Autodesk AutoCAD AutoCAD Mechanical - 2009 Instruction Manual
AutoCAD Mechanical 2009
User’s Guide
January 2008
©
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Contents
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 1 About AutoCAD Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
AutoCAD Mechanical Software Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Leveraging Legacy Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Starting AutoCAD Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
AutoCAD Mechanical Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Product Support and Training Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Design Features in AutoCAD Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Mechanical Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Associative Design and Detailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
External References for Mechanical Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Associative 2D Hide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Autodesk Inventor link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2D Design Productivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Engineering Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Machinery Systems Generators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Intelligent Production Drawing and Detailing . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Detailing Productivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Annotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Standard Mechanical Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Standard Parts Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
iii
Chapter 2 Commands in AutoCAD Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Command Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Design and Annotation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Chapter 3 Working with Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Working with Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Setting Mechanical Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Specifying Drawing Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Saving Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Using Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Setting Default Standards Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Chapter 4 Using Mechanical Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Working with Mechanical Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Creating Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Modifying Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Nesting Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Instance vs. Occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Selection Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Components and Component Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Creating Part Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Creating Assembly Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Modifying Assembly Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Using Folders with Component Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Mechanical Browser Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Mechanical Browser and BOMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Browser Restructure and Ghost Components . . . . . . . . . . . 76
External Reference Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Inserting External Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Editing External Components In-place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Localizing and Externalizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Annotation Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Associative Hide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Basics of AMSHIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Using AMSHIDE in Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Chapter 5 Designing Levers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Extending Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
iv | Contents
Using Libraries to Insert Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Configuring Snap Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Creating Construction Lines (C-Lines) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Creating additional C-Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Creating Contours and Applying Fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Trimming Projecting Edges on Contours . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Applying Hatch Patterns to Contours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Dimensioning Contours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Creating and Dimensioning Detail Views . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Chapter 6 Working with Model Space and Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Working with Model Space and Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Creating Scale Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Creating Detail Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Generating New Viewports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Inserting Holes Within Viewports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Creating Subassemblies in New Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Chapter 7 Dimensioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Adding Dimensions to Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Adding Multiple Dimensions Simultaneously . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Editing Dimensions with Power Commands . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Breaking Dimension Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Inserting Drawing Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Inserting Fits Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Chapter 8 Working with 2D Hide and 2D Steel Shapes . . . . . . . . . . 151
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Working with 2D Hide and 2D Steel Shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Opening the initial drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Defining 2D Hide Situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Inserting 2D Steel Shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Modifying Steel Shapes Using Power Commands . . . . . . . . . 159
Editing 2D Hide Situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Copying and Moving 2D Hide Situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Chapter 9 Working with Standard Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Working with Standard Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Inserting Screw Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Copying Screw Connections with Power Copy . . . . . . . . . . 176
Contents | v
Creating Screw Templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Editing Screw Connections with Power Edit . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Working with Power View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Deleting with Power Erase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Inserting Holes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Inserting Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Turning Off Centerlines in Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Hiding Construction Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Simplifying Representations of Standard Parts . . . . . . . . . . 201
Chapter 10 Working with BOMs and Parts Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Working with Parts Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Inserting Part References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Editing Part References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Placing Balloons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Creating Parts Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Merging and Splitting Items In Parts Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Collecting Balloons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Sorting and Renumbering Items In Parts Lists . . . . . . . . . . 227
Using Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Chapter 11 Creating Shafts with Standard Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Creating Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Configuring Snap Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Configuring Shaft Generators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Creating Cylindrical Shaft Sections and Gears . . . . . . . . . . 240
