Drawings

A drawing is a sheet of paper showing your part from its sides, with sizes, to print or send to a shop. Open the part, then File, New drawing. The drawing follows the part: change the part and the drawing changes too.

  1. Base view puts the first view on the sheet.
  2. Projected view adds the other sides.
  3. Dimension adds sizes.
  4. Sheet sets the paper and the title block.
  5. Export saves a PDF, DXF or SVG.

Views

Base view
The first view of the part.
  1. Click Base view.
  2. Choose the side and the scale.
  3. Click the sheet where the view goes.
Projected view
The part seen from another side, lined up with a view already there.
  1. Click Projected view.
  2. Click the view to start from, if there is more than one.
  3. Move to its right, left, top or bottom for that side, or to a corner for a 3D view, and click.
  4. Press Esc when you are done.
Section view
Cuts the part along a line and shows the inside.
  1. Click Section view.
  2. Click the view to cut.
  3. Click where the cut starts, then each point along it. A hole's centre catches the point. Press Enter to end the line.
  4. Click where the section goes.
Detail view
Shows a small area of a view larger.
  1. Click Detail view.
  2. Click the middle of the area to show.
  3. Move out and click to size the circle.
  4. Click where the larger view goes.

Sizes and notes

Dimension
Measures an edge, a hole, or between two edges.
  1. Click Dimension.
  2. Click an edge. A straight edge gives its length, a round one its diameter.
  3. Or click a second edge for the distance or angle between the two.
  4. Click where the number goes.
A size follows its edge when the part changes. If the edge is gone, the size says so.
Hole callout
Labels a hole with its size, its depth or THRU, and how many there are.
  1. Click Hole callout.
  2. Click a hole where it shows as a circle.
  3. Click where the label goes.
Note
Text on the sheet, with or without an arrow.
  1. Click Note.
  2. Click an edge for a note with an arrow, or empty paper for text on its own.
  3. Click where the note goes, type it, and press Done.
More
The rarer marks: auxiliary view, automatic sizes, sizes from one edge, centre lines, tolerance frames and datums.

Drawings of an assembly

Parts list
Puts the assembly's parts list on the sheet.
  1. Click Parts list.
  2. Click where its bottom-left corner goes. Near the title block it sits on top of it.
Balloon
Numbers the parts in a view to match the parts list.
  1. Click Balloon.
  2. Choose the view and press Balloon every part.
  3. Or click one part in a view, then where its balloon goes.
  4. Drag a balloon to move it.

The sheet

Sheet
The paper size, mm or inch, first or third angle, the title block, your logo and the revision list.
Export
Saves the drawing as a PDF to print, a DXF for other CAD programs, or an SVG.

More help

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