The CAD Overview
Introduction
BobCAD-CAM provides an extensive and powerful set of CAD tools for creating 2D and 3D geometry including wireframe, text, dimensions, shapes, surfaces, and solids. The main ribbons and the toolbars of the BobCAD-CAM user interface contain all of the CAD tools for creating, modifying, and viewing geometry in the graphics area (also known as the CAD window or graphics area). This topic provides an overview of the important CAD topics in this Help System and acts as a navigation tool to find more information about all CAD functionality and usage in BobCAD-CAM.
Important CAD Information
User Interface
Getting to Know the User interface is an important part of using BobCAD-CAM. The information provided in the User Interface topics is an essential part of understanding the BobCAD-CAM software and CAD.
Selection Methods
It is important to understand the selection methods in BobCAD-CAM when creating or modifying geometry.
CAD Drawing Plane (UCS)
CAD geometry is created using the Active UCS, or user coordinate system, which determines drawing plane. This is selected in the The UCS Manager.
CAD Drawing Layer
CAD geometry is created on the Active Layer that is selected in The Layers Manager.
Views
The view options contains many important commands for modifying the current viewing position and display states of the graphics area and the geometry in it. For more information, see The Document Toolbar topic.
Tip: BobCAD-CAM is also capable of 3D Mouse support.
CAD Preview
The CAD functions include a preview that shows you what the result will be before you create the geometry. Because most CAD functions can be performed using various methods, the way that the preview works depends on the method used.
Using the CAD Preview
- When typing values in the Data Entry boxes, the preview is updated when you press Tab.
- For functions that require geometry selection, you must first select the geometry before the preview can be created. This may include confirming the geometry selections by clicking OK. If you do not see a preview, check to make sure that you have made all required selections, such as a start point.
-
The OK button in the Data Entry Manager serves a dual purpose: when the preview is visible, OK performs the function as shown. If no preview is shown, OK creates the preview.
Status Bar and Snap Increment
The Status Bar at the bottom of the user interface displays important information and provides prompts that guide you through the current task in the Data Entry Manager. Look to the status bar for help completing the current step.
The status bar also provides quick access to the construction geometry, snap increment button, and snap increment distance value that is used with many CAD function to allow for accurate geometry creation when using mouse selection (also known as sketching). To learn more, view the Snap Increment topic, and the Status Bar topic for more information on the Construction Geometry button.
The CAD Tree
The CAD Tree is a solid history tree that contains CAD Features for all solid and surface creation and modifications.
Contents of the Ribbons
Home
Edit
-
Delete
- The Delete command is used to eliminate or remove currently selected
geometry from the graphics area. You must first enable selection
mode.
-
Cut
- The Cut command is used
to remove selected geometry from the graphics area and add it to the clipboard
(it can then be pasted). You must first enable selection
mode.
-
Copy
- The Copy command adds any
selected geometry to the clipboard, which can then be pasted. You
must first enable selection
mode.
- Paste - The Paste command is used to place (paste) geometry from the clipboard into the active graphics area. This only works if you have Cut or Copied geometry into the clipboard first. The geometry is placed in the same location and position from which it was Cut or Copied, but it is placed on the currently Active CAD layer. You must first enable selection mode.
Selection
-
Select
Mode - enables selection mode.
-
Select
All - selects all visible entities.
-
Clear -
removes all the current selections.
-
Add/Remove
Toggle - sets the selection mode to add or remove entities.
Click an entity once to select it, click it again to clear the selection.
-
Add
to Selection - sets
the selection mode to add selections only.
- Remove from Selection - sets the selection mode to remove selections only.
Quick Selection
-
Pick
By Layer - opens the Select
Layer(s) dialog. Select the desired layers, and click OK
to select all visible entities in the layer(s).
-
Pick
By Color - opens the Select Color dialog showing the colors of all visible entities. Select the desired colors, and click OK
to select all visible entities of the same color(s).
-
Pick+Match
Layer - is used to select an entity and have all of entities
on the same layer automatically selected.
-
Pick+Match
Color - is used to select an entity and have all of the
same colored entities automatically selected.
