unit 2: arrays & blocks dt2510: advanced cad methods

Unit 2: Arrays & BlocksDT2510: Advanced CAD Methods

No matter what you have to draw, chances are good that you will have some repetitive elements in your drawing. AutoCAD offers several tools to help you get the most out of those repetitive drawing elements.

If you find that you tend to set up drawing files in a similar way, you can create a blank drawing file that is set up just the way you like, then use that file as a template for other drawings. If you need to make copies of an object, AutoCAD gives you several tools to make arrayed copies or randomly placed copies. There are also tools that let you make parallel copies at a fixed distance.

Rectangular Array

Circular Array

Random Copies

Parallel Copies

Unit 2: Arrays & Blocks

Every time you create a new drawing, you have the option to select a template file. A template file is just an AutoCAD drawing that contains all of the settings and even drawing elements that you might want for a particular style of drawing.

To save a drawing as a template, choose Save As from the Application menu. In the Save Drawing As dialog box, give your file a name that will help you remember it’s purpose, then choose AutoCAD Drawing Template as the type of file you want to save. Click Save and AutoCAD will place your file in the Template folder.


The next time you start a new drawing, you’ll see your custom template in the list of template files.


To make arrayed copies of drawing objects in AutoCAD, you can use the Array tools in the Home tab’s Modify panel. Click the Array flyout and you will see Rectangular Array, Path Array, and Polar Array.


Here are examples of each type of array.

Rectangular Path Polar


Arrays can be easily edited using grips. For example…

Click and drag a grip on a path array…

…to alter the array shape.


In an earlier session, you learned how you can use Offset to make parallel copies. Copies made with Offset often need some editing to fit their purpose. One of the most frequently used tools for editing objects is the Fillet tool.

Fillet lets you join two objects end to end to form a clean corner.


Another frequently used editing tool is Trim. As you might guess from the name, Trim will trim an object, usually back to another object that you use as a reference.

In the these images, an Xline is offset to set the location for the door opening. Trim is then used to trim all of the lines back.

Trim

Trim


Defining Blocks• All blocks must be named• Blocks have a base point and a block

unit• You can choose if you’d like to retain,

delete, or convert the defining geometry into a block reference when you click OK.

• You can keep blocks from being exploded by deselecting Allow Exploding (this can be reversed by using PROPERTIES in the block editor)


Block Units• The scale a block is inserted at depends

upon the block units defined using the BLOCK command AND the Insertion Scale set using the UNITS command

• Blocks that are defined in millimeters will be automatically scaled when inserted into drawings defined with inches as the insertion scale, for example.


Duplicating Block References• You can insert multiple block references

using the INSERT command• You can also duplicate block references

using COPY, MIRROR, and/or ARRAY• There is no functional difference between

block references added using the above two methods

• All block references are linked to the same definition by name (Chair, Desk, etc)


Inserting Blocks “On-Screen”• You can specify the insertion point, rotation

and scale of inserted blocks using the dialog box or interactively on-screen

• When specifying parameters on-screen, you can use a negative scale factor to effectively mirror the block reference geometry as compared to its block definition geometry.

• It is possible to pre-explode blocks upon insertion (often done with entire drawings, aka global blocks).


Editing Blocks In-Place• Right click an existing block reference and

choose Edit Block In-Place from the shortcut menu

• Alternatively type REFEDIT and select the block name from a list to enter in-place editing mode

• All other references disappear when you are using in-place editing mode

• When you are done making in-place changes to a block, click Save Changes on the temporary panel or type REFCLOSE


Understanding Floating Properties• There are two floating properties: ByLayer and

ByBlock• You must assign objects in a block definition to

layer 0 if you want to also use ByLayer for the objects’ color, linetype, and lineweight properties

• Blocks created on layer 0 that have ByLayer properties inherit the layer and object properties of the layer they are inserted upon.

• Objects in block definitions that are assigned ByBlock properties have all the advantages of ByLayer PLUS the ability to receive explicit object properties as block references.


Using the Block Editor• Launch the block editor by typing

BEDIT• Alternatively right click a block

reference and choose Block Editor• The block editor replaces the

drawing so you can focus on designing the block definition

• You have access to geometric and dimensional constraints, and the authoring palettes in the block editor

• You can create dynamic blocks here


Using Groups• Groups are less formal than blocks, not requiring names or base points• Groups can contain objects, block, or other groups• Groups are often used for temporary organizations of objects for easy

selection and manipulation


Group Tools• Click the Group button to create a group• The ability to select the group or its

constituent elements can be toggled by clicking the bottom tool in the Groups panel

• You can add or remove objects from a particular group using the GROUPEDIT command

• Groups cannot be exploded; use UNGROUP instead

• Access the legacy Group dialog box with the CLASSICGROUP command


Using the WBLOCK command:• You can write block definitions, the entire

drawing, or portions of a drawing to a new file

• You can specify Insert Units when creating the new file through WBLOCK, or use the UNITS command in the new file itself to specify the Insert Scale.

• Writing an entire drawing to itself eliminates unreferenced items that you might normally unsuccessfully purge


Inserting Global Blocks• The key to inserting a global block is

to click the Browse button in the Insert dialog box to access another drawing file

• If you see a path referenced in the Insert dialog box, then the block you are inserting is a global block

• Local blocks are available on the Name drop down


Global and Local Blocks• When you insert a drawing file with the

same name as a local block you are asked whether you want to redefine the block

• After a block is redefined by a global block it appears in the Name drop down because it is now a local block

• If you check Explode in the Insert dialog box you can insert a global block without creating a local block definition


Redefining Blocks• You redefine blocks by inserting a

drawing file with the same name as a local block definition

• When you redefine a block, all block references with that name will automatically updated. Be careful when doing this or you might overwrite important information!

• Use the RENAME command to change the name of existing block definitions if you don’t want to redefine when inserting a block of the same name


Configuring the Content Manager• Click the Configure Settings button in the

Content Manager (lower right corner)• Click the Add Watched Folder button in

the Configure Settings dialog• The Content Manager will search all

subfolders within the folders you add to the watch list

• Your CAD Manager can install software on each computer in your local area network so they will appear as content sources


Browsing the Content Manager • You can browse items in the content manager by

double clicking them• When you drill down within a single drawing file

you will see icons and thumbnails for items that can be dragged into the current drawing

• You can also right click items listed in the content manager for options such Open Drawing or Insert

• Click the breadcrumbs along the top bar to go up to a specific folder


Searching in the Content Manager• Searching within the Content Manager is where

it really shines more than the Autodesk Design Center

• Once folders have been indexed, searching is very fast

• You can search through the files in all watched folders and find specific blocks, text, styles, xrefs and more in seconds


Using the Tool Palettes• You can drag almost anything in a

drawing to the Tool Palettes, provided you have saved the drawing

• Right click a new tool to configure its properties

• You can choose to prompt for rotation so inserting a block from a palette is much like using the INSERT command

• Additional properties like color, layer, linetype, and so on can be configured in Tool Properties


External References• Xrefs are linked rather than being inserted

like blocks• Links are updated when the target

drawing is opened • Balloon notifications appear when an Xref

source file is saved• You can manually update links that have

changed since they were initially loaded• Xrefs allow teams to work together

without overwriting each others’ work• Xrefs give singular control over multiple

references for more efficient drawing


unit 2: arrays & blocks dt2510: advanced cad methods

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