AutoCAD - AutoCAD Mechanical toolset Workflow Comparison

You set up your own drawing with layers, linetypes, text styles and dimension styles, and this is just the starting point.

For a typical mechanical drawing, you must have a symbol library for detailing such features as surface finishes and welding processes.

You must also have a method of producing part lists and balloons so that your designs can be documented for purchasing and manufacturing.

Begin with an ANSI, BSI, CSN, DIN, GB, GOST, ISO, or JIS standard template or create your own standard using one of these as your starting point.

The Drafting Standard within AutoCAD Mechanical toolset controls all aspects of your drawing including dimension styles, text size, layer and object colors, projection angle, drawing sheet creation, detail view creation, mechanical symbols, bill of material information, parts list, and item balloons.

You use Layers to organize various drawing objects into groups. Layers are usually named according to the function performed by a type of geometry and therefore enforce properties such as color, line type, and line weight.

You use Blocks in addition to layers to associate multiple objects related to a component or assembly. Blocks can be stored locally within the drawing file or externally for reuse in other drawings. Information in the form of attributes can be manually created within each block and then extracted at a later time and placed within a table.

Use Layer Groups to associate or relate objects in a drawing. For example, create layer groups for each component or each view in a drawing. All the mechanical layers are replicated as required in each layer group. If necessary, apply visibility enhancements to individual layer groups.

OR

Use blocks, similar to AutoCAD, to associate objects related to a component or assembly. Component information is captured by part reference points associated with the block. Information contained by the part reference is automatically included within the BOM database.

OR

Combine the benefits of both workflows by choosing to use mechanical structure.

Group related objects and create components. Combine components to create assemblies. BOM information is automatically added to the components for both parts and assemblies. Use the tree in the Mechanical Browser to quickly examine how the drawing is organized.

Use the Structure Catalog to see a list of component definitions used in the drawing. Copy or reference components by dragging them from the catalog and placing them in the drawing. BOM quantities are updated automatically based on reuse. If the referenced component is modified, all drawings referencing the component are updated to maintain consistency.

You manually change layers based on the object type you are about to create.

This also means that you must first create each layer setting including its color, linetype, and lineweight.

AutoCAD Mechanical toolset automatically creates and manages layers for you.

You don't explicitly change layers before creating objects. As you create objects, they are placed on the appropriate layer automatically. If the appropriate layer doesn't exist, AutoCAD Mechanical toolset automatically creates it for you.

For example, contour geometry is automatically placed on layer AM_0, hidden geometry on AM_3, dimensions on layer AM_5, centerlines on AM_7, and so on.

If you don't like the layer names or colors, customize them to suit your company's existing drafting standard.

You use commands such as LINE, CIRCLE, RECTANGLE, HATCH, and so on. You go to the command line for options frequently. Before you create each object, you manually change the layer to ensure that the object's color and line type is correct. You meticulously set options so that the items you draw comply with the required standards.

Use AutoCAD Mechanical toolset enhanced commands to create 2D mechanical components even faster.

To draw rectangles, use the AMRECTANG command, which gives you over 20 different methods of specifying the size of a rectangle or square via a dialog box. Use the AMHATCH_45_5 command to create a 45-degree hatch with 5mm spacing on layer AM_8. All you need to do is pick an internal point. The AMSECTIONLINE command creates a section line with arrows and labeling. You don't spend time fine-tuning these objects to make them standard compliant since AutoCAD Mechanical toolset monitors that.

You either obtain a third part library or create your own library of standard features and parts and you insert then while drawing. If you choose the latter option, you must ensure that they comply with drafting standards.

Insert standard parts and features from the rich built in content library. The library contains more than 700,000 predrawn standard parts and features based on 17 international standards. They include:

• Hole Features - through, tapped, counter bored and counter sunk, slots, and so on.
• Fasteners - nuts, bolts, washers, screw connections, and so on.
• Shaft Parts - circlips, o-rings, seals, bearings, keys, and so on.
• Shaft Features - gears, tapers, grooves, keys, centerholes, undercuts, and so on (Gears and tapers are found within the shaft generator).
• Steel Shapes - beams (I Shapes), angles (L Shapes), channels (U Shapes), Rectangular Hollow and Circular Hollow shapes, and so on.
• Generators - shaft, spring, cam, chain and belt, and so on.

You manually create projections with the RAY or XLINE commands, and then fine tune them using the TRIM and EXTEND commands many times.

Draw construction lines by selecting from a wide range of construction lines. Use the projection utility to bend the construction lines about the correct angle of projection, to create orthographic views. The construction lines are created on a layer named AM_CL, which does not print by default. When finished, turn the construction lines off with a single command.

For geometry inserted from the content library, generate various views using Power View; the functionality that automatically creates different views for standard parts and features.

You create blocks or use external references to reuse geometry.

When you want to reuse a block in another drawing, you use WBLOCK.

Define geometry as views of components to reuse them as required. Since mechanical structure components store attributes such as description and material, every time you insert a component, BOM quantities automatically increment. When you want to create view exclusively for detailing, create an Annotation View.

When you want to reuse a component that exists as a part or assembly in another drawing, create an external reference directly to the component in the external drawing.

You manually change layer, draw lines, trim, and extend.

If the components move, you redo or modify the hidden geometry, as required.

Use the AMSHIDE command to select foreground and background objects. Select the representation for hidden edges from the various options that are available.

If the objects move, the hide situation automatically recalculates and the appropriate portions of the geometries are updated to show the resulting hidden edges.

