6.0
Table Of Contents
- Getting Started with Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop®
- Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop® Tutorials
- Using the Tutorials
- Creating Parametric Sketches
- Constraining Sketches
- Creating Sketched Features
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Sketched Features
- Creating Extruded Features
- Editing Extruded Features
- Creating Loft Features
- Editing Loft Features
- Creating Revolved Features
- Editing Revolved Features
- Creating Face Splits
- Editing Face Splits
- Creating Sweep Features
- Editing Sweep Features
- Creating Bend Features
- Editing Bend Features
- Creating Work Features
- Creating Placed Features
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Placed Features
- Creating Hole Features
- Creating Thread Features
- Editing Hole Features
- Editing Thread Features
- Creating Face Drafts
- Editing Face Drafts
- Creating Fillet Features
- Editing Fillet Features
- Creating Chamfer Features
- Editing Chamfer Features
- Creating Shell Features
- Editing Shell Features
- Creating Surface Cut Features
- Editing Surface Cut Features
- Creating Pattern Features
- Editing Pattern Features
- Editing Array Features
- Creating Copied Features
- Editing Copied Features
- Creating Combined Features
- Editing Combined Features
- Creating Part Splits
- Editing Part Splits
- Using Design Variables
- Creating Parts
- Creating Drawing Views
- Creating Shells
- Creating Table Driven Parts
- Assembling Parts
- Combining Parts
- Assembling Complex Models
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Complex Assemblies
- Starting the Assembly Process
- Creating Local and External Parts
- Applying Assembly Constraints
- Creating New Parts
- Creating Subassemblies
- Completing Assemblies
- Editing Mechanical Desktop Parts
- Reloading External References
- Reviewing Assembly Models
- Creating Bills of Material
- Finishing Drawings for Plotting
- Creating and Editing Surfaces
- Combining Parts and Surfaces
- Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Creating Trimmed Planar Surfaces
- Joining Surfaces on Complex Shapes
- Creating Swept and Projected Surfaces
- Creating Complex Swept Surfaces
- Using Projection to Create Surfaces
- Using Advanced Surfacing Techniques
- Viewing Completed Surfaced Models
- Working with Standard Parts
- Creating Shafts
- Calculating Stress on 3D Parts
- Toolbar Icons
- Desktop Tools
- Part Modeling
- Part Modeling ‰ New Part
- Part Modeling ‰ New Sketch Plane
- Part Modeling ‰ 2D Sketching
- Part Modeling ‰ 2D Constraints
- Part Modeling ‰ Profile a Sketch
- Part Modeling ‰ Sketched Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Placed Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Work Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Power Dimensioning
- Part Modeling ‰ Edit Feature
- Part Modeling ‰ Update Part
- Part Modeling ‰ Part Visibility
- Part Modeling ‰ Options
- Toolbody Modeling
- Assembly Modeling
- Surface Modeling
- Surface Modeling ‰ AutoSurf Options
- Surface Modeling ‰ Swept Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Loft U Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Blended Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Flow Wires
- Surface Modeling ‰ Object Visibility
- Surface Modeling ‰ Surface Display
- Surface Modeling ‰ Stitches Surfaces
- Surface Modeling ‰ Grip Point Placement
- Surface Modeling ‰ Lengthen Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Extract Surface Loop
- Surface Modeling ‰ Edit Augmented Line
- Surface Modeling ‰ Wire Direction
- Scene
- Drawing Layout
- Mechanical View
- Index
26 | Chapter 3 The User Interface
Using Pull-down Menus
To select a menu option, or access a submenu, hold down the left mouse
button while you navigate through the menu. When you find the command
you want to use, release the mouse button.
You can also access menu commands by using the keyboard. Hold down
ALT
while selecting the underlined letter of the menu option. For example, to
select
AMPROFILE from the keyboard, press ALT, then P, S, P.
Selecting Command Options from Dialog Boxes
Many commands have options within dialog boxes. As the term dialog box
suggests, you interact by selecting options to make a particular setting active,
display a list from which to choose an option, or enter a specific value. If a
command has a dialog box, it is displayed when you access the command,
regardless of whether you did so on the command line or from a menu or
toolbar icon.
When you need information about a dialog box you are working with, click
the Help button located in the dialog box.
NOTE If the Mechanical Desktop dialog boxes do not display, on the
command line enter CMDDIA, and change the system variable to 1.
Using the Command Line
You can access a command or system variable directly by entering its name
on the command line. Many experienced users prefer this method because it
is faster than using menus. Some experienced users are familiar with specify-
ing command options from the command line and prefer to turn off the
display of dialog boxes.
However, because many Mechanical Desktop commands require input
through their dialog boxes, it is recommended that you use the dialog boxes
instead of the command line to ensure that you have access to the full
functionality of each feature.
All the commands and system variables for Mechanical Desktop and
AutoCAD are documented in Help.
Using Accelerator Keys
Many commands also have shortcuts called accelerator keys. To issue a
command using an accelerator key, simply enter the command alias on the
command line.
For a complete list of Mechanical Desktop accelerator keys, see “Accelerator
Keys” in the Command Reference in Help.