plain old vanilla AutoCAD or Microstation for their drawings (or at least they do for civils, I can't swear for electrical or signalling).

 

Eplan's website makes no mention of a rail specific application, but from what I've seen of the older products from them, they're geared up for electrical control and panel design more than the mechanics of power distribution, to the point where drawing was somewhat frustrating for an AutoCAD user (so I'd probably give that one a miss unless you're specifically told you need it)

[Strix]

Hmmmmm, must've missed this reply back in July.

 

Anyone can add images to their posts. Even someone with a zero post count can upload images, as described on the page I linked to. They just can't post links to external image hosting sites or websites until they get the required 10 posts.

I've edited the posts to show the pics in case anybody is confused

[GE13579]

Hmmmmm, must've missed this reply back in July.

 

Anyone can add images to their posts. Even someone with a zero post count can upload images, as described on the page I linked to. They just can't post links to external image hosting sites or websites until they get the required 10 posts.

 

Ahhh.... I knew there was something that couldn't be done... Thanks for clarifying CAD64!