Making Blocks Opaque

[Hayden]

Hi all,

I'm creating assembly drawings of valves. What I would like to be able to do is create a block of each component that makes up this assembly and then lay all the blocks on top of each other to create a sectioned assembly view. Problem is, all the lines from the housing etc show through the bits that go in it. Is there a way to make a outer boundary for a block annd make that block opaque.

It just doesn't make sense to me that I should have to go through and trim all these entities to where they intersect the other components. All of this is done in a single drawing in 2D.

I'm really not too familiar with this sort of thing in ACAD as I'm used to 3D solid modelling packages where this sort of thing is a part of everyday use.

Cheers

Hayden

 

[Hayden]

I've found xclip which kind of does what I want....BUT, I can only keep the entities from INSIDE the boundary polyline. Can this be used in such a way as to exclude internal entities and retain the outer ones only?

I'm also very lazy and can't be bothered repetitively creating so many boundaries for so many different model configurations. This is a painful thought when I could get away with creating them only once in their parent blocks.

 

[CADaver]

You can use XCLIP with a POLYGON, and make sortof a big "C" with the inside blocking out what you don't want to see. Or use WIPEOUTs.

I'm still not sure I understand exactly what you're doing. It sounds like you might need to redefine the blocks using additional layers for layer control when placing. Or build the thing 3D, and be done with it.

 

[Hayden]

Thanks CADaver, I agree with you on the building the model in 3D, I'm not allowed though. Sometimes I really hate being a contractor!

I tried the 'big C' with XCLIP initially too but it just got too messy. I've been playing with wipeout today. Boy express tools are a great set of ditties aren't they. I never even knew they existed.

The problems I'm having with wipeout though are that;
a) looks like only line segemnts can be used - no arcs allowed in the polyline boundary.
b) I can't get the damn boundary to turn off. I remove the polyline on creation of the wipeout but the boundary still stays.

Any ideas on how to get rid of it.

Cheers

Hayden (ACAD 2000i)

 

[Hayden]

Well there we go, I found hopw to turn the frame off, in frame options.

 

[borgunit]

As another option (not knowing your monetary constraints), AutoCAD Mechanical has the ability to do 2D hides. Whether the object is a block or selected outer contour, Mechanical will either change the "behind" lines to hidden or place them on a layer than remains frozen. It also has the ability to "unhide" them also.

"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right "
.. Henry Ford

 

[CADaver]

"Not allowed to do 3D" ??? Make sure it costs them and they know it costs them, and you'll be suprised how quick that'll change.

We won a contract recently, and AFTER we got the contract the client gave us his cad standards; no 3D, no PAPERSPACE, no XREFs. I did a change order to figure out what it would cost us to "back-up", and sent him a charge notice. The difference in cost convinced him to change his standards.

 

[Hayden]

Perhaps we are working at the same firm?!? Those rules sound familiar. I actually come from a 3D background, and boy do I know how good things can be!

Unfortunately, I'm the only contractor here with a staff of about 20. Very difficult to institute change, especially as I'm on a 3 month contract.

 

[CADaver]

If you're in an open area, pull up a 3d file and play with it at lunch. Some guy walking by will say "Hey, what's that?". In short order you'll be direct with full benies, expense account, company car, cad manager/instructor.

Wellll.... maybe not a expense acct. and a car, but that's what happened to me.

I also got 80-90 hr weeks and all the coffee I can pay for.

 

[architech]

Did ya' ever solve this problem?
Would the "slice" command be a better solution?

Hope that helps

 

[Hayden]

Hi Architech,

I'm using wipeout to do this now as described a bit earlier. I haven't tried slice, but will, isn't it a 3D command though? Whan I'm next on ACAD I'll give it a go.

Hayden