Inserting Spline Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Inserting Chamfers and Fillets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Inserting Shaft Breaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Creating Side Views of Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Inserting Threads on Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Editing Shafts and Inserting Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Replacing Shaft Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Inserting Bearings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engineering Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Chapter 12 Calculating Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Calculating Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Creating Shaft Contours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Specifying Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
vi | Contents
Placing Shaft Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Specifying Loads on Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Calculating and Inserting Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Calculating Strengths of Shafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Chapter 13 Calculating Moments of Inertia and Deflection Lines . . . . . . 275
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Performing Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Calculating Moments of Inertia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Calculating Deflection Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Chapter 14 Calculating Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Chain Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Performing Length Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Optimizing Chain Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Inserting Sprockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Inserting Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Chapter 15 Calculating Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Calculating Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Starting Spring Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Specifying Spring Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Calculating and Selecting Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Inserting Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Creating Views of Springs with Power View . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Chapter 16 Calculating Screw Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Methods for Calculating Screws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Using Stand Alone Screw Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Selecting and Specifying Screws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Selecting and Specifying Nuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Selecting and Specifying Washers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Specifying Plate Geometry and Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Specifying Contact Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Specifying Loads and Moments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Specifying Settlement Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Specifying Tightening Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Creating and Inserting Result Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Chapter 17 Calculating Stress Using FEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Contents | vii
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
2D FEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Calculating Stress In Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Defining Loads and Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Calculating Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Evaluating and Refining Mesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Refining Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Recalculating Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Chapter 18 Designing and Calculating Cams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Designing and Calculating Cams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Starting Cam Designs and Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Defining Motion Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Calculating Strength for Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Exporting Cam Data and Viewing Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Autodesk Inventor Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Chapter 19 Using Autodesk Inventor Link Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Linking Autodesk Inventor Part Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Shading and Rotating Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Inserting Drawing Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Creating Drawing Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Working with Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Exporting Drawing Views to AutoCAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Linking Autodesk Inventor Assembly Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Accessing Parts from the Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Accessing iProperties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Inserting Drawing Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Creating Parts Lists and Balloons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Creating Breakout Section Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Modifying Breakout Section Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Removing Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Updating Autodesk Inventor Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
viii | Contents
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Overview
Part I provides information for getting started with your AutoCAD® Mechanical software.
It includes an overview of the product capabilities, a summary of commands with their
toolbuttons and descriptions, and a summary of new and revised commands in this release
of AutoCAD Mechanical.
In addition, Part I includes information about methods to access commands, AutoCAD
Mechanical Help, and product support and training resources.
1
2
About AutoCAD Mechanical
This chapter provides information about the AutoCAD® Mechanical software application. It
describes the software package, the basic design features in the software, and the methods for
accessing commands.
A brief overview of the Help, along with information about where to find resources for product
learning, training, and support are included.
1
AutoCAD Mechanical Software Package
AutoCAD Mechanical is a 2D mechanical design and drafting solution for
engineers, designers, and detailers. Its intelligent production drawing and
detailing features decrease the time required to create and change 2D production
designs. AutoCAD Mechanical introduces many 3D concepts in a familiar 2D
environment. It is powered by AutoCAD®, with its easy-to-use palette interface
and time-saving xref functionality.
The AutoCAD Mechanical design software package includes both AutoCAD
Mechanical and AutoCAD. You can use one Options dialog box to customize
settings for both AutoCAD Mechanical and AutoCAD.
Leveraging Legacy Data
The tools for migrating legacy data are installed automatically when you install
the AutoCAD Mechanical software. A separate utility tool is available for adding
structure to legacy files after they are migrated.
3
The integrated Autodesk® IGES Translator for transferring and sharing of CAD
data between CAD/CAM/CAE systems is installed along with the AutoCAD
Mechanical product.
Newly generated files in AutoCAD Mechanical can be saved to a previous
version so that you can run multiple versions of AutoCAD Mechanical within
the same environment.
Starting AutoCAD Mechanical
You can start AutoCAD Mechanical by using one of the following procedures:
■ Click Start on the task bar, and then choose Programs. Select Autodesk ➤
AutoCAD Mechanical 2008.
■ On the desktop, double-click the AutoCAD Mechanical icon:
AutoCAD Mechanical Help
The Help in AutoCAD Mechanical provides information about AutoCAD
Mechanical with the power pack.
