Exporting Views and Sections from 3D to 2D

You can create 2D drawings from your 3D model by exporting views. For each view export, you can use all objects or only selected objects. Exported objects can be clipped to a defined rectangle, if you need to create only a small detail from a larger part.

Once 3D views are exported into 2D area, corresponding dimensions, axes or hatches are updatable. After changes in 3D and switching mode to 2D, they are adjusted automatically. See Automatic Updates of Dimensions, Axes and Hatches after Changes in 3D

Creating 2D from 3D

2D View from 3D - 32E

The following options are available for exporting views:

• Visible lines - you can select the layer, color or line type of created lines. Colors can be copied from the solids.
• Hidden lines - set to be removed by default, but you can turn this off. If hidden lines are to be created, you can set their 2D line attributes.
• Tangent connection lines - smooth connections of tangent surfaces, such as a fillet and its neighboring surface. Tangent connections can be removed, or created in different 2D line attributes.
• Define whether the current view is exported or define export of selected basic views, like the front view, left view etc.
• Optionally define a clipping rectangle, if the current view is exported.
• Select a method of insertion into 2D area.
• Select a method of creating threads. By default, threads are created according to common 2D drawing rules. If the threads are projected in the axial direction or direction perpendicular to their axes, (threads are in basic views like a side view, front view...), you may select line attributes of created 2D thread objects. You can distinguish ends of threads as well as secondary thread diameters.
• Settings of update of 3D views
• Manage list of 3D views exported into 2D
• Define 2D colors. In 3D, you can work with 32 colors, while in 2D the number of colors is only 9. This option maps colors of 3D solids to colors of 2D objects. Colors corresponding to this map are used only if the 2D objects are created according to the color option.

Define the export method, and select the exported objects, if necessary. Define the view position in the 2D drawing. Optionally, you can define 2D position using drag and drop or by translation new objects. If the latter possibility is used, define a translation vector (position “from”, position “to”) and confirm the insertion. 3D section outlines are exported to 2D as boundaries that can be detected as a single object. This boundary can be easily used in hatching functions. See Hatching 2D Objects.

You can also set a position of each view in 2D area:

• For created basic views, define a mutual position of the front view and other views. For instance, you can define whether the left view is inserted into 2D to the right or to the left side of front view.
• Define gaps between each view and distances from 2D area margins.

3D View export definition

List of 3D View Exports, Updating Views

The view export is added to a list of predefined exports, if during the export creation the option “Add this view export to list of exports” is selected.

The view export list is used whenever you need to update 3D views after 3D changes. Each stored view export contains:

• Export method - hidden line removal, attributes, etc.
• List of exported objects (optionally)
• Definition of corresponding 3D view
• Definition of active sections (optionally)
• Definition of clip rectangle, if any (if used, the window clips 3D objects before exporting is performed)
• 2D position of exported view - if this position is changed, all such changes are stored in the 2D list of transformations. You can translate, rotate or rescale the exported view. It is necessary to select all objects created from one view. See Selecting 2D Objects - selecting view. If only some 2D objects are transformed, this change is not stored in the list of transformations. To select entire 3D view, press and hold Ctrl and move over 3D view objects. The view is detected automatically.

If the view update function is invoked, each export from list is performed. For each export the view is set, the corresponding section is turned on, objects are selected and the 3D view is exported to 2D. These objects are inserted into 2D. All this is done automatically. You can select whether the old 2D objects will be removed or changed, to distinguish line attributes before and after the update.

If you choose to change line attributes of old 2D objects, you can switch between old 2D objects and new 2D objects. This switching always highlights changes, and you can see what is new or what was deleted. Exporting a view creates only outlines. If there are any dimensions, hatches, or other 2D annotations, you can adjust them according to the changes. When all additional 2D changes are complete, remove the previous view export. If this view is not removed, the 2D update cannot be performed.

3D section outlines are exported to 2D as boundaries that can be detected as one object. This boundary can be used in hatching functions. See Hatching 3D Sections.

Update 2D after 3D Changes - 32EN

Creates new 3D-to-2D view exports. If reexports are already defined (if 2D views are already created, reexports are defined by default), you can update 2D from pop-up menu. Click an empty area to obtain menu containing general options. Or, 2D is updated if you switch into 2D mode and select update from pop-up menu.

Management of method of 2D drawing updates and management of individual 3D views exported into 2D is available from dialog panel Exporting Views and Sections from 3D to 2D - see description of command above.

Old/New View Export, Updated 2D - SON

In 2D, switch between old and new 3D to 2D view exports to compare and update 2D after 3D changes. This allows you to easily distinguish changes and modify the corresponding 2D objects – especially dimensions and hatching.

Remove Previous View Export - ROL

In 2D, remove all old 2D view objects exported before the last export. Perform the function after all changes in 2D are finished.

We do not recommend to keep old and new exports, if dimensions are automatically updated.

Methods available for checking of automatically updated dimensions are described here.

Updating 2D after changes in 3D. We recommend to set skipping of this dialog for each switch into 2D mode.

Update 2D after 3D Changes Setting – 32SET

Manages a list of predefined view exports. This function is available also from Update 2D after 3D Changes or from Creating 2D from 3D. The view export can be selected from the list as well as from corresponding 2D objects. You can:

• Redefine method of 2D creation for selected export
• Highlight corresponding objects in 2D
• Redefine method of 2D creation for all exports together
• Remove selected export
• Remove all exports

Management of defined view exports

There are differences between export definitions from standard view and from exploded view. For more information, see Exploded Views of Assemblies

3D Sections

With VariCAD you can create 3D sections. Sections can be turned on or off at any time. If a section is active, displayed solids are cut by the sectioning tool. If the solid is part of an active section, some functions cannot be performed. If this happens, you will receive a warning message.

Each section is defined by:

• Name
• Section planes (sectioning tool)
• Solids that are sectioned

If you need to change the color of the section planes, use function Change Color. Switch the select mode to selection of single solids (single parts of Boolean trees) and select a section plane as an object for color change.

For more information about exporting sections to STEP or IGES, see How 3D Objects Are Converted to STEP or IGES.

Section Planes, Sectioning Tool

Section planes are the planes of the sectioning tool. If the section is turned on, operation similar to Boolean cut is performed and the sectioning tool cuts the sectioned solids. As a sectioning tool, you can select a box or any solid created by extrusion. If the extruded profile contains more lines, the section has more section planes. Shape or location of sectioning tool defines how the solids are cut by sectioning.

Instead of insertion of a single solid (box or extruded solid), you can select a section plane directly – using similar method as in Cut by an Extruded Solid. Then, create a section tool contour and select its height and location.

Such section tool is edited by sketching and redefinition of extrusion height.

We recommend to create section tools with certain excess to all directions. If you enlarge sectioned solid by shape editing, section may be compromised – the section plane is not intact. In such case, select editing of section tool and enlarge it too.

3D Section Management - SEM

Turns on or turns off selected section. Allows you to define a new section, define the sectioned solids, section planes or cancel definition of 3D section.

3D section - the box is the sectioning tool

Sectioning result, the view is rotated

3D sections management. If a line in the table is highlighted under cursor, corresponding section contours are highlighted in 3D.