Discover the intricacies of working with gutters, plotting parameters, and inserting blocks for windows and shutters in architectural drawings. This article provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to these processes, showing you how to enhance the level of detail and accuracy in your models.
Key Insights
- The article outlines the process of repopulating a drawing with a new XRef and setting up plotting parameters. The author emphasises the importance of line weight in creating a clear, distinct image.
- The author demonstrates how to insert blocks for windows, detailing the process of selecting a specific window size, specifying the insertion point, and adjusting the window height. The windows are drawn on the medium layer and inserted from a block.
- The insertion of shutters is also explained with the author detailing the selection of a specific shutter size, specifying the insertion point, and copying and mirroring the shutters to create a balanced design. The final stage of this process is saving the updated model.
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We've just spent a few minutes working on our gutters. And yes, those can be pretty challenging. I am in my A3.1 file and would like to show this to you.
It has been repopulated with our new XRef. I'm just going to type plot, and we already have our plotting parameters set up.
I will do a preview so you can see why we've applied some punching, which is what we call it from a line weight standpoint on the image. According to our color table file, the roof hatches that are forward will plot in a darker shade of gray. The ones that are recessed further back fade away.
I will cancel the plotting utility. I'm now going to go back over to my elevation model drawing and start working on my windows.
Again, the windows will be on the medium layer. The windows have already been drawn for us as a block. So I will go to Insert, then Block Insert.
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I will go to Browse. We're going to be looking for some windows. The window we will choose to begin with is a pair of 2650 windows, meaning each individual window is 2 feet 6 inches wide and 5 feet tall.
It's a pair configuration. OK. I'm going to open.
Specify insertion point on screen. I'll say OK. You can see that it's being popped in from the top left corner.
For now, I will place it at the end of the pull-down line. It's going to be too high. The typical window height is 6 feet 8 inches. So I'm going to take my plate line and offset it up by 6 feet 8 inches. So, Home tab.
I will go to Offset. The distance will be 6 feet 8 inches. Enter. I pick and go up.
I will now use the Move command to move the window from the insertion base point of the block perpendicular to the guide line here. I can now erase those line segments. I'm going to pan over and now insert this window.
We do have our control point up here. So I will go to Insert, Block Insert. Go to Browse.
Slide down. Choose the window pair 3050, meaning 3 feet wide by 5 feet high. It's a pair configuration.
Specify insertion point on screen. I will bring it in at the intersection of these lines. I can now go to the Home tab and erase my side guidelines.
While I'm here, I'd like to put my shutters in. So Insert, Block Insert. Go to Browse.
Slide down. Choose the window shutter 1650, which means 1 foot 6 inches wide by 5 feet high.
Specify insertion point on screen. I will place it at the end of this line. Then I will mirror the shutter from the midpoint of the window straight down.
Then I will copy this shutter from the end of this point over to the other side. I will mirror this shutter from the midpoint of the window straight down. Control-S to save.
Now we have our windows, and we have our shutters.
