PDMS Procedure

2D DRAFT Intermediate – Structural discipline

Onslow, Craig
7/23/2010

This document was prepared as an intermediate guide to PDMS 2D DRAFT. It assumes the PDMS User is already
familiar with PDMS 3D DESIGN. It is based on Structural Discipline but can also be utilized by other disciplines.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 GENERAL

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Objective

2 DIMENSIONS

2.1 The dimension toolbar and other forms

2.2 The modify/create form and Linear dimensions
2.3 Angular dimensions
2.4 Radial dimensions

3 INTELLIGENT TEXT & LABELS

3.1 Intelligent text primitives

3.2 General labels & Symbolic Labels

4 WORKING WITH PRIMITIVES

4.1 2D Draughting

5 USEFUL SYNTAX

5.1 Working in the command line

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1 GENERAL
1.1 Introduction
The purpose of this document is to give the User an intermediate level of knowledge of
PDMS 2D Draft.

1.2 Objective
The objective for this guide is to focus on annotating a structural drawing consisting of
dimensions & intelligent text/label annotation. Also covered will be 2D primitives and
copying various items between drawings.

2 DIMENSIONS
2.1 The Dimension Toolbar and forms
This chapter will cover the main options for dimensions. The User is encouraged to
experiment with all the other options on the form and consult the PDMS User manual for
2D Draft.

From Draft menu>

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The toolbar:

All dimensions are covered on the toolbar.

When creating dimensions always make sure you are standing on the correct VIEW in the
hierarchy. Each time you select a dimension it will create a DIM under the layer (LAYE),
usually called User_Dims as default. For example, clicking on a Linear Dimension on the
toolbar will create a LDIM below the LAYE. Below this LDIM is where the dimension points
will be created (DPPT). A typical hierarchy will look like this:

Here there are 3 DPPTs created. From this LDIM the DPPTs can be added to or modified
(re-positioned or re-connected). This can be done by standing on the correct DPPT in
hierarchy or selecting by cursor on drawing.

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2.2 The Modify/Create dimension form

From menu, Modify>Dimension>Dimension Points>

The modify/create form looks like this:

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A brief description of the main options available on form.

Item> individual selection of single element, dimension location defaults to pos of element
Before> for example, POSS (start) of SCTN
After> for example, POSE (end) of SCTN
Ppoint> for use with panels, for selecting a vertex
Pline any end> select pline at section end
3D Cursor> use this only as a last resort (not initelligent dimension point)

Create new dimension point while standing on the LDIM (or other owner)
Delete existing dimension point
Re-attach existing dimension point to another selection
This opens another form for adding gaps to dimension lines, see below.

The menu at the top of the form can also be used to adjust various settings.

2.3 Angular Dimensions

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Angular dimensions (ADIMs) are easier to create using syntax rather than selecting from
the toolbar. The reason for this is the default selection type for the owning element which
the form uses. Users can experiment using the form but for speed and ease of use, syntax
is the recommended method. They can be difficult to control especially since each ADIM
must have an owning element.

For this example we shall add an angular dim (ADIM) to the following brace:

Standing on the User_Dims LAYE>

On command line, type>
NEW ADIM ON ID@ [identify element]

This creates a ADIM (similar to LDIM) below the dimension LAYE and defaults to the POS
of the element. For example, if selecting a SCTN the POS would be the centre.
The POS of the ADIM can be controlled.

Standing on ADIM type>

PKDIS 0 [moves ADIM to POSS of SCTN]
PKDIS 1 [moves ADIM to POSE of SCTN]

Now we have to add the DPPTs to the ADIM.

Standing on ADIM type> NEW ADIR DIR E [the creates an angular direction to East]

From create/modify form select> Pline any end> [select end of SCTN pline]

To set position of dimension>

From menu on create/modify form>

Pos>Dimension>Cursor

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2.4 Radial Dimensions

Radial dims (RDIMs) are a bit easier to control in Draft, compared to ADIMs.
Make sure pick point is set to On Point as above.

Standing on correct VIEW, select highlighted option on form above.

[identify item to be dimensioned]

Select item and pick desired vertex.

To reposition use Dynamic Modify button or type> MODIFY@

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3 INTELLIGENT TEXT & LABELS

3.1 Intelligent text primitives
Text primitives can also be intelligent if is linked to the ’owner’. For example, if we have a
VIEW which has a text primitive (TEXP) with the text ’#VTITL’ this will reflect the ’Title’ of
the owning VIEW.

Standing on the VIEW, from menu>

Modify>View>User Defined [enter a Title for the View]
Apply>Dismiss

Go to LAYE ’User_Notes’
Type> NEW VNOT
Type> NEW TEXP
Type> BTEXT ’#VTITL’
From menu> Graphics>Update>Annotation

The TEXP now reflects the Title of the VIEW.

We can also rename the VNOT to a logical name.

From menu>Modify>Name [enter name] >Apply

Usually this VNOT with TEXP will be included in a standard Drawing Template.

