Hi - I am new to this forum - so I thought I would start by asking a question.    Is there a way in Autocad Mechanical 2014 to generate a flat layout of 3d solids?  For example....If I have a 3d model of a pipe that is cut at a 45deg angle - I want to generate a flat layout that I can plot as a template, wrap around the pipe to mark for cutting.  I do this manually and takes me quite a while...  Must be a better way..

Have a look atwww.ant-ares.deGood luckJochen

That can be done in Inventor but I don't know if it can be done in AutoCAD MEP.I think what you are describing is called a "pattern".
John Connor2014-03-01 12:13:07

Thanks!  Yes - flat pattern - that is what I am talking about..I have another question...  I have used plain Jane Autocad for probably 20 years.  I am drawing pretty much everything 3d.  Until recently I have been using Acad 2008.  I recently ungraded to Autocad Mechanical 2014 - and I am still learning!  I am pretty much just doing things with AutoCad classic and not sure at this point why I went with Mechanical...One of the little things I am struggling with is dimensions.  In my old acad I was able to select a dimension NODE - and say move it to an endpoint.  In 2014, my dimensions (using the ACAD dimensioning) - I can't select a NODE any-more.  Is this a setting somewhere??Thanks for you help.  Are you drawing using Mechanical and are you drawing 3d models??

I haven't noticed any problems with nodes in AutoCAD 2014.  I'll have to look into it.I am strictly a generic AutoCAD man; no verticals other than Electrical which at the moment sits idle.I have created a number of 3D solid models in AutoCAD.  There isn't much call for surfaces or meshes in my line of work.

I don't get into many 3d surfaces either.  Just basically 3d solids made by extrusion or revolving etc.  Some of my models get pretty big and complex - and I download some pre-made 3d sat files to use in my models.  I upgraded my computer to a laptop/workstation - but it sure crashes a lot 

How big is a typical drawing file that crashes?What are the specs on your computer?Do you run the -Purge (Regapps first followed by All) and Audit commands on your drawings?

I don't remember the specs on the computer - but they are amazing.  It is the best I could possible get.  Cost approx 3,600.  Video card is supposed to amazing and has a lot of memory - but I often get lines displace on my screen that do not exist. It is back at Memory Express right now - for them to check it out.  Something is not right with it.  It has already been replaced ones.  MSI is the make......  there top model with max memory possible and solid state drive etc.I don't use purge all the much.  Used too with the old autocads...  will have to start doing that again. Some of the files that are crashing on me are pretty simple and small

That's not much to go on so it would be tough to offer any advice.You should use the command line version of purge as I called it out (with the dash in front of the command).  Purge Regapps first; rerun the command (with the dash) and this time select the All option.  Then run Audit and tell AutoCAD to fix any errors it finds.Do you ever run the Overkill command on your drawings?Simple and small AutoCAD drawings should not be crashing a balls-to-the-walls system.  If they are then there is something either seriously wrong with the files (corrupt) or your system as a whole.

What is the overkill command?  I have never heard of that command...I suspect I have an issue with my new balls-the-walls system - I am just not sure what it is...  I hope ME finds something and finds a solution.  I am almost ready to give up on the portability and get a desktop machine.  I have one all spec'ed out.  $4,200 cost.  Supposedly I can't get much better. I really need to get better performance than I have been.,

Oh, it's a laptop?  What does it have for a video card?  How much RAM is onboard?The Overkill command can be found in Express Tools.  It deletes duplicate and overlapping lines. 

I think this is the specs on the laptop/workstationCPU Intel Core i7-4770K ProcessorAddress:Hard Drive Samsung 640 Pro 256GB SSD Hard Drive Western Digital 1TB BlackMotherboard ASUS Z87-Deluxe RAM Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB (2x8GB)Power Supply eVGA NEX750G 750W Gold Case Corsair Carbide 200RDVD Drive ASUS 24x DVD-RW Video Card eVGA Geforce GTX Ti

Not too shabby.  16GB of RAM should be sufficient for some fairly big 3D drawing files.  I have 8GB on my home system and 12GB on my work system and I have worked with file sizes between 24 and 38GB although those are on the high end of what I normally work with.

Not too shabby is what I thought - but I sure that that I would get better performance.  I have been really struggling with this all.   I was hoping I would have a hard time bringing the machine to its knees!  As it is - the laptop seems to fall down pretty quickly.  Right now, while the laptop is in the repair shop - I am limping along with my 8 year old desktop.  I don't remember the specs on it - but much less than the laptop - and it seems to function not too much worse.  This has all been so frustrating!If I give up on the laptop, I may get a desktop that looks like this...  I should be able to run pretty complex models with this right??AssemblyCPU Fan Cooler Master EVO 212 Cpu Fan Operating System Windows 7 Pro 64bitPower Supply Corsair AX760 Modular Power Supply Case Corsair Carbide Series 330R Quiet Mid-towerOptical Drive LG GH24NSB0 24x DVD Writer Hard Drive Samsing 840 Pro SSD 256GBMotherboard ASUS Sabertooth x79 RAM Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2x8GB)Item Description CPU Intel i7-4930K ProcessorVideo Card GeForce GTX TITAN Black 6GB Hard Drive Seagate 2TB SSHD

That configuration looks pretty good to me.Now if your 3D drawings are over 50GB in size you may see some lagging but you could always resort to utilizing xrefs and/or freezing layers to cut down on the performance hit.

I am using x-refs all the time to keep my general arrangements manageable. Problem with that is - I don't know how to display hidden lines on my GA when my model is x-refs or blocks...  Is there a way?  In my detail drawings where i am actually working with 3d Models - I use solid profiles..

While I am familiar with xrefs I've never seriously used them.  The nature of my work is such that there isn't a big need for them although I suppose I could force myself to utilize them if I cared to.