background image

671

In This Chapter

22

Working with Standard 
Parts

Standard parts is the term used for the vast selection of 

real-world reusable 2D and 3D parts, holes, features, and 

structural steel profiles that are available to you in 

Autodesk

® 

Mechanical Desktop

®

 6 with the power pack. 

These standard parts are provided in many different 

base standards.

In this tutorial you select standard parts to insert 

through holes on a 3D part, using two different 

positioning methods. You also add a screw connection 

to a 3D assembly model using standard parts.

Run Mechanical Desktop with the power pack to 

perform this tutorial.

Selecting standard parts

Inserting holes using the cylinder 
axial placement method

Inserting holes using the cylinder 
radial placement method

Inserting a screw connection

Creating a drawing view with 2D 
standard parts

background image

672

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

Key Terms

Term

Definition

base standard

Predefined drafting standard that conforms to International Drafting Standards 
ANSI, BSI, CSN, DIN, GB, ISO, and JIS.

cylinder axial

Option for placement when you insert a standard part or hole parallel to a 
cylinder axis.

cylinder radial

Option for placement when you insert a standard part or hole radial into a 
cylinder.

hole

Geometric feature with a predefined shape: drilled, counterbore, or countersink.

parallel

Being an equal distance apart at every point.

standard part

Reusable 2D and 3D parts, holes, features, and structural steel profiles available in 
Mechanical Desktop 6.

tangent

Touching at a single point or along a line, but not intersecting.

through

Termination method by which a feature extends from its sketch plane through the 
part.

background image

Tutorial at a Glance

|

673

Tutorial at a Glance

This tutorial is an introduction to the standard parts and calculations func-
tionality in Mechanical Desktop 6. You will become familiar with some of the 
intelligence and automation built into this functionality as you perform 
exercises to insert

A through hole using the cylinder axial placement method.

Through holes using the cylinder radial placement method.

A screw connection using the automated screw connection feature.

A standard related 2D-Representation of standard parts.

Basic Concepts of Standard Parts

A large selection of standard parts are made available to you in Mechanical 
Desktop 6. These standard parts are provided in many different base stan-
dards. You make your selections from lists of standard parts as you work. For 
example, when you select a screw, you can choose from different types of 
screws and from different configurations of threads. Using the standard parts 
and calculations functionality, you can insert complete screw connections 
including screws, holes, and nuts in one automated process.

The software is intelligent, and prevents you from assembling parts that do 
not fit. For example, if you select a screw with a metric thread, only metric 
threads are added with any additional parts or features, such as threaded 
holes or nuts. If you select screws, holes, and nuts from varying standards, 
the software determines if those parts will work together.

background image

674

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

Inserting Through Holes

It is no longer necessary to insert a workpoint on the cylinder face, 
dimension it, and insert a hole on the workpoint. Instead, the standard hole 
function automatically defines a workpoint at the location you select, 
dimensions it, and places the hole you specify. You can also define the inser-
tion point dynamically.

Using Cylinder Axial Placement

In this exercise, you insert a standard through hole using the cylinder axial 
placement method. Use this method to insert holes parallel to the axis of a 
cylinder. You enter specifications and select a size from a list of standard 
holes, and the hole is inserted automatically.

Open the file md_ex01.dwg in the desktop\tutorial folder.

NOTE

Back up the tutorial drawing files so you still have the original files if you 

make a mistake. See “Backing up Tutorial Drawing Files” on page 40.

background image

Inserting Through Holes

|

675

To insert a hole using cylinder axial placement

1

Use 

AMTHOLE3D

 to define the hole to insert. 

Menu

Content 3D ➤ Holes ➤ Through Holes

In the Select a Through Hole dialog box, select ISO 273 normal.

2

In the Hole Position Method First Hole dialog box, specify:

Placement:

Cylinder Axial

Choose OK.

3

On the command line, respond to the prompts as follows:

Select circular edge:

Select the upper circular edge (1)

1

background image

676

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

4

Continue on the command line.

Select radius:

Press SHIFT and in the graphics area, right-click and choose Midpoint

5

Select the midpoint of the upper horizontal edge (2).

6

Continue on the command line.

Select insertion method
[Angle to plane or edge/parallel to Line/plane Normal/plane Parallel] <plane 
Parallel>:

Enter A

Select straight edge, work plane or planar face to add angular constraint 
to:

Press 

ENTER

Select angle:

Select an angle of approximately 135° (3)

Enter angle [Associate to/Equation assistant] <145>:

Enter 135

Radius [Associate to/Equation assistant] <90>:

Press 

ENTER

Hole termination [toPlane/Thru] <Thru>:

Press 

ENTER

2

3

background image

Inserting Through Holes

|

677

7

In the ISO 273 normal - Nominal Diameter dialog box, specify:

Select a size:

M10

Choose Finish.

