If you have successfully created an element, you can incorporate it into an assembly or display it in the form of a technical drawing. Since we have covered working with assemblies in the previous chapter, it is time to show you how to create drawings.

To that end, I will first start the Make Drawing from Part function from the File menu, and the program will offer me the possibility to choose a template according to which the basic parameters will be set. At the moment, I only have one template at my disposal, but there is an option to start the Drawing function by selecting the Novice option and thus create a completely new drawing. In order to speed up the whole process, I will choose the first option and go to the next step with OK.

The program will automatically switch to the mode intended for the creation of technical drawings, and as you can see, a blank sheet of paper will be displayed on the screen to begin with. Although it already contains some elements such as outline lines, basic description and legend, the main content has yet to be inserted. This can be easily achieved by choosing one of the options on the right side of the screen, as they actually represent different views of the same element. I will decide on the first item (Top) and create the basic content of the future workshop drawing in one go. It fit perfectly into the selected template, but if for any reason you are not satisfied with the current state, you can easily change it by applying one of the offered options. This primarily refers to the display of the basic element, because only one click is enough for a side projection or axonometry to appear on the screen instead of the basic element. However, I will return to the previous state and finally confirm the basic parameters.

If you still want to go back to the previous step, it is enough to select the basic element and the same options will appear on the screen again. I will use this opportunity to play a little with the basic view, which can be shaded or strictly linear (Wireframe), although it is best to keep it in a form that hides invisible edges (Hidden).

Since I have successfully set up the basic content, it is time to supplement my drawing with several different projections. This can be achieved by using the Projected View function found in the Drawing section, so I will click on the icon of the same name and immediately select the basic content. After that, if I move the cursor to the right side, the corresponding projection will appear on the screen, and all that is expected of me is to determine its final position. In a similar way, I could choose any of the characteristic views because it is enough to just move the cursor and follow what is happening on the screen. For the final selection, however, it is necessary to press the left mouse button and thus fix the position of the new element. Since the entire procedure is very simple, you can repeat it several more times and thus create several different projections. Of course, if you are not satisfied with how all this turned out, you simply select the appropriate detail and move it to a new location. I will move the 3D display in this way, and if I apply the same procedure for the basic element, it will automatically be reflected in its projections. In other words, they will also be moved because for proper display it is necessary to keep the connection with the basic content.

To create individual views, the so-called Third Angle Projection, which means that the view from above will be placed above the basic element, and the view from the bottom will be placed below it. In some parts of the world, a different principle is used, which implies opposite projections, and if this method suits you better, click with the right mouse button on a free part of the screen and select the item Properties from the auxiliary menu. After that, it will not be difficult for you to choose the appropriate mode (Type of projections), but keep in mind that this will automatically be reflected on the current display. I like it better the way it was, so I will go back to the previous state and check if everything is in its place.

The next thing I’d like to show you is adding dimension lines, so to that end I’m going to run the Smart Dimensions function and immediately zoom in on the appropriate detail. After that, I only need to select some edges and determine the position of the new dimension line. In the same way, I could mark the diameter of this circle or the thickness of the basic part, and the program will automatically make sure that the correct dimensions appear on the screen.

For a more precise description of the geometry of individual parts, it is necessary to attach, in addition to different projections, appropriate sections. This can be achieved by using the Section View function, where it is enough to mark the intersection point with one click and then determine the position of the new attachment. As you can see, it will be automatically created, so it won’t be difficult for me to see the depth of the triangular groove at the top. This information deserves a special dimension line, so I will start the function for dimensioning and complete the whole process with a few clicks. From this section, it can be concluded that the circle in the middle is in fact an opening, and this is confirmed by the 3D representation in the upper right corner of the drawing.