The "Draw" menu contains all construction type with which you can create objects.
When the object type (e.g. line) has been selected, the construc-tion type (e.g. as tangent, two points) is defined.
Draw menu Fig. 4-43
Note
Several functions in the "Draw" menu can also be activated, with the "Draw" tool bar by clicking the respective button.
Draw tool bar
When the construction type has been selected, the required features of construction are interactively entered, for example first a coordinate (start point), then the length of the line and then the angle.
There are two possible options for entering construction features:
• with the mouse pointer in the drawing field,
• from the keyboard by entry in the respective entry fields of the corresponding tool bar. Here a dialog window can also be switched on which contains all features as input fields.
Fig. 4-44
All constructions require the following feature entries:
• Coordinates (points)
• Scale sizes (length, width, height, distance)
• Angles
• Other drawing objects (for tangents, center vertical, parallels) The construction is concluded by one of the following actions:
• Click the mouse button
• Press the <Enter> key
• Click the red OK button in the "Action" tool bar
The CAD permits fast creation of identical objects in the form of rectangles, circles and ellipses. When an object has been created on the draw area, the features of this object have been saved and pre-defined for the next object. A copy of the object which was last drawn appears by clicking the right mouse button. This procedure can be repeated as often as possible as long as the <Esc> key is not pressed or another object selected. This function can also be switched off, refer to Section 10.9 "Extras menu"> "Options" >
"Draw".
Enter coordinates
During the construction of new objects of the drawing, coordinates (points) are often required. These can be entered in various ways:
The point is determined with the mouse pointer. The coordinates are displayed in the "Action" and "Status" tool bar.
The "Jump" function is activated. When the mouse pointer comes near a point of the drawing, it changes its form. The exact point of the drawing can be accepted by clicking.
The "Jump intersection points" function is activated. When the mouse pointer comes near the intersection point of two objects, it changes its form. The exact intersection point of the drawing can be accepted by clicking.
The coordinates can be numerically entered into the respective entry field of the corresponding tool bar. Here a dialog window can also be switched on which contains all features as input fields.
Enter length
During the construction of new objects of the drawing, scales (length, width, height, distance) are often required. These can be generated in various ways:
Construction features
Free entry
Jumping of points
Jumping intersection points
Keyboard input
The length is calculated from the distance of the current mouse pointer position and the respective logical reference point for the length. This is displayed in the "Action" tool bar.
The "Jump" function is activated. When the mouse pointer comes near a point of the drawing, it changes its form. The exact point of the drawing as a start point for the length can be accepted by clicking. If another point of the drawing is approached and jumped, a length can be taken exactly from the drawing.
If the length of a drawn object is required during construction, its property can be accepted by approaching this object and clicking with the right-hand mouse button. First a selection menu opens from which the concrete length can be selected.
Control of the right mouse button must be set in the dialog window
"Extras" > "Options" > "Draw" on the context menu for length, angle.
The length can be numerically entered into the respective entry field of the corresponding tool bar. Here a dialog window can also be switched on which contains all features as input fields. Entered lengths are saved as a presetting and are offered for selection the next time a length is entered.
Entering an angle
During the construction of new objects of the drawing, angles are often required. These can be generated in various ways.
The angle is calculated from the connecting line between the cur-rent mouse pointer position and the respective logical reference point. It is displayed in the "Action" tool bar.
If the angle of a drawn object is required during construction, its properties can be accepted by clicking with the right-hand mouse button on this object. First a selection menu opens from which the concrete angle can be selected.
Control of the right mouse button must be set in the dialog window
"Extras" > "Options" > "Draw" on the context menu for length, angle.
The angle can be numerically entered into the respective entry field of the corresponding tool bar. Here a dialog window can also be switched on which contains all features as input fields.
