Drafting Projects

Introduction
Estimated time to complete this course: 1 - 2 hours. These projects will give you an opportunity to practice some of the procedures you have learned in the Drafting courses. You can test your knowledge by using the Less Information icon in the toolbar to show minimal instructions, then see if you can complete each task from the instructions given. If you need more information on any particular procedure, use the More Information icon to see the specific steps you need to use to complete that task. Project 1: Create a drawing The first project will let you practice creating a drawing then adding various views to it. Project 2: Add dimensions to a drawing The second project will let you practice adding various types of dimensions to views.

Locating the parts

On the toolbar above, click this button for more information about the parts and other files you need for the activities in this course.

NX Roles
The activities in this course assume that you are using the Essentials with full menus role in NX. If your system is set to use a different role, you may see different buttons and menus in NX. For more information about roles, click here.

Customizing toolbars
In this course, all needed toolbars and commands are displayed by default. No customization is necessary.

Project 1: Create a drawing

Estimated time to complete this lesson: 25 - 45 minutes. In this first project, you will create a drawing and add several views of the part to it. The various tasks will require you to: Create a new drawing sheet. Create a base top view, then use it to create an orthographic front view. Add an isometric view with a smaller scale. Change the layer visibility in a view. Remove a view from the drawing sheet. Add a detail view. Change the label on the detail circle on the parent view. Change the boundary of the detail view. Create a simple section view. Create a new drawing sheet. Move the section view from the first drawing sheet to the second.

Open the part for this project

Open project_dwg. This is a small fitting with a cut off flange.

This is a metric part. Its flange is 100 mm (about 4 inches) in diameter. Start the Drafting application. Because there are no drawings in this part and the Automatically Start Insert Sheet Command is on, the Sheet dialog box appears.

Set the first drawing sheet up

Create the first drawing sheet with these values: Name this drawing sheet SHT1. Use an A3 sheet size. Have all the views appear full scale. Use 3rd angle projection. Make sure Automatically Start Base View Command is selected. When the drawing sheet is created, the Base View dialog bar automatically appears.

Add a base view and an orthographic view to the drawing

You do not want any of the views on this drawing to display centerlines or labels. Since you have chosen a format that is large enough for full size drawings of this part, you want all of your views to be full size (that is, to have the same scale value as the drawing sheet). Add a TOP view at this location on the drawing. Make sure it will be full size. Do NOT create centerlines on any new views. Do NOT have the system add a view label under this view. As soon as you add the base view, use it to create an orthographic front view below it. Tip:

Before placing the base view on your drawing, right-click and choose Style to open the View Style dialog box. Then on the General page, make the appropriate changes to the Centerlines and View Label settings. You will need to turn off the Centerlines option for both views.

Click the middle mouse button to close the Projected View dialog bar.

Turn the Grid off

Since you will not need to use the grid, you can turn it off. Display the Part Navigator. With the cursor over the Drawing node, right-click and choose Grid.

Set the drawing preferences

You would like to have the system update the drawing sheet after each change you make. You also want to see a wireframe image on the cursor as you create additional views. But you still want to be able to see the borders around the views as you create them. Set the preferences that will have the system immediately update the drawing sheet and display a wireframe image on the cursor. Choose PreferencesDrafting. On the Preview page, from the Style list, select Wireframe. Display the View page. Clear the Delay View Update check box. Leave Display Borders selected. Click OK.

Add view labels to the drawing

You decide that it would be better to have the view label displayed under the views you create on this drawing sheet. Have the system add a label under both existing views.

Select both views so that the border of each view highlights. Right-click the border of either view, and then choose Style. Be sure the General page is displayed. Select the View Label check box. Click OK.

Add an Isometric view

You need an isometric view on this drawing. But it must be somewhat smaller than the other views. Because the designer wanted to see the Datum Coordinate System in this particular model view, Layer 61 was made visible only in this view.

Add an isometric model view to the drawing. Place it to the right of the TOP view. Do not have the system add any centerlines. Have the system include a view label and a scale label. Make the view 3/4 full size. You can have the system include the datum coordinate system in this view.