The through hole is inserted in the size and location you selected.

Save the file as md2_ex01a.dwg.

Using Cylinder Radial Placement

In this exercise, you insert a through hole using the cylinder radial method. 
Use this method to insert holes radial to a cylinder face.

background image

678

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

To insert a hole using cylinder radial placement

1

Use 

AMTHOLE3D

 to define the hole to insert.

Menu

Content 3D ➤ Holes ➤ Through Holes

In the Select a Through Hole dialog box, select ISO 273 normal.

2

In the Hole Position Method First Hole dialog box, specify:

Placement:

Cylinder Radial

Choose OK.

3

On the command line, respond to the prompts as follows:

Select cylindrical face:

Select the upper cylindrical face (1)

Continue on the command line.

Specify hole location [Line/Plane]:

Press SHIFT and in the graphics area, right-click and choose Midpoint

1

background image

Inserting Through Holes

|

679

4

Select the midpoint of the upper vertical edge (2).

5

Respond to the prompts as follows:

Enter distance from base plane [Associate to/Equation assistant] <15>:

Press 

ENTER

Select drill direction
[Angle to plane or edge/parallel to Line/plane Normal/plane Parallel]

<plane Parallel>:

Enter A

Select straight edge, work plane or planar face to add angular constraint to:

Press 

ENTER

Select angle:

Select an angle of approximately 180° (3)

Continue on the command line:

Enter angle [Associate to/Equation assistant] <181>:

Enter 180

Hole termination [toPlane/Thru] <Thru>:

Press 

ENTER

2

3

background image

680

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

6

In the ISO 273 normal - Nominal Diameter dialog box, specify:

Select a size:

M10

Choose Finish.

The through hole is inserted. Your drawing should look like this:

Save the file as md2_ex01b.dwg.

background image

Inserting Screw Connections

|

681

Inserting Screw Connections

In this exercise, you begin with a drawing of two parts that need a screw con-
nection. Using the screw connection feature, you select the screw, holes, and 
nut that you want to use.

You define the size of the screw in a dialog box. Then you insert the screw 
connection in the assembly. With this method, there is no need to create two 
separate holes before you insert the screw with the nut. The screw connec-
tion function does this for you automatically.

Open the file md_ex02 in the desktop\tutorial folder.

NOTE

Back up the tutorial drawing files so you still have the original files if you 

make a mistake. See “Backing up Tutorial Drawing Files” on page 40.

The drawing contains two parts of a housing.

background image

682

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

To insert a screw connection

1

Use 

AMSCREWCON3D

 to choose and define the screw to insert.

Menu

Content 3D ➤ Screw Connection

In the Screw Connection dialog box, select Screws.

Next, define the type of screw.

background image

Inserting Screw Connections

|

683

2

In the Please select a Screw dialog box, select Socket Head Types.

Select the screw IS2401.

The Screw Connection dialog box is displayed again.

3

Repeat steps 1 and 2 to select and define each of the following parts:

Hole ➤ Through Cylindrical ➤ IS1602 normal
Hole ➤ Through Cylindrical ➤ IS1602 normal
Nut ➤ Hex Nuts ➤ ISO842

After you select and define the parts for the screw connection, select a size for 
the diameter.

background image

684

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

4

Select M10 for the diameter.

Choose Finish.

The Hole Position Method First Hole dialog box is displayed.

5

In the Hole Position Method First Hole dialog box, specify the hole position-
ing method as follows:

Placement:

2 Edges

Choose OK.

background image

Inserting Screw Connections

|

685

6

On the command line, respond to the prompts as follows:

Select first edge or planar face:

Specify the first edge (1)

Select second edge or planar face:

Specify the second edge (2)

Continue on the command line.

Specify the hole location:   Specify a point on the face, offset from the two edges
Enter distance from first geometry (highlighted) [Associate to/Equation assistant] 

<15.06>:

Enter 20

Enter distance from second geometry (highlighted) [Associate to/Equation 

assistant] <23.05>:

Enter 20

Hole termination [toPlane/Thru] <Thru>:

Press 

ENTER

1

2

background image

686

|

Chapter 22

Working with Standard Parts

7

In the Hole Position Method Next Hole dialog box, specify:

Placement:

Workpoint UCS

Choose OK.

8

Respond to the prompt as follows:

Select next part to drill through:

Select the lower part (3)

Continue on the command line:

Hole termination [toPlane/Thru] <Thru>:

Press 

ENTER

3

background image

Inserting Screw Connections

|

687

The screw connection is inserted. Your drawing should look like this:

You have completed this tutorial.

Save the file as md6_ex17b.dwg.

background image

688