ASSIGNMENT 2: WINDOW



ASSIGNMENT 3: CHAIR and GROUPING

DEMO(S):

1. Fillet with Radius

2. Grips

3. Circle

4. Copy/Multiple Copy

5. Mirror

REVIEW:

A brief review of the Fillet command with a “0” radius leads into the Fillet with Radius demo.

LECTURE / DISCUSSION:

FILLET with RADIUS:

The only snag here seems to be that students want to enter the Radius value “directly” without first typing and entering “R”. During the demo we spend time on the command prompts, explaining the options available, the upper case alias to use (R for Radius), and the need to ENTER after typing the alias. Also many students seem to believe that they need to “click” the cursor at the command prompt line before typing…show them that that is not necessary.

GRIPS:

When demonstrating Grips, we draw parallels between the Trim, Extend, and Move commands, even though students have not “officially” encountered the latter two. We demo stretching lines (extending and shortening); repositioning end points to OSnap locations of other entities as destinations; selecting two lines at their common end point and moving the pair; and “massaging and moving circles and ellipses. We stress during the demo the use of Ortho and OSnaps – in particular the Perpendicular OSnap -- when extending or shortening a line intersecting another line. We also demonstrate the option of extending, shortening, and moving entities by selecting a Grip and then “dragging and typing” the desired dimension for the adjustment.

CIRCLE:

We give a quick review of Radius vs. Diameter and then focus on the command prompts, noting that the default request is for Radius…..and that to work with Diameter, the alias must be entered. This is a good place to discuss hitting the Enter key when the desired option is presented in brackets at the prompt line i.e.: if “D” is presented in the brackets and one wants to work with diameter, then he or she doesn’t need to type the “D” – they can just hit enter, or the space bar, or right click. Also demonstrate that the last value entered will become the default value for subsequent commands, and again, that they can apply that value by directly “entering” rather than retyping. For centerpoint selection, we emphasize first giving oneself a target by Offsetting (or otherwise creating) layout lines/centerlines. These lines can be erased later. We discuss the use of layout lines for CAD work by drawing parallels between CAD and hand drafting, in which layout lines are the backbone of the hand work. Too often students try to find a way of “depositing” entities in one single swoop, thinking the computer can intuitively place entities at some desired location.

COPY:

The selection process typically needs some emphasis, especially the point that you must “tell” AutoCAD when you’re done selecting entities. As part of the selection process you may wish to demonstrate typing “U” to deselect the last entity. We demonstrate the Base point as a “reference” point, selecting a Base point “off” the object and show that the object “copies” in the same relationship to itself as the “base/displacement point relationship”. We also demonstrate “dragging and typing” to locate copies, and using OSnaps for Base and Displacement point targets – Copying “from here” “to there”.

The Multiple Copy option is also demonstrated, once again demonstrating “Entering” to directly select options displayed in brackets at the prompt line – or Entering a value one types at the prompt line.

MIRROR:

Selection processes are shown as identical to that of Copy. Students often have a bit of trouble with the Mirror Line. We discuss it as an imaginary line which the computer extends to infinity. We find that we need to stress (for mysterious reasons) that drawing the Mirror line is like drawing any other line – one must select BOTH a start and end point. Many students seem to have trouble with selecting the end point. We demonstrate drawing Mirror lines “in space” as well as constructing layout lines as guides for the Mirror line. Finally, students seem stumped with the last option to “delete” the source entities. And once again, we stress “reading” the command prompt line and directly entering if the default value is wanted.

PROCESS:

We have students “watch” these demos as some may not actually be on this assignment as the class is typically starting to separate at this point. We stress in these situations that no matter “where” the students are, that they “stop drawing and watch.” Often times the more advanced students have already ventured ahead into these commands on there own – we want to make sure that they understand the full implications of the commands and processes involved. For those students lagging a bit, we present the demos as a view of things to come, and assure them that when in fact they do hit this assignment, that we will review with them at their work stations if they have questions.

For Grips we lock on to the terminology – suggesting that students “grip” or “pick up” the line with one left click, and then “release their grip” or “drop” the line with the second left click.

For Copy and Mirror we spend time drawing parallels in the selection process – picking, pick window, and crossing window, and “telling the computer when you’re done selecting” by “entering”. We also touch on the Move command in conjunction with the Copy command, as the process is identical, if the result is not.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Grips: Make sure that as students begin to use Grips for quick adjustment to entities, that they are also using OSnaps for their targets and not just “eyeballing”. In certain situation, the OSnaps will interfere with a desired adjustment, overriding the desired target. Remind students that they can toggle the OSnaps on and off to relieve this problem – but make sure to also remind them to turn the OSnaps back ON when they’ve completed the task at hand.

Multiple Copy: Make sure that students actually use the Multiple Copy command for the chair buttons – many are tempted to do the individual Copy three times.

Mirror Command: Make sure that students have Ortho ON when drawing a Mirror line (typically) and/or are snapping to existing, true entities for the creation of the Mirror line.

Another point to watch for with the Mirror command, the Mirror line specifically, sometimes students will draw the Mirror line with Ortho OFF and end up with a slightly askew Mirror. Other times they may Snap to entities on the drawing to locate the Mirror line, but accidentally Snap to a point “close” to the one they actually desire – either on an adjacent entity or a Midpoint rather than a perpendicular point, etc.

If students follow the order of the assignment steps, they will be forced to “extend” some lines using Grips. Some may work their way around this by taking things a out of order. While there is no right or wrong way to complete many of the tasks at hand, we do try to present things in an order that facilitates “using” the commands, in many cases letting that desire override more efficient ways of completing the drawings.

PLOTTING:

Students are asked to plot the chairs at ½” scale – different that the previous two assignments. Again our goal is to get their feet wet in paper space a little bit at a time. This exercise will offer an opportunity to adjust the scale and Pan the objects inside the activated Viewport. Be sure that students “activate” the Viewport before adjusting the scale in the Viewport toolbar. Many will make the scale adjustment while still in Paper Space and (of course) nothing happens to the display. Also make sure that the scale adjustment is made to the Viewport through the Toolbar – and NOT in the Page or Plot setup. That guy needs to stay at 1:1. Finally make sure to explain the different between Architectural Scales and “ratio” scales displayed in the Viewport Toolbar…that is explain that 1:2 is NOT the same as ½” = 1’-0”

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download