Book Image

Getting Started with DraftSight

By : JOAO ANTONIO C DOS SANTOS
Book Image

Getting Started with DraftSight

By: JOAO ANTONIO C DOS SANTOS

Overview of this book

Computer-aided design (CAD) uses computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, and analysis of a design. DraftSight is a 2D computer-aided design (CAD) software application. DraftSight includes all the main tools to draft with precision, and it works with DWG files, the most popular CAD file type. It runs on a wide variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Getting Started with DraftSight addresses all the main phases for executing and printing a mechanical project. These concepts and commands can easily be applied to other areas. Beginning with the very basic concepts, and going through all the necessary drawing steps, you will finish by printing a full scale mechanical drawing. The illustrative examples will help you understand the design process and teach you how to utilize DraftSight features in your mechanical design projects. You will start with an overview of the mechanical design process, which will help you understand the different commands, tools, and tasks involved in DraftSight projects. You will then proceed to executing all the phases of the design process. This includes setting up a drawing, drawing and editing with precision, organizing with layers, and finally obtaining valid information from the drawing. Furthermore, you will also learn to apply fills, patterns, and dimensions, and the process of defining and printing sheets. With "GettingStarted with DraftSight" you will learn how to specify and document parts and print drawings with the help of DraftSight. Towards the end of this book you will be introduced to some advanced concepts like additional layer commands, and methods to reference other drawings or images, which can be very useful when dealing with complex projects.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Getting Started with DraftSight
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Configuring DraftSight


First, we may choose a different language for using DraftSight. When installing, a language based on user's location is automatically applied, which may not be the desired one. To choose a different language, the _LANGUAGE command must be applied (without forgetting underscore before command name) along with the language corresponding number (a question mark displays all available). Then, reinitiating DraftSight will set up the chosen language.

It is very simple to configure DraftSight. The OPTIONS command includes almost all settings and system options. We can access the command by digitizing its name, OP as its alias, choosing Options on the menu displayed by pressing the mouse right button, or Options on the Tools main menu.

The command displays a dialog box with several sections on the left column. Choosing one of these sections, the corresponding options are displayed on the right area with a tree structure:

  • File Locations: This section allows defining the location of important files and specific file names, including the Support Files Search Path, default Drawing Files Location, or External References Files Location.

  • System Options: This includes general options related to the system, such as Element Colors to configure interface colors (displayed in the following screenshot), DWG version for saving, Printing options, or Auto-save & Backup options.

  • User Preferences: Here we can define several Drafting and Mouse user options, as well as aliases for commands.

  • Drawing Settings: This includes settings specific to the current drawing. The most important settings are presented in the following screenshot.

  • Drafting Styles: This section includes Active Drafting Styles and the possibility to create or modify text styles, dimension styles, rich line (multiline) styles, and table styles.

  • Profiles: Here it is possible to manage user profiles in order to easily change multiple options at once.

Note

The default drawing area is black. A white drawing area was adopted throughout this book to improve images visualization.