Use your method of choice to add a base view to the drawing sheet. On the Base View dialog bar, set the view to TFR-ISO. Right-click and choose Style to display the View Style dialog box. Display the General page. Select the View Label and Scale Label check boxes. Make sure Centerlines is cleared. In the Scale box, type 0.75. Click OK.

Place the view on the drawing. Click the middle mouse button to terminate the view creation process.

Change two view preferences

You will not need to have the borders around the views displayed on this drawing sheet. Also you would rather have the system update views as you create them. On all drawing sheets in this part, have the system not display borders around views. Have the system update views as you create them.

Choose PreferencesDrafting to display the Drafting Preferences dialog box. Display the View page. Clear the Display Borders check box. Click OK.

Change the layer visibility of the Isometric view

You decide that it would be better to not have the datum geometry displayed in the isometric view. Use the Layer Visible in View dialog bar to adjust the TFR-ISO view on the drawing sheet so that objects on layer 61 will not be visible.

On the Utility toolbar, click Layer Visible in View View.

or choose FormatVisible in

From the Visible Layers in View dialog box, select the TFR-ISO view. Click Reset to Global. Click OK. In the Visible Layers in View dialog box, click Cancel.

Change the display of blends on the TOP view

You decide that the TOP view of the part would be better if the blends were not shown. Turn off the display of smooth edges on the TOP view.

Double-click the border of the TOP view to display the View Style dialog box for this view.

Open the Smooth Edges page. Clear the Smooth Edges check box. Click OK.

Remove a drawing view from the drawing

You decide that the ISO view is not really necessary. Remove (delete) the TFR-ISO view from the drawing.

Right-click the border of the TFR-ISO view and choose Delete.

Add a detail view

The last view you will need is a close up detail of the cut-off edge of the flange. Add a detail view (with a circular border) of the right side area of the TOP view. Have the system include appropriate centerlines, a view label, and a scale label. Use the "embedded" style for the label on the parent view. Center it on the hole next to the cut-off edge. Make the border just large enough to include the straight portion of this flange. Make the detail view 3 times as big as the TOP view. Place it in the center of the drawing sheet.

Place the cursor over the border of the TOP view, then right-click and choose Add Detail View. On the Detail View dialog bar, make sure Circular Boundary is selected.

For the detail center of the detail view, select the hole near the cut off part of the flange.

On the Detail View dialog bar, click Style Make sure the General page is displayed.

Make sure both View Label and Scale Label check boxes are selected. Make sure the Centerlines check box is selected. In the Scale box, type 3. Click OK. Click once to define the radius of the detail view label on the parent view.

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Indicate a location for this view in the center of the drawing sheet. Press the Esc key or click the middle mouse button to exit the adding view process.

Change the detail label on the parent view

You would prefer that the label on the top view had a leader on it. Change the detail view label on the parent view from "embedded" to "label". If you need to, adjust the new label and its leader.

Double-click the letter C on the circle on the parent view to display the View Label Style dialog box. From the Label on Parent list, select Label. Click OK. Optional: Move the label letter so that the leader is better positioned.

Change the scale of the detail view

Because you plan to add a section view, you decide that the detail view must be made smaller.

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Scale the detail view down to two times full size.

Double-click the dashed border of the detail view to display the View Style dialog box. Change the scale value to 2.0. Click OK.

Change the display of the drawing sheet

You would like to see how this drawing would look if it were plotted. Also, you can change the background color of all drawing sheets in this part. Make the lines in the views on this drawing sheet the same widths. Make the background color white.

Choose PreferencesVisualization.

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Display the Color Settings page. Clear the Show Widths check box. Click the Background option. Select the White option from the small Color dialog box.

Click OK.

Change the boundary size of the detail view

You decide that the detail view should show more area on the parent viewthat it should show the holes above and below the center hole.

Change the size of the boundary of the detail view to include the holes above and below the center of the current detail view border (and do not worry about any resulting overlap). Move the cursor over the border of the detail view so that it highlights, then right-click and choose View Boundary to display the View Boundary dialog box. Select the detail view boundary (and get the "position" cursor). Move the "position" cursor outward from the detail view's center to make the boundary larger until it covers the area you need, then click to indicate that location.

