ME105 Blocks & Customisation

Customisation
 AutoCAD is one of many CADD packages used in different disciplines.
 Such diversity avails the package in a general form
 Many CAD vendors such as AutoCAD have customised the CAD package for
specific applications depending on customer needs. Examples are:
1. AutoCAD LT – Minimal applications for 2D draughting only (Cost)

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2. AutoCAD Architecture – Architectural planning and design

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3. AutoCAD Advance Steel – 3D detailing tool for steel construction

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4. AutoCAD Structural Detailing – Structural Engineering applications

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5. AutoCAD Civil/Mechanical/Electrical – For Civil/Mechanical/Electrical
Engineering designs and applications

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6. AutoCAD Map 3D – Topographic and mapping toolset used in GIS

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7. AutoCAD MEP – Mechanical, Electrical and Plumping applications

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8. AutoCAD Utility Design – Distribution utilities: electricity, water, etc.

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9. AutoCAD P&ID – Piping and Instrumentation Design: Mechanical,
Mining and Metallurgical processing and manufacturing plants.

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10. AutoCAD Plant 3D – Design of processing plants and flows

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11. AutoCAD 360 – Mobile and web applications (View CAD on mobile
devices.

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Customisation
 Distinction among the different packages depends on
1. Catalogue of symbols (Blocks) used
2. Specific commands applicable to the discipline only
3. Customised Pull-Down, Slide and Icon Menus
 The general AutoCAD package can also be customised by users in a number
of ways such as through ASCII Programming:
1. Cascading specific Pull-Down Menus,
2. Additional company specific Pull-Down Menus
3. Company specific Slide Menus
4. Icons specific for a company’s operations
5. On Screen Menu adjustments
6. Acronyms for Command Aliases commonly used
7. Automation of tasks using script files
8. Customising line types to company specific lines and colours
9. Customising Hatch Patterns
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Blocks
 Common factor in all the customised AutoCAD packages was a multiplicity
of symbols used.
 Virtually in an engineering drawing or model there are various symbols used
to represent objects
 Such components may be similar but available in different sizes
 Major motivation for migrating from manual drawings to CAD is to avoid
repetitive production of components within a drawing
 Blocks are symbols of standard engineering components that can be stored
in appropriate libraries or catalogues within a CAD system and retrieved for
use in other drawings. Examples of symbols and possible catalogues
1. Engineering fasteners such as bolts, nuts, screws and studs
2. Electronic symbols in PCBs: diodes, resistors, capacitors, bulbs etc
3. Hydraulic symbols such as gates and valves
4. Architectural symbols such as doors and windows
5. SAG and Ball mills in mining and mineral processing
6. Etc.
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Typical Engineering Blocks - Electrical

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Typical Engineering Blocks - Architectural

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Typical Engineering Blocks - Hydraulic

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Typical Engineering Blocks – Civil/Construction

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Typical Engineering Blocks – Pipe Network

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Typical Engineering Blocks - Welding

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Typical Engineering Blocks - Fasteners

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Typical Engineering Blocks - Mining

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Block Creation, Storage and Retrieval
 Blocks in CAD are equivalent to any other drawing (DWG)
 Blocks can be created by first drawing the symbol
 After drawing the block, there are 2 ways in which they can be stored
1. BLOCK command saves the block and can only be available in the
current drawing session
2. WBLOCK command saves the drawing universally to a defined folder
and such a block can be accessed and used in any drawing

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Block Creation, Storage and Retrieval
 Either BLOCK or WBLOCK
1. The objects that make up the block must be clearly selected
2. The base point must also be clearly selected as it should match with the
Insertion point when retrieving the block from the library
3. Only for WBLOCK) a folder must be created to save the block in.
 For retrieving the block from the library
1. Use the DDINSERT command and Browse to find the block
2. It is recommended to use Object Snap and select a suitable insertion
point on the drawing under development and not the coordinates
3. The insertion point will be the same as the base point on block
4. Unless absolutely necessary, always use full scale for both block and
main drawing – Scale factor will thus be 1 but this can be adjusted
5. The block assumes the same orientation in the main drawing as it was
stored but a rotation angle can be specified to position the block in the
main drawing in any desirable orientation.
 An inserted block is a single entity. However it can me modified by first
exploding it into its original entities by using the EXPLODE command
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Block Creation, Storage and Retrieval
 DDINSERT Dialogue Box

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