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DraftSight · Lesson 4: 2D constraints and 3D viewing

Geometric and dimensional constraints, standard views, orbit, display styles and coordinate systems.

Lesson goal

Drive a 2D profile with constraints and find your way around 3D space before modeling.

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2 videos

✎

1 exercise

Intermediate

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Prerequisite: Lesson 3, DraftSight Premium or equivalent offering

1. Watch the videos

Dassault Systèmes videos hosted on MySolidWorks: they open in a new tab and a free account is enough. Watch them in order.

2D Constraints Tools in DraftSightVideo 1▶2D Constraints Tools in DraftSightGeometric constraints (horizontal, coincident, tangent) and named dimensional constraints.↗ Viewing and Manipulating the 3D Model in DraftSightVideo 2▶Viewing and Manipulating the 3D Model in DraftSightStandard and isometric views, orbit, display styles and custom coordinate systems.↗

2. Key takeaways

1

Geometric constraints set the relationships (parallel, perpendicular, tangent); dimensional constraints set the values.

2

A dimensional constraint has a name: you can edit it or link it to a user-defined parameter.

3

Standard views (top, left, isometric) and orbit let you work on the right face of the model.

4

A custom coordinate system places the working plane on an inclined face so you can draw on it directly.

Tip

Constrain the geometry first, then add the dimensions: the profile keeps its shape when you change a value.

3. Do the exercise

Create a parametric template:

  • draw an L-shaped profile and add horizontal, vertical and coincident constraints
  • drive the length and thickness with two named dimensional constraints
  • switch to an isometric view and change the display style
✓To check: When you change the length constraint, the profile gets longer without distorting and stays closed.

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