Any AutoCAD geniuses

[HappierWet]

I have recently been given AutoCAD 2010, and the responsibility for updating our blueprints. I have NO experience with CAD. I did go out and get the for Dummies book.
Here's my problem, I need to draw ( seperately, I think ) each part of the assembly, each subassembly, and finally each aseembly.
Now for my Questions,
A: Can a complete drawing ( or a layer in the drawing ) be moved into another drawing?
B: Can a layer in the drawing be saved seperately, then modified for another drawing.
C: I think I can save a drawing, edit a layer or several layers, and save that as a new drawing.....Is that accurate?


I did a search for AutoCAD forums, and joind a couple but they don't seem to be very active.


Thanks for any input.

 

[QC]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

Hey HappierWet. I moved this over to non-Boating Tech. Wish I could help, good luck!

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

I started on Autocad 10 and the latest version I have worked with is Aotocad LT 2007.
I know how to work it but not how it works. My work philosphy with it has always been to draw enough so that the people building the product will have no questions.
That being said................

I have recently been given AutoCAD 2010, and the responsibility for updating our blueprints. I have NO experience with CAD. I did go out and get the for Dummies book. Just start playing around with it, when I first started the salesman gave us about two hours of basic stuff to get going. The "undo" button will come in handy often.
Here's my problem, I need to draw ( seperately, I think ) each part of the assembly, each subassembly, and finally each aseembly.
Now for my Questions,
A: Can a complete drawing ( or a layer in the drawing ) be moved into another drawing?
Yes, but usually by opening the mother drawing and then saving it as a new file with new name. Preserving the mother drawing.
B: Can a layer in the drawing be saved seperately, then modified for another drawing.
Not sure on that one, but I think you already answered a way to do it with C.
C: I think I can save a drawing, edit a layer or several layers, and save that as a new drawing.....Is that accurate?
Making blocks or Wblocks of the subassemblies will come in handy when you do the assembly drawings as you can pull in all your subassembly blocks into the final assembly drawing file.[/b]


I did a search for AutoCAD forums, and joind a couple but they don't seem to be very active.


Thanks for any input.

I have never come close to learning all the tricks, shortcuts or features available in any of the Autocad versions. Probably only use 10% of what the program offers.

 

[mscher]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

It's almost like saying, here fly this plane, you are now the pilot.

Google "free autocad training". There is some stuff that is really free.

About all the help I can, give, except good luck.

 

[i386]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

The answer to C is yes which would also cover B. There may be more than one way to do it, but that will work.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

It's almost like saying, here fly this plane, you are now the pilot.

Google "free autocad training". There is some stuff that is really free.

About all the help I can, give, except good luck.

That's about how I feel. For better or worse, I usually make crappy projects like this work somehow. I've been researching AutoCAD, and was about to have a tantrum earlier.
I enjoy learning stuff, but I like it better with good resources.

The answer to C is yes which would also cover B. There may be more than one way to do it, but that will work.

I hope so, It'll save me a bunch of time.....even more if I can get A

 

[The Enforcer]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

I have recently been given AutoCAD 2010, and the responsibility for updating our blueprints. I have NO experience with CAD. I did go out and get the for Dummies book.
Here's my problem, I need to draw ( seperately, I think ) each part of the assembly, each subassembly, and finally each aseembly.
Now for my Questions,
A: Can a complete drawing ( or a layer in the drawing ) be moved into another drawing?
B: Can a layer in the drawing be saved seperately, then modified for another drawing.
C: I think I can save a drawing, edit a layer or several layers, and save that as a new drawing.....Is that accurate?


I did a search for AutoCAD forums, and joind a couple but they don't seem to be very active.


Thanks for any input.

The answer to your first question;
You can save the first drawing then insert that drawing into another using the insert function on your toolbar. The trick is making sure the coordinates are 0,0,.

Why not use the layer command and put your sub assembly on one layer and assembly on another. You can then use the freeze/thaw or on/off command to show certain layers.

Another way to do it is using the xref command. Using a base drawing you can xref that part into another part.
Hope this helps.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

The answer to your first question;
You can save the first drawing then insert that drawing into another using the insert function on your toolbar. The trick is making sure the coordinates are 0,0,.

Why not use the layer command and put your sub assembly on one layer and assembly on another. You can then use the freeze/thaw or on/off command to show certain layers.

