Aligning views in draft mode

[cfee]

How would I align 2 non-associated views in draft mode?

In ACAD, I'd select a point on an entity in one view and use perp to select a line in the other view. I'd be assured of perfect alignment between the 2 views.

Is there a corresponding process available in S.E.?

Remember, these 2 views were not created as associated views and then "unaligned" to be re-aligned later.

Thanks-
C. Fee

 

[fredericmenage]

Hello,

Try to cut and paste your 2 views in the same draft view and use the horizontal/vertical constraint (relationship toolbar) or the move command with the help of the alignment indicator (Tools menu, turn on maintain relationship and alignment indicator) to align them.

You should be able to easily align the views as long as they are in the same draft view. Otherwise, I don't think it's possible.

Fred

 

[cfee]

Yeah, That's what I was afraid of.

I'll look into your suggestions on monday, but the ability to align 2 non-associated draft views is fundamental. I can't really imagine it would have been overlooked, even if only in the form of a workaround, which there seems to be a healthy number of in order to solve some pretty basic needs.

As a matter of fact, this need was one of the primary motivations for developing osnap-access in ACAD's version of "draft views".

(By the way- S.E.'s version of osnap works fine when drawing a new line say from endpoint to endpoint, but what if I'm dragging the gripped end of a line to a new destination? "osnapping" to the NEW endpoint seems unavailable. Is there a setting I'm missing?)

Anyway, thanks for trying, and if there is anyone else who could help with this one, I'm sure we'd be interested.

Thanks again,
C. Fee

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

You cannot drag an existing point to a 'new location' and snap it in place with a new constraint. Instead, you need to use the 'connect' command.

I agree with you that there should be a way to align views that are not in the same draft view... You should let UGS know by creating an IR.

Fred

 

[cfee]

An "IR" concerning such basic functionality? I'm confident that the company I'm working for was sold S.E. as superior to "old legacy CAD software" ( a common expression seen throughout S.E. Ad literature).

At 4 different work assignments using S.E., I have YET to find someone convinced that S.E.'s ability to produce shop drawings (where the dollar really happens, in Engineering and Design)is really superior to that "old legacy" program.

Thanks for your input.

C. Fee

 

[kjoiner]

C. Fee

Are you aligning views in separate draft views or within one view? You might want to consider creating the views within one draft view. That would allow you to use the move command and lock a "0" in either the x or y axis to only allow movement in one axis.

Are you creating 2D draft views from scratch or translating in legacy files?

As far as overall creation of views, SE and other solid modelling packages are more focused on using the data from the 3D models to create drawing views. If you have that data available, the creating of views is very easy and much faster than creating them in 2D. In SE, you can create other orthogonal views once you have placed the inital view by using the "create principal view" tool and dragging off on whatever side of the part you choose. I usually do this instead of using all of the views in the dialogue box.

As far as relation to ACAD, you will find similar situations in other software. Even Inventor is very different from ACAD.

Hopefully this info will help. If not, keep posting questions and I'll try to help out.

Kyle

 

[cfee]

Kyle-
Thanks for your reply.

I'm using the model to create an extracted view. Then I'll use a different view of the model to create a corresponding view. I then need to be able to align these 2 views even though they are from disparate parts of the assembly, because they work together, and dimensions from one are directly related to the other.

I do NOT draw in 2D in S.E. I'm well able to take the developed views and create the FAB Details directly from the model. I just need abilities to do REAL "DRAFTING" in a S.E. drawing.

Views aren't just views. They are graphical representations of a process, or function that has to be re-created by the FAB Technician, as He/She re-creates what's in the mind of the Designer. The ability to communicate these ideas in such a way that they are re-"creatable" by the shop is critical in Manufacturing Engineering and Design! [Back off my soap box now]

Really- thanks for your reply.

C. Fee

 

[fwc]

C.Fee

How about aligning the 2 views using the Move command with Tools>Alignment Indicator enabled; then group them together?

 

[kjoiner]

C. Fee,

Can you give me an example of the type of parts/assemblies you are creating? From you statment about using different views - are you using different configurations to create the views? That might help me understand what you are wanting to accomplish in your draft views.

The questions I asked about the 2D creating of drawings were to help me understand how you are creating your drawings. Now that I know you are creating them from the model I can think of the drawing creation from that angle.

In reference to creating drawings for processes, I create drawings for electromechanical assemblies that involve piece part drawings & weldments for outside fabrication, and assembly drawings for our assembly personnel. I mention this because I have to incorporate extras such as wiring into many drawings and since I don't have Express Route, I use draw in view and some other tricks to incorporate wiring. There may be some other tricks that may help for your situation.

If you have access to the Solid Edge GTAC server you can also try that. There are some power users and technical support personnel who have helped me a great deal over the past few years. If there is no method to accomplish what you are looking to do, you can submit and enchancment request. They're usually pretty responsive to requests.

Kyle

 

[cfee]

Kjoiner-
The kinds of parts and assemblies-
... a good place to start.

I have a 13 pc total weldment, consisting of some things on each end of a 9' 6" SCH-40 pipe. It's a mechanical piece made up of the components mentioned.

Some things happen at each end of the pipe, and I want to bring the views necessary together centered beneath the long side-view of the pipe. I want to show some pieces welded on one end relative to how they're welded on the other end, and use dimensions and view-alignment to communicate this.

We have some good guys in the shop, and they REALLY appreciate the necessary extra attention to what they need to better envision the goal! I even had one guy come in, and based on what he saw in one of my other drawings, asked if I could represent the items I mentioned above...
I'm new here, and still on a temporary basis, if you know what I mean, and I'm off to a really good start, based on some of the shop feeback to my boss! I CAN'T be tripped up by such silly little details, based on programming or software limitations like this.

Anyway, enough background. Kjoiner (and all others) I really appreciate your help!

Thanks again,
C. Fee

PS-
Kjoiner & any others-
I have a seperate question about parts lists that I'll be posting as soon as I've collected my thoughts on it. I'd appreciate your watching out for that one, too.
Tks-
C.F.

 

[kjoiner]

C. Fee

I wonder if the weldment environment might be useful in your situation. Are you showing treatments to the pipe ends for welding such as bevels etc.? Honestly, I have not used the environment but it may be useful for showing such features. Also you can use the simplify command to add features such as bevels to the pipe and then when you create draft drawings, use simplified parts or regular parts to show or hide extra features.

If you are trying to hide parts such as your end fitting to just show the pipe for instance, you might be able to create a new principle view(dragged off of another view)and then use the view properites to hide the undesired components. You can still detail the parts - just don't use the pictoral view option when creating such views - you can't dimension views that use that.

By the way, what version are you using?

Kyle

 

[cfee]

Kyle-
No, I'm not trying to hide parts... , I'm trying to align disparate views.

We don't depict welds in our shop drawings, so weld environment is of no value to us.

Simplified vs regular parts depictions is of no practical value in our shop.

v-15.

Thanks-
C. Fee