Several easy (...hopefully...) questions.

[zissou]

I'm new to the whole professional draftsman field, making the transition from tool making.

I have several basic questions...

Can I use (Co)Ordinate dims with linear dims in the same drawing on different views or details?

Can I have two detail "circle" borders cross?

What would you recommend for professionial reading? Textbooks, etc?

 

[ctopher]

Look at DOD-STD-100 & ASME-Y14.5M 1994.
Coord dims, yes, but not the same dim.
I don't think is wrong to have detail circles cross. If it looks confusing, or they are too close, separate them.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 05
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[ewh]

I agree with Chris (suprise!). While there may be hard and fast rules, the questions you bring up don't have strict answers. But, as Chris pointed out, while you can get away with mixing coordinate and linear dimensioning, be sure not to double dimension. Or cross dimension lines with leader or extension lines. Or allow tolerance stackups. Or...
As far as professional reading, Lowell Foster has written some good books on ASME Y14.5, and there are several other authors on the same subject worth reading.

 

[MintJulep]

I would think that as a tool maker you would have a great advantage making drawings that actually contain all of the information needed to make the part.

Of course you might also have a disadvangage, because you will probably tend to think too much about how to make the part when drawing the part. The drawing needs to define the dimensional and functional requirements, not dictate the method of manufacture.

 

[ProEDesigner00]

I agree with MintJulep. My formation from tool maker to designer/draftsman soon to be degreed engineer, was an eye opener. Now all the sudden not all the engineers are as dumb as the tool makers can sometimes percieve

 

[zissou]

Well, as it stands now, I understand and, believe it or not, embrace modelling with design intent and insist on having it fully restrained, etc... All those silly "good" practices.

I use two different MCAD programs... one at work, Solid Edge, and another at the casa, SolidWorks.

Right now, at work, I'm trying to "spoon feed", for lack of a more appropriate term, modern practices to my new employer. Think of a shop that invented it's market, is family owned, and a little over one hundred years old. There has not been much exposure to changes and modern - and most importantly, cost saving - methods.

We deal mostly in sheet metal "cabinets" in the food industry. Until I showed up, all drawings were done in the "flat" and occassionally dim'ed formed as well. Since I don't pay subs to make flats, I pay them to make bent, finished parts and assemblies - I feel that dim'ing in the flat is silly.

Anyways, long meandering story made short, I'm looking for all the information I can find to make sure that I'm doing things the RIGHT way and not just the way I've seen in the past, etc.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[xgrigorix]

Well, I certainly agree with the idea that you send your vendor a print of what you want them to deliver to you (finished product). Giving a sub-contractor a dimensioned flat pattern isn't the best idea, because their bending operation might be different from you bending operation and therefore require different amounts of material to be added for the bend.

 

[zissou]

What standards would I need to completely layout and dim a mechanical drawing?

I just purchased Y14.5 as a PDF, will I also need Y14.1 and Y14.3, etc?

Also, has anyone worked with sending 3D models as the contractual item, in lieu of a mechanical drawing?

I appreciate the help. I'm a big fan of doing things the right way from the very beginning.

 

[ctopher]

Yes you will need the other stds. DOD-STD-100 is needed.
When I send out 3D models, I usually send either parasolid, STL or IGES with the PDF of the dwgs. I never send SolidWorks part/assy/dwg files. Take a class in GD&T (ASME Y14.5), it will help you alot.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 05
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716