-
Pick+Match
Radius - is used to select an arc and have all entities
of the same radius automatically selected.
- Pick+Match Line Style - is used to select an entity and have all entities that have the same line style automatically selected.
Modify
There are numerous ways to modify geometry in the graphics area. This help topic explains the items that are available in the Modify group, of the Home ribbon. Most of these functions are not available until an entity is selected in the graphics area.
-
Entity -
opens the Data Entry Manager so you can modify the parameters of the
selected entity. You must select a single entity (whether or not it
is a part of a contiguous entity chain), such as one line or one arc,
or this function is unavailable. This option is used for wireframe
entities, including text. To learn more, view How
to Modify Wireframe Entities.
-
Modify
Color - opens the Modify Color dialog.
Click the new color, and the selected entity is updated.
-
Modify
to Current Color - changes the selected entities to the
active color.
- Modify
Layer - opens the Select Layer dialog. Click
the layer to which the selected entity is moved, and click OK.
-
Modify
to Current Layer - places the currently selected entities
on the active layer.
-
Modify
Line Style - opens the Line Style dialog.
Click the new line style to apply to the selected entity, and click
OK.
-
Modify
to Current Line Style - changes the selected entities
to the active line style.
-
Modify
Point Style - opens the Point Style dialog. Click the new point style to apply to the selected entity, and
click OK.
-
Modify
to Current Point Style - changes the selected points to
the current point style.
-
Change
Style to Solid - converts selected entities to a solid
line style.
- Change Style to Dashed - converts selected entities to a dashed line style.
Selection Mask
The selection masks can be used to control what entity types can be selected in the graphics area. When you enable selection mode, you can click an icon to disable the ability to select that entity type.
-
All
Mask - selects all selection masks so that all entity
or dimension types can be selected.
-
No
Mask - clears the selection of all selection masks
so that no entity or dimension types can be selected. This makes it easier when
you only want to turn on a small number of selection masks.
-
Point
Mask - controls the ability to select point geometry.
-
Line
Mask - controls the ability to select line geometry.
-
Arc
Mask - controls the ability to select arc geometry.
-
Spline
Mask - controls the ability to select spline geometry.
-
Solid
Mask -controls the ability to select solid geometry.
-
Text
Mask - controls the ability to select text geometry.
-
Pattern
Mask - controls the ability to select point pattern geometry.
-
Contour
Mask - controls the ability to select contour entities.
-
Dimension
Mask - controls the ability to select linear dimensions.
-
Radius
Dimension Mask - controls the ability to select radial
dimensions.
-
Angle
Dimension Mask - controls the ability to select angular
dimensions.
-
Point
Dimension Mask - controls the ability to select point
dimensions.
- Text Mask - controls the ability to select unvectorized text.
Coordinates
- Turning Mode - changes the standard drawing mode to accommodate the drawing of lathe parts. The coordinate system indicator, shown in the bottom-left corner of the screen, changes the X-axis direction to the lathe Z-axis direction, (and the Y-axis direction becomes the lathe X-axis direction). This change is made in order to reflect the change that is made to the parameters of the CAD functions in the Data Entry Manager. If the function normally lists an X, Y, and Z value from the top down, after you enable Turning Mode, the same function lists the values from the top down as Z, X, and Y.
Turning Mode Off |
Turning Mode On |
Create 2D
Entity
-
Point
-
Point - creates a point using the screen
position of the mouse pointer in empty space
or snap points on existing geometry. Coordinates can also be entered to define the location using data entry.
-
Point from Entities - creates points in the graphics
area using the specified snap points or intersections of geometry selected
by the user.
-
Incremental - creates a point at
an incremental distance from a reference point, which can be a
point or the snap point of a wireframe entity.
-
On Entity - creates a point on
a wireframe entity at a specified location using on of three methods:
Percentage, Distance, or Angle (for arcs only).
- Perpendicular - creates a point at a right angle to a reference point and a wireframe entity.
-
Line
-
Line - creates a line by clicking in the graphics area once to define the start point, and clicking a second time to define the end point of the line. Coordinates can also be entered to define the location using data entry.
