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

Joining, lengthening, and breaking the entities


The following are few more editing commands that may ease several drawing tasks:

The WELD command (alias J, on the Modify toolbar or on the Modify main menu) allows the user to join entities. This command starts by prompting an entity Selection. Depending on its type, the command has several utilities.

: WELD
Specify base entity» Selection

When selecting a line, the command prompts for collinear lines and the result is a single line, removing breaks or overlaps. When selecting a polyline, the command prompts for other continuous entities and joins them to the polyline. When selecting an arc, besides joining other arcs with the same center and radius, it is possible to close the arc, transforming it into a circle. It is also possible to join elliptical arcs and splines.

The EDITLENGTH command (alias LEN, navigate to Modify | Change length main menu) allows the user to verify and modify the length of the entities. By default, this command prompts...