point | CADcaster

You are browsing the archive for point.

Manfacturers data / BIM data

December 6, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

My last blog on CAD drawings and BIM returned some interesting comments from within my blog as well as from Linkedin Groups. It appears some were missing the point or not understanding it while some responses were building upon it. As a means to clarify my point I would like to take this discussion to the next level.

For the purpose of this blog, let’s consider the BIM data as representations of the manufacturer’s product data. In order for building manufacturers to be competitive they will most definitely have to be concerned with the BIM representation of their product data. But that is not all they are concerned with as they have the manufacturer’s representation of that data, not to mention marketing data such as cut sheets, shop drawings, etc.

Manufacturers Representations – There are a number of categories relating to data from the perspective within manufacturers’ walls but let’s just look at a few items:
Engineering data comes in all sorts of different methodology such as solid modeling, database driven and plain old 2D. This data is the life blood of the manufacturer, not only displaying current product line but being used to create new product (R&D). Actually, when I talk to manufacturers I like to draw a big circle and label it as the engine model from which everything is a derivative of this data.
Marketing data – Even though there are and can be more derivatives than just marketing data from an engine model, for this blog let’s look at the marketing data as data including BIM data and cut sheets or shop drawings.
BIM data is from a geometry point of view and should, for the most part, focus on providing the ‘foot print’ and ‘volume in space’ for the product. There are other concerns involving more detail that I will leave for another blog. The BIM data from the meta data perspective is also a key factor as it is really where manufacturers have to be cognizant in order to provide all the data necessary for their product, which includes pointers to cut sheets or shop drawings and specifications to name a few.

What I was trying to convey in my l last blog was that manufacturers will need to continue providing drawings of their products in a 2D fashion. This data will most likely take the form of a PDF file which will continue to provide the necessary detail and information that an architect or engineer needs. Again, this is something the BIM models do not provide other than by including a URL link to this data.
There are quite a few other derivatives we could talk about but the main point I want to emphasize is that all of the product data could be taken from the engine model, which is exactly what we are doing with the FAR Process - becoming a derivative of the engine model.

Patrick Johnson

Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc. – Manfacturers data / BIM data
Go to Source: CAD Enhancement, Inc.

Tags: BIM, blog, cad drawings, D. This, Data, data marketing, foot print, meta data, Patrick Johnson Source, point, product, shop drawings No Comments »

by CADcaster

Using Parametric Features in Dynamic Block

December 6, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

architecture tools - small
Parametric feature is very useful if you have similar object with slightly different geometry or size. In manufacturing, if you have nuts and bolts that looks the same, but have different sizes, parametric features is perfect for this purpose. This kind of remind us about dynamic block, isn’t it? Dynamic block has the same purpose, but has limitation. I can’t figure yet how we can use it in AEC industry, except for reusable contents.
So this time, we are going to create a column with dynamic block. This is similar with the column we created in dynamic block tutorial. But we are not using the parameter and action. We are going to use geometric and dimension constraint. We will see how we can get different dynamic block behavior.

For a start, let’s create two rectangles like this.
initial column
I made a 200x200mm rectangle and offset it 20mm to outside. The 200x200mm is the column, and 20mm is the column finishing layer. Make it as a block, and use the center of the rectangle as insert point. Same like we did before.

As usual, to add ‘dynamic’ behavior to the block, we need to open it in block editor. Let’s forget the block authoring palette for a while. We will focus on the contextual tab: block editor.
block editor palette
Let’s activate the dimensional constraint. use linear dimension, and snap to the rectangle end points. Change the constraint name immediately to h and w like below.
linear constraint
Now we will tell AutoCAD that we want the finish thickness is 20mm. Let’s add one more constraint, name it finish.

Here is the deal. We have four rectangular sides that need to define the offset distance. Add them all and when AutoCAD ask you for the value, type ‘=finish’. It means we are going to use the same value as the previous constraint.
referencing to finish
And when AutoCAD ask you the number of grips, enter 0. We don’t need it since we refer to ‘finish’ constraint. Here is the finished dimension constraint placement.