-
Continuous
- creates lines by clicking in the graphics area once to define
the start point and clicking a second time to define the end point
of the line. After creating the first line, the end point of the
previous line becomes the start point of the next line so that
you can create a continuous chain of line entities. Coordinates can also be entered to define the location using data entry.
-
Tangent
- creates lines that are tangent to an arc. Selecting two arcs
will create a line tangent to both.
-
Parallel
- creates a line that is parallel to a selected entity.
- Angle - creates a line at a specified angle from a selected entity.
-
Arc
-
Arc Center
- create arcs of a specified radius,
and start and end angles, by defining the origin of the arc.
-
Arc 2 Points - Center - creates arcs of a specified
radius, and start and end angles, by defining the origin of the arc, and
its radius by selecting two points in the graphics area.
-
Arc 2 Points - Diameter - creates arcs of a specified
radius, and start and end angles, by defining two points in the graphics
area which will become the full diameter of the arc.
-
Arc 3 Points - Center / Endpoints - creates arcs
of a specified radius, and start and end angles, by defining three points
in the graphics area. The first assigns the center point, the second defines
the start angle and the radius of the arc, and the third sets the end
angle or the arc.
-
Arc 3 Points - Endpoints / Radius - creates arcs
of a specified radius, and start and end angles, by defining three points
in the graphics area. The first point sets the one of the start/end points.
The second point sets the other start/end point. The last point defines
the radius of the arc. which will become the full diameter of the arc.
-
Arc 3 Entities - creates arcs by selecting 3 entities
in the graphics area which will create an arc tangent to each. This can
be accomplished by picking three entities in the graphics area.
- Fit Arcs - converts a selected geometry curve into arc segments using a defined tolerance value.
-
Spline - Splines are designed to produce a smooth curve between a set of selected
points. Spline creation can be accomplished by selecting snap points or
coordinates using the mouse position when the Sketch/Single Picking mode
is used, or by selecting multiple entities at once with the Multi-Picking
mode.
Shapes
-
Rectangle
- creates rectangles using sketching, data entry, or both.
- Rectangle Center - creates rectangles
by sketching a point, or using data entry. The point sets the Base Point of the rectangle. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 2 Points - Center - creates rectangles
by sketching two points. The first point sets the center, which is the Base Point, the next sets a corner to specify length and width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 2 Points - Corners - create rectangles
by sketching two points. The first point sets one corner, the next sets the opposing corner to specify length and width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 3 Points - Corners - create rectangles
by sketching three points. The first point sets one corner as the Base Point, the next sets the perpendicular corner to specify length, and the last sets the corner opposite of the first to set the width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 3 Points - Center/Corners - create rectangles by sketching three points. The first point sets the center of the rectangle as the Base Point, the next sets the length, which is the middle of the line which will define the width, and the last sets the corner to define the width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle Center - creates rectangles
by sketching a point, or using data entry. The point sets the Base Point of the rectangle. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
-
Ellipse
- create ellipses using sketching, data
entry, or a combination of both.
-
Spiral
- creates a spiral or a helix based on the settings that you define
in the Data Entry manager.
-
Shape
Library - contains predetermined wireframe geometry shapes that
are provided to assist in creating standard shapes faster and easier.
-
Gear
- creates a gear based on the settings that you define
in the Data Entry Manager.
-
Sprocket
- creates a sprocket based on the settings that
you define in the Data Entry Manager.
- Roller CAM - creates a roller cam based on the parameters that you define it the Data Entry Manager.
Pattern
-
Hole
Pattern - creates a circular, or grid, hole pattern based on the settings that you define in the Data Entry Manager.
-
Point
Pattern - is used to group a set of points or arcs
so that they can be selected as a single entity (point pattern), usually
for machining purposes.
Corner
-
Fillet
- creates an arc, of a defined radius value, tangent
to two selected entities.
- Chamfer - creates a line between two entities using an angle and/or distance.
Boolean
-
2D
Boolean - launches the 2D Boolean dialog in the Data Entry Manager, with the Add Type selected. This also gives you access to the following types:
Text
-
Text
- create alpha-numeric characters in the graphics area.
