Make your solid models and 2D views a push button away
Best known for its 2D toolset, AutoCAD also has a full suite of 3D modeling features. With AutoCAD, you can create solids, surfaces and meshes from simple to complex models. It also supplies tools for creating 2D views from these 3D models. This means you can then use AutoCAD’s 2D features to annotate and document your designs.
As AutoCAD imports different formats, you can generate 2D views from 3D models created in other systems.
Although AutoCAD has limited import options, other versions of it have expanded lists of supported file types for import. For example, AutoCAD Mechanical imports 3D models from CATIA, Inventor, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino and SOLIDWORKS and the neutral file formats ACIS, JT, IGES, NX and STEP.
SOLVIEW, SOLDRAW and SOLPROF
An advantage of solid models is the ease with which you can create drawing views from these solids. Three commands, which work together, are SOLVIEW, SOLDRAW and SOLPROF.
SOLVIEW
Start with SOLVIEW to create base views and projections. Then use SOLDRAW to generate 2D profiles and sections from the SOLVIEW-generated viewports.
SOLVIEW generates orthographic and auxiliary views purposely for documenting the design. This feature creates views as viewports in paper space layouts.
I typically type SOLVIEW to start the command, and you can also find it in the ribbon when using the 3D modeling workspace. SOLVIEW will use the active layout, but when starting the command from model space, it activates the last active paper space layout. If no layouts have been activated, SOLVIEW creates a new layout.
When there are no existing views or when you want to create a new base view, you will need to use a user coordinate system (UCS) to set the direction. AutoCAD creates the view relative to the selected UCS. With SOLVIEW, you can select the Current, World or a saved Named UCS.
Here, I orient the model into the desired orientation for the first view. Using the UCS command, I move the USC to the Current view.
After starting SOLVIEW, select the 3D solid objects you wish to create 2D views from. Then select the UCS, specify the scale, pick the view center, define the border of the viewport and give the view a name.
The result is a viewport on the VPORTS layer, which SOLVIEW creates if the layer does not exist. Because this is a viewport, you can move it, adjust the boundary and change the scale if it is not set correctly during view creation.
With the base view created, use Ortho to add folded orthographic views, Auxiliary to create views projected from a selected plane and Section to add drafting sectional views.
After selecting Ortho, pick the side of the base view viewport from which you want to create the projected view. AutoCAD does not preview the view but rubber-bands a line to show the direction, helping you place the center of the new view. With the center selected, pick two points to set the size of the viewport. The command stays active, so you can place more views.
The Section options creates traditional drafting sectional views of solids, or at least it will. SOLVIEW only creates the base view, while SOLDRAW (discussed in a bit) generates the cross-hatching. The difference with Section, compared to Ortho, is the added step of picking points to set the location for the cutting plane (section line).
After selecting Auxiliary, you need to select two points setting the inclined plane for the auxiliary projection. Both points must be in the same viewport. Next, pick the center of the view and boundary for the new viewport.
SOLVIEW creates layers for SOLDRAW to use for the visible and hidden lines it creates for each view. You will find these named with the view name and suffixed with -VIS, -HID, -HAT and -DIM. Although the DIM layer is meant for dimensions, you can use your own layer for dimensions and annotations.
SOLDRAW
Solid Drawing (SOLDRAW) creates profiles and sections from the viewports you created with SOLVIEW. The results are 2D objects overlaying the views’ 3D objects. It is a simple command—you just need to select the viewport. AutoCAD then makes the solid objects invisible and generates 2D objects overlaying the 3D objects. For the section views, AutoCAD adds hatching.
If the model changes, run SOLDRAW again on the viewports to update the 2D geometry. Make sure to review your dimensions after running SOLDRAQ as they could be pointing to objects that no longer exist.
SOLPROF
Solid Profile (SOLPROF) is like SOLDRAW except that it does not need a viewport created by SOLVIEW. It creates 2D profiles of 3D solids. The result is blocks collecting the newly created geometry.
I typically use it when I need an isometric view of the 3D model or as a quicker method (compared to SOLVIEW/SOLDRAW) when I need the 2D profile for a manufacturing processes like laser cutting.
SOLPROF works only within paper space and only when a layout viewport is active. After starting the command (I usually type it), select the 3D solids.
AutoCAD asks a series of questions to set the projection preferences.
Display hidden profile lines on separate layer?
If you select Yes, AutoCAD puts the hidden lines into their own block on a different layer from the visible geometry. If the hidden lines are already loaded into the drawing, AutoCAD applies the Hidden Linetype to the hidden geometry layer.
If you select No, AutoCAD creates a block from the profile lines, treating every profile line as a visible line—even if one solid covers another.
AutoCAD names the layers in the convention P@-<viewport handle>. PV for profile visible and PH for profile hidden. You can review the viewport’s handle using the LIST command. Adjust the layer’s line properties as needed.
Project profile lines onto a plane?
If you select Yes, AutoCAD creates the profile as 2D objects and projects the 3D shape onto the plane normal to the viewing direction. SOLPROF automatically removes lines that are parallel to the viewing direction.
If you select No, then no projection occurs and AutoCAD creates 3D objects. Think of this as tracing over the top of the selected solids.
Delete tangential edges?
Tangential edges are the edges where two surfaces meet smoothly, blending into each other without a noticeable break or sharp angle—like what occurs when you fillet or round an edge. Select Yes to remove these tangential edges in the profile and select No to keep them.
There is no update process with SOLPROF as it deletes the existing block definitions and recreates the blocks when running the command on the viewport again.
Flatshot
SOLPROF is an older command and has been replaced in AutoCAD with more modern commands. Flatshot is a great alternative, offering more flexibility and control. Flatshot works with not only solids but also with surfaces and meshes. Flatshot is dialog driven, making it more user friendly compared to the SOL commands.
Flatshot creates flattened 2D representations of your 3D models by projecting an edge’s line of sight onto the plane parallel to the viewing plane. The result is a block inserted on the XY plane of the current UCS or a new drawing.
Prior to starting the command, orient the 3D model to the angle and perspective you want. Turn on or off layers (or freezing), leaving only the desired objects visible. Flatshot creates the 2D view based on this view and includes all visible objects.
Start the command, either by typing the command name or selecting it from the ribbon.
In the Flatshot dialog:
Set the Destination: Inserting the new 2D view as a block, replacing an existing block, or exporting it to a new drawing.
The Foreground Lines manage the appearance of the visible lines and the Obscured Lines, as well as the visibility and appearance of the hidden lines. Autodesk recommends not including Obscured Lines with mesh models.
Check Include tangential edges when you want to create tangent lines with your 2D view.
If you want to make changes, you can explode the block. However, it will no longer be available for updating.
Next:
Making views from
3D models.
