Gents,
I can hack it in CAD. I've worked with AutoCAD, TurboCAD, SolidWorks and now DevCadPro but have NEVER been trained in using them or have formal drafting skills. I know how to draw a pline and how to connect lines, etc. What I am always struggling with is how to organize the process. Do I start with reference lines? Do I start with outlines? when do I add dimensions? How do you organize your drafting process?
Steve;
I can talk you through all of these with Autocad or any of the workalikes (BricsCAD, etc). It would probably be easier just to talk you through it on the phone rather than try to describe it here.
A good foundation is to learn the Autocad commands and enter them in the command bar. Drop down menus are nice, but they take up a lot of space on a monitor. Back in the pre Autocad 14 days, you had to know the commands and enter them that way. Painful at first, but still makes me far more productive.
To snap the ends of lines together, look at the lower right side of your screen. You should see the word "ESNAP". Right click on it with you mouse and check your settings. I normally have enabled Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, Intersection, and Perpendicular. Then, left click on ESNAP until it is highlighted. Then start your pull the end of the polyline you want to join over until it is at the snap point you want it to be at. To actually join the two, use the pedit command (pedit, join, highlight the polylines you want to join, then join.
When making airfoils, I rough them out using the polyline command. Firstly, I draw a line along the X axis, then one intersecting it along the Y axis. Use your Ortho command (F8 to toggle on and off) to make sure they are true. Then, offset the vertical line the length of your airfoil. I do just top half of the airfoil first, and leave the "straight" sections out until I have the shape I want. Be sure to turn Ortho off when drafting out the airfoil. Then use pedit, spline, and highlight the line. That will smooth out the polyline. Pull on the line grips until you have what you want. Then highlight the airfoil and type "Explode". Then rejoin them all together with pedit, join, highlight the line sections, and you have the top half of the airfoil. Then, put your cutouts in for LE, Spars, and draw your trailing edge. Now, highlight the airfoil half, turn your Ortho and ESNAP back on, and use the Mirror command, referencing your X Axis line. You now have a full airfoil with LE and spar cutouts.
Methodology for plans. I assume that you already have your layout template built. Here is the order I use:
1. Loft airfoils
2. Draw wing top view. Copy, rotate, and lay some of your ribs over their corresponding location to verify accuracy of both.
3. Draw stab, elevator and rudder.
4. Draw fuselage side view
5. Draw fuselage top view
6. Draw out fuselage formers using copied lines from the side and top view to ensure accuracy.
7. Draw out any special views.
8, Draw out landing gear and wheels if necessary.
9. Put the text in for your special building instructions.
10. Enter text for part numbers, descriptions, etc.
11. Enter hatches to depict different materials for cross grain.
12. Fill in the details in the lower right side.
13. Send it to someone who hasn't worked on it who will see mistakes that you never imagined.
Does this give you a start?
V/r
Bob