Feedback on Creating Custom Templates

[CJC_CAD]

Hi there,

 

I'm trying to create custom templates that are more bold--a little unique--but still clean professional and would like some feedback:

 

 

Right now this is architectural, but I might as well make a mechanical one later.

 

I'm curious what info you guys like to put on the side? Sheet number and Revisions obviously going on there.

 

Do you have any pics of your own custom templates with and without logos to share?

 

All comments appreciated,

Thanks

[ReMark]

Company name and logo.

Sheet number.

Drawn by.

Checked by.

Date.

Drawing file name or number.

Revision block.

Space reserved for architect to "stamp" the drawing with his seal.

Scale.

Title of drawing.

 

Other?

[Organic]

Pretty much as ReMark said. Instead of a stamp we use a signature box (although 95% of the time this is not utilized). We also list the project number on the plan as well as the location of the file on the server (i.e. X/External/Projects/16842/drawing_name.dwg), which is handy if a client or contractor calls up about the plan and you are in a hurry to get a copy of it in front of you.

[ReMark]

Of course we are assuming you'll also set up all your layers, linetypes, colors and text/dimension styles too.

[bobscad]

Re: creating custom templates. I jumped on this seemed what I seeking on seting up 2 or 3 templates for the drawing I do. But language barrier - templates, titleblock, or workspace? ReMark's reply seems to be about a titleblock more than a drawing template. And will seeking info last night hit upon setting up workspaces with templates!? As a casual, non-industry user bit lost. I want set up a workspace and/or templates for my woodwoorking efforts for cabinets, tables, benches, chests etc. with standards for text, dimensions, lines, etc with heavy use of paperspace to print details. I can draw okay, but using Ellen F's 2011 Bible find have to read 5 chapters to figure how setup a standard template to get text, dimentions and whatever else defined in template so not chaising my tail as I draw and print and find nothing scaled as expected. Anyone have or know where some general guidelines? This not quite what I hoped, but thanks for suggestions for a title block entry when I figure how to make one, I do need file name and date printed on my drawings I KNOW NOW!

[Dana W]

Language barrier? I was born in Virginia. What kinda language problems you havin, dude?

 

I guess you are refering to the Geekspeak that is thrown about by the experienced cad users.

 

In the original post, the word "template" was being used as a generic term. There are template drawings in AutoCAD, but they are not completely essential for the private user. They are good to use, very, very good, but not required.

 

There are default template drawings in your AutoCad design center. Look them over. They are of course, overcomplicated for a private woodworking project, but stuff in there can be deleted and/or modified, then saved as another template drawing.

 

The basic idea, when starting a new project, is to open a specific template (*.dwt) that already has your always repeated custom specifications saved in it, then do a Save As "My new Project.dwg so you won't write over your template.

 

An AutoCad template IS a drawing. This drawing is saved with the file extension of dwt instead of dwg. They should be kept in a particular folder that AutoCad reserves for you, and you should not draw in them. Within this drawing (template) you would have set up title blocks for one specific paper size, a basic list of your most commonly used drawing layers, ie. Dimension layer, Text Layer, blue layer, red layer, frank's layer, whatever you may need, and your text style, dimension style, and a page layout design in paper space with your usual plot specifications already set out.

 

You can use an existing drawing as a template. Simply open one, do a Save As... and erase all the stuff you don't need. If you do this a lot though, you will eventually have to do a "purge" command on it to get rid of all the bloat that AutoCad builds up. A purge will get rid of all the unused "block", "layout" and "Style" references that build up when copying or saving as.

 

The title block IS part of your drawing template, and that was in response tthis thread started directly refering to a title block.

 

Your workspace is your graphical interface with AutoCad. It is completely separate from the template. The workspace is the way you set up your AutoCad Window, tool bars, menus, etc. Not enough room to cover everything right now. Come back and ask more questions, and do it frequently.

 

5 chapters doesn't sound all that bad to me, considering you are trying to self teach. There's a lot to AutoCad learning that gets speeded up by having an instructor to guide one. The learning curve is VERY steep.

 

The longest journey begins with one step. The first step would be to start a new thread to ask your questions so we won't have to read all the stuff leading up to your posting and you can stick to forum protocols. You can avoid a message from a moderator that way too.

 

AUTOCAD RULE # 1 - Draw everything (your actual project object) in modelspace and draw it full size. Draw a 500 foot wide plot of land at 500 feet wide. Draw a 10" wooden keepsake box at 10". Even though you can do it, don't scale anything in modelspace.

For woodworking, I set my drawing units to inches or milimeters. NEVER MIX IMPERIAL AND METRIC.

 

Model space is the real world, it is as big as you need it to be.

 

AUTOCAD RULE # 2 - Print everything from paper space. Paper space is only as big as your paper, and you can draw a title block on your paperspace layout, also in full size, but it will never be bigger than your paper, of course.

Paperspace units should always be set to inches or milimeters. NEVER MIX IMPERIAL AND METRIC.

 

In paperspace there are Viewports available. A viewport can be thought of as a Window back into modelspace. A viewport can be scaled so your project view will fit on the paper. It is the viewport that is scaled, not the objects in modelspace. It's like hitting the zoom button on your digital camera. You can either do it at random with the zoom wheel on the mouse or do it explicitly with the Standard Scale property of the viewport.

 

The modelspace/paperspace environment was set up so you can make modifications to your drawing objects and then the images on your paper will already be changed the next time you print them. Even though you can do it, you should avoid scaling your modelspace drawing down and either printing from there, or copying the scaled down objects to paperspace and then printing. Scaling down objects in modelspace causes you to have to manipulate your dimensions when you should not have to. Scaling down and then copying to paperspace causes the same problems and on top of that, you have two versions of your project that need identical revisions eventually.

 

I sincerely wish you success in your endeavors.

Edited December 10, 2011 by Dana W

[bobscad]

Language barrier? I was born in Virginia. What kinda language problems you havin, dude?

...snip...

I sincerely wish you success in your endeavors.

 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

Yes, it is the "geekspeak" here and in the CAD 2011 Bible book along with my dive-in and do something until have to read book or Google to figure correct way or a work-around. I think I can move though the chapters with better understanding now, will see as I jump to dimension style setup I need now.

 

Again thank you.

 

Born in VA, where abouts? I moved in to Westmoreland county from GA when 5 as Dad took a lifetime job there near the old family farm. Then Army grabbed me and left me in DC area as best jobs available and can't get away from here yet.

 

Guess I best read more on the rules too after reading you comment on moderators getting on me.

 

Now to put my new understanding into pratice.

Thanks again.

[Dana W]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

Yes, it is the "geekspeak" here and in the CAD 2011 Bible book along with my dive-in and do something until have to read book or Google to figure correct way or a work-around. I think I can move though the chapters with better understanding now, will see as I jump to dimension style setup I need now.

 

Again thank you.

 

Born in VA, where abouts? I moved in to Westmoreland county from GA when 5 as Dad took a lifetime job there near the old family farm. Then Army grabbed me and left me in DC area as best jobs available and can't get away from here yet.

 

Guess I best read more on the rules too after reading you comment on moderators getting on me.

 

Now to put my new understanding into pratice.

Thanks again.

 

I was born in Danville in 1947. We lived there through elementary school for me. Been living in the DC area for quite a while now, since my Dad moved us up here for a job at the Main Post Office.

 

Seems nothin' changes, but everything is different.