You change to the centerline layer (assuming you have already created it), create a line, and then lengthen the line past the hole or component boundaries.

To create a hole pattern, you use the ARRAY command for the hole pattern. The centerlines require more work.

You invoke the AMCENTERLINE command, which automatically places centerlines on the layer AM_7, a layer setup to ensure that the linetype follows standards. Additionally, centerlines automatically extend past the hole or component to a distance in compliance with the drafting standard in use.

When you create a hole pattern from scratch, you select from the numerous types of hole patterns. You can use user-defined sizes or standard sizes based on metric and or imperial sizes such as M10 (ISO 261 - regular thread) or 3/4 “10 UNC (UNC regular thread - inch), from the content library.

To add centerlines to existing geometry, once again you select the appropriate options from the dialog box that is displayed when the AMCENTERLINE command is issued.

You manually modify each view, including any hidden geometry.

For example, if you are modifying a bolted connection between two plates and you want to change to a larger bolt, you perform numerous manual operations including line, hatch, trim, and layer changes.

To stretch geometry, you manually calculate the exact length to stretch to.

To modify standard parts, you reinsert a new standard part from a library or recreate it as per the new requirements.

Use power tools to modify each view. Use the power edit and modify objects by specifying the changes in a dialog box. Use power copy to create copies of objects and the intelligence of the copied objects remain intact. You use power erase to remove objects and the remaining objects to automatically heal themselves.

For example, to modify a bolted connection, double-click to display the screw connection dialog box and change the sizes. The holes, hatches and so on are automatically modified.

To stretch geometry, use the smart dimensioning features and modify the dimension value and watch as objects stretch themselves to match the new dimension value.

Modify standard parts by double-clicking them, and then changing their types and sizes in a dialog box.

If you create drawing borders in model space, you manually estimate the scale to use and create the drawing border. You then scale all text and dimensions to suit.

If you create drawing borders in model space, select a paper size, and then select the objects you want to put inside the drawing border. AutoCAD Mechanical toolset suggests the scale to use. You don't scale dimensions and text because it is automatically done for you.

If you are creating detail views in model space, you create copy of the geometry to detail, scale it, and then trim off the unwanted parts. If the original geometry is modified, you redo the detail view from scratch.

If you are creating a detail view in paper space, you create a detail view, and then dimension in paper space. If you applied dimensions in model space, you scale the dimensions.

If you are creating detail views in model space, use the AMDETAIL command, outline the area to be detailed, and then specify the scale, location, or detail view name. The detail that is created is fully associative and changes in the original geometry are automatically reflected in the detail view.

If you are creating detail view, use a viewport and set the correct scale factor. Dimensions and symbols are scaled automatically.

You manually set the dimensions styles you need, switch layers, and then use different ribbon options to create the various dimensions you need.

You use the QDIM command to create a series of dimensions simultaneously. You don't dimension shafts and half shafts with this command

You spend time ensuring that the dimensions are placed at the proper offset distance. If you delete dimensions, you manually adjust the rest to fill the gaps.

You manually look up standards books for fits before adding them to dimensions. You manually compile a fits lists and add it to the drawing with the tables.

Use power dimensioning to create dimensions on the appropriate layer. Use a single command irrespective of whether you are creating a linear dimension, radial dimension, or any other type of dimension.

Use automatic dimensioning to create a series of ordinate, baseline, shaft, or symmetric dimensions, simultaneously.

Since dimensions snap into position at the proper offset, you quickly add standard compliant dimensions. Delete dimensions using the power erase feature and the remaining dimensions automatically rearrange themselves to fill the gaps.

You easily add fits and tolerances with power dimensioning and generate a fits list at the click of a button.

You use the TABLE command to create tables that comply with the drafting standard. You then check each individual hole and manually add their details to the table. Next, you label the holes. If you need to add or remove a hole, you make adjustments manually.

Use the AMHOLECHART command to create standard compliant associative lists that document hole details and label the holes at the same time. You are not overly concerned about deleting holes since the hole chart updates and holes get relabeled automatically. To add holes you re-invoke the AMHOLECHART command and select the hole for the hole chart.

You change to the appropriate layer and use the LEADER and the TOLERANCE commands to manually create mechanical symbols. You meticulously ensure that they comply with the required drafting standards.

Sometimes, you might have a set of precreated symbols, that were saved as blocks. In this case, you insert them to a drawing and scale them as appropriate.

Select from a wide range of symbols, including notes, feature control frames, weld symbols, surface symbols, edge symbols datum identifiers, and datum target among others.

The symbol you insert in this manner is drafting standard compliant symbol is inserted to the appropriate layer. You do not have to do manual adjustments for scale. Notes automatically pick up information from objects.

You create a table and manually type all part information into the table. You manually keep the quantities up to date.

You create each balloon manually, using a circle and a leader, meticulously keeping the numbers in sync with the parts list.

You maintain Bill-of-Material information manually and input it into a Manufacturing Resource Planning System.

Add part references to components and add part details. Then use the AMBOM command to maintain the BOM database. If your drawing contains several drawing borders in model space, you use Border BOMs, a BOM that is automatically populated with information of the parts inside a border.

If mechanical structure is enabled, you don't insert part references because BOM information is associative for structure objects.

Use the AMPARTLIST command to automatically create parts list from the appropriate BOM database. After that you use the AMBALLOON command to create the corresponding balloons. You don't keep track of quantities manually since they are automatically maintained through the BOM database.