The Help is formatted for easy navigation, and includes:
■ Content organized by the major functional areas of AutoCAD Mechanical,
with Concept, Reference, and Procedure pages for each functional area.
Procedure pages provide step by step instructions on how to execute a
given task. The linked Concept page provides background information
about the procedure. The linked Reference pages contain information
about all the commands and dialog boxes visited while performing the
procedure.
■ Specific information about each of the features in the program.
■ Concepts and procedures for the new features in this release.
■ A keyword index and search function.
■ Printable Command Reference.
■ Guides to system variables and accelerator keys.
4 | Chapter 1 About AutoCAD Mechanical
■ Access to Support Assistance with integrated links to solutions.
For access to Help, you can choose from the following methods:
■ From the Help menu, select Mechanical Help Topics.
■ Select the Help button in the standard toolbar.
■ Press F1.
■ Click the Help button within a dialog box.
Product Support and Training Resources
Be more productive with Autodesk software. Get trained at an Autodesk
Authorized Training Center (ATC®) with hands-on, instructor-led classes to
help you get the most from your Autodesk products. Enhance your productivity
with proven training from over 1,400 ATC sites in more than 75 countries.
For more information about Autodesk Authorized Training Centers, contact
atc.program@autodesk.com or visit the online ATC locator at
www.autodesk.com/atc.
Sources for product support are listed on the AutoCAD Mechanical Product
Information Web page. From the AutoCAD Mechanical Web site at
http://www.autodesk.com/autocadmech, navigate to the Support Knowledge Base.
You can also navigate to the Community page, which contains links to various
communities, including the AutoCAD Mechanical Discussion Group.
Design Features in AutoCAD Mechanical
This section provides an overview of the functionality in the AutoCAD
Mechanical software, including numerous innovative 2D design features.
Mechanical Structure
Mechanical structure comprises a suite of 2D structure tools for organizing
drawings and for reusing associative data. The capabilities of reuse in blocks
and accessibility in layer groups are combined in mechanical structure. When
you start the AutoCAD Mechanical application, the Mechanical structure
environment is enabled by default. You can also work with it disabled.
Product Support and Training Resources | 5
The mechanical structure tools include:
■ A browser interface for structured 2D mechanical design, where parts,
assemblies, views, and folders containing associated data are organized,
structured, and managed. Standard parts are automatically organized and
managed in the browser. All components are accessible through the browser
for many functions, and filters can be set to control the type and level of
detail of information displayed.
■ Folders in the browser are used for capturing elements of design for reuse.
These elements provide all of the associative instancing benefits of
components, but do not register as items in the live BOM database. They
can contain geometry.
■ All geometry remains selectable and editable at all times using familiar
commands in open workflows. Workflows for structure can be bottom-up
(recommended), middle-out (the most flexible and common workflow),
and top-down (not the primary workflow).
Associative Design and Detailing
The browser is used to manage and reuse data in both the design and detailing
drafting stages. Many functions can be performed in the browser, including
the following:
■ You can instance components and assemblies multiple times. The live
BOM database in AutoCAD Mechanical keeps track of the quantity of each
part or assembly used.
■ Changes made to an associative instance of a part or assembly, associative
component, assembly detailing view, or a standard part or feature are
automatically reflected in the other instances.
■ Folders, components, and individual views of components can be reused
as needed. They maintain full associativity with each other.
■ Annotation views can be created for components and assemblies to fully
document the design. Changes made to geometry result in associative
dimensions being updated to reflect the change.
6 | Chapter 1 About AutoCAD Mechanical
External References for Mechanical Structure
External References for mechanical structure provides for the components of
a drawing to be inserted as an external reference to multiple drawings.
Conversely, multiple drawings can be attached as external references to a
single drawing.
The following are the key benefits of external references for mechanical
structure:
■ Increased efficiency by allowing insertion of structure components from
many drawings as external reference associatively for concurrent design.
■ Reuse of parts from existing assembly drawings very quickly.
