Creating oblique section views off a base view

[KevinMacDonald]

I'm using Autocad Mechanical 2013

I have a 3D model that I want to create drawings for. Various 3D objects are grouped together into assemblies as a block. I want to create detail drawings. So, within a layout I insert a base view from model space by selecting a block. That works fine. Some of the 3D objects within the block are at oblique angles. I need to be able to insert a view into the layout that shows an oblique face flat to the paper so I can dimension features on it. How can I do this? 

[JDMather]

You should be able to either -

1. Project the view from an existing view

or

2. Set the view to desired view in Model Space and then place a new paperspace base view from the current model space view.

Attach your file here if you can't figure it out.

[john.vellek]

Good morning KevinMacDonald,

@JDMather has some great suggestions on how to get to your desired result.

His first suggestion can be done by using the VIEWBASE command.

His second suggestion is nice and easy too. Manipulating your view in model space is done easily using the view cube.

I have a attached a Screencast to help demonstrate both methods.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[KevinMacDonald]

John, I do not see your Screencast attachment. Is it missing?

Thanks

[john.vellek]

Hi @KevinMacDonald

Strange! It took a moment to appear when I opened the thread but it is now showing up. Try reloading the page and if it doesn't show up I can try to attach it in a different manner.

I have attached an MP4 version in this post inside a ZIP file.

[KevinMacDonald]

Sorry, I still don't see it. I'm logged in and looking at the entire thread. Is there a privacy setting on the attachment of some sort?

[Discussion_Admin]

@KevinMacDonald

@john.vellek

John reported this issue to me and I am investigating it.

I also I cannot see it either when emulating your account but can with mine.

Hope to post back soon

Discussion_Admin

[KevinMacDonald]

FYI I can definitely achieve what I want with the VIEWBASE command, and by putting model space into the UCS that I need. The problem with it is that I have to drag in everything again into that layout, when really, I want to view just a small portion of the existing base view. That's why I was trying to use one of the section view commands (Full or Aligned et al). But I think those tools don't allow for oblique sections. Perhaps that is what the SECTIONPLANE command is for, but that command is unknown in my version of Autocad 2013 (even though it auto-completes when I start typing it).

So, in short, yes I can get by with the VIEWBASE command. What I do is just create another layout, and I devote that layout to the oblique view that I am interested in.

Part of my issue might be that I have 3D objects grouped together as blocks in model space, and I want to maintain my overall 3D model as a "clean" model without extraneous objects that are copied or modified strictly for the purposes of producing layouts. I find that desire often trips me up a bit. Perhaps the work flow I am trying to get Autocad to give me is really more similar to what Inventor delivers. Only, I find Autocad much quicker and easier to use, especially when I start playing with tricky geometries.

[john.vellek]

Hi @KevinMacDonald,

The SECTIONPLANE tool should be available in 2013 product. Please see my attached screenshot that shows it on the Solid Ribbon.

If it is not accessible for you then we might try to Rest the settings to defaults or log on as a different user to see if then becomes available for use.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[john.vellek]

Hi @KevinMacDonald,

The SECTIONPLANE tool should be available in 2013 product. Please see my attached screenshot that shows it on the Solid Ribbon.

If it is not accessible for you then we might try to Rest the settings to defaults or log on as a different user to see if then becomes available for use.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[KevinMacDonald]

I do not see the "Section" area of the ribbon. It is entirely missing. See my attached screenshot.

Why would Autocad do this sort of thing? I have had other instances where entire areas of functionality simply vanish. As I said, the SECTIONPLANE command auto-completes, but comes back with "unknown command "SECTIONPLANE". I really don't want to reset all my settings and lose a ton of set up. Is there nothing else I can do?

Also, your suggestion that I log in as a different user is a little confusing to me. Log in as who? Are you talking about creating another Windows user account on my machine? That's not workable. I need to be logged in as who I am.

Thanks very much.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi KevinMacDonald,

---

@KevinMacDonald wrote:

I do not see the "Section" area of the ribbon. It is entirely missing. See my attached screenshot. This might be from the fact that you are in Mechanical - we could start a new post in that forum possibly to get more answers. It might just be in a different location in the menu system.

Why would AutoCAD do this sort of thing? I have had other instances where entire areas of functionality simply vanish. As I said, the SECTIONPLANE command auto-completes, but comes back with "unknown command "SECTIONPLANE". I really don't want to reset all my settings and lose a ton of set up. Is there nothing else I can do? Yes, I agree losing all your settings would be painful. Luckily when you use the Reset utility it offers you the option of saving your settings to a file so you can restore them later.

Also, your suggestion that I log in as a different user is a little confusing to me. Log in as who? Are you talking about creating another Windows user account on my machine? That's not workable. I need to be logged in as who I am. What this does is create all the links and files as if it were a brand new install. A new Windows User account with full administrator permissions would only be used for testing. You could return to your normal logon after we discover if the features are again available.

We could also investigate the option of doing a Repair of the application or even a total re-install to see if the functionality is available but I would prefer to leave that as a last resort.

---

[Discussion_Admin]

@KevinMacDonald @john.vellek

Kevin,

You should be able to see embeded screencasts now. I found the issues with a little help.

Under your perferances you had Ignore HTML checked (see below image) We uncheck that for you and confirmed everything is working as expexted.

Thanks
Discussion_Admin

[KevinMacDonald · Accepted solution]

This post allowed me to get the SECTIONPLANE command working. 

Now, I think I simply have a learning curve regarding how the section commands work! I was able to create a section plane, but then I can't see the section planes unless I am using the Orbit command! I don't know how to select a plane to generate a section! I will keep playing with it.

Thanks for the help.

[JDMather]

Another trick I will sometimes use is to create a "dummy" view outside of the printable area of the sheet to use for a tricky projection that I might need on the sheet.