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Click Cancel. Refresh the view to remove the "Anchor Point" text.

Move the detail view

You need to make some room for the next view. Move the detail into the upper right hand corner of the drawing sheet to make room for the next view. Highlight the border of the detail view and leave the cursor there until it changes into the "move" cursor. Drag the view upward.

Add a simple section view

You need to add a section view whose section line cuts vertically through the front view. Project a section view directly to the right of the front view. HINT: Use the border of the front view to start the procedure.

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Highlight the border of the orthographic view, then right-click and choose Add Section View. Select any convenient center point on the model to place the section line in the center of the view. Use the cursor to rotate the hinge line vertically through the part with the section arrows pointing to the left. Indicate a good location for the section view.

Click the middle mouse button to exit the function.

Create a second drawing sheet

You would rather have the section view placed on its own drawing sheet. Create a second drawing sheet with the same format as the current drawing sheet. Name it SHT2. Use your method of choice to create a new drawing sheet. Be sure the name of the new drawing sheet reads SHT2. Make sure its size will be A3. Click OK.

Move the section views to drawing sheet SHT2

Now you are ready to move the section view to drawing sheet SHT2. Use the Part Navigator to cut and paste the section view.

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In the Part Navigator, highlight the section view node, then right-click and choose Cut. Right-click the SHT2 node, then choose Paste.

Close the part

This finishes the exercise. Close the part; do not save.

Project 2: Add dimensions to a drawing

Estimated time to complete this lesson: 25 - 50 minutes. This project will give you an opportunity to practice some of the procedures you have learned in the various dimensioning lessons. The objective of this project is to have you practice as many different dimensioning techniques as possible on one drawing. In this project, you will: Create two types of diameter dimensions. Create two types of radius dimensions. Create cylindrical dimensions with different precisions. Create angular dimensions. Add tolerancing and appended text to a diameter dimension. Create vertical dimensions. Create a parallel dimension.

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Create a chamfer dimension.

Open the part for this project

Open project_dim_dwg. This is the fitting with the cut off flange.

Examine the drawing of the fitting

Enter the Drafting application. You open onto drawing sheet SH1. It is an A3 size drawing with three views of the part.

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The drawing is displayed in monochrome (white), with line widths not shown and the grid turned off. On the Drafting Preferences dialog box, both the Delay View Update and Display Borders options have been turned off.

Examine the views that will be dimensioned

There are three views of the part on this drawing: a TOP view on the right, a section view on the left, and a detail section view (twice size). The TOP view has had three utility symbols added to it that will help you with your dimensioning. 1. 2. 3. A partial bolt hole circle. A full bolt hole circle. And a linear centerline through the center of the part.

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Normally there would be a section arrow in the TOP view to show where the cutting plane is located. But the section line display has been turned off for this view so that it will not interfere with your dimensioning.

Set the annotation preferences

Before you begin creating dimensions on this part, you will need to set some specific annotation preferences. You will want your dimensions to be displayed with these preferences:

You want all values shown in millimeters. You need to have trailing zeros displayed for all dimension and tolerance values. You want to be able to place your dimension values anywhere between the extension lines. You want to use only one decimal place accuracy. You can use the default settings for all the other preferences.

Use the Annotation Preferences dialog box to set up the preferences you need. Display the Annotation Preferences dialog box .

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Open the Units page. Make sure the Trailing Zeros Dimension and Tolerance check box is selected. Make sure the Units is set to Millimeters. Display the Dimensions page. Set the Placement option to Manual Placement, Arrows In. Set the precision to Nominal - x.x. Click OK.

Add a diameter dimension

Dimension the bolt hole circle with a diameter dimension.

On the Dimension toolbar, click Diameter

Select the bolt hole circle, then indicate a good location for the origin of this dimension.

Add a diameter dimension to the small hole

Dimension the diameter of the small hole in the flange area. Use one arrowhead and point it towards the hole. HINT: Get in very close.

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On the Dimension toolbar, click Hole Zoom in to the small hole.

