Learn the intricacies of creating the voice data outlet symbol in CAD software, starting from scratch using templates to building a perfectly sized square, and finally, moving and positioning it accurately to create the desired symbol. The tutorial carefully guides you through the process of using various tools in the software, including the quick measure tool, the ID point, the explode tool, and the hatch tool, to create the final symbol.
Key Insights
- The tutorial begins with creating a new file using a template, then forming an e-symbols layer to work on. The rectangle tool is used to create the basic shape of a square for the symbol.
- The quick measure tool is used to make sure the dimensions of the square are exactly one quarter inch by one quarter inch. After confirming the size, the square needs to be moved relative to the coordinate 0,0 using a point to point move from the midpoint.
- After the square is positioned accurately, the explode tool is used to break down the polyline into individual lines, and the unnecessary lines are deleted. The symbol is then finished by adding a hatch using the hatch tool.
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In this video we will work on the voice data outlet symbol. Let's go file new, use our template, and file save.
This will be voice-data and I'll hit save, and let's create our e-symbols layer, layer properties, new layer, e-syms, the color will be color 61, and double click to make this our active layer. This symbol, if you check your handout, is a triangle that's connected to a horizontal line. That horizontal line is in the symbol and typically it will be connected to the wall.
If we check, we see that this is one quarter inch by one quarter inch. In essence, this shape is a square. Now, if we look at our absolute coordinates, I'm not exactly sure where 0,0 is, but I would guess that it is at the bottom of the triangle.
Also, that means I'm not exactly sure where the corners of my square are, but to start I know that I can simply create a rectangle of that size. Let's do that together. I'll go up to my rectangle tool, and this might be hidden by the polygon tool, so using the fly out, I'll make sure I can see the rectangle tool, and I'll pick rectangle.
In this case, we do not know exactly where the rectangle is going to go, so I'm going to click anywhere on the screen to start, because I know I will move the rectangle into the appropriate location in a minute. Now, to get an exact size of one quarter inch by one quarter inch, I can either use relative coordinates or the dimensions option. Let's use relative coordinates in this case.
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I'll go at, which means from my previous point, 0.25 comma 0.25, enter to lock it in, and zoom extents. In order to check to see the size of this rectangle, I need to use the measure geometry tool, and that can be found on the home tab, utilities panel, measure geometry. Now, this is the quick measure tool, and historically distance and the other options were the ones we would use, but for now, let's use quick measure.
The quick measure will turn our cursor into an orange highlight, and when we move inside of the square, it will automatically show us some information about our geometry. It is telling me that this square is exactly one quarter inch by one quarter inch, and that all four angles are right angles. The quick measure tool is a great way to quickly see distances and angles in your model.
When I have confirmed that this is one quarter inch by one quarter inch, I'll hit escape, and now I need to move this square relative to 0,0. In order to put this in its right place, I know that I need to move it from the midpoint of the bottom line to the real-world coordinate 0,0. In order to do that, I am doing a point to point move from the midpoint to 0,0.
So, I will go move, choose my square, enter to lock it in, shift right click midpoint to find the bottom midpoint here, and I'll move that to 0,0. I don't know where that is relative, so this is an absolute coordinate. Enter to lock it in.
Now, it might look like your rectangle was deleted, but if I look at the command prompt, it says 0,0, and that tells me it's moved. Let's do a zoom extents, and there it is. Now, how do we know that it's at 0,0? We can use another measure utility called idpoint.
If I come up to utilities, I can see idpoint, and this lets me pick one singular point, and it will tell me that data. I'll shift right click midpoint and choose right here. By checking my command prompt, I can see that this point is at 0,0, and 0. This is in the perfect location.
Now, I can see that we have started to draw the correct geometry, but we do not need two of these lines. We do not need this vertical line, or this vertical line. So, I would like to delete them.
However, if I use the select tool, we can see that this is a polyline, and I cannot simply hit delete, or else my whole polyline would be erased. The same thing will happen with the erase tool. Instead, what I need to do is to explode this object, and explode takes a polyline, and converts it into a series of lines.
The explode tool is found in between erase and offset, and I can choose my rectangle, and hit ENTER to say I'm done selecting objects, and it will explode my geometry. Now, when I pick on these two sides, they are single objects. Let's do that again.
I'll undo. I'll choose my explode tool, pick my rectangle, and hit ENTER to say that I am done selecting objects. Now, I can pick this line, and this line, and hit the delete key.
Now, to draw these next lines, we will use the enter, enter trick, which is to go back into a tool. We will also turn on our midpoint and endpoint running object snaps. First, let's do our object snaps.
I will choose midpoint and endpoint, and I will turn off quadrant, and I'll make sure that this is on, and then I will choose my line tool. Now, my first point will be the midpoint at the bottom, and I will go to the endpoint at the top. I will hit ENTER to say that I am done, and I will hit ENTER to go back in.
Enter is kind of like redo from your previous tool. So, I'll hit ENTER, and you'll notice I am back in line. I can click this midpoint again, or you might see the endpoint of the line we just drew.
I'll come up to this midpoint, enter to say I'm done, enter to go back in. I'll pick down here again, and I'll pick this corner. Enter to say that I am done.
If you have a tool that you're using over and over, line, or fillets, or offset, you might be able to use the enter, enter trick to end your command, and then start it again. The last thing we need to do for this project is to add our hatch. I will choose the hatch tool, solid, pick points, and this right triangle is what I need to pick.
Enter to lock it in, zoom extents, control s to save. In the next video, we will work on the television outlet.
