Should i draw in Imperial or Metric???

[Bloodwig80]

I work for an aluminum canopy manufacturer. Our canopies are installed in schools all over the southern United States. My department currently draws everything in 2D AutoCAD, then the shop drawings go to the factory, everything is prefabricated and sent out in trucks to the field location.

We are transitioning from 2D CAD into Inventor Software. Pretty much taking it to the next level.

Now my question is, should i draw all my parts in imperial or metric? I know metric is "top-down" orientation and imperial is "against-the-wall" orientation. (i think im right) Which do you think i should use?

 

[MechCT]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say that metric is "top-down" or imperial is "against-the-wall" but if you're drafting a product that is going to be manufactured by, assembled by, and inspected by people who are looking for imperial dimensions than I think that you should dimension it that way.

Metric and Imperial are just units... I don't think either really has anything to do with orientation. Maybe you can expound on your first post?

 

[Bloodwig80]

Okey let me elaborate on my first post.

Thinking in terms of a room, my understanding is that in Metric Orientation:
-X plane is a flat plane, as in a table top.
-Y is standing perp to, like a wall.

In imperial:
-X axis is the wall
-Y is the table top.

I may be completely off but then this was taught to me by a CAD professional in a certified institution so if he was wrong then im in deep trouble.

 

[MechCT]

Well the orientation of your x y and z planes is a matter of preference I think. I don't think that either metric or imperial standards require a certain plane be positioned in a room a certain way.

The way that I would personally look at it is like this... A table top would represent the x and y planes (length and width of the table top) and the distance from the table top to the floor, along the table leg, would be the z plane.

Well, I thouroughly confused by your question Bloodwig80... Sorry. Perhaps you should wait and see if someone else posts here with more helpful information for you. I don't think I can help.

 

[Bloodwig80]

sorry if i confused you.

I quote you:

"The way that I would personally look at it is like this... A table top would represent the x and y planes (length and width of the table top) and the distance from the table top to the floor, along the table leg, would be the z plane."

It was taught to me that this would be the "Metric" orientation.


If that same table was glued to the wall, then it would be Imperial do you follow now?

i just re-read it and i did fubar my explanation up there sorry about that.

 

[xgrigorix]

Are you sure you're not thinking of first angle projection vs third angle projection?

 

[DesignerMike]

The explanation would make a little more sense if you are talking about first angle or third angle projection. BUT the way that you model parts and assemblies is exactly the same metric or imperial. Drawing view creation and layout is where the difference would come into play.

When I first start out modeling a part, I almost never think about how it will be oriented in the assembly. I pick the "dominant" feature, and build it from there (usually center it around the origin axis so I can use these when constraining parts together in the assembly).

When you create the views in the drawing you can pick virtually any orientatation, or view, then rotated it 360 whichever way you might want it, and then project top, bottom, either side, or iso views in 4 directions....doesn't matter if it is metric, imperial, first or third projection (you just have to tell Inventor which you prefer)

Remember, when you are using Inventor, you are not "drawing" per say...you are "modeling" in 3D space, and when you are ready, Inventor will create the "drawing views" and you will just have to detail them.

I am probably way off base, butI hope this sheds some light on the subject.

 

[Bloodwig80]

thanks Mike, thanks everyone. I will do some more research on this.

 

[UKBullman]

Hello Folks, I read your Posts, hear is my question, Kind of related, You've been talking plane and axis orientation,when i build and insert parts and such into an .iam ,I'd like to be able to change the plane and axis colors to keep my orientation strait,Is there a way to change plane and axis colors within a part. i usually start a part by 1: making the Origin Center Pt and XYPlane visble
2roject my center point to have a spot to ground my sketch to 3:then draw on XY Plane and -z Axis going into the monitor and right a SW Iso I Guess.
Being able to change axis and plane colors would make orientation and constraining parts simpler i Think. Any way any help would be appreciated