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Getting Started with DraftSight

Chapter 1. Introduction to DraftSight

DraftSight is a free CAD program that uses the DWG file format. It includes all the main tools to produce precise technical drawings and runs on a wide variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

We will cover the following topics in this chapter:

Downloading and starting DraftSight
Understanding the user interface and locating all elements
Configuring DraftSight
Setting up a drawing
Opening, saving, and closing drawings

Understanding the user interface

When starting DraftSight, its graphical user interface is displayed with a blank new drawing called NONAME_0.DWG. The interface can be customized; it contains the following elements by default, which are displayed in the screenshot in the following section:

Drawing area: This area contains the drawing, where graphical entities are inserted, viewed, modified, inquired, or deleted. All colors can be configured.
Cursor: The cursor is controlled by the mouse or other pointing device, which will allow specifying points to create, modify, or select entities, also to access menus or toolbars. The cursor coordinates are displayed at the status line.
Coordinate system icon: This icon displays the positive directions for the X and Y axis. DraftSight, as with other CAD programs, uses a Cartesian coordinate system, where each point is perfectly identified by a pair of coordinates.
Main menu: This top pull-down menu includes most DraftSight commands, divided by categories.
Standard toolbar: This toolbar includes the main commands for starting, opening, saving or printing drawings, for cutting, copying, or pasting entities, for painting properties between entities, undoing and redoing, for visualization operations, and controlling the properties palette.
Layers toolbar: This toolbar includes the LAYER command and the layers list.
Properties toolbar: This toolbar includes the default color, default line type, and default lineweight for new entities or for selected entities. It is advisable to maintain these ByLayer (controlled by layer, thus not explicitly).
Draw toolbar: This toolbar includes the main drafting commands, such as creating lines, circles, arcs, and text.
Modify toolbar: This toolbar includes the main modifying commands, such as deleting, moving, copying, and rotating.
Properties palette: Some DraftSight commands display a palette, which can always be visible. This palette can be turned off, as it will not be required now.
Model/Sheets tabs: Drawings are made on the model space. Sheets spaces are specific to prepare sheets for printing; presented in Chapter 10, Printing Efficiently.
Command window: This is one of the most important interface areas. It includes all requests from the program, displaying available options, and where users can write command names, their aliases, or options. The last line indicates that DraftSight is prompting the colon (:), which means it is waiting for a command. The command window can be resized or moved.
Status bar: This bar, beneath the command window, includes the cursor coordinates and the access to drafting auxiliary tools, presented in the next chapter. When hovering over a toolbar icon or a menu item, a small help and the command name are displayed on the left.

Configuring DraftSight

First, we may choose a different language for using DraftSight. When installing, a language based on user's location is automatically applied, which may not be the desired one. To choose a different language, the _LANGUAGE command must be applied (without forgetting underscore before command name) along with the language corresponding number (a question mark displays all available). Then, reinitiating DraftSight will set up the chosen language.

It is very simple to configure DraftSight. The OPTIONS command includes almost all settings and system options. We can access the command by digitizing its name, OP as its alias, choosing Options on the menu displayed by pressing the mouse right button, or Options on the Tools main menu.

The command displays a dialog box with several sections on the left column. Choosing one of these sections, the corresponding options are displayed on the right area with a tree structure:

File Locations: This section allows defining the location of important files and specific file names, including the Support Files Search Path, default Drawing Files Location, or External References Files Location.
System Options: This includes general options related to the system, such as Element Colors to configure interface colors (displayed in the following screenshot), DWG version for saving, Printing options, or Auto-save & Backup options.
User Preferences: Here we can define several Drafting and Mouse user options, as well as aliases for commands.
Drawing Settings: This includes settings specific to the current drawing. The most important settings are presented in the following screenshot.
Drafting Styles: This section includes Active Drafting Styles and the possibility to create or modify text styles, dimension styles, rich line (multiline) styles, and table styles.
Profiles: Here it is possible to manage user profiles in order to easily change multiple options at once.

Note

The default drawing area is black. A white drawing area was adopted throughout this book to improve images visualization.

Starting and setting up a drawing

After configuring DraftSight, let's start a new drawing and configure it.

Starting a drawing

The NEW command (shortcut Ctrl + N, on the Standard toolbar, or File main menu) allows us to start a drawing. The command displays a standard file dialog box in order to choose the template.

When starting a new drawing, we may start from a blank drawing (any one coming with DraftSight) or from a template with some configurations already done. Templates are drawing files with the DWT extension by default, placed at C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\DraftSight\1.2.265\Template or similar, depending on the operating system and DraftSight version. With the OPTIONS command, going to the File Locations| Drawing Support | Drawing Template File Location, we may change this location.

To create a template, we prepare the drawing to be used and then apply the SAVEAS command by selecting Drawing Template (*.dwt) on Save as type list.

Note

The SMARTNEW command (no alias or icon) allows us to start a new drawing without displaying the file dialog box. We may configure which template will be applied with the OPTIONS command, System Options | Open / Save As | Template file name for SmartNew.

