EDUCATIONAL REND LAKE COLLEGE CAD INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING PLOTTING FROM MODEL SPACE/PAPER SPACE(LAYOUTS) REVISED: FALL 2010

Transcription

1 INSTRUCTOR: THOMAS ARPASI REND LAKE COLLEGE CAD INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING PLOTTING FROM MODEL SPACE/PAPER SPACE(LAYOUTS) 1

2 Plotting From Model Space Even with the advent of CAD, the task at hand remains the same: produce a hard copy. A hard copy is just a tangible reproduction of your CAD drawing. One that many people may need to interpret. A hard copy can take different forms: slides, video, and prints or plots. With manual drafting, many different drawings had to be produced at different scales. With AutoCAD, you can print one drawing at many different scales or levels of detail as long as the file is setup correctly. Usually, minor modification and some layers will make a single drawing work for many. Getting that perfect plot can be an art when it comes to AutoCAD. One must be familiar with AutoCAD s plot settings and your printer settings. Usually, there will be some experimentation to find out what works best with your PC/Plotter configuration. Prints usually refer to A size drawings. Plots usually refer to large format (usually 36 ) printing. It is important to understand plotter limitations as well. One should also remember that CAD plotters are not always the best when it comes to graphics. There are other types of plotters meant to deal with graphics. Plots can be setup, saved, and reused. AutoCAD will also remember previous plots. It will remember most variables. AutoCAD relies on Windows for its drivers similar to small office printers. Some settings may be more easily changed in the Printers dialog for Windows. However, these settings can be accessed through the Plot dialog. AutoCAD has a very advanced plot setup and has two spaces for generating that perfect plot: Model Space and Paper Space (or Layouts). You may notice the Model and Layout tabs at the bottom of the drawing window. Most CAD drawing take place in Model Space or the infinite 3D space AutoCAD uses. A final layout of specific views and annotations of this model is created in a two-dimensional space called Paper Space. Only one Model Space is available, but you can have multiple Layouts per CAD file, making one drawing very versatile. The tabs at the bottom of the screen can be hidden or replaced by buttons of the Status Bar. In Model Space, you can draw objects at full scale and then use a Layout to print to scale and add annotation to a titleblock or sheet. Professionally, I suggest using Paper Space, it gives you a greater degree of control over the final plot. None the less, Model Space will suffice for many jobs. One thing to do regardless of the environment used to plot; you should preview your plot to avoid wasting paper. MVSETUP will help ensure correct scale. The units used to create the drawing must coincide with the plot settings. There are those jobs that require hundreds of plots to be done on a strict deadline. When you encounter a new CAD system and plotter, one should run test plots and refine plot settings to produce them more efficiently. After a plot, you will also receive a plot and publish notification. PRINT and PLOT on the command line will invoke the plot dialog. The Quick Access toolbar, Application Menu, RIBBON also have shortcuts to the plot dialog box. The ESCape key will exit out of the plot dialog. Adding a Plot device can also be done using AutoCAD. The software is meant to work with multiple machines. You can even print from remote locations as long as the printer is installed properly. The Add-A-Plotter Wizard aides in installing and configuring new plotters. This is found in the Plotter Manager in the Plot Panel of the Output Tab of the RIBBON. Double click the icon for adding a plotter in the Windows Explorer window. Follow the instructions in the dialog to add a plotter. PCP or PC2 plotter configurations can be used from older versions of AutoCAD. The newest plotter configuration file extension is the PC3 extension. You can always go back to the Plotter Manager and modify previous plot setups by double clicking on the PC3 files. The OPtions dialog also has a spot to create and edit plotters. Default settings for new drawings can be changed in the Plot and Publish tab of the OPtions dialog. Understand your plotter limits. We are all familiar with margins that give word processor documents issues. These same issues can occur in AutoCAD. The Hard Clip (fig. 1.2) is determined by the printed driver. Trial and error are often involved when seeing what your printer/plotter is capable of. This will also help you place your drawing correctly on the sheet. 2

3 Plot Dialog (fig. 1.1) Name of Page setup in use. This is also where can access recently used plot settings to avoid setup time and time again. 2. Allows you to create a plot setup based of current plot settings. 3. Pen assignments used for applying lineweights to a plot. You may also select None. 4. Edit pen assignments. 5. Presets for shading of current plot. This has many useful settings for various types of plots, 2D & 3D. As Displayed plots the Model Space view as it appears. Wireframe plots a wireframe Model Space view of a 3D object. Hidden plots the Model Space view with hidden lines removed from 3D objects. 3D Hidden, 3D Wireframe, Conceptual, & Realistic plots Model Space using one these visual styles. These selections override Model Space view. Rendered renders Model Space before plotting. Draft, Low, Medium, High, & Presentation set plot quality. 6. Controls plot quality. Draft plots to 3D views as wireframe. Preview offers 150dpi. Normal uses 300 dpi. Presentation uses 600 dpi. Maximum sets the output device at highest possible dpi. Custom allows you set a custom dpi. 7. Controls resolution or DPI of current plot independent of plot quality. 8. Plot device properties. This is basically a link to the printer settings used by Windows. 9. A small print preview showing used area on a sheet. Any red lines are indications of exceeding plot area. 3