Another way to do it is using the xref command. Using a base drawing you can xref that part into another part.
Hope this helps.

I'm not sure I understand the XREF command yet.
I am doing all my setup work using the 0,0 coordinates.
The layer idea is what I'm working on.....I just don't know what the flexibility is or necessarily the best way to go forward.


Thanks for the input

 

[i386]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

I used AutoCAD R12 a little which ran in DOS and R13 which was the first version for Windows. It's such a mature product that it probably does do what you're asking (and much more). The quick and dirty way to get a layer into a file all by itself would just be to open the original, delete all the layers you don't want, then save the file as a different name (save as).


I wish I still remembered how to use it. I frequently find myself using Photoshop for things that are much better suited to AutoCAD. Good luck with it. It's a great feather to have in your hat!

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

I think I know what you need to do...and the short answer to your questions is YES...young skywalker.
I will try to clear out my overloaded inbox and if you want you can send me a PM and we get this resolved.
I've had to do this many, many times and it can be quite simple despite a few extra lingering files...that I often keep for....well no good reason.
Regardless.....no problem.
All Good
BP

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

Look at the "block" function, you can save anything from your original drawing to a block which can be inserted into any other drawing with all of its original layer info. This can be anything, even a complete drawing.

 

[The Enforcer]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

I'm not sure I understand the XREF command yet.
I am doing all my setup work using the 0,0 coordinates.
The layer idea is what I'm working on.....I just don't know what the flexibility is or necessarily the best way to go forward.


Thanks for the input

Happier it's kind of hard to explain typing but i'll give it a shot on the xref command;
The xref command is used when you're sharing files with different disciplines, so with that being said the breakdown would be like something this on a Civil design project like a water treatment plant:

Drawings

Civil- survey
Electrical
piping
roads/structure layout

Now say you're working on the roads and structure layout and you need to know where the electrical duct banks are located. You simply open up the roads/structure layout and then xref the electrical drawing in. What this does is keep others from deleting/erasing the work you have done.

Maybe piping wants to know where the electrical duct banks, roads and structures are located so he'll open up the piping drawing and then xref the electrical, roads and structures. Think of it as an overlay on your drawing.

That's probably overkill for what you're doing but that's how the xref function works and as more discplines add their drawings it gets complicated.

Btw i've got over 20 yrs in design using autocad and 3D software.

 

[smclear]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

I have recently been given AutoCAD 2010, and the responsibility for updating our blueprints. I have NO experience with CAD. I did go out and get the for Dummies book.
Here's my problem, I need to draw ( seperately, I think ) each part of the assembly, each subassembly, and finally each aseembly.
Now for my Questions,
A: Can a complete drawing ( or a layer in the drawing ) be moved into another drawing?
B: Can a layer in the drawing be saved seperately, then modified for another drawing.
C: I think I can save a drawing, edit a layer or several layers, and save that as a new drawing.....Is that accurate?

A. Yes, as others have said, you may do this by;
1. Inserting the drawing as a block. - doing it this way would mean you would have to "explode" the block to edit it.
2. Inserting the drawing as an "x-ref". - if you use this method. any changes made to the original drawing will automatically be changed in the new drawing.
3. You may also just 'copy and paste' the entire drawing. This would bring in all the layers and all the line work. Edit at will.

B. Yes - there are always several ways to accomplish tasks in AutoCAD. No one is more correct than the other. the easiest way (for me) to import a layer is to simply copy an object on that layer into your new drawing, then delete that object. The layer will remain. Use the "layermanager" command to edit any layers.

C. Absolutely - use the "save as" command ( just like Microsoft office products)

When finished, the "purge" command will get rid of any unused layers.

If you've never used CAD before, this will be a big task, good luck.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

A. Yes, as others have said, you may do this by;
1. Inserting the drawing as a block. - doing it this way would mean you would have to "explode" the block to edit it.

This is what I first thought as well and consequently how I tackled changing a blocks detail. However as I later found out you can edit the features of the block within it without having to explode it, thus keeping it intact as a block after editing.
The easiest way to start this is to ensure the 'block' toolbar is on and then to quickly check out the available icons for block editing and saving back, etc.
All Good
BP
note: this is why this forum is so useful....lots of people with lots of good input, experience and ideas.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Any AutoCAD geniuses

You know, this is why I like this site so much. I've gotten more response here in a day then the CAD sights I've been visiting.
I really appreciate the feedback