Pins/Dowels

Draw pins/dowels in plan and side view.

This function allows you to draw a predefined pin, or specify and create a new pin definition.

The Mechanical Setup option defines the default line styles and pens to use.

Make sure that the drawing units are set to "mm" (millimetres) before using the mechanical toolkit functions.

Procedure

1. The Pins/Dowels settings window displays.

2. Select a predefined pin from the drop-down list, or fill in the relevant data.

3. Select whether to draw the top view, the side view, or both.

4. Select the line type (solid or hidden) to use for the head and shaft.

5. Click OK to draw the specified pin.

6. You are prompted to:

Indicate the position of the Pin side view

7. Position the cursor where the pin must be drawn and then click. The hook point is at the base of the head of the pin, as shown below.

8. If you have selected the Automatically align the side view checkbox in the pin definition, the pin is rotated to align with the nearest object. If not, you are prompted for a rotation.

Rotate Fastner

9. A popup menu displays with the following options.

10. If you select the Enter Rotation option, you are prompted to:

11. Type in the required angle and press [Enter] or click Enter . The pin is drawn in side view at the indicated angle.

12. You are prompted to:

Indicate Pin centre for plan view

13. Cursor hold is active at this point, which allows you to specify a position for the plan view of the pin that is aligned with the axis of the ping side view. Indicate a centre point for the plan view.

14. You are prompted to define an additional point for the rotation of the centreline axes of the plan view:

Enter a point on the Pin plan view centreline for rotation

15. In the example below, a point is indicated at a 45 degree angle to the pin centre point so that the axes are drawn at a 45 degree angle.

Using the Repeat Option

The repeat function is used to draw multiple equidistant copies of the pin.

Linear

To draw multiple copies of the pin in a straight line:

1. Select the Linear option.

2. Enter the number of pins you want to draw.

3. Now enter the distance between the pin centres.

4. Click OK and follow the prompts.

Polar

To draw multiple copies of the pin in a circular arrangement:

1. Select the Polar option.

2. Enter the number of pins you want to draw.

3. Select either the Spacing or PCD option from the list box.

• If you select Spacing enter the distance between the pin centres.

• If you select PCD enter the PCD of the circle on whose circumference the pins will be arranged.

4. Click OK and follow the prompts.

The side view is not be drawn if you select the Polar repeat option.

Adding Pin Definitions

To add your own pin definitions:

1. Click Add.

2. Enter the relevant data.

3. The pin definition is saved when you click OK, or when you select another pin definition from the list.

Deleting Pin Definitions

To remove a pin definition, select it in the list and click Remove.

If you modify an existing pin definition, you are asked to save it. Select No to avoid changing the original pin definition.