4 Plot Dialog - Cont. 10. Plot device in use. 11. Plot to file option for downloading to a plotter at a later date. 12. Page size in use. More can be accessed through the PRoperties dialog for the current plotter. 13. What to Plot: Limits will plot the limits setting currently used in Model Space. Layout will plot according the layout currently in use. Extents will plot to extents of Model Space. Display will plot the current display at whatever scale is currently in use. The View command will work in conjunction with any preset views setup in AutoCAD. Window will plot a window picked by user. Plotting to window can be very effective is specifying an area of a drawing to plot. 14. Allows you to center the plot on the current page size. 15. Allows you to specify a plot offset from the origin of the plot. This will let you fine tune the position of the plot on the sheet using X,Y coordinates. 16. Opens up detailed Print preview. Can zoom an pan in this preview and access settings and other plot command by right clicking in preview window. If you ESCape out of Print Preview to select a different print area, you will notice a graying out of inactive print area if you background is set to black. 17. Number of copies. 18. Fits the plot to scale using current sheet size. Allows you to print an area as large possible, not using a commonly used scale factor. 19. Scale of drawing in relationship to drawing units and sheet units. 20. Scale lineweights checkbox for scaling lineweights in accordance with current plot scale. 21. This button will apply current settings to the active Layout. 22. Plot in background will process a plot in the background to allow the user to keep working. Some plots can be very time-consuming. 23. Plots objects using lineweights. Those used in Model Space or specified by pen settings. 24. Plots using plot style. Refer to Specifies that objects in Model Space are plotted before those in Paper Space. 26. Specifies whether the Hide operation applies to objects in the paper space viewport. This option is available only from a layout tab. The effect of this setting is reflected in the plot preview, but not in the layout. 27. Allows you to assign a plot stamp reflecting setup information and plot time, date, and file location. When turned on, a stamp icon will appear to allow you to change settings. 28. Saves changes you make in the Plot dialog box to the layout if you click OK. 4

5 Plot Dialog - Cont. 29. Drawing orientation: Portrait (vertical) or Landscape (horizontal). Notice the preview icon shown next to it. 30. Plot upside down will allow to print a reverse of a drawing. Very handy for manufacturers that work from reverse drawings. It keeps you from having to physically mirror the drawing itself. 31. Expand/Collapse the Plot dialog to show or hide more options. Hard Clip limit varies with plotter. Plotter Media (fig. 1.2) Hard Clip (Omura) Along with hard copies, there is the need for electronic transmittal. The Batch Plot option will allow to plot and publish electronically. This will not be used in class, but you should be aware it is there. These files can be uploaded to FTP sites, posted, or ed. Below the Plotter Manager is a flyout arrow that will invoke the Plot & Publish tab of the OPtions dialog (fig. 1.3). (fig. 1.3) Plot & Publish Options 5

6 Paper Space/Layouts To enable Paper Space, the TILEMODE variable must be set to 1. This variable allows the use of floating viewports and eliminates tiling. This work similar to clicking the Model/Layout tabs on the Status Bar. Paper Space is by far the most useful for large scale drawings. Imagine that your layout is a full-scale replica of what will come out of your plotter. It uses viewports to look into that infinite Model Space at a specified scale. Paper Space allows you separate the design process from the plotting process. Typically, it will house your titleblock and viewports that look into Model Space. They are treated as separate entities. Only one space can be edited at a time. You will notice the border viewport will thicken or highlight when it is active. Switching layouts can be done using the tabs on the Status Bar or Quick View Layouts (fig. 1.4). There is a typical order of operation for using layouts. However, there will be exceptions to this routine. 1. Create a model of your subject in Model Space. 2. Click a Layout tab to enter Paper Space. 3. Specify layout page settings such as plotting device, paper size, plot area, plot scale, and drawing orientation. Access Page Setup Manager. 4. Insert a title block into the layout unless you have started with a drawing template that already has one. 5. Create a new layer to be used for layout viewports only. 6. Create layout viewports and position them on the layout. 7. Set the orientation, scale, and layer visibility of the view in each layout viewport. 8. Add dimensions and annotate in the layout as needed. 10. Turn off the layer containing the layout viewports. 11. Plot your layout. Use Quick View Layouts to navigate layouts. Notice the shortcut icons including a save, close, new, open & push pin. 1 2 (fig. 1.4) Quick View Layouts Order of Operations (fig. 1.5) Status Bar There is also a 2nd Status Bar that can be loaded from the Window panel on of the View tab of the RIBBON. This bar will show the scale of a viewport and have other viewport options like locking scale of a viewport (fig.1.5). 1. Next/Preview buttons for cycling through different Layouts. 2. Model Space/Paper Space tabs for switching between the two spaces. 3. Right click menu for a Layout tab. Use to arrange, create, edit, and export layouts. 4. Lock/Unlock viewport scale toggle. Zooming inside of an active viewport can change scale easily. If the viewport is modified, Paper Space objects like dimensions and notes will not line up any longer. 5. Viewport scale. Appears when a viewport is active. 6