- Fit Text to Curve - is used to move existing text to a defined position along a selected curve.
Utilities
-
Offset
- creates a curve that is equidistant to a selected
profile curve.
-
Extract
Edges - opens the function Extract Edges, but gives you the ability to select the Pick Whole Solid option.
-
Extract
Edges - allows you select one or more individual
solid faces, surfaces, or surface edges to extract and create wireframe
curves. Single doesn't refer to a single edge, but rather single selection
instead of whole solid selection.
-
Extract
Edges from Solid - allows you to select one or more
solids or surfaces to extract the edges and create wireframe curves. This
function uses whole solid picking and extracts all edges of the selected
solids or surfaces.
-
Project
Curves to Surface - is used to project wireframe curves onto
a selected surface.
-
Section View - create a sectional view of solid
geometry in the graphics area. This also includes the ability to create wireframe
geometry by extracting the edges currently visible in the section view.
-
Spun
Profile - is used to pull an overall profile from a
surface or solid that is revolved around a particular axis.
-
Unwrap - unwraps cylindrical geometry to create groups of
2D geometric entities.
-
Contour
- groups connected entities together as a single
entity with a defined direction.
-
Continuous
Sketch - create a continuous chain
of lines, arcs, or a combination of the two.
-
Extract Isocurve - creates wireframe curves with a constant U and/or V value on
a selected surface.
- Silhouette - creates a 2 dimensional outline of the selected geometry on a specified plane. Internal outlines can be utilized or ignored and outlines of several geometries can be combined as required.
Create 3D
Primitives
-
Cube
- creates solid cube primitives.
-
Cylinder
- creates solid cylinder primitives.
-
Sphere
- creates solid sphere primitives.
-
Cone
- creates solid cone primitives.
- Torus - creates solid torus primitives.
Extrude
-
Extrude
Boss - creates solid bodies by extruding closed wireframe
chains or planar surface geometry and automatically joins the intersecting
surfaces and solids into a single solid.
-
Extrude
Cut - removes material from solid bodies by extruding
closed wireframe chains or planar surface geometry to the specified distance
and subtracts the result from any intersecting solid or surface bodies.
-
Extrude
Curve - creates a solid or surface shell by extruding
open or closed wireframe curves to a specified distance.
-
Extrude
Surface - creates a solid or surface shell by extruding
surface geometry.
- Imprint - extrudes a curve, and subtract an existing CAD model from that extrusion, while keeping the original model and the newly created imprint.
Solid Boolean
-
Boolean - Opens the Boolean function with the Add Type selected, and gives you access to the following types:
- Advanced Holes - The Advanced Holes function is used to create a profile of the intended holes at chosen points, revolve their form, subtract them from a solid, and assign thread values as needed.
Surfaces
-
Planar
- creates a planar surface from a closed 2D
geometry chain.
-
Planar
- creates a planar surface from a closed 2D
geometry chain.
-
Rectangular Plane
- opens the Rectangular Plane function with the following creation options. The Rectangle Center option is selected by default.
- Rectangle Center - creates rectangular planes
by sketching a point, or using data entry. The point sets the Base Point of the rectangle. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 2 Points - Center - creates rectangular planes
by sketching two points. The first point sets the center, which is the Base Point, the next sets a corner to specify length and width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 2 Points - Corners - create rectangular planes
by sketching two points. The first point sets one corner, the next sets the opposing corner to specify length and width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 3 Points - Corners - create rectangular planes
by sketching three points. The first point sets one corner as the Base Point, the next sets the perpendicular corner to specify length, and the last sets the corner opposite of the first to set the width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle 3 Points - Center/Corners - create rectangular planes
by sketching three points. The first point sets the center of the rectangle as the Base Point, the next sets the length, which is the middle of the line which will define the width, and the last sets the corner to define the width. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
- Rectangle Center - creates rectangular planes
by sketching a point, or using data entry. The point sets the Base Point of the rectangle. Adjustments using data entry can also be utilized.
