ISOMETRIC DRAWING

**Delta** · Site Admin Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 327

Using Isometric commands is one of the simplest ways to give a 3-D representation while using only 2-D commands. This has been the usual way of doing things before CAD allowed true 3-D work to be done. Many times an isometric drawing is used to compliment a 3 view orthographic drawing. See the sample below.

You can see that it is a very simple drawing. The basic isometric drawing of the object gives a very good idea of what it looks like. If this is all that is needed then isometric works well. Unfortunately, as soon as you change anything, like the block's height, you'll need to redraw all four views.
AutoCAD has a command called ISOPLANE which allows you to easily draw at a 30 degree angle as needed for an isometric drawing. You can switch between the three 'isoplanes' (top, right, left) by using this command or by pressing the F5 key.
Command: ISOPLANE <ENTER>
Current isoplane: Right
Enter isometric plane setting [Left/Top/Right] <Left>: T <ENTER>
Current isoplane: Top
By invoking this command, AutoCAD is now set to draw on the top isoplane. Your other choices would be Left or Right. Your first exercise will be to draw the object shown above using isometric methods.