We haven’t finished yet. But let’s test it before we continue. Click parameter manager button on your ribbon.

As you can see, the result can be unpredictable! Why? We haven’t tell AutoCAD the objects relations to each other. We need to add geometric constraint.
parameter changed
Undo until you see the rectangle back. We will add geometric constraint to these rectangle. Instead of adding them one by one, let’s activate Auto Constraint. Press S then [enter] to change the settings. Deactivate all, except perpendicular. We want or rectangle sides to be perpendicular to each other.
constraint settings
Click OK then select them all. Add one horizontal constraint to any horizontal edges. You can left the whole constraint on actually. Not just the perpendicular. I just want you to know the option exist
Try to change the parameters again. We still have a problem: the insertion point is shifted.
parameter changed 2
The last thing, we need to define a fixed point as the center of the column.
Let’s create a point at #0,0. You can activate point by typing POINT then [enter]. Then type #0,0 [enter]. If you can’t see the point, type DDPTYPE [enter] to change the point appearance.
Lock it at its position using fix constraint.

Now add dimensions from the point to the rectangle edges. Use h/2 and w/2 as the value. This will make sure our column center won’t shifted.
the divider constraint
Let’s try again. Does it work?
We will explore this column again next time.

align=center borderColor=#000000>

Do you find our tutorial useful?
Please consider to donate via Paypal to support this site providing free contents!

Source: CAD Notes – Using Parametric Features in Dynamic Block
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: aec industry, Block, column, constraint, constraint name, dynamic block, nuts and bolts, parametric features, point, rectangle No Comments »

by CADcaster

MicroStation Drawing Elements: Circles and Polygon

December 6, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

We tried to draw several times before. But until now, we only use linear elements. Now we are going to discuss circles and polygons. I don’t usually write details on how using a specific tool. I usually write concept and ‘how to’ tutorial. But i already wrote this tutorial as a book before (in Indonesian). So I don’t want to mess the original material structure anyway.
Circle and polygon are closed shapes. Closed shapes have some properties that open shapes don’t. Let’s see the tool settings for circle.

circle options

You will see area, fill type, and fill color. You can change the fill type to opaque or outlined. Opaque will place the circle and fill the object with fill color you choose. Outlined will also place the circle with fill color, but still preserve the outline color.
opaque vs outlined

Tips: If you don’t see the fill color, click view attributes on your view toolbar. Select fill. It’s the first icon on your view toolbar.

Circles

Placing a circle

You can place circles using these method:
center
Center: You define two points: the center point and a point on the edge
edge
Edge: You define 3 points on the circle edge

Diameter: You define two points on the edge as the circle diameter.
We will do a little exercise at the end of this tutorial, but now:

Placing an Arc

arc options
Placing arc is pretty much the same with placing circle. There are some methods and options, but I think they are self explained. You need to try them to understand the options better.
You can define the direction by rotating your pointer to other direction around the center of arc. And of course, you can manually override the direction parameter to CW or CCW.

Placing Polygons

Placing Blocks

Block is a rectangle. MicroStation call it block, but you know it as rectangle in AutoCAD. Block in AutoCAD is cell in MicroStation. Confusing? Sorry, I can’t help it But don’t worry about that. Let’s continue…
You can place a block by using two methods: orthogonal or rotated.

Orthogonal requires you to define two points at the block corners.

rotated
Rotated requires you to define three points: start point, rotation angle, and the block corner.

Placing Shapes and Orthogonal Shapes

place shape option
Placing shape is very similar with placing SmartLine. But you have to define the last data point at your first data point, so the shape will close. You can also find one button that you don’t see in other tool settings: close element. Clicking the button will automatically close your shape.
Orthogonal shape is similar to shape. The only difference is the edges is perpendicular to each other.

Regular Polygon

You can create a regular polygon with number of edges from 3 to 4999.
You can use these following method to place a regular polygon. Below are the illustration of the methods. The circle is only for illustration. You will not see it in your drawing.