■ Those involved in multiple design projects that reference the same drawing
are able to obtain the most updated design from the externally reference
component.
■ Ability to set up design specific reference directories as libraries for different
applications.
Associative 2D Hide
The 2D hide situation tool in AutoCAD Mechanical automates the process to
accurately represent parts and features which are partially or completely hidden
in drawing views. The following are some of the 2D hide benefits:
■ Associative hide situations are managed in the browser.
■ The underlying geometry is not altered when you create an associative
hide situation.
■ When geometry is hidden, AutoCAD Mechanical knows it is a component
in the mechanical structure, and provides a tooltip with the name and
view of the component.
External References for Mechanical Structure | 7
Autodesk Inventor link
Autodesk® Inventor™ link redefines the meaning of 3D to 2D interoperability.
Use the functionality to link to Autodesk Inventor parts and assemblies to:
■ Access and associatively document native 3D part models without the
presence of Autodesk Inventor.
■ Visualize part models, examine and use part properties such as material,
name, and number.
■ Associatively document part models using precision hidden-line removed
projections, dimensions, and annotations.
■ Link to the native Autodesk Inventor part models automatically notifies
you of changes and enables updating of views and annotations to keep
your drawing up-to-date.
2D Design Productivity
These features increase productivity and reduce the number of steps needed
to complete mechanical designs:
■ AutoCAD Mechanical provides an intelligent, customizable layer
management system that puts objects on the appropriate layers
automatically.
■ Entities that are not on the current layer group, or entities that are on a
locked layer group can be displayed in a different color to reduce screen
clutter.
■ 2D hidden-line calculations are based on defined foreground and
background objects. You can choose hidden line representation types.
■ Auto detailing creates detailed drawings of individual components from
an assembly drawing.
■ One set of power commands is used to create, update, and edit objects.
■ Mechanical line objects are available for creating centerlines and center
crosses, construction lines, symmetrical lines, section lines, break lines,
and others.
8 | Chapter 1 About AutoCAD Mechanical
■ Linear/symmetric stretch is used to modify dimensioned geometry by
changing the dimension value.
■ Predefined hatch patterns are applicable in two picks from toolbars and
menus.
Engineering Calculations
The automatic engineering calculations available in AutoCAD Mechanical
ensure proper function in mechanical designs.
■ The 2D FEA feature determines the resistance capability of an object put
under a static load and analyzes design integrity under various loads.
■ A number of moment of inertia and beam deflection calculations are
available.
■ Engineering calculations are available for shafts, bearings, and screws.
Machinery Systems Generators
Machinery systems in AutoCAD Mechanical generate the design and
calculation of shafts, springs, belts and chains, and cams. These tools ensure
that you get the design right the first time:
■ With the shaft generator, you can create drawing views of solid and hollow
shafts. Common shaft features supported include center holes, chamfers,
cones, fillets, grooves, profiles, threads, undercuts, and wrench fittings.
Common standard parts supported include bearings, gears, retaining rings,
and seals.
■ With the spring generator, you select, calculate, and insert compression,
extension, and torsion springs, and Belleville spring washers in a design.
You control the representation type of the spring, and create a spec form
to incorporate in the drawing.
■ The belt and chain generator function provides features to create chain
and sprocket systems, belt and pulley systems, calculate optimal lengths
for chains and belts, and insert these assemblies in your design. Chains
and belts can be selected from standard libraries.
Engineering Calculations | 9
■ The cam generator creates cam plates and cylindrical cams given input
border conditions. You can calculate and display velocity, acceleration,
and the cam curve path. You can couple driven elements to the cam and
create NC data through the curve on the path.
Intelligent Production Drawing and Detailing
A number of commands are available in AutoCAD Mechanical that automate
the process to create balloons and bills of material.
■ You can create formatted balloons and bills of material, as well as detailed
views of portions of designs.
