Autocad 2014: How To Draw Steel Square Tubing?

[ReMark]

I think you'll find that you were not paying close attention to what AutoCAD was asking relying instead on watching a video a couple of times then knowing exactly what to do. In your defense I will say that AutoCAD command prompts are not worded very clearly in some cases thus causing confusion.

[autocad2014newbie]

I FIGURED IT OUT! My issue was with proper syntax usage of the command Subtract.

 

My problem was that when subtracting, I would select the outside square, then select the inside square, then press Enter, when it should of been, select outside square, press ENTER, select inside square, then press ENTER once again. I need to study up on how to use the command line and the syntax of commands properly.

[ReMark]

As previously suggested. Good job figuring it out.

[autocad2014newbie]

I have two questions, one regarding the subtract command and another your 3D block models.

 

When I use the subtract command, I select the outer block first, press enter, but then I have trouble getting my mouse to focus on selecting the inner block when I go to click it. Instead it selects the outer block again. What can I do to avoid this conflict?

 

And my other question, do you know of any online resources that have the exact dimension specifications for structural steel types? Primarily, I'm trying to figure out how you know what fillet dimensions to use on the edges, like on your angle iron and square tube.

[Dadgad]

I FIGURED IT OUT! My issue was with proper syntax usage of the command Subtract.

 

My problem was that when subtracting, I would select the outside square, then select the inside square, then press Enter, when it should of been, select outside square, press ENTER, select inside square, then press ENTER once again. I need to study up on how to use the command line and the syntax of commands properly.

 

Newbie, the reason I said earlier that PRESSPULL is more intuitive was because it rolls about half a dozen different commands into a simple and intuitive action. You don't need to worry about creating regions, or syntax of the subtract function. It can be used to create an object or just as easily to create a hole in, or all the way through an object, without the need to create intermediary disposable bits. If you haven't watched the PRESSPULL and EXTRUDE video that I suggested, you are going to be wasting a lot of time. Nice to hear how jazzed you get by seeing the structural steel extrusions. Have fun learning, if you love it, and it sounds like you may, you will be surprised how quicky you can pick it up. Just REMEMBER to READ THE COMMANDLINE PROMPTS carefully, as they will tell you what to do, and also report back if there is something amiss.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Dadgad

[Dadgad]

I have two questions, one regarding the subtract command and another your 3D block models.

 

When I use the subtract command, I select the outer block first, press enter, but then I have trouble getting my mouse to focus on selecting the inner block when I go to click it. Instead it selects the outer block again. What can I do to avoid this conflict?

 

And my other question, do you know of any online resources that have the exact dimension specifications for structural steel types? Primarily, I'm trying to figure out how you know what fillet dimensions to use on the edges, like on your angle iron and square tube.

 

Here are a few to play with. I drew something like 1300 different profiles over the course of a week, a few years back, of British sections. not all of them, but the ones which we were the most likely to use in our projects. I suggest that you do your modeling in 2D Wireframe visual style, and from an isometric perspective, so that you can read changes on all 3 axii at once. That will also make it easier for you to make accurate selections.

HE 200B.dwg

EA 75x6.dwg

210x267x61.dwg

CHS 42.4x4.dwg

PFC 150x75x18.dwg

RHS 100x50x4.dwg

SHS 50x4.dwg

UA 200x150x18.dwg

UB 305x102x25.dwg

W36x16.5x300.dwg

Edited August 14, 2014 by Dadgad

[autocad2014newbie]

Thank you so much. Definitely useful so I can get an idea on how to start creating my library. I'm trying to get the whole subtract fiasco out of the way so I can look into the PressPull command. Do you know why my model is creating a conflict in which, I select the outside square, press enter, but when I go in to select the inside square, it has trouble focusing on it and selects the outside one instead? Is there a certain trick to selecting the inside square to subtract?

[Dadgad]

Thank you so much. Definitely useful so I can get an idea on how to start creating my library. I'm trying to get the whole subtract fiasco out of the way so I can look into the PressPull command. Do you know why my model is creating a conflict in which, I select the outside square, press enter, but when I go in to select the inside square, it has trouble focusing on it and selects the outside one instead? Is there a certain trick to selecting the inside square to subtract?

