CAD Rules to Live By

Draw Accurately Learn how to use snaps Learn how to start a line relative to another point Ensure that you understand tolerance in drawing. Learn the difference between First and Third Angle Projection Always try and take sections looking up the page and to the left. Text in a drawing should always be between the horizontal and vertical looking left. Try and make the North Elevation of the building occur at the top of sheet. Just like maps one tend to think that thetop of the drawing is north. Yes you can put a north point looking down to the bottom of the page, but why not rotate the drawing by 180 degrees and have it pointing up. Learn how much or little Hidden Detail to show! Create a layer convention then use it! Always check that your Title Block is completed before you issue a drawing Always Issue drawings with a drawing issue sheet. Always ensure that Superseded drawings are marked as such. Keep drawing in alpha- numerical order in the draw so that you can lay your hands on them quickly.

   

Setting Up A Layer Convention

Layering Standards provide consistent naming schemes for drawing layers that will help you manage objects in all your drawings. The use of a consistent layering scheme for simple and complex drawings is important whether you work alone or in a large organisation. Layering standards facilitate your control of objects in the CAD environment for yourself and anyone else who works with your drawings and facilitates control of the following:- Consistency in drawing practices and locating objects Consistent application of linetypes to objects Drawing organisation Streamlined display and overlay of objects Easier creation of selection sets for editing operations Protection of objects when you freeze or lock layers Control of object screen colours for clarity Control of pen widths for plotting Layer management of external references Compatibility with custom automation (macro files) Layers Summary Layers are probably the most important concept in CAD Layers allow objects to be created with different colours and linetypes Layers are created using the Layer and Linetype Properties dialogue box There are 255 colours available, but seven- nine standards colours should be sufficient for normal use Linetypes are loaded as required for named layers Layers saved to a standard sheet or Template need only be created once New Layers can easily be added Care must be taken when modifying a drawing with layers which are turned off or frozen

   

Template File

Drawing Template    Under Construction

 

Backup Files

Backup your configuration Files   Under Construction

 

Date of Last Edit  February 2004

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