GWS

I always try to make sure that I'm working in the 'none' class when ever I'm cropping or creating a viewport. Otherwise with many classes in a drawing crop objects could end up anywhere. Having said that I do wish that they should have their own predetermined class, a bit like dimensions.

Michael, when I read you post it made me laugh out loud, it seems so familiar to me, it's exactly what happens to me. I think your suggestion would be a really good one.

Got my vote too.

Agreed

You can change the Mod by changing Number of Teeth and the Pitch Diameter, i.e. 40 teeth and 80 Pitch Diameter gives Mod0.5, but I agree it would be good to be able to input a Mod or DP and and say No. of Teeth and have the PD calculated.

Yes it would. This is a long discussed topic and I for one am hoping...no I'll go further, I'm praying that we get 3D dimensioning in 2010.....here's hoping!!

......also have you checked the DPI of the sheet layer that the viewport is on. Right click on the sheetlayer in the navigation palette to edit this.

I don't believe that you can change the level of detail in a viewport for a 3D object. That is set on the design layer. (Viewports are a way of viewing you design in different ways, i.e. rendering modes and angle of view with annotations such as dimensions). You can, however, 'overlay' a 2D gear in a viewport in annotation mode. I agree that the simplified version is rather too simple and I have taken to drawing an arc (again in the annotation mode) to represent the P.C.D. or just using the 3D version of the gear although this does give a rather cluttered view from the side.

Here, here!

Benson that's a great idea, I always struggle when editing a path as there is nothing else to relate to in the edit mode. Thanks for the tip. Guy

Hi Donald 1.Once the bolt tool is selected look at the top left of the main window for some options, one of them is a nut that will give what you need. 3.Have you unchecked the 'use standard length increments' in th OIP, it's near the bottom.

Why has this become what seems to be rather personal argument between too users. I also use filemaker for other parts of my work and would be interested in an answer to the original post. This forum has helped me enormously in the past and I would like to see it used for what it is meant for.

I'd also be interested to know what you know!

Thanks Islandmon I think I get now get the idea, but the issue for me is from a designer/3D drafting point of view it is confusing to have 3 different 'front' views when I only get one when using the ground plane. If I specify the 3 axis it would be more helpful to have the 'set views tranposed onto that one set of axis. Anyway that aside, I am able to use the working planes adequately and thank you for explaining it all in layman's terms. Cheers Guy

If I am using the ground plane as my working plane I only have one front view, one right view, etc. If I set a working plane with x,y, and z coordinates surely there is only one front view, one right view etc. It just gets a bit confusing from a non-mathematician's view (excuse the pun).

I always find working planes a bit tricksey, and I use them a fair amount. I still don't quite understand why there is a cycle of 3 different plane for one view. Working planes could do with a bit of user-friendlyness. (sorry for the colloquialism)

Hi Michael Just watched your video, a really useful 'real world' example of how to make good use of the loft tool Thank you

Michael I'd also love to know how you did that....please!

Jonathon That 'mid-point between snap points' is great, thanks for the tip. I use the snap points alot and that is a real help Guy

Hi Bruce It seems after looking at your file that you have 2 viewports on top of each other on sheet layer 2, I don't know if this is intentional but it maybe that you are not setting up both viewports. Otherwise the layer/class visibility seems to update when I change the settings through the OIP.

I too have recently come across this issue and a relaunch did indeed sort it out. Thanks islandmon

Most of my work is done in 3D and from my mechanical engineers point of view 3D constraints would be a great leap forward. Although software like 'Solidworks' is very good at what it does I find VW is able to model some very organic shapes that I can't do in other 'mechanical type' programs.

That has puzzled me for quite a while and has been a little frustrating so many thanks for your help Guy

What I like about the 2D tool is that you can rotate it 'live'.

When I rotate a 3D object using the rotate tool (2D tool) in any view except top/plan the floating tab bar show the angle of rotation and I can enter a value into it but the entered value has no effect. What am I missing? Guy