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, try using the 2D Wireframe Visualstyle.

Are you using an isometric perspective? I suggest you do.

 

No doubt you are aware that Steel Square Tubing of which you speak, is known as SHS (square hollow section), not to be confused with RHS for rectangular hollow section. In China they do not use the SHS descriptor, and they are all lumped together as RHS.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Dadgad

[ReMark]

Use the 2Dwireframe visual setting as Dadgad suggested and try zooming in a little closer to your objects.

[JD Mather]

Sweep of a Region is faster than Extrude or PressPull

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/CAD238/AutoCAD%202007%20Tutorial%208.pdf

[autocad2014newbie]

I had the chance to experiment with the sweep command earlier today by following one simple polyline. It seems like a very powerful command. I can see myself using it a lot in the future.

 

The proper steel structure terms will definitely help a lot in my search for dimensions from online resources to draw from.

 

I have one question though, regarding some of the models Dadgad posted. I opened the very first model, and tried the explode -> extrude or presspull command ReMark advised about earlier, but am having this issue where instead of pulling the tube up from its point of origin, it stacks a new one on top and pulls that one instead. What am I doing wrong here?

 

[ReMark]

Maybe Dadgad constructed his blocks out of surfaces or you exploded the block more than once turning a solid into a surface.

[Dadgad]

Maybe Dadgad constructed his blocks out of surfaces or you exploded the block more than once turning a solid into a surface.

 

The drawings I posted are all closed polylines (as far as I know), they were meant to be, I was doing about a couple hundred of them a day, ready to use in whatever way is appropriate. Each drawing also contains the kg/m profile weight. I typically just copy and paste them into whatever I am working on. None of them are 3D Solids, they should all be closed 2D Polylines.

[autocad2014newbie]

Wow, you were right. I must have exploded the object twice then. Was able to PressPull with ease this time.

 

I have one question regarding all you guys personal design practices. I would like to design models to exact scale, that way when I use the Measure tool, it would be like pulling out a real measuring tape in real life to measure the real thing.

 

I've heard Autocad's programmatical unit of measure by default is Units, which one can then take to convert and mean what ever they want it to be visually. I notice dadgad's models are in decimal, so when I type Units command to change to architecture, one side of the square tubing blocks measure's 1 ft. 8 inches. Is there a reason for designing this way in Decimal and Insertion: Unitless, which results the sides to scale that big? What are the advantages of this, and when it comes to scaling the real thing, how is this measured/displayed?

 

And what is the significance of Insertion scale in the Units dialogue box? What does it the affect the scale of exactly? Blocks I insert or anything I draw, or? And how exactly does it affect it's scale just by defining what to be measured as or? I would imagine a property named insertion scale to have text boxes with certain measurements, so this is why I'm a little bit confused on this.

[JD Mather]

Type -dwgunits and hit Enter. (with the leading - sign just as shown -dwgunits)

Read and follow the command line prompts.

[Dadgad]

I had the chance to experiment with the sweep command earlier today by following one simple polyline. It seems like a very powerful command. I can see myself using it a lot in the future.

 

The proper steel structure terms will definitely help a lot in my search for dimensions from online resources to draw from.

 

I have one question though, regarding some of the models Dadgad posted. I opened the very first model, and tried the explode -> extrude or presspull command ReMark advised about earlier, but am having this issue where instead of pulling the tube up from its point of origin, it stacks a new one on top and pulls that one instead. What am I doing wrong here?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]50345[/ATTACH]

 

I have attached a screenshot from the SYSVDLG command (try it you'll like it) dialog box, describing the system variable DELOBJ, which controls the management of defining geometry used to create 3D Solids and such.

I am guessing that you still haven't watched the EXTRUDE and PRESSPULL tutorial on the tutorial tab,

 

http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/extrude-and-press-pull/

 

I hope I am wrong about that.

Edited August 12, 2014 by Dadgad

[ReMark]

I had the chance to experiment with the sweep command earlier today by following one simple polyline. It seems like a very powerful command. I can see myself using it a lot in the future.

 

The proper steel structure terms will definitely help a lot in my search for dimensions from online resources to draw from.

