1

AutoCAD: Secrets Every User Should Know

Chapter 6 – Plotting

2

Background

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Why Are There Two Spaces?

To Separate Designing from Plotting

Design in Model Space

Plot from Layouts in Paper Space

Simple

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Definition – Model Space•Drawing Editor Opens Here (TILEMODE =1)•Create 2D or 3D Models•Geometry Should Be Actual Size

Four Equal 3D Viewports in Model Space

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Definition – Paper Space

• Lay Out Views Here• Can Be Moved, Copied, Stretched, Clipped, Erased • Grip Editing Works on Views

Multiple Views

Multiple Scales

Multiple Layouts

Irregular Shapes

Circular Shapes

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Definition – Viewports

Think of Viewports in a Layout As:

• Floating Viewports Not fixed Model Space viewports

• Or…Floating Model Spaces

• Or…Holes in the Sheet Through Which You Can See Your Model

• …Whatever Makes Sense to You

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Drawbacks of Paper SpaceObjects in Paper and Model spaces Are Separate

Cannot Be Selected at the Same Time For:

Copying to another drawing Defining detail blocks Creating files using WBLOCK Exporting WMF files

But There Are Ways to Do All of These Things

That’s It…

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Advantages of Paper SpacePlotting MultipleViews of 3D Models

Plotting Details at Multiple Scales

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More AdvantagesLess Time Calculating

Automatic dimension Sizes

Automatic text height If you do it right

Automatic hatch pattern scaling

Automatic linetype scaling

More Consistent Plotting

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Even More Advantages•Move Views But NOT Geometry to Rearrange Sheet

•Put Multiple Layouts Within One Drawing

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Even More Advantages•Clip Views So That Only Part of Them Plot

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Even More Advantages

•Freeze Layers by Viewport on Single Sheet

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Even More Advantages

•Store Plotting Information With the Drawing Saves time Improves consistency

•Copy Layouts from One Drawing into Another DesignCenter Right-click Layout tab

•Use Layouts in Sheet Sets

14

Preparation

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Preparation – Create Template1. Define a full-sized border for each sheet size

2. Set Text STYLE Height = 0

3. Create dimstyles with “Scale Dimensions to Layout”

4. Set LTSCALE, CELTSCALE, and PSLTSCALE = 1

5. Create separate layers for:

Dimensions and detail dimensions Hatch patterns and detail hatch patterns Text Viewports – non-plot, or off (don’t freeze irregular)

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What to Put WhereModel Space

All Geometry (Visible, Hidden, Center) 2D Dimensions (After Setting Up a Layout!) Hatches (After Setting Up a Layout!) Text Associated Directly With the Model

Paper Space (Layout)

Title Block and Border General Annotation – Notes, BOM, Revisions 3D Dimensions if SOLPROF or SOLDRAW Multiple Viewports With Model Space Views Raster-Based Images for Logos

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What to Put Where?

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Why Dims in Model Space? Not too big a deal, because CHSPACE is a command now! Easy to transfer back and forth, but if dims are in Model Space they:

•Can Always Be Movedwith Associated Objects

•Always Reflect Actual Dimension - Even 3D Parts if Dimensions ArePlaced on Model

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Why Dims in Model Space? •QDIM Won’t Work in Paper Space

•Details with Dimensions Can Be Defined as Blocks

•Phantom Features Can Be Dimensioned (Interior Walls)

•DIMREGEN Not Required for Dims in Model Space

•No Need for DIMREASSOCIATE

•Open Older Drawings DIMASO=1, DIMASSOC=1

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Paper Space Dimensions OK? Sure – Many People Put Them There3D Models – May Be Better in Paper Space

DIMASSOC Must Be Set to 2 Older Drawings Set to 1 DIMREGEN After Scroll/pan with Mouse Wheel

Use CHSPACE to Move Dimensions If Necessary

Paper Space Model Space Model Space Paper Space

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Overview of Procedure

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The Big Picture

1. Create Full Size Geometry in Model Space

2. Create Layouts in Paper Space

3. Place Dimensions, Hatches, and Notes

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Step by Step

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Paper Space in Detail1. Template: proper text, dimstyles, table styles

• Text Height = 0• DIMSCALE = 0• Don’t use name “Standard”

2. Create geometry with NO dimensions or hatches

3. Switch to Paper Space

4. Set up the layout with Pagesetup

Select plotter Plot style table Sheet size

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Paper Space in Detail 5. Select a plotter (after defining at least one)

6. Select a plot-style table

7. Select a paper size

8. Make sure you're plotting at 1:1 for Imperial

Metric should be 1:25.4 for U.S. paper sizesAutomatic if MEASUREMENT = 1

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Paper Space in Detail 9. Insert a full-size border and title block

May be affected by insert units!

10. Modify existing viewport Non-plot layer

11. Add other floating viewports for details

12. Create appropriate plot scales for each

Viewports toolbarZoom XP

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Paper Space in Detail

13. Lock the display of each viewport (not the layer) 14. Create a dimension layer for each viewport

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Paper Space in Detail

15. Freeze layers by viewport 16. Add dimensions to each viewport

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Paper Space in Detail 17. Add hatches the same way (scale to layout)

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Paper Space in Detail 18. Add general annotation in Paper Space

19. Control 3D display using MVIEW

20. Place all viewports on non-plot layer

21. Use VPLAYER or drop-down list to manage visibility

22. Do a plot pre-view

23. Add more layouts by right-clicking

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Other Considerations

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Other ConsiderationsLayout Wizard – But You Need to Understand

Non-Rectangular Viewports – Pline, Region, Circle MVIEW, VPCLIP, or Viewports Toolbar

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Other ConsiderationsDifferent Drawings on One Sheet – XREF

Warehouse Floor – Model Space

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More ConsiderationsSwitching Among Viewports – Ctrl-R

VPLAYER

Freeze a New Layer in Existing Viewports Freeze Some Layers in All Viewports

Plot Stamp – From Plot Dialog Box

OPTIONS – Display Create New Layouts With NO Default MVIEW

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More Considerations Selecting Irregular Viewports - Two Objects Selected:Viewport and Mask

Freezing Viewport Layer Removes Mask OSNAPS Reach Through Mask

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Other Considerations PSVPSCALE 0 for Zoom Extents 1 for Zoom 1XP 0.1 for Zoom .1XP 1/48 for ¼”=1’

PSTYLEMODE 0 for Named Plot Style, 1 for Color Plot Style

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Other Considerations Conventional Breaks

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Other Considerations Conventional Breaks

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Other Considerations Conventional Breaks

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Other Considerations UCS Z or DVIEW Twist

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Publish

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Publish

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Sheet Sets

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Plot Style Table Editor

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Other Applications Raster vs. Vector

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WMFOUT or DWF Plot WMFOUT - Select ObjectsDWF - ePlot