Setting up a drawing

When using a blank template (for instance, standardiso.dwt, coming with DraftSight), we may configure it, especially units. Again with the OPTIONS command, going to Drawing Settings | Unit System, we can configure the following drawing options:

Base angle: We control the base angle direction, from which absolute angles are measured, by clicking on the compass or by writing a value. By default, 0° is East (3 o'clock). Normally, angles are measured positively in the counter clockwise direction, unless Clockwise is checked.
Length: The Type list allows the linear unit to be defined and the Precision resolution (number of decimal places or fractions) to be displayed in coordinates or answer to inquiry commands.
Angle: The Type list allows the angular unit to be defined and the Precision resolution (number of decimal places or other) to be displayed in coordinates or answer to inquiry commands.
Units scale: The Block units format list identifies the drawing unit when inserting contents like blocks or images. With this option, DraftSight automatically applies the suitable scale factor when inserting a block whose unit is different from the drawing unit. A block is a set of objects constituting a single object, like a door or a bolt; its creation or modification is presented in Chapter 7, Creating and Applying Components.
Preview: This simply displays a preview of linear and angular units.

Note

By digitizing the UNITSYSTEM command name we get access directly to this section of the OPTIONS command. But a better way is to simply digitize UN (or UNITS).

Opening, saving, and closing drawings

The OPEN command (shortcut Ctrl + O, on the Standard toolbar or File main menu) opens a drawing in formats DWG or DXF. Also, it allows opening template files, DWT extension, to edit these.

It only displays a standard file dialog box to select the file, including a preview area.

Note

DraftSight allows several open drawings. To activate another open drawing, we may press Ctrl + Tab or apply the Window main menu and select the drawing by its name.

When saving drawings, there are two commands depending on whether or not you want to modify the name or location.

The SAVE command (shortcut Ctrl + S, on the Standard toolbar, or File main menu) saves the current drawing, maintaining its format, name and location. If the current drawing has no name, the next command is automatically applied.

If we want to modify the name, location, type of file, or version, the SAVEAS command (shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S or the File main menu) must be used. This command displays a standard file dialog box and we can specify name, location and type/version of drawing file. On the Save as type list, as displayed on next image, there are several possibilities covering all DWG and DXF versions for last twenty years. Saving as a template, DWT file is also available.

Note

There is a third command to save drawings, called SAVEALL (no alias and not on menus). This one allows us to save all open drawings at once.

To close the current drawing without closing DraftSight, the CLOSE command (File main menu)should be applied. This is equivalent of pressing the lower X button on the upper-right corner of the user interface. If the drawing has modifications that have not yet been saved, a warning box is displayed, reminding us to save the drawing.

The CLOSEALL command (Window main menu) allows us to close all drawings without closing DraftSight. To each drawing that has modifications not yet saved, a warning box is displayed, allowing us to save that drawing.

To quit DraftSight, the EXIT command should be used. This is the equivalent of pressing the upper X button on the upper-right corner of the user interface. If any drawing has modifications that have not yet been saved, a warning box is displayed, allowing us to save that drawing.

Key benefits

Create precise mechanical drawings with DraftSight

Download and install this free software in Windows, Mac, and Linux

Learn how to dimension and prepare sheets for printing with fully illustrated exercises

Description

Computer-aided design (CAD) uses computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, and analysis of a design. DraftSight is a 2D computer-aided design (CAD) software application. DraftSight includes all the main tools to draft with precision, and it works with DWG files, the most popular CAD file type. It runs on a wide variety of operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Getting Started with DraftSight addresses all the main phases for executing and printing a mechanical project. These concepts and commands can easily be applied to other areas. Beginning with the very basic concepts, and going through all the necessary drawing steps, you will finish by printing a full scale mechanical drawing. The illustrative examples will help you understand the design process and teach you how to utilize DraftSight features in your mechanical design projects. You will start with an overview of the mechanical design process, which will help you understand the different commands, tools, and tasks involved in DraftSight projects. You will then proceed to executing all the phases of the design process. This includes setting up a drawing, drawing and editing with precision, organizing with layers, and finally obtaining valid information from the drawing. Furthermore, you will also learn to apply fills, patterns, and dimensions, and the process of defining and printing sheets. With "GettingStarted with DraftSight" you will learn how to specify and document parts and print drawings with the help of DraftSight. Towards the end of this book you will be introduced to some advanced concepts like additional layer commands, and methods to reference other drawings or images, which can be very useful when dealing with complex projects.

What you will learn

Download and get started with DraftSight

Create drawing entities with precision

Structure projects and follow standards

Build simple and complex projects

Create and apply components (blocks)

Apply fills and regular patterns

Dimension mechanical drawings

Define printing sheets and print efficiently

Reference other drawings and images

What do you get with Print?

Instant access to your digital copy whilst your Print order is Shipped

Paperback book shipped to your preferred address

Redeem a companion digital copy on all Print orders

Access this title in our online reader with advanced features

DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want

Frequently bought together

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Total $ 36.99

Getting Started with DraftSight: Learning how to use the free DraftSight CAD program for 2D computer-aided design has never been easier thanks to this Beginner's Guide. Covers everything from installation to executing and printing a real-world mechanical design project.

What do you get with Print?

Getting Started with DraftSight

Chapter 1. Introduction to DraftSight

Downloading and starting DraftSight

Tip

Understanding the user interface

Configuring DraftSight

Note

Starting and setting up a drawing

Starting a drawing

Note

Setting up a drawing

Note

Opening, saving, and closing drawings

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Note

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Getting Started with DraftSight: Learning how to use the free DraftSight CAD program for 2D computer-aided design has never been easier thanks to this Beginner's Guide. Covers everything from installation to executing and printing a real-world mechanical design project.

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