Inscribed: First data point will be the center, and the second is the polygon corner.

Circumscribed: First point is the polygon center, and the second point is the distance from center to polygon edge.
by edge
Edge: You define two points on the polygon edge.

A Challenge: Create this drawing using regular polygon, circle, and arc

challenge
If you have problem, you can download the animation here.

align=center borderColor=#000000>

Do you find our tutorial useful?
Please consider to donate via Paypal to support this site providing free contents!

Source: CAD Notes – MicroStation Drawing Elements: Circles and Polygon
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: amp nbsp, center, circle, circle diameter, edge, linear elements, material structure, outline color, point, polygon No Comments »

by CADcaster

How to: Label Coordinate in AutoCAD

November 10, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

I had this question several times: can we automatically label our coordinate in AutoCAD? If you are Civil3D user, then you most likely will suggest them to use C3D. But can AutoCAD actually do it? YES!

I saw many people use AutoLISP to do that task. It works great. But sometimes you may want to have your own labeling symbol and format. So, why not using field?

Creating a reference object

First, we need to create an object as a reference point. It can be a point, a circle, or any symbol you want it to appear. I use this symbol.

I prefer to use point or circle. We can easily use the point position or circle center.

Creating an Attribute Definition

After we have the reference object, we need to define an attribute definition. You can activate it by clicking it on your ribbon, home tab, block panel.

Or simply type ATTDEF then [enter].

Let’s define our attribute. Give the attribute tag, prompt like below. In default field, type ‘X Y = ‘ then click insert field.

Change the field category to objects, and in field names, select object. Click select object button to define the object type. Select the circle, don’t select anything else!

AutoCAD will list all available properties. Select center (or if you use point, select position). Because I only use it in 2D drawings, I don’t need it to display Z value. I turn it off. Change the format if necessary.Click OK.

Click OK again to close the define attribute dialog box. Place your attribute definition in desired location.

Optional: Define Adjustable Leader

If you don’t want to have leader in your coordinate label, you can skip this step.

I add a line that will be used as leader.

Create the Block

Now we can define the block. Click create from ribbon, block panel.

Select all the objects, and define the center as insertion point. Activate Open in Block Editor on lower left of this dialog. We are going to add some ‘dynamic’ functionality. Click OK.

AutoCAD will show the edit attribute dialog. We don’t want to modify it as it is updated automatically. Just click OK.

Add the Control Grip

What we want to do is adding a grip control, so we can modify the text (and optionally leader) placement. In block authoring palette, activate the point parameter.

Now place it where you want the grip appear.

Now activate the stretch action.

Select the point parameter, create the stretch frame like below, and select the line and attribute definition. [Enter] to end it.

Now we are done! Save this block and close block editor.

Using the Label

How we can use the label? Just insert the block, and click on the point you want to show the coordinate. After you have one of the block in your drawing, you can copy it and place it on several points you wanted.

Because we add a control grip, we can move the text and leader position!

Becaus
e we use field, if you move your points, the value will be automatically updated! Very cool, isn’t it?

Why Attribute Definition? Why not Just Use Text?

You might ask this: why not just use text with field? I know we can insert field within text, single or multiline. But it doesn’t work. You may want to try it by yourself.

Apparently the field will consider the reference point always at 0,0,0 when you create a block. It works if you don’t create a block from them, but I believe you want to use it as reusable content, aren’t you?

align=center borderColor=#000000>

Do you find this article helpful?
Donate via Paypal to support this
site

Source: CAD Notes – How to: Label Coordinate in AutoCAD
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: 2d drawings, attribute definition, AutoCAD, Block, click, D. But, default field, Field, insertion point, Leader If, object button, point, X Y No Comments »

by CADcaster

Precise Input: Using AccuSnap

November 7, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

When we place drawing elements, we need to reference to an existing point. We need to place a point exactly at the end of a line, midpoint of a line, center point of a circle, et cetera. In MicroStation, we use AccuSnap to do this. You have used AccuSnap for snapping your data point to a line end before, now let’s get to know it better.

