Section Line Linetype

[nrostrander]

Hello everyone,

I have been using Inventor since verion 5 on up to 2008 Pro. The company I am working for now, wants to set up Inventor to document drawings exactly like their original AutoCAD drawings, with layers and linetypes. I would say that I am very proficient in Inventor, but I have run into a snag. When creating the "Drawing Standards" I have two layers set for section view lines. One Using magenta phantom lines, while the other is using magenta dashed lines. We follow the ASME very closley and here is the problem. If I make a simple section view strait across the part, I want the phantom linetype, but if I make a complex section of the part, I want a dashed line. I have tried to select the section line and change it's layer to the dashed version, but nothing happends. If I change the layer to center, the section line color changes but stays phantom. Is there a way to have two different section line linetypes in the standards? Or is there another method to this? I have even tried to "Edit section line" and changed the sketched line to different layers with no luck.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

V/R
Nathan
CAD Technician/ISO Director
Compass Systems, Inc. (

http://www.compass-sys-inc.com/

)

 

[mflayler]

Have you tried creating a second layer? After you create your occasional view that requires a Dashed line instead of Phantom (never heard of this ASME standard) you could select the Section Line and change it to a new layer you would have created called "Optional Section" or "Dashed Section". Now I did this with 2010 but there should not be any reason for it being different in 2008.

 

[nrostrander]

mflayler,

I have tried using a different layer and ensuring that the section lines layer was dashed and not phantom. I enven ensured that it had nothing to do with the dim type controling the line type. All my setting are "by-layer".


As for the ASME standard, it's in the ASME Y14.2M-1992, Line Convensions and Lettering. Phantom lines are use for viewing planes sections (straite) while dashed are for cutting plane sections lines (complex). They are listed as lintypes 9, 10, & 11 respectfully.

V/R
Nathan
CAD Technician/ISO Director
Compass Systems, Inc. (

http://www.compass-sys-inc.com/

)

 

[mflayler]

Nathan, as you can see in my picture mine works fine. Did you force it to a different layer after creation? If this still does not work I do not have a solution for you in 2008 except make sure you have all the service packs in. I could set up a LiveMeeting to talk through it, but maybe would be better for your reseller or posting on the Autodesk forums.

 

[mflayler]

Oops didn't look close enough to my own example, but hey, its Saturday. I think this is a limitation for what you want Inventor to do. Normally, they try to follow ANSI standard and not ASME. In 2009 they created however a closer approach by allowing you to create the dashed as another style. In 2008 you appear to be out of luck.

 

[nrostrander]

mflayler,

I suppose I will need to look into having our company upgrade Inventor, or just tell them it is not possible in the software. Thought I think I will look into persuing a possible C# or VB addin to change this. Perhaps there is a setting in the registry that controls this.

Thanks for your help anyhow.

V/R
Nathan
CAD Technician/ISO Director
Compass Systems, Inc. (

http://www.compass-sys-inc.com/

)

 

[mflayler]

Image of Workaround using Sketch with Projected Geometry with Section line turned off.

 

[nrostrander]

mflayer,

Awsome trick. I will use that. I will then write a C# addin to automatically convert the section line this way.

V/R
Nathan
CAD Technician/ISO Director
Compass Systems, Inc. (

http://www.compass-sys-inc.com/

)