VNOTs can also be copied between dwgs:

Standing on VNOT type> VAR 1 NAM
[navigate to another VIEW’s LAYE called User_Notes]
NEW VNOT COPY $V1
From menu>Modify>Name [enter name] >Apply

3.2 General labels & Symbolic labels

General labels (GLAB) and Symbolic labels (SLAB) must be connected to a PDMS
element, usually an element in the model.

GLABs:

In the 2D Draft Basics guide you learned how to make a new GLAB. Here we will adjust
the settings for the GLAB. Select a GLAB on your drawing>

To add a leader line> LEAD ON

To add an arrow terminator> LTER ARR
To make horiz leader landing at start> LEAD [enter angle] DEG HORIZ
To change the text> Q BTEXT [adjust as required with apostrophe at start and end]
To turn off frame> LFRAME OFF
To turn on frame> LFRAME ON

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There are various other settings that can be changed. Type> Q ATT at command line and
try adjusting some of the attributes.

SLABs:

Symbolic Labels are different to GLABs. They are basically a symbol representation which
is ’connected’ to a PDMS element, usually in the model. It can be any symbol. For
example, a grid bubble with changeable text, or just a 2D symbol with no changeable
attributes.

From Label form select Symbolic Labels>

This will open up a library form with various options to select a symbolic label. A typical
example of this form is shown below>

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Selecting the arrows at bottom of form will change libraries. These are usually pre-defined
and customized by PDMS admin.

To add new label select on label form and pick desired SLAB from library>

[identify and design element for NEW label] esc button to cancel operation

Now you have added a SLAB and can change various attributes. Use the form to change
settings or type Q ATT and change at command line.

The name of the reference in the library is called the Template Reference (TMRF).
Example> Tmrf /DRA/MAS/LABELS/GEN/COL-NAME/COL-NUMT
This can be changed on the command line to represent another symbol in library if you
know the name of that symbol (TMRF).

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4 WORKING WITH PRIMITIVES

4.1 2D Draughting
Sometimes it isn’t ideal or necessary to add intelligent symbols and 2D symbols with no
link to model can be used. For example, a grating symbol, weld symbol, etc. These can be
added as 2D symbols or otherwise known as ’primitives’.

From top menu>

This opens the 2D Draughting form where we can add Lines, Shapes, Symbols & Text>

Experiment with the different options on each form.

When working with primitives (2D symbols) we should always be aware of our location in
the hierarchy. Make sure you are standing on the correct VIEW and under LAYE
User_Notes we should always be working in a VNOT when using 2D Draughting.

Think of a VNOT as something that you can copy between VIEWs. For example a VNOT
may contain several grating symbols which you can copy to another VIEW and relocate as
necessary. Rename VNOTs logically so you know what you are copying to another VIEW.

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5 USEFUL SYNTAX
5.1 Working in the command line
Experienced PDMS Users tend to operate frequently using syntax. There are several
reasons for this but the main one is speed. When typing commands in the command line,
the command will be retained in the history and can be re-selected if needed. It can also
be re-selected from command history and modified very quickly to re-use as a different
command.

Another reason is that the commands in PDMS remain the same even when a new
version of PDMS comes on the market. This means we don’t have to try and re-train
ourselves immediately for the new menu layout.

Some examples of useful syntax are listed below>

Copying within same VIEW:

NEW VNOT COPY PREV BY X[mm]

NEW STRA COPY PREV BY Y[mm]
NEW RECT COPY PREV BY X[mm]
NEW TEXP COPY PREV BY X[mm] Y[mm]
NEW CIRC COPY PREV BY......

Copying from VIEW to VIEW:

Using variables (VAR) is a quick way to copy between VIEWs.

[with source object as CE]

VAR 1 NAM
[navigate to target object location]
NEW [name] COPY $V1

Working with dimensions:

To force dim text outside of projection lines> DTAN PAR

To force horiz dim text inside of projection lines> DTAN HOR
To force vertical dim text inside of projection lines> DTAN VER
To position dim text> DTOF [mm] [mm]
To position dim text by cursor> DTOF @
To position dimension by cursor> DPOS @

To add projection line text>

PLTXT ’#DIMPOSE’ (adds intelligent Easting)
PLTXT ’EL.#DIMPOSU+ T.O.S.’ (adds intelligent Elev with prefix EL. And suffix T.O.S.)
To position projection line text> PTOF [mm] [mm] e.g. PTOF -10 0
To change projection line pen> PLPEN [option 1-256]

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To modify main dimension text>

#DEF is default text. To modify, this must be set to #DIM with prefix or suffix as desired.
For example>’#DIM C/C’
This retains the intelligent dimension and adds C/C as a suffix.

2d Primitives:

To draw line (STRA) by cursor input> NEW STRA FPT@ TPT@

To draw rectangle (RECT) 20x5mm> NEW RECT XLEN 25 YLEN 5
To draw circle (CIRC) with dia 50mm> NEW CIRC DIA 50
To set colour of any 2D primitive> NLPEN [option 1-256]

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