■ Multiple parts lists per drawing are supported. Grouping of a parts list
provides lists of like items. Selected items can be combined to calculate
total length required for stock ordering. The parts lists recognize standard
parts. You can format item numbers on parts lists.
■ Standard-sized drawing borders and customizable title blocks are available.
■ Intelligent and associative hole tables show a total count of each type of
hole along with a description of them. A second chart lists the coordinates
for each of the holes selected. Any update to the holes is reflected in the
charts.
■ A language converter translates text on a drawing into one of seventeen
different languages.
■ Revision control tables in drawings track revisions and display comments.
■ Fits lists chart all fits used in a drawing.
Detailing Productivity
■ Smart dimensions automatically maintain the proper arrangement with
each other.
■ Power dimension commands provide a single command to create and edit
all dimensions, apply specified formats, and add fits or tolerances.
■ Dimensions are automatic for 2D geometry with either ordinate or baseline
dimensions.
10 | Chapter 1 About AutoCAD Mechanical
■ One command quickly cleans up and arranges dimensions in 2D drawings.
One system setting controls the scale for drawing symbols in all views.
■ Commands are available for align, break, insert, and join to easily
dimension a drawing.
Annotations
■ Hole notes can be inserted for standard holes.
■ Commands are available to create standards-based surface texture symbols,
geometric dimensioning and tolerances, targets, and weld symbols.
■ Fits description command creates fits descriptions for standard holes.
■ Leader command creates intelligent balloons and other leaders common
in mechanical drawings.
Standard Mechanical Content
Standard content includes parametrically generated, intelligent geometry that
you can use to generate an object from scratch. The following are available:
■ About 600,000 standard parts, including screws, nuts, washers, pins, rivets,
bushings, rings, seals, bearings, keys, and others, can be quickly
incorporated into any design.
■ About 8,000 standard features, including center holes, undercuts, keyways,
and thread ends can be quickly incorporated into any design.
■ More than 20,000 standard holes, including through, blind, counterbored,
countersunk, oblong, and others, can be quickly incorporated into any
design.
■ Thousands of structural steel shapes, including U-shape, I-shape, T-shape,
L-shape, Z-shape, rectangular tube, round tube, rectangular full beam,
rectangular round beam, and others, can be quickly incorporated into any
design.
Annotations | 11
Standard Parts Tools
Standard part tools provide for the elements that go with standard parts, such
as a hole to accompany a screw. These tools include:
■ Screw connection feature for selecting entire fastener assemblies at one
time.
■ Changeable representation of a standard part between a normal, simplified,
or symbolic representation.
■ Power view to automatically generate a different view of a standard part,
such as a top view from a front view.
Collaboration
Enjoy the benefits of design collaboration for your 2D output through Autodesk
Streamline® support. Autodesk Streamline is a hosted Web service for sharing
personalized design data across the entire extended manufacturing enterprise.
Autodesk Streamline functionality includes the following:
■ Members can view and interact with the 3D data set published on Autodesk
Streamline, without waiting for the data to download.
■ Using Streamline, many people can share design information and
collaborate online. Functionality includes instant messages, e-mail
notifications, polling/voting, discussion threads, database creation, and
more.
■ AutoCAD Mechanical data can be written to the AutoCAD DWF file format,
which is one of the file types that Autodesk Streamline leverages.
■ You can export 3D CAD data in ZGL format (a compressed form of a
standard Open GL file format called XGL). ZGL readily captures 3D data
that can be rendered by the Open GL library. ZGL files can then be
uploaded to Autodesk Streamline.
12 | Chapter 1 About AutoCAD Mechanical
Commands in AutoCAD Mechanical
This chapter provides a list of the commands available in AutoCAD® Mechanical, along with
a brief description of the function of each command and the associated toolbutton.
2
Command Summary
The following is a list of the AutoCAD Mechanical commands, a brief description
of each, and the associated toolbutton.
