Intro and HELP !!

[milmat1]

My name is matt and I'm a Controls Engineer. I started new job with a machine co designing controls for custom machinery. I have replaced an engineer who became terminally ill and will not be back.

I have some experience with AutoCad electrical. But NONE with AutoCad Standard and the old engr Done all electrical drawings in an old version of autocad (2002).

Needless to say I am Lost In Space here....

 

It seems he never done anything the same way twice either, I think I can handle drawing the schemes (though this way is going to take forever and a day). But I am lost in regards to model space - layouts - Layouts w/both paperspace and model space..etc etc..

 

On the model tab he has drawn many squares and placed them Locked on a "original dwg frame" layer. Each "Square is one section of the schematic drawing.

 

Each Layout Tab then shows one of those sections of the schematic in a border frame (title block ???)

 

So I guess each titleblock on each Layout Tab is a Viewport ???

 

Any insight into what he ws doing here would be appreciated very much !!

[ReMark]

Welcome to the CADTutor forum Matt.

 

Is it possible you could attach a DWG file to your next post? It does not have to be a complete drawing. We just need enough to see the extent of the "problem" so as to better advise you.

[milmat1]

5335-Sample Master Brick Saw_BRAMPTON Dwg Set_10_10_13.dwgNot Sure if attachment made it or not,,,

[ReMark]

Your assessment seems to be pretty accurate. The drawing looks well thought out.

 

The old CAD dude used model space for his objects and paper space layouts (with viewports) to see those objects. The viewports (at least the three I checked) did not have their display locked which means it would be possible to accidentally change the scale/size of what is being depicted. That's easily fixed however.

[milmat1]

Then the squares he created in model tab are4 only for refference, And is hidden from plotting etc. Then he created a viewport on each layout tab and scaled it to fit the object (section/page of schematic)...

 

So somewhere I should find his title block that is also a viewport? Or I will have to insert a titleblock then create a viewport the same size ?

 

Then While on the Layout tab I toggle from Model back to Paper space and its all locked together for plotting.. or am I way off ??

 

And THANK YOU so much for the explaination. I really feel like I have been thrown to the wolves here but That is what we do in this business huh......

[ReMark]

Yes, the green grid in model space is only for reference purposes. It probably seemed more organized too.

 

Yes, the title block as you call it is in the layout and not in model space. Open the Layer Properties Manager and look at the list of layers. See the four that begin with the word "Title"? Those are what he used to create the title block on.

 

Nothing is locked until you lock it. The viewport display can be locked by clicking on it then looking on the Properties palette (one way) and setting the Display locked option to "Yes".

 

There are many things you should know and become familiar with as far as viewports are concerned. Want to learn more then read this...

 

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?72972-Things-you-should-know-about-Viewports.&highlight=setting+scale

Edited April 4, 2013 by ReMark

[milmat1]

Thank You !!

 

Thanks for the link, Good Information for me...

 

I imagine I will have many seemingly dumb questions as I find my way through this.

 

Thank You Again !

 

Matt

[rkent]

Set SNAP to 1/8" so everything stays lined up, that is how that drawing is done, and probably all of his control drawings. Makes for a more orderly drawing.

[tzframpton]

That example drawing isn't bad at all. I've seen MUCH worse, actually. Definitely manageable. The fact that he was using Paperspace says a lot, especially for an AutoCAD 2002 user.

[JD Mather]

If you are not familiar with Blocks - will want to become familiar. (and I'm not referring to the squares you mentioned earlier - I am referring to AutoCAD Block objects) there are a lot of them in that file, so I assume they were heavily used (good practice)

[milmat1]

Yes Blocks were used extensively, I think I am grasping the viewport idea. Now to understand Blocks, Actually the Auto-cad help files (F1) Are very helpful...

 

THANK YOU ALL !!

[ReMark]

One useful thing to know about blocks is that if you create them on layer 0 when inserted they will take on the color and linetype of the layer they are inserted on.

