VariCAD 2D Drawing Generation: Views, Dimensions, GD&T, and DWG Export

VariCAD 2D Drawing Generation: Views, Dimensions, GD&T, and DWG Export

The 2D manufacturing drawing is the final deliverable in mechanical design — it communicates specifications to the machinist or fabricator. VariCAD generates 2D drawings directly from 3D models with associative views and dimensions. This guide covers the complete drawing generation workflow.

Switching to 2D Mode

1. Click the "2D" tab at the bottom of the screen
2. The 2D drawing environment opens
3. Select a sheet format: A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 (or custom)
4. Select orientation: Portrait or Landscape

Drawing Template Setup

Title Block

1. Tools > 2D > Title Block
2. Select a pre-defined title block or create custom
3. Fill in fields:
   • Title, Drawing number, Scale, Date, Drawn by, Checked by
   • Material, Surface finish, Tolerances
4. The title block is placed in the sheet corner

Drawing Border

1. Tools > 2D > Drawing Border
2. Select border style (with or without zone markers)
3. The border is drawn around the sheet perimeter

Creating Views from 3D

Standard Views

1. Tools > 2D > Views from 3D
2. Select the 3D part or assembly
3. Choose view orientation:
   • First Angle (European): Front, Top below, Right to the left
   • Third Angle (American): Front, Top above, Right to the right
4. Select specific views:
   • Front, Top, Right, Left, Bottom, Back
   • Isometric (SE, SW, NE, NW)
5. Place each view on the sheet by clicking

Section View

1. Tools > 2D > Section View
2. Select the parent view
3. Draw the section line (cutting plane) on the parent view
4. Specify the viewing direction (arrow side)
5. The section view is generated with:
   • Hatching on cut surfaces
   • Section label (e.g., "Section A-A")
   • Section arrows on the parent view

Detail View

1. Tools > 2D > Detail View
2. Select the parent view
3. Draw a circle or rectangle around the area to enlarge
4. Specify the detail view scale (e.g., 2:1, 5:1)
5. Place the detail view on the sheet
6. The detail view shows the enlarged area with a label (e.g., "Detail B")

Isometric View

1. Tools > 2D > Isometric View
2. Select the 3D model
3. Choose orientation (SE, SW, NE, NW)
4. Place on the sheet
5. Optional: set display style (wireframe, hidden lines, shaded)

Associative Dimensions

Dimension Types

• Linear: Horizontal, vertical, aligned
• Angular: Between two lines
• Radial: Circle/arc radius
• Diameter: Circle/arc diameter (Ø prefix)
• Ordinate: X or Y coordinate from datum
• Baseline: Stacked from a common origin
• Chain: Continuous from one to the next

Creating Dimensions

1. Tools > 2D > Dimension
2. Select dimension type
3. Click on geometry in the view
4. Place the dimension
5. Dimensions are associative — if the 3D model changes, dimensions update automatically

Dimension Style Configuration

1. Tools > 2D > Dimension Style
2. Configure:
   • Text height: 3.5mm (standard for mechanical)
   • Arrow type: Closed filled (standard) or architectural tick
   • Arrow size: 2.5mm
   • Precision: 0.1 for general, 0.01 for precision parts
   • Tolerance display: None, ± symmetric, limits, or deviation
   • Unit format: Decimal (metric) or fractional (imperial)

GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing)

Feature Control Frame

1. Tools > 2D > GD&T > Feature Control Frame
2. Select the feature to annotate
3. Configure:
   • Characteristic symbol: Position, flatness, straightness, perpendicularity, parallelism, circularity, cylindricity, profile, runout
   • Tolerance zone: Diameter symbol (Ø) if cylindrical
   • Tolerance value: e.g., 0.05
   • Material condition: MMC, LMC, or none
   • Datum references: Primary, secondary, tertiary
4. Place the feature control frame on the drawing

Datum Symbols

1. Tools > 2D > GD&T > Datum Symbol
2. Select the feature (edge, surface, or axis)
3. Enter the datum letter (A, B, C, etc.)
4. Place the datum symbol

Surface Finish Symbols

1. Tools > 2D > Surface Finish
2. Select the surface edge
3. Choose:
   • Machining required: Default symbol with Ra value
   • No machining: Circle symbol
   • Material removal prohibited: Circle with line
4. Enter Ra value (e.g., 3.2, 1.6, 0.8)
5. Place the symbol on the edge

BOM Table on Drawing

Generating BOM from Assembly

1. Tools > 2D > BOM Table
2. Select the assembly (if drawing is from an assembly)
3. VariCAD generates the BOM with:
   • Item number, Part name, Quantity, Material
4. Place the BOM table on the drawing
5. The table is linked to the assembly — updating the assembly updates the BOM

Balloon Numbers

1. Tools > 2D > Balloon
2. Click on a part in a view
3. VariCAD assigns the item number from the BOM
4. Place the balloon
5. Balloons are linked to the BOM — renumbering the BOM updates the balloons

Updating Drawings After 3D Changes

When the 3D model is modified:

1. Switch to 3D mode and make changes
2. Switch back to 2D mode
3. Tools > 2D > Update Views
4. All views, dimensions, and section views update automatically
5. Check for any dimensions that may need repositioning due to geometry changes

DWG/DXF Export

Exporting to DWG

1. File > Export > DWG
2. Set DWG version: 2018 (maximum compatibility)
3. Options:
   • Export all layers: Yes
   • Export dimensions as: DWG dimensions (editable) or exploded to lines
   • Export text as: DWG text (editable) or exploded to lines
4. Click Export

Exporting to DXF

1. File > Export > DXF
2. Set DXF version: 2000 (R15) for maximum compatibility
3. Same options as DWG
4. Click Export

Export Checklist

Before exporting, verify:

• [ ] All views are up to date
• [ ] All dimensions are placed and legible
• [ ] GD&T symbols are correct
• [ ] BOM table is complete
• [ ] Title block is filled in
• [ ] Drawing scale is noted
• [ ] No overlapping dimensions or views
• [ ] Sheet size is correct

Common Drawing Issues

Views Not Updating After 3D Changes

Cause: Views were not regenerated after model changes. Fix: Tools > 2D > Update Views. If views still don't update, delete and recreate them.

Dimensions Show Wrong Values

Cause: Dimension is not associative or references deleted geometry. Fix: Delete the dimension and recreate it from the updated view geometry.

Section View Hatching Is Missing

Cause: Section view was not properly defined or the 3D model has non-solid geometry. Fix: Recreate the section view. Verify the 3D model is a valid solid (not a surface).

DWG Export Loses Formatting

Cause: Dimensions and text were exported as exploded lines instead of native entities. Fix: In export options, set dimensions and text to "native" or "DWG format" instead of "exploded."

Conclusion

VariCAD's 2D drawing generation provides a complete path from 3D model to manufacturing drawing. The associative link between 3D and 2D ensures that drawings always reflect the current model state. With standard views, section and detail views, GD&T symbols, surface finish annotations, BOM tables, and DWG/DXF export, VariCAD covers the essential drawing deliverables for mechanical manufacturing. While the drawing tools are not as extensive as SolidWorks' (no revision tables, alternate position views, or broken-out sections), they produce professional, manufacturing-ready drawings.