How do I use the Isometric Tool?

[RayArdia]

Hi Andrew,
Your post:-

Re: Turn on front, side, elevation views

Postby andrew » Fri May 18, 2012 8:57 am
Sure: the top and side view were drafted as usual with the QCAD 2D tools. the '3D' view is an isometric projection which was created from the front and side view with the isometric projection tool of QCAD.

Implies that an isometric view can be created from a front and side view of an object. Do the front+side views have to be created in a special way? How are the tools used please.
Regards,
Ray

[clive]

Hi Ray
To use the 'Isometric Projection' tool - front, side or top views would be drawn in the normal way (no special methods etc...) then simply select all or part of a view (or any single entity, object for that matter) from your drawing and follow the prompts in the status bar.

orthographic front and side view.png (2.17 KiB) Viewed 2466 times

1. Select for example side view (see snap shot).
2. Select reference point.
3. From the 'isometric' options (top,bottom,front,right etc.) select the isometric plane you wish to use (my example = right).
4. Place your selection.
5. Clean-up your drawing with the edit/modify tools etc...

isometric view.png (13.33 KiB) Viewed 2466 times

* Note: I believe there will be an isometric grid option added sometime in the future - to switch between orthographic and isometric grids. This will help 'big time' when needing to draw an isometric view!
Hope this explains and helps for now.

[RayArdia]

Thanks Andrew, I'll give it a go!
Regards, Ray

[clive]

No problem Ray
However - Andrew didn`t answer this one! I did (clive), no worries though hope it helps.
@Andrew , sorry about that, I didn`t even notice it was addressed to you personally, I just jumped straight in !

[Husky]

Hi together

I have a question to this topic ....

Based on your drawing: If I use this shape with a solid hatch, put this into a block and try to create an isometric I will get an Isometric without the hatch but with double lines.

Is that how it should be? Why is the hatch lost but I have still the double lines from the hatch contour? It works fine without a block .....

Hatch Block Question.png (3.36 KiB) Viewed 2426 times

[clive]

Hi Husky
Try this
1.Draw shape.
2.Select and hatch.
3.Now un-select first to exit hatch command!
(Edit: or click on screen/unselect after block creation)
4.Then select again and use Isometric Projection tool (PJ).

iso hatch test.png (18.79 KiB) Viewed 2420 times

[Husky]

Thanks for your effort but that is not the problem. My problem is based in the "Block isometric scenario" with a result of "No hatch but double lines".

[clive]

Agreed - I see what you are saying now !
Workaround
Explode the block to release all the 'control' points then use the iso tool to move the outline and hatching into an isometric projection.
Its not ideal but it works for now.
Something to be added to the feature requests I think

[Husky]

Thanks Clive!

Something to be added to the feature requests I think

I assume it should be a Bug report instead of a feature request

[clive]

Thanks Clive!
I assume it should be a Bug report instead of a feature request

Yes indeed
Bug report added:
http://www.ribbonsoft.com/bugtracker/in ... ask_id=700

[andrew]

Thanks for jumping in, clive

I'm busy working on some isometric tools for 3.1 at the moment:
- isometric grid (left, right, top)
- isometric cursor (matches grid)
- isometric ortho mode (for drawing 90 degrees angles onto isometric plane directly)
- isometric projection onto cylinders (e.g. drilling into a cylinder, etc)
- isometric circle tool (produces ellipse on isometric plane)
- as usual, I'm making some other improvements along the way, for example an auto trim tool that extends or trims an entity to the next limiting entities

I will also post to the blog about these new features in a few days.

There will also likely be an intermediate 'snap-shop' release for interested users before the release of 3.1.

[clive]

Andrew, thanks for the update .
Really exciting isometric tools you are working on - can`t wait!

I like the isometric ortho mode (for drawing 90 degrees angles onto isometric plane directly) - clever idea
and - the isometric projection onto cylinders feature (e.g. drilling into a cylinder, etc), just so useful.

Again the auto trim tool - nifty

* Definitely sign me up as being interested to try out an intermediate 'snap-shop' release, or will this be available on the downloads area?

[andrew]

* Definitely sign me up as being interested to try out an intermediate 'snap-shop' release, or will this be available on the downloads area?

Yes, I will create a section in the download area for snap-shots. The snap shot will be announced on the blog and in the announcement forum at:
viewforum.php?f=16