Select the edge of the small hole, then indicate a good location for the origin of the dimension.

Add a radius dimension

Dimension the distance from the center of the part to the center of the small hole near the edge of the flange. Keep the arrowhead within the radius. Place the leader on the right of the dimension.

On the Dimension toobar, click Radius To Center

Select the circular part of the centerline on the small hole. Indicate a good location for the origin of the dimension.

Add an angular dimension

Dimension the minor angle between the centerline through the top bolt hole and the centerline through the 2 mm hole.

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On the Dimension toolbar, click Angular

Working counterclockwise, select the upper end of the centerline on the top bolt hole, then the upper end of the centerline on the small hole. Indicate a good location for the origin of this dimension.

Add another angular dimension

You need to show the angle between two bolt holes. Dimension the minor angle between these two bolt holes on the right side of the part.

Select the outside end of the horizontal centerline on the first bolt hole, then the outside end of the centerline on the second bolt hole. Indicate a good location for the dimension origin.

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Change the new angular dimension to show only degrees

You want this angular dimension to display only degrees. Change the display of this angular dimension to show only degrees (no minutes or seconds).

Select (double-click) the 45 degree dimension, then double-click it again. Display the Units page. Set the Angular Format option to Nominal Angles Display as Whole Degrees. Click OK. Click the middle mouse button to exit the function.

Annotate the new angular dimension

You decide that this angular dimension between the two holes should show that this value is typical of all the holes around the flange. Add the word "TYP" to this angular dimension.

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If the 45 degree dimension is not highlighted, just double-click it. Place the cursor over the highlighted dimension, right-click and choose Appended TextAfter. In the dynamic input box, type TYP. Click the middle mouse button to OK this change. Optional: If the dimension has moved, move it to a better location.

Dimension a bolt hole

You need to provide a tolerance for the bolt holes around the flange. Dimension the diameter of the bolt hole that is below the horizontal centerline and on the right side of the flange. Use only one arrow that points to the edge of the hole from the outside. The hole can be a little larger than its modeled size, but no smaller. Use the default tolerance value. Use the correct precision for the tolerance values.

On the Dimension toolbar, click Hole

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On the Hole Dimension dialog bar, from the Tolerance list, select Unilateral+. Set the Precision to 2 place precision for tolerances (called Tolerance - x.xx). Select the edge of the bolt hole, then indicate a good location for the origin of this dimension.

Append text to the bolt hole dimension

You decide that this bolt hole dimension needs to show that all the bolt holes are the same size and require the same tolerance. Append text to the bolt hole dimension that will show that all eight bolt holes have the same diameter and tolerance. Place the appended text below the dimension.

Double-click the dimension to highlight it. With the cursor over the highlighted dimension, right-click and choose Appended TextBelow. Type 8 HOLES. Click the middle mouse button to OK this text.

Add a length dimension

You need to show the distance between the flange cut-off on the right side of the part and the left curved edge of the part. Dimension the perpendicular distance of the flange cut-off along the horizontal centerline of the part to the tangency on the left. Make sure that no tolerance value will appear nor will any text be appended to this dimension HINT: Reset the Dimension dialog bar.

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On the Dimension toolbar, click Perpendicular

On the Perpendicular Dimension dialog bar, click Reset then check to be sure you will have no tolerance (or text) applied to this dimension. For the linear object, select the right vertical (cut off) edge of the part. On the Selection Bar, make sure that Tangent Point is selected. Select the left cylindrical edge of the part (and be sure you see the "tangent" symbol near the cursor). Indicate a good location for the origin of the dimension.

Move a dimension to a better location

In the TOP view, move the origin of any dimension that is interfering with another dimension (perhaps the dimension on the very small hole).

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Place the cursor over the dimension you want to move to highlight it and to get the "move" cursor. Drag the dimension to a better location.

Dimension diameters on the left side of the section view

On the section view, dimension these cylindrical diameters: the flange, the bolt hole at the top of this view, and the counterbore. Use one place precision. Line up the inner dimensions as you create them. Optional: Use only the End Point to select your geometry.