7 Paper Space/Layouts Cont. WYSIWYG Plotting? You may see Paper Space plotting referred to as WYSIWYG plotting. This is an acronym for What you see is what you get. Page Setup Manager New layouts will need to be setup before use by specifying the plot device by which all settings are based off of. This is done using the Page Setup Manager. The Page Setup Manager can be access by right clicking on a layout tab, the Plot panel of the Output tab of the RIBBON. The page will depend on the plot device and the sheet size. From there, you may also specify plot scale, pen settings, orientation, and plot area. The Page Setup Manager is basically the Plot dialog under another name. Each Layout will need to be setup. (fig. 1.6) Page Setup Manager Titleblock The next step is to insert or paste a titleblock into the Layout view. This will be strictly a part of Paper Space. It will not be visible or editable in Model Space. It is a part of the sheet. Viewport Creation Now, you will create viewports or windows that look into Model Space. Viewports should be placed on their own layer. The main reason is the ability to turn off or freeze the layer they are on to hide them for plotting. The viewport border view can be toggled, but the contents will still be visible making the drawing appear seamless. A viewport may be created by default. It usually doesn t use all of the available space or uses too much space. You may find it easier to delete the default and create new using the variety of viewport creation commands available. VPORTS on the command line invoke the ViewPORTS command. This dialog will allow you to create multiple viewports that are aligned. Viewports are basically polylines that act as a window into Model Space. A viewport can be stretched, scaled, moved, rotated, copied, thickened, splined, and even consist of an irregular shape. Any closed profile can also be converted into a viewport (fig. 1.8). This can make for some very impressive presentation drawings. Remember that presentation is one of Paper Space s advantages over Model Space. The Viewports panel of the View tab of the RIBBON houses commands necessary for creating modifying viewports(fig. 1.7). There is also the ability to clip or hide part of an existing viewport. You can select a closed profile object in Paper Space or draw a polygonal object. When a viewport is created, it will zoom extents for the view. 7

8 Viewport Tools (fig. 1.7) Creating Viewports Setup viewports in Model Space. Many preset combinations are avialable. Named viewport dialog. Create a polygonal viewport. Works just like a polyline. Create a viewport by selecting a closed profile object. Typically, a polyline. Can use splines, ellipses, and regions. 5. Joins viewports in one viewport in Model Space. 6. Clips or hides a portion of a viewport. Works like a polyline. 7. ViewPORTS dialog. List a series of preset viewport combinations that can be oriented and changed visual styles. MVIEW will also help create viewports. Created using the polygonal viewport command. Circle converted to viewport using the convert object to viewport command. Created using the VPORTS command and drawing a window for a single viewport. (fig. 1.8) Viewports of different shapes. 8

9 Viewports Viewport Activation/Deactivation While in Paper Space, you may need to pan, zoom, or modify objects in Model Space. All that is necessary is a double click inside of the viewport to activate it. You will notice the border thicken. Also, you will then not be able to modify anything in Paper Space. Once activated, it is just working in Model Space, only you are using the viewport as a window while your sheet is still visible. A single click will toggle between viewports once one is activated. There will also be a UCS icon that will appear when active. MS will toggle on a viewport and PS will toggle of a viewport off. Scaling Views in Paper Space Paper Space has its own unit of measure based of the sheet size it is setup as. Paper Space s main objective is to plot to a specific scale accurately. When the viewport is active, look at the Status Bar and you will see the current scale and an arrow flyout for scales available. You can also use custom scales for viewports. Beside the scale is the Lock/Unlock viewport icon. It will lock the view of the viewport so that it stays synchronized with Paper Space. The view can also be locked from the Properties dialog (CTRL+1). Zooming by a specific scale in a viewport is also possible using a scale factor. Enter a scale factor (nx or nxp) to specify a value. Enter a value followed by x to specify the scale relative to the current view. Enter a value followed by xp to specify the scale relative to paper space units. For example, entering.5x causes each object to be displayed at half its current size on the screen. Layers & Viewports Another advantage to working with multiple viewports is their ability to freeze layers independently from each other. In Model Space, a hidden layer is reflected that way all viewports. With floating viewports, totally different layers may be visible or hidden from viewport to viewport. Remember that DRAW ORDER will also refine the way objects overlap for more precise drawing in viewports. There also options for: linetypes, lineweights, plotting, and color. This will also allow you to streamline drawings and remove unnecessary information in certain views cleaning them up and reducing clutter that happens with drawings like very detailed floor plans. Layout Wizard If you fully understand the idea of Paper Space, then the Layout Wizard may be a good idea to speed up the layout creation process. If not, then you may do more harm than good by incorrectly setting up the drawing environment. LAYOUTMANAGER on the command line will invoke or it can be found in the tools menu. The wizard prompts you for information about the layout settings, including: A name for the new layout The printer associated with the layout A paper size to use for the layout The orientation of the drawing on the paper A title block Viewport setup information A location for the viewport configuration in the layout 9