-
Circular Plane - opens the Circular Plane function with the following creation options. The Arc Center option is selected by default.
- Arc Center
- create planar arcs of a specified radius,
and start and end angles, by defining the origin of the arc.
- Arc 2 Points - Center - creates planar arcs of a specified
radius, and start and end angles, by defining the origin of the arc, and
its radius by selecting two points in the graphics area.
- Arc 2 Points - Diameter - creates planar arcs of a specified
radius, and start and end angles, by defining two points in the graphics
area which will become the full diameter of the arc.
- Arc 3 Points - Center / Endpoints - creates planar arcs
of a specified radius, and start and end angles, by defining three points
in the graphics area. The first assigns the center point, the second defines
the start angle and the radius of the arc, and the third sets the end
angle or the arc.
- Arc 3 Points - Endpoints / Radius - creates planar arcs of a specified radius, and start and end angles, by defining three points in the graphics area. The first point sets the one of the start/end points. The second point sets the other start/end point. The last point defines the radius of the arc. which will become the full diameter of the arc.
- Arc Center
- create planar arcs of a specified radius,
and start and end angles, by defining the origin of the arc.
-
Revolve
- creates a revolved surface from a 2D geometry chain
based on the settings that you define in the Data Entry Manager.
-
Sweep
- creates a surface by sweeping a wireframe
chain (profile curve) along another wireframe chain (sweep path).
-
Cross
Section - creates
a surface from a group of wireframe curves that are roughly parallel.
-
3
Edges - creates a 3-dimensional surface using 3
connected edge curves.
-
4
Edges - creates
a 3-dimensional surface using 4 connected edge curves.
-
Multisided
Patch - creates a 3-dimensional surface
from a closed chain that consists of 3 or more edge curves.
- Copy Face - creates duplicate surfaces from existing surfaces or solids without the need to unstitch those surfaces being replicated.
Advanced Surfaces
-
Skin
- creates a surface using two or more wireframe
chains as cross sections and two or more wireframe chains as rails.
-
Offset
- creates an additional surface from an existing surface
using the offset value as the distance between the two.
-
Ruled
- creates surfaces using the selection of two
wireframe chains with a linear blending between the entities of each chain.
- Swung - create surfaces using two wireframe chains: the path (trajectory curve) and the profile. The profile is swung along the path using the Z-axis of the Active UCS as the revolution axis for the function. The geometry selection requires that the path is selected in the XY plane, and the profile is selected in the XZ plane of the Active UCS.
Corners
-
Solid Fillet
- creates fillets for surfaces and solids
based on the settings that you define in the Data Entry Manager and the geometry
that you select in the graphics area.
-
Solid Chamfer
- creates chamfers for surfaces and solids
based on the settings that you define in the Data Entry Manager and the geometry
that you select in the graphics area.
- Surface Fillet - is used to join two separate surfaces with a defined radius between them using one of five trimming options.
Modify
-
Stitch
Surfaces to Solid -
-
Stitch
Surfaces to Solid - combines separate surfaces or
solids into a single entity.
-
Unstitch
Solid to Surfaces - separates the surfaces of a
solid, or connected surfaces, into multiple selectable entities.
-
Unstitch
Surface from Solid - separates one surface of a
solid, or connected surfaces, into a separate selectable entity.
-
Extend
- extends a surface along one edge at a time
by the specified distance.
-
Split
- separates a solid body using a splitting
surface.
-
Shell
- remove one or more faces of a solid
body and recreate the solid with the specified wall thickness for the
remaining surfaces.
-
Untrim
Surface - returns a surface back to its natural boundary
and removes any holes.
-
Break
Surface - is used to modify or break a surface, using
a wireframe curve that is on the surface.
- Intersection Curves - is used to extract the curves formed by the intersection of two solids or surfaces.
Utilities
Move
-
Translate
- is used to move geometry.
-
Rotate
- launches the Rotate dialog in the Data Entry Manager with the Type set to Rotate. In the dialog, it is also possible to switch to the Rotate 3D type.
-
Rotate
- rotates geometry around a defined axis.
-
Rotate
3D - rotates geometry around any axis (user-defined
line).