Some commands do not have an associated toolbutton. This list does not contain
AutoCAD® commands.
In some cases where some of the task-specific toolbars are available in a more
comprehensive format from the Main toolbar at View ➤ Toolbars, it is noted
in the table.
ton
ADCENTER
AM2DHIDE
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
Provides layer group support within the AutoCAD Design Center.
Hides invisible edges in unstructured situations.
13
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
Edits existing unstructured hide situations.AM2DHIDEDIT
Creates an adjusting ring on a shaft.AMADJRINGS2D
AMANALYSEDWG
AMANNOTE
AMAUTOCLINES
AMAUTODETAIL
AMAUTODIM
Creates a file in which the current layer structure of the drawing is written.
Creates, deletes, adds, and moves annotations
associated with drawing views.
Suits an existing hatch to a changed contour.AMASSOHATCH
Displays or attaches non attached symbols.AMATTACHSYM
Automatically creates construction lines on
selected drawing elements.
Creates an external detail drawing (xref) of
selected elements from an assembly drawing.
Creates chain, baseline, ordinate in both axes,
shaft, or symmetric dimensions.
Creates and places a balloon.AMBALLOON
Performs calculation on bearings.AMBEARCALC
14 | Chapter 2 Commands in AutoCAD Mechanical
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
AMBELL2D
AMBOM
AMBREAKATPT
AMBROUTLINE
Selects, calculates, and inserts Belleville spring
washers, and inserts spring specification tables
in drawings.
Creates a standard related blind hole.AMBHOLE2D
Creates a formatted BOM database containing
a list of attributes, parts lists with item numbers, and lists of like items in a BOM.
Breaks a line, polyline, or a spline on a specified point.
Draws a special spline to show the breakout
borders.
Switches the mechanical browser on and off.AMBROWSER
Switches the mechanical browser on.AMBROWSEROPEN
Switches the mechanical browser off.AMBROWSERCLOSE
Creates a blind slot.AMBSLOT2D
Creates and calculates cam designs.AMCAM
Draws a centerline cross with an angle.AMCENCRANGLE
Command Summary | 15
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
Draws a centerline cross in a corner.AMCENCRCORNER
Draws a centerline cross on a circle.AMCENCRFULLCIRCLE
Draws a centerline cross with a hole.AMCENCRHOLE
Draws a centerline cross in a hole.AMCENCRINHOLE
Draws a centerline cross.AMCENCROSS
Draws centerline cross on a plate.AMCENCRPLATE
Draws a centerline in between two lines.AMCENINBET
Creates a centerhole.AMCENTERHOLE2D
AMCENLINE
Creates a centerline and center marks through
selected circles and arcs while in Drawing
mode.
Draws a centerline.AMCENTLINE
16 | Chapter 2 Commands in AutoCAD Mechanical
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
Draws chain or belt links.AMCHAINDRAW
AMCHAINLENGTHCAL
AMCHECKDIM
Determines the tangent definition between
sprockets or pulleys.
Bevels the edges of objects.AMCHAM2D
create dimensions for chamfers.AMCHAM2D_DIM
Checks for, highlights, and edits dimensions
with overridden text.
Creates a clevis pin.AMCLEVISPIN2D
Locks or unlocks the construction line layer.AMCLINEL
Switches construction lines on or off.AMCLINEO
AMCOMP2D
AMCONSTLINES
Designs, calculates, and inserts compression
springs, and places spring specification tables
in drawings.
Draws construction lines.Design Toolbar Design Toolbar - Draw, Construction for more
construction line commands.
Command Summary | 17
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
AMCONSTSWI
AMCOPYLG
AMCOPYVIEW
Switches construction lines between lines and
rays.
Displays the inner contour of an object.AMCONTIN
Displays the outer contour of an object.AMCONTOUT
Traces all points of a contour.AMCONTRACE
Converts the current drawing.AMCONVDWG
Copies a user specified layer group or selected
geometry into a new layer group.
