KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
KeyCreator Lesson KC7111 Basic Automatic Layout
In this lesson we’ll create a
basic layout of the three
parts that you worked with
in lessons KC7101 and
KC7102.
We’ll start by opening up the file “KC7102” that you saved
at the end of lesson KC7102.
Your screen should look like this:
If it isn’t already displayed, click on the
TOGGLE SPLITTER to display the level
list. Then click on the level 3.1(named
dimensions) in the active column to make
it active.
Before we get to our layout, let’s place a few isometric dimensions on the block. (Most
dimensions for a final layout are added to the instances in layout mode. The exception is
isometric dimensions. We place them in model mode and then use an option in layout
mode to display them in the isometric instance.)
The secret to positioning and orienting isometric dimensions is to use a construction
plane. The dimensions will read left to right along the X axis of the construction plane
with the Y axis pointing upward to the top of the dimension text.
Let’s start by clicking on the CONSTRUCTION PLANE Icon.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Now, click on the left end of the bottom, front
edge of the block. This sets the X vector on the
construction plane on this edge pointing to the
right.
2
Next, click on the front end of the bottom, left
edge of the block. This sets the Y vector on this
edge pointing to the rear.
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Now, click on the QUICK DIMENSION Icon.
Using the Cursor Option, click on the bottom, front edge of
the block and move the cursor forward. Click to place the
2.000 dimension.
Notice that it is oriented properly because of
how you established the construction plane.
Let’s place a vertical dimension on the right, rear edge of the block.
To do this, first establish a construction plane on the right face.
Do this by clicking on the front end of the
bottom, right edge.
Then, click on the bottom end of the right, front
edge.
2
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Click on the QUICK DIMENSION Icon.
Using the Cursor Option, click on the right, rear edge of the
block and move the cursor backward and to the right.
Click to place the dimension.
Your screen should look like this:
Now, you can continue to practice placing isometric
dimensions on the model if you want. I’m going to
work with these two right now to continue our
lesson.
Now, let’s create a basic drawing of our part
using the automatic layout creation option.
Click on the LAYOUT Pulldown Menu and
then on LAYOUT DIALOG.
A very large Layout Control Dialog Box
appears.
Click on the RENAME Option on the right side of the box
and a small Dialog Box appears where you can type a
unique name for the layout. I’m going to call mine
“BearAssy102.”
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
We’ll use a “B” paper size.
For this layout let’s select the Manually
Scale Instances and Paper Option and
use 1 for the scale of both the instances
and the paper.
Note: In layouts, what we would call views on a drawing are referred to as instances.
Each instance is a snapshot of the model from a particular camera angle. So the instance
in the bottom, left corner of our drawing by default would be the front view (View 2.) of
the model. As you’ll see a bit later, we could just as easily make this be view 5 if that
view had the most descriptive information for the part.
Click to place a
check on the
Border File Option.
Then, browse and
select the B_horz
border file.
Note: For this lesson we’re using the supplied borders from KeyCreator. You will
normally use your own custom borders saved on your system.
By default, the layout specific entities, such as the border and title block lines and all of
the text that fills the title block are placed on level 1000. You can change this level
number but I would advise making it a high number since lower numbered levels will be
automatically used by KeyCreator based on levels that you used in your model.
You can also add a descriptive name to this level if you wish.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
By default the Layout Control Dialog Box will be expanded with the “Hide Quick
Drawing Instance Controls” bar visible and the automatic settings displayed below it. If
you click on this bar you shrink the box to hide the automatic features and the bar now
reads the “Show Quick Drawing Instance Controls.” We’re going to use the automatic
features in this exercise.
The most common Instance Pattern that you will use is the 3 instances/ right-upper. This
gives you a front view, top view, and right side view for a standard three-view
orthographic drawing. Notice that by default the front view for this drawing is View 2,
the top view is View 1, and the right side view is View 5.
To add an Isometric View just click to place a
check on the Add Isometric View Option.
Notice that there are two HLR Settings Buttons.
The top one controls the settings for the
orthographic instances.
The bottom one controls the settings for the
Isometric View.
If you click on either button you will get a large
dialog box with multiple options for rendering
style, border options, thread representations, and a
host of other goodies.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Click on the upper HLR Settings Button.
Click on the pulldown to the right of the
Rendering Mode Field and select the
Hidden Lines Dashed Option.
This will make the rendering style for
the three orthographic instances dashed
line. Now, click on the OK Button.
Next, click on the lower HLR Settings
Button. A large Dialog Box appears.
Click on the Pulldown to the right of the
Rendering Mode field and select the
Gouraud Shaded Option.
Then, swelect the Remove Hidden
Edges Option in the Wire Rendering
Mode below this. This will create line
edges on the shaded part. (This is
extremely useful when you want to
bring out fine details on a complex
model.)
Click to place a checkmark on the View
Model Mode Detail Entities. This will
display the isometric dimensions that we
made earlier in this view on the
drawing.
We’ll also want a check on the Always Auto-Fit Border. (If you modify a part by making
another hole or increasing the length, the associated layout updates to reflect the change.
If you don’t have this setting checked and you increase the dimensions of a part past the
instance border, the view will appear cropped until you refit it. Having this option
checked eliminates the need to worry about refitting the instance borders.)
When you are done, click on the OK Button.
You are returned to the main Layout Control Dialog Box. Click on the OK Button.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Your layout should look like this:
You can toggle back to the model mode
Let’s save our file. We’ll call it
“KC7111.”
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