 

I have one question though, regarding some of the models Dadgad posted. I opened the very first model, and tried the explode -> extrude or presspull command ReMark advised about earlier, but am having this issue where instead of pulling the tube up from its point of origin, it stacks a new one on top and pulls that one instead. What am I doing wrong here?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]50345[/ATTACH]

 

First of all, Dadgad provided you with blocks. Your mistake was you opened the actually drawing then exploded it when you should have used the INSERT command and brought the block into your drawing. Unfortunately learning AutoCAD, especially 3D AutoCAD, solely by watching videos may be all well and good, but if you do not possess the proper foundation (i.e. - the "basics") you lack the fundamental knowledge to correctly use the program.

 

Second, Dadgad's drawing (ex. - SHS 30x2.5) consists of two lightweight polylines. When these are exploded you end up with eight lines and eight arcs. These are now all separate entities. The only way you can create a solid from these sixteen entities is to use the PressPull command. If you try using the Extrude command you'll end up with sixteen individual surfaces.

 

Knowing that a continuous polyline when exploded yields a series of separate entities is again basic knowledge that you have missed learning in your eagerness to jump right into 3D without first exploring the fundamentals of the program.

 

I tried to reproduce the "stacking" affect you speak of but failed. I'm not sure what you did there. I would have to see you drawing in order to figure it out.

Edited August 12, 2014 by ReMark

[ReMark]

You wrote...."I would like to design models to exact scale,..."

 

First select your units then draw everything in model space at FULL size. It doesn't matter if you are drawing a paperclip (roughly 1.25" long) or One World Trade Center (approximately 1,776 feet tall); draw either/both at FULL size. FYI - No matter how large the object is AutoCAD will expand the model space to contain it. CAD techs have even taken to drawing our solar system using AutoCAD so I doubt very much that you will draw anything near as large.

 

Second, I would advise sticking with using the default AutoCAD template file acad.dwt if you are going to draw in imperial units and the template file named acadiso.dwt if you are going to draw in metric units. It will make your life easier.

 

Third, if you are going to be drawing primarily in 3D then learn about paper space layouts and viewports. You might also want to study the various methods for extracting 2D views from your 3D models. In AutoCAD 2014 there are five different methods. They are..

 

1. Flatshot

2. SectionPlane

3. SolProf

4. SolDraw/SolView

5. ViewBase (also called Base View)

 

I'd suggest reading up on each and then trying them out. You'll learn the pros and cons of each method and eventually settle on the one that works best for your given situation.

 

Fourth, and finally, you'll also want to learn about text and dimensions. It would behoove you to also learn about annotative scaling too.

 

Got all that? Good. Class dismissed. Go have some fun.

[Dadgad]

Wow, you were right. I must have exploded the object twice then. Was able to PressPull with ease this time.

 

I have one question regarding all you guys personal design practices. I would like to design models to exact scale, that way when I use the Measure tool, it would be like pulling out a real measuring tape in real life to measure the real thing.

 

I've heard Autocad's programmatical unit of measure by default is Units, which one can then take to convert and mean what ever they want it to be visually. I notice dadgad's models are in decimal, so when I type Units command to change to architecture, one side of the square tubing blocks measure's 1 ft. 8 inches. Is there a reason for designing this way in Decimal and Insertion: Unitless, which results the sides to scale that big? What are the advantages of this, and when it comes to scaling the real thing, how is this measured/displayed?

 

And what is the significance of Insertion scale in the Units dialogue box? What does it the affect the scale of exactly? Blocks I insert or anything I draw, or? And how exactly does it affect it's scale just by defining what to be measured as or? I would imagine a property named insertion scale to have text boxes with certain measurements, so this is why I'm a little bit confused on this.

 

Newbie, while I understand and really enjoy your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. you should learn to walk before you fly.

The foundation required is not so great, but you need to familiarize yourself with the basics first. The following link is to a very good free online course, which is where I first got my feet wet with the program 6 years ago. The well designed chapters will quickly help you get up to speed.

 

http://www.mycadsite.com/

Edited August 13, 2014 by Dadgad

[ReMark]

2014Newbie: What type of CAD drafting/design are you actually interested in pursuing?