Autocad...

[chris73cb175]

i've been searching the web for some forums or blogs for autocad users but coming up with half done places. i know youtube has a bunch of stuff which i use. if anyone has any sites let me know. also post some stuff up of designs i know peeps on here have a lot of knowledge in autocad

 

[hurley209]

I use it at work everyday, don't know any websites though for info, what are you Lookin for?

 

[imseamless]

Same as hurley, use it at work everyday.

 

[Zooweemama]

I've had pretty good luck with Autodesk's discussion forums.
(http://forums.autodesk.com)

I also have a pretty good network of pals who are CAD experts (graduating in June - mechanical engineering! Woo!) haha. Post questions on here? I'm sure amongst us we can come up with an answer!

 

[chris73cb175]

since i'm drawing a blank and am not using autocad now i don't have any questions just started my drafting classes for my mechanical engineer program. so i'm sure you guys will hear from me soon. thanks

 

[mysta2]

For AutoCAD specifically? Or 3D modeling in general? Or just drafting? I haven't used AutoCAD since I was in highschool, but I work in ProE and Surfcam all the time. Most software producers have web forums built into thier websites some of which are pretty robust and mature. I'd be shocked if AutoCAD didn't have one, but I've never been to their site.

 

[chris73cb175]

the autocad site does have some stuff set up. I haven't really messed around on it. I'm looking into schools since i'll be finishing up my credits for city college this year and (hopefully) transferring next year. Does anyone have suggestions. I'm looking into more design work of parts and mechanical stuff. Wouldn't mind getting back into architecture again either.

 

[chris73cb175]

here is a random question. i created 2 files when both drafts were supposed to be in one. Would it be possible to merge the two files with out having to redo one of the drawings.

 

[imseamless]

You could select all of one drawing and type WBLOCK which will open a window. Select and output locations (ie desktop) and close that drawing. Open your other drawing and click "insert" or "insert block" from the toolbar at the top and browse to the new file you created from the other drawing. Before hitting "OK" there should be a tick mark at the bottom of the box that says "Explode." Put a tick in the check box and you're good.

Hope that helps. Not sure if that is the best way, just what came to mind first.

 

[hurley209]

yep, pretty much what he said.. or xref it or something, the you can bind it to the drawing.

 

[imseamless]

I've had issues with xref, maybe you can help. I added a PDF into a dwg via xref. Had a hard time keeping it in there when I moved the dwg to a different location on my computer. As soon as it moved, the PDF was replaced with where it used to live (ie c:/user/desktop). Is there a way to perminently bind it into the dwg so no matter where I move my file it's always embedded?

 

[hurley209]

hmmm. i was under the assumption that once you hit bind it was permanent. and to be honest i dont really work with pdf's so i couldnt give you an answer for sure.
let me check it out and try,
what autocad are you using? 2010?

 

[imseamless]

2010 LT

 

[CMHN]

here is a random question. i created 2 files when both drafts were supposed to be in one. Would it be possible to merge the two files with out having to redo one of the drawings.

You can try opening up both files, in the one you want to move push ctl-a, then ctl-C. Now go to the destination drawing and press ctl-v. Basically you are just copying one drawing and pasting it in another.

I hope this is what you were trying to do.

 

[Basement rat]

Anyone know of an outdated copy of Mech Desk top I can use?

 

[SkiMan]

I use AutoCad every day and have been using it since it came on the market. Now, the amount that that I know about the inner workings of AutoCad could probably fit on a pinhead but here goes.....
What you need to understand is that when you insert an item within a drawing, you've created a path for the inserted item to exist on your drawing. Should you relocate that inserted item into a new file, the original drawing that you inserted it in no longer is able to reconize the new location, likewise when you potentially move the whole drawing with the inserted items to another location (but not always). Should you create a drawing where you have inserted photos and/or other items from other files and you want to pass the drawing along for someone else to use, you'll also need to pass along the files from which the inserted items came from otherwise they may not appear on the drawing when the other user goes and opens the drawing. Example: when I crerate a drawing where I have included photos and I send it to someone else at another company, I need to make sure that I create an exact copy of the file from which the original photos came from, and include it with my email or disc.
Now with all that said, if you insert a line drawing from another file, you can always "explode" the inserted line drawing thus making it apart of your drawing as though you had originally created it there.
The amount of stuff that you can do with AutoCad is amazing, however I use maybe 5% of its capability on any given day. I create detailed drawings and roof plans for industrial re roofing projects with jobs utiliziing 10 to 15 pages of drawings. My drawings typical utililze 8 to 10 layers, a number of photographs on each page, vaarious line weights and widths as well as colors. Drawings can be created so that they "work with each other" and what I mean by that is; when you change an item on one drawing it automatically changes the same item on other drawings without having to actually open the drawing, but that can get kind of confusing it your not dealing with it everyday. This is typically done with projects utilizing a large number of pages where floor plans, plumbing and electrical plans need to match up.
My advice....learn how to operate AutoCad but also learn how to operate the machining tools that operate off of the various programs.
Good luck and have fun with it!

 

[chris73cb175]

i definitely plan on learning the machines. i always say try to put as many tricks in the hat as possible.