-
Mirror
- creates an inverted version of selected geometry.
-
Scale - is used to scale (resize) wireframe or solid entities
with separate scaling factors for each of the three coordinate axes.
- Align to Coordinate System - is used to translate and rotate geometry simultaneously from one coordinate system to another.
Trim Extend
-
Quick
Trim - trims selected entities to an intersection
point with another entity.
-
Trim
One Entity - is used to trim or extend a single
entity from, or to, another entity.
-
Trim
2 Entities - is used to trim or extend two entities so they end at a common intersection.
-
Trim
Modal - is used to trim multiple entities to
a common intersection entity.
-
Trim
Strings - is used to trim or extend multiple
entities to create one contiguous curve.
- Trim Screen - is used to trim or extend a single entity perpendicular to any point or snap point of another entity.
Break
-
Break
Many - separates entities at the intersection of other
entities.
-
Break
Entity - separates an entity at the intersection of
another entity.
-
Break
Screen - separates an entity at, or perpendicular to,
an arbitrary location.
-
Break
Divide - separates wireframe entities into multiple
equal segments.
- Break Angle - breaks arcs at the defined angle of rotation from the zero degree position (the 3 o'clock position).
Adjust
-
Stretch
- is used to modify geometry chains by selecting
one or more entities and then moving them, thus stretching the connected
entities.
-
Drag
Corner - is used to stretch multiple intersecting wireframe
entities or the end of a single entity.
-
Deform
- is used to bend or manipulate an entity by dragging.
- Equalize - breaks multiple groups of entity chains into an equal number of entities of a maximum size.
Reorganize
-
Cleanup
/ Optimize - reduces the number of entities within
a drawing by joining contiguous curve segments and eliminating any duplicated
geometric entities.
-
Explode
- converts geometric entities into only lines or
arcs.
-
Erase
Doubles - eliminates duplicate entities.
- Make Arcs Tangential - corrects the tangency of arc segments.
Reverse
-
Reverse
Surface Normal - changes the normal direction of
a selected surface.
- Reverse Contour - changes the direction of a previously defined contour.
Properties
-
Add Property - launches the Add Property dialog, allowing you to assign thread values to entities to be recognized by machining features.
- Edit Property - launches the Edit Property dialog, allowing you to edit the existing thread values previously assigned to entities.
Evaluate
Dimension
-
Auto - is designed to replace all other dimension creation options in the Dimension group with the exception of Chain, and Reference.
-
Radius - allows you to select a radius to create a dimension on it.
-
Angle - allows you to select two non-parallel lines to create an angle dimension on.
-
Horizontal - allows you to select two points to create a dimension representing the distance in X.
-
Vertical - allows you to select two points to create a dimension representing the distance in Y.
-
Other Distance
- allows you to select two points to create a dimension representing the distance in X, Y, and Z.
-
Point - allows you to select a point to create a dimension representing its location in X, Y, and Z.
-
X-Ordinate - dimensions a distance along the X-axis, and places the text parallel to the Y-axis.
-
Y-Ordinate - dimensions a distance along the Y-axis, and places the text parallel to the X-axis.
-
Chain - uses the end of an existing dimension as the reference
for the next dimension.
- Reference - uses the start of an existing dimension as the reference for the next dimension.
Annotation
-
Note - is used to create text that is placed in the graphics area along
with a leader, or multiple leaders, ending in a terminator for the purpose
of drawing attention to something in the drawing.
- Cross Hatch - is used to fill a contour, or closed chain of entities, with repeating line segments.
Modify Dimensions
-
Move - is used to manually adjust the position of existing dimensions.
-
Align Horizontal
- is used to adjust the vertical position of existing dimensions in order to align their values horizontally with another dimension.
- Align Vertical - is used to adjust the horizontal position of existing dimensions in order to align their values vertically with another dimension.
Measure
-
Measure One - measures various dimensions of a single entity.
- Measure Two - measures various dimensions of, or spaces between, two selected entities.
The CAD Tree
The CAD Tree is a solid history tree that contains CAD Features for all solid and surface creation and modifications.