Help Autocad R14 needed

[dieseljohn]

This is a really simple question but its doing my nut.

I have a 3d solid of a part I have designed, I now want to make an orthogonal 3rd angle projection drawing of it that I can dimension. I can make 4 viewports which I can then set to whatever I want (top, front iso etc.) but this is not what I want to do. I remember being able to start with a view and then if I placed the mouse below it it would give me the bottom view, to the left the left view etc.

Does this make sense? I knew exactly how to do this 4 years ago but the passing of time hasn't been kind to my tiny mind...

Sorry for the superboring thread.

[dieseljohn]

D'oh, title should say help WITH autocad r14, sorry.

[Batty FTO]

Try
View: 3d views.
Gives the listed views in a drop down box...
is this what you need?

[dieseljohn]

Batty FTO said:

Try View: 3d views. Gives the listed views in a drop down box... is this what you need?

Not really , I know how to change the view I just seem to remeber being able to put several on one page and for them automatically line up as third angle projections.

I've just looked through my computer at home and found a load of old examples where I did it, I still can't figure it out though.

I'm beginning to think now that I was actually using mechaincal desktop rather than autocad... Argh, what a waste of time. Time to try Solid Edge instead.

>> Edited by dieseljohn on Wednesday 3rd August 21:59

[stumpage]

From what you describe I think you must have used a solid model type package like Mechanical Desktop or Solidworks.

I remember being able to create simple solid models in R14 but that was about it. The only way you could create a crude projected drawing was to split the screen into 4 windows and set the views in each pane then print it like that. I don't remember the commands though it has beem a long time since I last used it.

[groomi]

At the time of R14 there were a lot of 'add-ons', the functions you're lookign for may be one of those. In which case, th elater versions of AutoCAD should have incorporated them as standard.

In 'viewports' you can select '4 viewports' rather than single, asn==nd set it like that - although I think you've already tried that by the sounds of it.

I'll re-read your post in the morning and see if it makes any more sense to me then.

Cheers,

Iain

[dieseljohn]

Thanks for your help everyone. As suggested I'm pretty sure on reflection that I was actually using mechanical desktop which was included in the autocad package I had then but not the one I have now. How annoying, its such a simple thing I want to do as well. Will have to do the drawings the old fashioned way now.

[speedy_thrills]

IRRC you can show dimensions in a 3D view port onto object by adding some thickness to the dimension themselves (See the book, I’m fairly sure that’s where I read it).

As mentioned other options are exporting it to a true solid modeling program or just fudge the dimensions in paper space and type in artificial values.

[Krusty]

speedy_thrills said:

fudge the dimensions in paper space and type in artificial values.

Forced dimensions should be a sackable offence!!!
Paper space/model space..... that brings back some memories although I didn't think that post Dos 14 releases supported it any more?

[speedy_thrills]

Krusty said:

speedy_thrills said: fudge the dimensions in paper space and type in artificial values. Forced dimensions should be a sackable offence!!! Paper space/model space..... that brings back some memories although I didn't think that post Dos 14 releases supported it any more?

I tend to agree that forced dimensions are not a good idea but AutoCAD is a bit primitive so it is occasionally unavoidable to save hours of work. If our friend had been really switched on he could have taken the 3D model and crushed it into a 2D drawing.

I’m not a regular user of the new versions.