Isometric Snap Mode (featuring AutoCAD)

   

     Isometric drawings are more realistic than oblique drawings. Entire drawing or object rather appears as if it is tilted toward the viewer. Isometric means equal measure. This equal measure refers to the angle between 3 axes (120 degrees) after the object has been tilted. The tilt angle is 35 degrees and 16 minutes.
     The most appealing aspect of isometric drawing is that all 3 axis lines are can be measured up using the same scale and it saves time while still producing a pictorial representation or model of the object. This type of drawing is produced when you used isometric snap mode that will be discussed later.
     Closely related to some isometric drawings are the trimetric and dimetric. These forms of pictorial drawing are different from isometric in the scales used to measure the 3 axes. Dimetric drawing uses 2 different scales, and Trimetric uses 3 scales. Using different scales is an attempt to create foreshortening which means the lengths of the sides appear to recede. The realstionship between isometric, dimetric and trimetric are discussed below.
     Isometric, dimetric and trimetric differ in the scales used to draw the 3 axes. The isometric has the scales represented as one.

SETTING THE ISO SNAP (AutoCAD)
     You can quickly set the variable of isometric in the drafting settings dialog box. To access this dialog box, enter DS, SE, DSETTINGS, RM or DDRMODES at the command: prompt, or select drafting settings from the tools below pull-down menu. The snap and grid tab of this dialog box contains options for the isometric drawing. To activate dialog box , the isometric snap grid, pick the isometric snap radio button in the snap type and style area. Notice that the grid X spacing and the snap X spacing edit boxes are grayed-out. X spacing relates to horizontal measurements, if it is not used in isometric mode. You can set Y spacing for grid and snap in isometric only. Ensure to pick the snap on (F9) key and grid on (F7) key check boxes if you want snap and grid modes to be toggled or activated. Select the button "OK" and the grid dots on the screen change to an isometric projection. If your grid dots on the screen are cannot seen or not visible, turn the grid on.
     Pay attention to the cross hairs that might also changed and appear angled. This aids you in drawing lines at the proper angles. try to draw 4-sided surface using the line command. Drawit so that it appears to be the left side of a box in an isometric layout. To draw nonparallel surfaces, you can change the angle of the cross hairs to make your work easier,. The drafting setting dialog box allows you to pick settings needed for isometric drawings. To turn off isometric mode, pick the rectangular snap button in the snap type and style area. The isometric mode is turned off and you are returned to the drawing area when you pick the OK button.

ISOMETRIC CROSS HAIR ORIENTATION
     Drawing an isometric shape is possible without ever changing the angle of their cross hairs. However, the drawing process is easier and quicker if the angles of the cross hairs aligned with the isometric axes.
     Whenever the isometric style enabled , press F5 (function key) or [Ctrl]+[E] key and then the cross hairs immediately change to the next plane. AutoCAD refers to isometric positions as isoplanes. Isoplanes are displayed on prompt lines as reference.
     The other method to activate cross hair is with the command: Isoplane, Just enter ISOPLANE at the command prompt follows:
Command: Isoplane
Current Isoplane: Right
Enter Isometric plane setting:[Left/Right/Top/]
     Press enter to toggle cross hairs in their next position. The command displays new isoplane setting.You can toggle immediately to the next position by pressing enter at the command to repeat isoplane command and pressing enter again.Type the letter of that position to specify the plane orientation.
     The isoplane command can also be used transparently while you are currently in other command and to toggle between isoplanes.  For example, you will going to start your drawing and then you realize that you are in the left isoplane and you needed to be in the top. You can change your position through the use of settings.