10 Drawbacks of Using Paper Space 1. It is one more thing to learn. Even though it uses clear logic, it is not intuitive to many users. Switching over in an office with a number of unexperienced users may do more harm than good. 2. Objects in Paper Space and Model Space are separate entities. You cannot select objects from both spaces at once. Only one can be space can be active at a time. Duplicate symbols may need to be made to accommodate use in both spaces. Advantages of Using Paper Space 1. You can plot multiple views of 3D objects with ease. Paper Space use is essential for serious 3D Modelers. Paper Space can also be used to generate 2D drawings from 3D parts in Model Space. 2. You can plot details to multiple scales using the same drawing. 3. Less time calculating: block insertion unit values, dimension scales, Text height, hatch scales, and linetype scale. There are options for scaling to Paper Space for all of the above. Look in dialog boxes for a checkbox. 4. Provides more consistent plotting from multiple plotters. (WYSIWYG Plotting) 5. Layouts can be changed dramatically without changing location of geometry. Simple move the Viewport, not the geometry in Model Space. Only views require modification. 6. Multiple Layouts can be used in a single file. Any combination of views & sheet sizes can be drawn at different scales using the same file. You can house a complete set of documents in one file to eliminate the possibility of separating drawings. 7. Different layers can be displayed in different viewports. In Model Space, visible layers are reflected across the board, in all viewports. 8. Using the Page Setup Manager, you embed plot information in the file. Making traveling and plotting less of an issue. 9. You can clip the display the viewports, making them easy to manipulate. 10. Layout can be copied within and between drawings, making it versatile, like a template. The right click menu on the tabs will allow to edit,save, reuse layouts. Using Paper Space in 3 Steps? (the short version for experienced users) 1. Create geometry full-size in Model Space with no dimensions or hatch. 2. Setup a Layout with a titleblock and scaled viewports. 3. Add dimensions and hatches in Paper Space through the use os a viewport into Model Space. Make sure the view in the viewport is locked so the both spaces stay aligned. 10

11 Setting up a Template Making yourself as efficient as possible in AutoCAD should require the use of a template file to eliminate redundant file setup and improve drawing consistency. Remember to save the CAD file with.dwt file extension. Make sure to also use the file by opening with the NEW command. This will keep you saving over the original CAD file by invoking the SAVE AS command. Here a few things to think about when creating a template file: A titleblock in Paper Space Layout. Creation of Text STyles. Creation of DIMension STYLEs. Loading of specific linetypes. Creation of standard layers to promote organization from the start. Nobody likes a sloppy CAD file. Preset Layout view meant to function with specific plotters at specific scales. GENERAL OVERVIEW ON WHAT TO PLACE WHERE Model Space - Geometry, dimensions, hatches, and associated Text. Paper Space - Titleblocks, Bill of Materials (BOM), general Text annotations, and possibly dimensions. Specifying Distances Equivalent to Measurements in the Other Space The SPACETRANS command calculates equivalent lengths between model space units and paper space units. By using SPACETRANS transparently, you can provide commands with distance or length values relative to another space. For example, you may want to create a text object in model space that matches the height of other text in a layout. Text height conversion is a common use for this command. Moving Objects Between Spaces The CHange SPACE command is an Express Tool that allows you to send an object from Paper Space to Model Space at correct scale. The command will not activate in Model Space. You can use the command in Paper Space in an active viewport to move the object back to Paper Space. It can be found in the Modify Panel of the Home tab of the RIBBON. The information of this text can be acquired from the following sources. George Omura (2010). Mastering AutoCAD 2010 and LT 2010, New York, NY: Wiley Publishing Dan Habbott (2005). Lost in Paper Space!, Autodesk University 2005 This file is designed to assist students in the process of acquiring skills in a course in Computer-Aided Drafting. This file is not meant to be the full extent necessary to master skills in CAD. It is an introductory course composed of many sections. This information is not endorsed by Autodesk in any form. This file may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in any part or form without written permission of the creator. 11