AccuSnap only active when MicroStation is asking you for a data point. It means when you need to place a drawing elements or define a data point during modify or manipulate your drawing elements. When MicroStation doesn’t ask you for data point, AccuSnap is not active.

By default, the AccuSnap mode is set to find key points. Key points are different for each object type. For example, key points for lines are the end points and mid point. Key points for circle are at its octants (every 45 deg) and its center point.

Open a new drawing, create several objects in it. Rectangle, lines, circle, arc, et cetera. Don’t worry about their size. We just use it to understand the AccuSnap behavior. We will do a drawing exercise on the next tutorial.

Try to activate a drawing tools. Let’s use Place SmartLine. Move your pointer close to those objects and see when and where the AccuSnap appear.

Overriding Snap Mode

During the design, we need to use more snap tools than just the key points. Don’t worry, MicroStation has enough snap tools you can use. You can override the default snap mode by clicking the AccuSnap button on status bar.

Or if you feel more comfortable with toolbar, you can show the button bar. Click the AccuSnap button and select button bar.

How come the toolbar only showing a few snap mode, not as many as in snap menu? Right click on the toolbar, and activate other mode you may need. Or, simply click show all. There you go; you have the entire snap mode you can use!

Active Snap and Default Snap

How do we know which snap mode is active? Active snap is shown as a pushed button. When you see the center point button is pushed, then the active snap is center point. But there is more.

See the key point snap button? It’s also pushed, and it’s shown in gray. The grayed button means it’s the default snap mode.

Activate Place SmartLine. Try to override the snap mode to center point. Click on a circle to snap to its center. After defining a data point, the key point will be back as the active snap mode. This is very useful if you only need to change the snap mode for a point, and still want the key point as default snap mode.

On the snap menu, the default snap mode will have a blank circle on the left of it. While the active snap mode have a filled circle.

If you need to change the default snap mode, you can do one of these:

Double click on a button in snap toolbar
Click the snap button on status bar, hold [shift] and click on a snap mode you want.

If you have finished playing around with the default snap mode, make sure to switch it back to key point.

Tentative Snap

Do you remember which button is the tentative snap button? Yes, press the left and right button together. I know some of you may not feel comfortable with it. I will show you how you can choose another button for at the end of this post. Let’s just use the default for now.

If you move your pointer close enough to a key point, you will see this point.

It’s almost like the snap point, but it’s not yellow. It’s a dashed cross. If you move your pointer closer to that point, then it will change to snap point.

Let’s move your pointer until you see the tentative point. Click the tentative button. MicroStation will show you which point you are attempt to snap. The tentative point becomes a large white cross, and MicroStation highlight the object. If you see it is snapping to correct point, click data point to accept it.

This is important if you have a lot of objects in your drawing. You can review whether you are snapping to correct object or not. If it’s not, click reset (right click) to cancel it, and try it again.

Changing the Tentative Snap Button Assignment

If you still feel uncomfortable with clicking two buttons at once, you can change the button assignment.

Access MicroStation menu: Workspace>Button Assignments… MicroStation will open a dialog box. Click Remap Buttons.

In button mappings dialog box, select the tentative button. As you can see, currently it’s invoked by left button – right button chord. Move your pointer to button definition area. Click any button you want to assign a new button.

Many MicroStation users use mid button as tentative point. It’s a long story You will lose the pan functionality from the mid button. But you still can use pan scroll by pressing [shift] + data point. It’s not exactly the same with pan view. If you don’t like the pan scroll, you can change the button assignment from pan scroll to pan view. It’s your choice!

Do you find this article helpful? You can donate via Paypal to support this site.

Source: CAD Notes – Precise Input: Using AccuSnap
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: button, button bar, click, Don, drawing tools, midpoint of a line, mode, octants, point, snap, snap tools No Comments »

by CADcaster

Dynamic Block Tutorial #4: Adding More Actions

September 4, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

Previously, we have created a door. We add some actions so this door can be resized to an available width in our list. But it’s not perfect yet. At least not for our purpose. Now we are going to add more actions so this door can be flipped, and will align automatically to our wall orientation.