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On the Dimension toolbar, click Cylindrical

Check the Cylindrical Dimension dialog bar to be sure you are using 1 place precision. On the Selection Bar, click End Point .

Select the end points of edges that will give you the correct dimensions. Use the helper lines to line up the two inner dimensions.

Change the precision of an existing dimension

You decide that you want to use 2 place precision for the diameter of the counterbore. Edit the cylindrical dimension of the counterbore to show two place precision. Leave the global precision set to 1 place precision. Move the changed dimension to a better location if you need to.

Double-click the 44.6 mm dimension. Place the cursor over the highlighted dimension, then right-click and choose Nominal Precision2. Press the Esc key to deselect the dimension. Optional: Use the dimension that this dimension is associated with to drag both dimensions to a better location.

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Dimension diameters on the right side of the section view

Dimension the diameters on the right (top) side of the part. Do not use the cylindrical style, just dimension the vertical distance between end points (which means you will not see the diameter symbol in the dimension). Use 2 place precision for all of these dimensions (but do not change the global setting). Line up the origins horizontally and associate them. HINT: Work from the smaller diameter to the larger diameters.

On the Dimension toolbar, click Vertical. On the Vertical Dimension dialog bar, set the Precision option to Nominal - x.xx. Make sure End Point is still selected on the Selection Bar. Select the endpoints that will give you the correct dimension for each diameter. Use the helper lines to line up and associate the dimensions.

Dimension the sizes of the part

You need to show the dimensions of the part from its base to its top. Dimension the end points on these edges. Use one place precision. Try to create a chain of dimension values. It is OK if they overlap when they appear.

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On the Dimension toolbar, click Horizontal Chain

Use the Horizontal Chain Dimension dialog bar to set 1 place precision. Make sure End Point is still selected on the Selection Bar. Select each end point in an order that will give you a series of baseline dimensions.

Change the distance between the chain of dimensions

You need to offset the distance between these dimensions that will make them easier to read. Edit the chain of dimensions to change the offset distance between them. Be sure you select all of the dimensions in the chain. Try using an offset distance value of negative 7 mm. Afterward, move the key dimension to make them all more readable.

Deselect Horizontal Chain.

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Place the cursor over the chain of dimensions. When the "multiple objects" symbol appears, use the QuickPick dialog box to select the chain dimensions. With the cursor over the highlighted dimensions, right-click and choose Style. On the Annotation Preferences dialog box, display the Dimensions page. In the Chain Offset box, type 7. Click OK. Drag dimensions horizontally to better positions. If you need to, drag the first dimension you created vertically to display the chain better.

Create a chamfer dimension

You will need to dimension the small chamfer at the right end of the hole in the part. You could create the chamfer and then change the style. However, it would be better if you set up the preferences before you created this dimension. As you create this dimension, use the Dimension Style dialog box to choose a chamfer that: shows the angle and size of the chamfer. shows the text above the stub. has a leader that is perpendicular to the chamfer. displays the chamfer symbol (the letter "C") in front of the chamfer values. uses two place precision for the length of the chamfer.

On the Dimension toolbar, click Chamfer

On the Chamfer Dimension dialog bar, click Dimension Style Display the Dimensions page.

In the Chamfer section of the dialog box, set the style to Angle and Size. Make sure the stub type is set to Text Above Stub. Make sure the leader type is set to Leader Perpendicular to Chamfer. Make sure the symbol type is set to Prefix Symbol.

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Click OK.

Dimension the length of the chamfer

Show the length of the chamfer that is at the end of the inner hole. HINT: Zoom in to select the edge.

Zoom in on the upper end of the hole in the detail view. Select the chamfered edge. Zoom back out, then indicate a good location for the dimension.

Create an inspection dimension

You want to show that the diameter of this part is an inspection dimension. Edit the 100 mm diameter dimension on the left view to show that it is an inspection dimension.

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Double-click the diameter dimension. On the Edit Dimension dialog bar, click Dimension Style. Display the Dimensions page. Click Inspection.

Click OK.

Close the part

This completes the last project in this course. Close the part; do not save.

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