Copies views to the same layout or to a different layout.
Creates a cotter pin.AMCOTTERPIN2D
Creates a standard related counterbore.AMCOUNTB2D
Creates a standard related countersink.AMCOUNTS2D
Creates a countersunk rivet.AMCRIVET2D
18 | Chapter 2 Commands in AutoCAD Mechanical
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
Creates a cylindrical pin.AMCYLPIN2D
Creates datum identifier symbols.AMDATUMID
Creates datum target symbols.AMDATUMTGT
AMDEFLINE
AMDETAIL
AMDIMALIGN
AMDIMARRANGE
Calculates the deflection line or moment line
of an object that has various force elements
acting on it.
Deletes views and its dependent views.AMDELVIEW
Creates associative and scaled detail frames of
selected parts of a drawing.
Aligns linear, rotated, aligned, ordinate, or
angular dimensions that have a base dimension of the same type.
Rearranges individual dimensions that lie along
one axis, in respect to a reference point.
Creates breaks in an existing dimension.AMDIMBREAK
Modifies dimensions in drawing mode.AMDIMFORMAT
Command Summary | 19
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
AMDIMINSERT
AMDIMJOIN
AMDIMSTRETCH
AMDRBUSHHOLE2D
AMDWGVIEW
Edits linear, aligned, rotated, and angular dimensions by inserting new dimensions of the
same type simultaneously.
Edits linear, aligned, and angular (3-point or
2-line) dimensions by joining similar dimensions into a single dimension.
Edits multiple dimensions at the same time.AMDIMMEDIT
Resizes objects by stretching/shrinking linear
and symmetric dimensions.
Creates a single drill bushing.AMDRBUSH2D
Creates a drill bushing and the corresponding
hole.
Creates views of Autodesk® Inventor™ linked
models while in Drawing mode.
Creates edge symbols.AMEDGESYM
Edits balloons, parts lists, and symbols.AMEDIT
AMEDITPSCUTLINE
Displays or selects the paper space cutline for
breakout section views.
20 | Chapter 2 Commands in AutoCAD Mechanical
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
Edits views created in Drawing mode.AMEDITVIEW
Generates and organizes equations.AMEQUATEDIT
Erases all construction lines.AMERASEALLCL
Erases selected construction lines.AMERASECL
AMEXPLODE
AMEXT2D
AMFEA2D
Breaks a compound object in the mechanical
structure environment into its component
objects.
Designs, calculates, and inserts extension
springs, and inserts spring specification tables
in drawings.
Creates an external thread.AMEXTHREAD2D
Creates feature control frame symbols.AMFCFRAME
Calculates stress and deformation in a plane
for plates with a given thickness or in a cross
section with individual forces and stretching
loads.
Creates feature identifier symbols.AMFEATID
Command Summary | 21
ton
DescriptionCommand NameToolbut-
Rounds and fillets the edges of objects.AMFILLET2D
AMFITSLIST
AMGROOVE2D
AMHATCH_135_11
AMHATCH_135_2
AMHATCH_135_4
AMHATCH_45_13
Puts existing fits and their respective dimension values into a list and inserts this fits list
into your drawing.
Inserts a retaining ring/circlip with the appropriate groove in a shaft.
Creates a grooved drive stud.AMGROOVESTUD2D
Creates a 135-degree and 11 mm/0.4 inch
hatch.
Creates a 135-degree and 2.7 mm/0.11 inch
hatch.
Creates a 135-degree and 4.7 mm/0.19 inch
hatch.
Creates a 45-degree and 13 mm/0.5 inch
hatch.
AMHATCH_45_2
AMHATCH_45_5
Creates a 45-degree and 2.5 mm/0.1 inch
hatch.
Creates a 45-degree and 5 mm/0.22 inch
hatch.
22 | Chapter 2 Commands in AutoCAD Mechanical
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