Open your file that contain the door block we have created on previous tutorial. Open that block in block editor. We are going to add two flip actions. Let’s just use parameter sets. Parameter sets basically just the same with placing parameters and actions. Only it place them both right away. Sometimes this is harder to control. But flip action is quite simple, so I think this will be safe In block authoring palette, open parameter set tab. Activate flip set.

We are going to add one flip action first. Click first and second point at mid point of our door frame as below. This will allow our door to be flipped vertically.

When we placed the flip action set, the only thing we define is the reflection line. Look at the action button, we have a warning sign on it. It means we haven’t give all the data it’s required. We haven’t define which objects will be affected by this action.

Click on the flip action button, right click. Select action selection set>new selection set from context menu.

When AutoCAD ask you for objects, type ALL [enter]. Do not try to select objects, just type ‘all’ to select all objects. I’ve tried to select by crossed window, and my dynamic block didn’t work as expected. I suspect that there are some objects are not selected. It shows different numbers on how many objects selected.

Try to test your dynamic block, and see if it works fine. Now let’s move on, we are going to add another flip action. Add it so we can flip our door horizontally.

Just like before, add all objects to be flipped. Test it. You will see that our insertion point is shifted. There is no way to eliminate this error by using parameters and action only. At least there’s no way that I know. Even in door sample from Autodesk, they can’t keep the insertion point at it’s place. We can use dimension and geometric constraints in AutoCAD 2010 (or newer), but not with parameter and actions. I will write about parametric constraints later, after we finish our plan.

However, we can minimize this impact. I hate to move my door after I placed it. So I add one more stretch action to our linear parameter. I add the stretch frame outside the flip parameter. I want this parameter also stretched when my door is resized.

I also change the distance multiplier to 0.5. Changing this value will keep my flip action at midpoint of my door width. (Door width changes)/2.

Save it, and test it. When we stretch it first, then flip it horizontally, then the insertion point will remain at it’s position. But if we stretch it at this position, then the insertion point will be shifted. At least this is better.

The last parameter we will add is alignment. Alignment don’t need action. We just add this parameter, and it will work.

This is our finished door.

Save it, close block editor. Try to place some wall, vertical, horizontal, and angled wall. Try our door to these walls

I hope you like this trick.

Source: CAD Notes – Dynamic Block Tutorial #4: Adding More Actions
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: Action, action selection, Block, button right, door, dynamic block, insertion point, parameter, parameter sets, point No Comments »

by CADcaster

Negative Buffer Values

August 5, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD

A while back the question came up if anyone used negative values to create a buffer in another forum. I thought WHAT? Most of the buffers I create are with point or line type objects, if you do a -10 distance buffer of a point or line object what do you get? Nothing! However you can create a negative buffer from a polygon object. Michael Schlosser from the Autodesk north of the border team shows how to use it and provides a good example of why you might want to here on his blog.

Source: Map 3D and Murphs Law – Negative Buffer Values
Go to Source: Map 3D and Murphs Law

Tags: buffer, buffer values, line, Map, Michael Schlosser, negative values, north of the border, point, polygon object, Source No Comments »

by CADcaster

Using Text Fit

July 22, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD

TEXTFIT, is an AutoCAD express tools command that stretches or shrink text objects, by selecting a new start and end points for text. This command should be best use in a situation like, fitting a room label in an enclosed border by setting a new text width.

Text Fit, can be found under the Express pulldown menu, under the Text. Or alternatively at the command prompt, type-in, TEXTFIT.

text-fitpix2

Command: TEXTFIT
Select Text to stretch or shrink: Use an object selection method
Specify end point or [Start point]: Specify a new end point, or enter S to specify a new start point
Pick new starting point: Specify a new start point
ending point: Specify a new endpoint

text-fit-pix1