The CAD Times

An AutoCAD Newsletter for CAD Users

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Issue #5, April 2005

Happy spring everyone!

RJ here from cad-design-and-drafting-services.com. Ahhhhh -- warmer weather, birds chirping and allergies.

It was +20 C :) here in Northern Ontario two days ago (68 F for our friends in the south). But today, 0 C (32 F) -- and I'm looking at 4" of snow as I sit at my computer :(

But not to worry, this won't get me down. I'm a Northerner and we can adapt to pretty near anything. Won't be long before I'm swatting away the mosquitoes!

Finding Online Freelance CAD Projects

Ohhhh, do we get requests for this one! … especially from over seas.

I thought this may be a great article for a newsletter since many CAD drafters and designers are always on the look out for some possible freelance opportunities.

But is it for you? Sure, why not. If you have the time, equipment, software and expertise that employers are looking for in CAD contractors.

There are several cad sites offering opportunities… Read more...

This month’s AutoCAD tips!

Figuring It Out

Scale Factor for Imperial Units (Model Space)

12 is the magic number when it comes to figuring out that all important scale factor to be used for the linetype scale (LTSCALE), dimension scale (DIMSCALE) and text height, to name a few.

Lets say you have a sectional drawing you would like to be plotted at 1/4” = 1’-0” … but … how do you figure out the scale factor for these above items?

For 1/4" = 1’-0”

1. 12” ¸ 1/4” (0.25) = 48
2. 48 now becomes your linetype scale and the dimension scale.
3. For the text height: standard plotted text height is 3/32”, so 3/32” (0.09375) X 48 = 4.5”

For 1/8” = 1’-0”

4. 12” ¸ 1/8” (0.125) = 96
5. 96 now becomes your linetype scale and the dimension scale.
6. For the text height: standard plotted text height is 3/32”, so 3/32” (0.09375) X 96 = 9”

Another tip for dimensioning -- Set your dimension scale factor accordingly, then set your text height to 3/32" in the Dimension Style Manager. This will automatically set the dimension text to the proper height. Also be sure to set the height to 0 in the style of the dimension text (enter STYLE at the command prompt).

Piece of cake? :)

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Load Those LISP Routines

Even though Autodesk eagerly tries to make it's way through the AutoCAD wish list that us CAD users relentlessly keep adding to, there seems to always be a need for some extra help in the mean time.

So, while we wait for the next release of AutoCAD (hmm, yeah they can't release those fast enough) to see if our *wishes come true*, our buddy the lisp programmer can be our best friend.

Loading Lisp Routines for the Current Drawing Session

1. From the Tools dropdown menu

2. Choose Load Application...

3. Browse to the location of the lisp routine (.lsp file) you would like to run

4. Click Load

Your lisp routine is now ready for use in your current drawing. Usually typing the name of the lisp routine at the command prompt will get things going.

If not, try opening the lisp routine using a text editor program (such as Notepad in Microsoft Windows) and see if the programmer included any instructions on running the lisp routine.

If you open the file and see scrambled text, the lisp routine is probably protected by the programmer.

If so, it's best to contact the person or site you received the routine from and ask what the parameters are for evoking the routine.

Loading Lisp Routines Each Time AutoCAD Starts Up

There are some routines I like to use almost every time I'm using AutoCAD. For these *special* lisp routines, I add them to the Startup Suite so they load each time AutoCAD starts.

1. From the Tools dropdown menu

2. Choose Load Application...

3. Click on Contents, then Add

4. Browse to the location of the lisp routine (.lsp file) you would like to have added.

5. Choose the file and click Add

6. Click Close, then Close again

Until next month :)

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