About 2D Isometric Drawing

About 2D Isometric Drawing

Simulate an isometric view of a 3D object by aligning objects along three major axes. 

A 2D isometric drawing is a flat representation of a 3D isometric projection. This method of drawing provides a fast way to create an isometric view of a simple design. Distances measured along an isometric axis are correct to scale, but because you are drawing in 2D, you cannot expect to extract other 3D distances and areas, display objects from different viewpoints, or remove hidden lines automatically. 

By using the ISODRAFT command, several system variables and settings are automatically changed to values that facilitate isometric angles. The standard isometric planes, called  isoplanes, are as follows: 
  1. Right. Aligns snap and grid along 30- and 90-degree axes. 
  2. Left. Aligns snap and grid along 90- and 150-degree axes. 
  3. Top. Aligns snap and grid along 30- and 150-degree axes. 
Choosing one of the three isoplanes automatically causes the crosshairs cursor, and precision drawing and tracking tools to be aligned along the corresponding isometric axes. Therefore, you can draw the top plane, switch to the left plane to draw a side, and switch to the right plane to complete the drawing. 

You can use the Isometric Drafting tool on the status bar to select the desired isoplane. Alternatively, you can press F5 or Ctrl+E to cycle through the isoplanes. 

The following commands and features are the most commonly used ones to maintain precision in isometric drawings: 
  1. Polar tracking and direct distance entry
  2. Object snaps and grid snaps
  3. Object snap tracking
  4. Move and Copy
  5. Trim and Extend
When creating 2D isometric drawings, create reference geometry of different colors. This method is particularly useful when constructing ellipses to represent fillets. 

Isometric Circles, Arcs, and Fillets

When drawing on isometric planes, use ellipses to represent circles. The easiest way to draw an ellipse with the correct shape is to use the Isocircle option of the ELLIPSE command. The Isocircle option is available only when an isometric plane is active, which is controlled by the ISODRAFT command or the SNAPSTYL system variable. 

Use isocircles for arcs, fillets, and any other radial curve, trimming and extending them to other edges. Isocricles correctly represent cylinders or holes that are parallel to an isometric axis, and their silhouette edges are always parallel to an isometric axis. 

To represent concentric circles, draw another ellipse with the same center rather than offsetting the original ellipse. Offsetting produces oval-shaped splines that do not represent the foreshortened distances that you would expect.

Isometric Grid and Grid Snap

When you switch from orthographic to isometric drawing, the grid and grid snap will change from a rectangular pattern to a diamond pattern corresponding to the isometric angles. In addition, the grid lines will change to grid dots, and the grid and grid snap distances will also be adjusted. When you turn off isometric drawing, your grid settings will be restored. 

Powered by  AutoCAD ® 
    • Related Articles

    • Drawing Tools

      Drawing Tools To access the Drawing Tools, click on the Draw tab, and then select the Drawing Tools tab. The Drawing Tools interface has three tabs on the right side: Common Commands, Common Text, Common Blocks.   Common Commands Tab The Common ...
    • Understanding Drawing Tabs

      Located at the bottom of the drawing area are tabs that allow you to switch between the Model tab and other layout tabs. While working in the drawing environment, you will need to have the Model tab selected. Selecting any other tab will bring you to ...
    • Drawing Sections

      Drawing Sections To draw sections of products, click on the Draw Product Sections icon and select a product. The Product Sections window will allow you to select which type of section to draw and set up specific options for how the section will be ...
    • Adding a Custom Drawing Template to Toolbox

      Find the location of your existing drawing template that you want to use in Toolbox.  If you are using AutoCAD Standard, enter "Options" at the command prompt.  Click the Files tab, expand Template Settings > Drawing Template File Location, and note ...
    • To Work with Ellipses

      The shape of an ellipse is determined by two axes that define its length and width.  Draw an Isometric Circle If you are drawing on isometric planes to simulate 3D, you can use ellipses to represent isometric circles viewed from an oblique angle.  ...
    • Recent Articles

    • Beta Optimizer Changes

      As of build 25.1.0325.641, Microvellum’s optimizer for block nesting, sawing, and scrap management has received an update to improve its functionality. This new optimizer is considered to be in beta form, with development ongoing and new features ...
    • Part Grouping and Sorting (Beta Optimizer)

      As of Toolbox build 25.1.0325.641, Microvellum's new Beta Optimizer allows users to sort and group parts with greater degrees of specificity than with the legacy optimizer. This is possible due to an overhaul in the Part Sorting and Grouping ...
    • Sheet Selection Type (Beta Optimizer)

      When selecting materials in an operation, Microvellum's optimizer allows for users to assign an optimization priority to specific materials in their material file, to determine which materials should be used up first in the operation. As of Toolbox ...
    • Material Stacking Strategies (Beta Optimizer)

      When using Microvellum Toolbox's optimizer in sawing operations, the optimizer automatically separates sheets of material into different stacks based on the parts that are going to be cut from that sheet. The default strategy for the optimizer has ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 25.1.0325.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 25.1.0325.641 Beta Optimizer Microvellum has a new optimizer for nesting and sawing available for use. Users will now be able to switch between the new beta optimizer and the current legacy optimizer ...