 

Another useful thing to know is blocks can have attributes (data) which can be extracted to a table or an Excel spreadsheet.

[milmat1]

One useful thing to know about blocks is that if you create them on layer 0 when inserted they will take on the color and linetype of the layer they are inserted on.

 

Another useful thing to know is blocks can have attributes (data) which can be extracted to a table or an Excel spreadsheet.

 

Layers are very powerful themselves it seems.

I am having trouble getting the model views to fit the viewport window.(scaling). The thing is the viewport size is already set it is actually a viewport/drawing border in paperspace. so i have to fit the view into the viewport window..i can simple roll the mousewheel but of course that doesnt come out right. So how else can i size that view ?

[Dadgad]

Welcome to CADTutor.

 

This is a link to a very good post which ReMark wrote concerning viewports, it will likely prove helpful.

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?72972-Things-you-should-know-about-Viewports.&highlight=viewport

[milmat1]

Thanks Dadgad !!

 

Well i have spent a couple weeks playing with and studying. Trying to figure out how to do electrical dwgs with std autocad ..

 

The IT guy showed up in my office with a newly built pc. AND a brand new install of Autocad Electrical 2013...Woo Hooo !!!!!

 

This is some piwerful software too. So I am back in full "learn mode" Again now....

 

I will be asking even more silly questions now........

 

Thank You !!

[ReMark]

One thing to bear in mind using AutoCAD Electrical is that you should not substitute generic AutoCAD commands for those specific to ACADE. Why? It is imperative that the database that forms the core of your drawing to remain intact. That's what gives the program it's power. So, for example, if you want to move a switch from one location on the drawing to another use the "Scoot" command to maintain the connectivity.

 

I hope that for your sake the company is also going to send you for training. A three day course is highly recommended. You will learn a lot, be able to ask questions of someone who knows the program, and have the opportunity to network with other people using the same program and pick their brains for ideas/solutions.

 

Good luck.

[milmat1]

One thing to bear in mind using AutoCAD Electrical is that you should not substitute generic AutoCAD commands for those specific to ACADE. Why? It is imperative that the database that forms the core of your drawing to remain intact. That's what gives the program it's power. So, for example, if you want to move a switch from one location on the drawing to another use the "Scoot" command to maintain the connectivity.

 

I hope that for your sake the company is also going to send you for training. A three day course is highly recommended. You will learn a lot, be able to ask questions of someone who knows the program, and have the opportunity to network with other people using the same program and pick their brains for ideas/solutions.

 

Good luck.

 

The Class is highly unlikely though I would certainly love to do that. I have used ACADE in the past, however that was 2006 as I recall. And the 2013 is a different animal altogether.

 

Our mech guys said that they do everything in model space and each page or layout is a separate file. So they do not use paper space at all. I am not sure how I will do mine. It depends on how much I can figure out on ACE. I would prefer to do each entire machine inside a single project like was done with the old ACAD. But I'm not at a point to understand that yet..

 

And as I understand it that is a old school ACAD way of doing things, where each drawing sheet is a separate drawing and separate file. That must be very hard to do because I often need to interact between the individual drawings. So having them all in a single file would be much easier I would think...

 

I will start a separate thread soon and get some input on how to get the layout right. Because I think I can draw just fine but I am not experienced in scaling layouts or using title blocks within each sheet.....

 

Thank you all So Much for the helpful advice and the links !!

 

Matt

[ReMark]

I believe you are correct. Everything is done in model space and each sheet is a separate drawing within a project.

 

No class? That sucks. May I recommend a book then?

[milmat1]

WOW, I am trying to get a project started here and I am sooo Lost !!!..

 

I'll start a thread concerning my present dilemma...

 

Thanks All !

[ReMark]

This is where you tell your boss that a little bit of training, while it may cost a lot, will save many times over the money he will spend. That is unless lost production is not considered a cost.