Isometric to Ortho

[caseyanne]

Can you switch back and forth in the same drawing? I don't seem to have the option or if I do I can' find it.

 

Thanks.

[JD Mather]

2d or 3d

 

2d - simply set your grid back to ortho.

are you looking for a one-button toggle between iso/rectangular grid?

[caseyanne]

Yes, I was in the drafting settings and for some reason the iso grid was greyed out and would not let me choose it. I closed the dwg and went back in. Then it allowed me to switch. (after about 10 clicks on it)

 

Thanks.

[ReMark]

Some reason why you are using grid and snap?

[caseyanne]

No, I am really just winging it. It's piping and I am probably doing it the hard way.

[ReMark]

You never specified but is this 2D? I'm guessing that it is.

[caseyanne]

Yes. And it is so cumbersome. I want solidworks back. I am probably making it harder on myself then it needs to be.

[ReMark]

Any reason why you can't do your piping layout in 3D even if it is a one line schematic?

[caseyanne]

I did not want to do a schematic. I have 3 views of it and just wanted a visual. Were you refering to Inventor? I have not really had the chance to use it, save for a few tutorials.

[ReMark]

My bad. I thought you were doing a line schematic.

 

No, I was not referring to Inventor. Plain AutoCAD is what I was referring to. You can draw the centerlines lines of your pipes in 3D using regular lines, polylines or even 3Dpolylines then use ASMI's lisp routine XTube or XPipe to add your pipe.

 

Draw it in 3D in model space then go to your paper space layout and setup whatever views you need. I'm doing some piping for a storage and blending tank right now in 3D using this method.

 

I take it then you are also drawing your flanges, valves, etc. as well?

[ReMark]

casey:

 

How's the drawing going?

[ReMark]

 

This piping layout was done for a safety review after we had an operator send a product to a wrong tank. Management wanted to know how that could happen. The only way to show them, without dragging twelve suits (literally and figuratively, into the plant was to mock up the manifold in 3D. When the meeting was held I played tour guide and rotated the drawing so everyone could see how complex over the years it had become. All the elements (pipes, valves, & flanges) were created from scratch.