AutoCAD: Designing Dynamic Blocks
1h 5mIntermediate2015-03-10
Authors
Scott Onstott
Trainer specializing in CAD, BIM, 3D, and real-time software
Course details
Build intelligence into your AutoCAD drawings with dynamic blocks. Dynamic blocks allow you to quickly change the shape, size, position, orientation, and visibility of objects in blocks according to parameters and constraints that you define ahead of time. In this course, author Scott Onstott shows step-by-step how to build everything from static blocks to complex dynamic blocks that include parameters, actions, and geometric and dimensional constraints with preset attributes driven by fields. Once you have built and refined dynamic blocks, you will learn several methods to share your masterpieces with colleagues.
Learning objectives
Defining and nesting blocks
Inserting and redefining blocks
Creating and applying constraints
Designing dynamic blocks
Sharing blocks on a local area network
Learning objectives
Defining and nesting blocks
Inserting and redefining blocks
Creating and applying constraints
Designing dynamic blocks
Sharing blocks on a local area network
Skills covered
AutoCAD LTAutoCAD2D Drafting and DrawingBIMAutodesk3D ModelingVisualization and Real-TimeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and IllustrationDeep Dive (X:Y)
Concepts
0. Introduction
- 01 - Welcome
- 02 - Using the exercise files
1. Working with Static Blocks
- 03 - Defining and nesting blocks
- 04 - Inserting and redefining blocks
2. Applying Geometric and Dimensional Constraints
- 05 - Applying dimensional constraints within a block
- 06 - Creating geometric constraints within a block
- 07 - Adding tangent circles and constraining them to stay tangent
- 08 - Defining a parameter referenced by dimensional constraints
3. Designing Dynamic Blocks
- 09 - Adding alignment and base-point grips
- 10 - Stretching the desk and phone incrementally
- 11 - Controlling stretch with a reverse lookup of listed values
- 12 - Building position and rotation controls into the armchair
- 13 - Positioning and orienting the task chair with a polar grip
- 14 - Adding position and flip grips to mirror chairs
- 15 - Controlling the visibility of objects from a menu
- 16 - Adding an attribute with a field value
- 17 - Keeping items centered using the half-distance multiplier
- 18 - Advanced topic - Variable-radius filleted corner
4. Accessing Blocks on a Local Area Network
- 19 - Writing and inserting blocks to and from files
- 20 - Using DesignCenter to access a drawing's block tables
- 21 - Searching for blocks with the Content Manager
Conclusion
- 22 - Next steps