Free entry
Jumping of points
Prerequisite
Keyboard input
Free entry
Jumping of points
Prerequisite
Keyboard input
6.1 > Line
When the "Line" submenu has been selected from the "Draw"
menu, various options are available for drawing a line. The "Action"
tool bar changes correspondingly.
Line action bar Fig. 4-45
> Two points
A line is created by clicking on a start and end point. The coordinates of the points can also be directly entered into the dialog window of the "Action" tool bar.
> Point, length, angle
This function requires the entry of a start point, the line length and of the angle to the horizontal to define a line specifically.
Click a start point. The form of the mouse pointer changes to a length symbol. Determine the length by pulling and clicking. The form of the mouse pointer changes to an angle symbol.
Define the angle to the horizontal by pulling and clicking. Positive angles are given in a clockwise direction.
Line, point, length, angle information Fig. 4-46
> Point as tangent
When the point has been entered, approach a circle or arc. The required line appears.
As there are two options, it is possible to move between these with the <PageUp>/<PageDown> keys or the button of the "Action" tool bar.
> Tangent
This function draws a tangent between two circles or arcs.
Select the first circle or arc and then approach the second.
With the <PageUp>/<PageDown> keys or the button of the
"Action" tool bar select one of the four tangent versions.
Select the required version by clicking.
> Tangent with angle
This function draws a tangent from a circle or arc with a defined length and a defined horizontal angle.
First select the circle to which a tangent is to be created. Then de-termine the length and the angle.
> Mid-perpendicular
This function is used to create a center vertical to a previously selected line.
Approach a line and select by clicking, the center vertical appears – then determine the length.
As there are two options, it is possible to move between these with the <PageUp>/<PageDown> keys or the button of the "Action" tool bar.
> Bisecting line
Creates a line as a bisecting line between two lines of the drawing.
To this purpose two lines are approached in succession. The required bisecting line appears – the length is then determined.
As there are four options, it is possible to move between these with the <PageUp>/<PageDown> keys or the button of the "Action" tool bar.
> Parallel
Creates a line as a parallel to a line of the drawing at a certain distance.
To this purpose approach a line. The required parallel appears.
Now determine the distance from this line.
As there are two options, it is possible to move between these with the <PageUp>/<PageDown> keys or the button of the "Action" tool bar.
> Parallel by point
Creates a parallel to a line the distance of which is determined by a point which is to intersect the parallel.
To this purpose approach a line. The required parallel appears.
Now select the point which the parallel should intersect.
Parallel with point Fig. 4-47
> Perpendicular
This function creates a perpendicular to an object.
Select the freely selectable start point of the line. Now select an object to which the perpendicular is to be created.
Both a circle (arc) or a line can be selected as an object.
Perpendicular Fig. 4-48
6.2 > Rectangle
After selecting the "Rectangle" submenu in the "Draw" menu, there are three different options for drawing rectangles.
The "Action" tool bar changes correspondingly.
Rectangle action bar Fig. 4-49
> Point, width, height, angle
This function creates a rectangle by entering a corner point, the width and height of the rectangle and the angle to the start point.
The following illustration lists the four parameters and their sequence.
1 2
3
4
1 Point 3 Height
2 Width 4 Angle
Rectangle: Point, width, height, angle Fig. 4-50
> 1st point, 2nd point, height
This functions generates a rectangle by entering the two corner points of the basic line and the required height.
The angle to the horizontal is determined by both first points.
1
3
2
Rectangle 1. point, 2. point, 3. height Fig. 4-51
> Two diagonal points
This function creates a rectangle by entering two diagonal points.
6.3 > Circle
After selecting the "Circle" submenu in the "Draw" menu there are various different options for drawing circles.
The "Action" tool bar changes correspondingly.
Circle action bar Fig. 4-52
> Center point and radius
The simplest method of drawing circles is to determine the center point and the radius.
After selecting a point the radius can be determined. This is per-formed either interactively by pulling the mouse or by direct entry of the radius value in the "Radius" field in the "Action" tool bar.