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

Creating viewports


After defining a sheet, one or more viewports must be created. A viewport is like a window that displays our drawing, or part of it. By default, when accessing a sheet for the first time, a viewport is created. As this sheet was not configured, the viewport may be deleted.

The VIEWPORT command (alias MV, View | View Tiles main menu) creates viewports in sheets. By default, it prompts for two opposite corners and creates a rectangular viewport.

: VIEWPORT
Default: Fit
Options: 2, 3, 4, Align, Entity, Fit, Lock, OFf, ON, Polygonal, Restore, SHaded view or
Specify start corner»P1
Specify second corner»P2

The 2, 3, and 4 options allow creating 2, 3, or 4 viewports between two opposite corners and respective distribution. The Align option allows the user to align existing viewports. The Entity option prompts for a closed entity selection and applies this entity as a viewport boundary. The Fit option creates a single viewport fitting the paper (without printer margins). The Lock...