Excerpt from the "Preface"

What is in MicroStation QuickStart?

MicroStation QuickStart is a collection of lessons and lab exercises designed for a CAD course using Bentley Systems' MicroStation Academic Suite as the software. It is the only book on the market that covers an introduction to all of the modules in the Mechanical and Building Academic Suites. It is also useful for users of other CAD who need to quickly get started in MicroStation.

The exercises are a combination of text and illustrations in a step-by-step format intended to guide you from beginning to intermediate level. Exercises are self-explanatory and can be used self-guided or as a text for a short course or classroom semester course combined with lecture and demonstration.

For additional, in-depth information on MicroStation, refer to the User's Guide, Tutorial and other Manuals supplied with the MicroStation software. Additional information is also available for Modeler, TriForma, MasterPiece, Designer One, Adams and PowerDraft in product manuals.

The exercises have been developed through a number of presentations and have been reviewed and perfected with the help of many students and instructors. We sincerely hope that you will find them helpful and useful. If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to Archway Systems' Training Coordinator at 714/374-0440.

Who Should Use This Book?

Anyone who wants to quickly learn how to use MicroStation, Modeler, TriForma, or PowerDraft to produce technical drawings and 3D models. By doing the exercises in this book you will be exposed to many of the features of MicroStation, Modeler, TriForma and PowerDraft and introduced to Masterpiece.

What Software Version is it for?

This book is written for MicroStation 95 and later, for MS-DOS or Windows. Since MicroStation is nearly identical on all platforms, this book is useful for whichever platform the student has. The appendix describes some of the differences for Macintosh computers.

About the Author

Tom Lazear has over 30 years experience in CAD and has delivered numerous MicroStation training courses.

Excerpt from "Chapter 4--Input of Precise Geometric Data"

(Just one of the many Exercises in this 170 page guide)

Exercise 2 - Stepped-Shaft

You will use a combination of grid lock and key-in of coordinate data to create the design file for the following shaft:

1. Select File then New. Select SEED2D.DGN as the seed file. Use your first name for the file name.

2. Select Settings, then Design File, then Working Units. Setup working units of inches and tenths.

3. While still in Design File Settings, click Coordinate Readout.

4. Set to Master Units. Coordinates are displayed as follows:

1.25 in. (rather than 1:2.5).

5. Select Settings, then Design File, then Grid. Turn on grid lock with master grid at .1". Reference Grid 10 (i.e. every 10 tenths of an inch).

6. Open Main Tool Frame (It may already be open).

7. Select "Place Block". To place first rectangle, (with Accudraw active) input 0 in the x and y fields and press Enter. Move the mouse to the right and type 4 (without typing Enter) and then move the mouse up and type 4, then accept by pressing Enter.

"Fit View" to see the 4 x 4 inch rectangle (block).

Now, select Utilities Key-In, ensure input focus is in the Key-in box and be sure you are still in the Place Block command.

To place second rectangle type,

XY=4,1 <enter> (make sure focus stays on key-in box)

DX=6,2 <enter>

"Fit View" to see the second, 6 x 2 inch rectangle. This exercise shows both the key-in method and the Accudraw method of entering precise coordinates.

8. Select the chamfer tool (row 9 column 2, last icon). In "tool settings", edit both distances to .125 (1/8"). Click on right hand vertical edge of 6 x 2 rectangle. Then, click above on the horizontal edge of the same rectangle. Accept. Note one corner has been chamfered to 1/8". Click anywhere on the view to accept. Repeat on the lower right corner of the same rectangle.

9. Draw the vertical line at the chamfer by snapping (using default keypoint snap) at top and bottom.

IMPORTANT: Remember the sequence for snapping. First, take the cursor near the point to be snapped. Usually best to put it right on a line near, but not on, the snap point. In this case, on the horizontal line near, but not on, the chamfer point. Then, press both buttons on your mouse at the same time. (Your computer may be set to snap with the middle button of your mouse, or if you are not using a PC, see your manual.) A huge cursor will appear. MicroStation is asking you if it snapped to the right point. If OK, press the data button to accept the tentative point. If not OK, press reset and then try again.

10. Reset to disconnect the line.

11. Move cursor to linestyle drop down bar ( part of Primary Tools, usually at top of screen). Choose the centerline style.

12. Place the centerline by using grid snap, or by snapping to the center of the veritical edge of the rectangles.

13. "Pan" your view to the right to make room for the end-view circles. You pan by using the scroll bars, using the pan icon, or by pressing the shiftkey and then the mouse data button with the cursor near the center of screen.

14. Change linestyle back to solid. Draw the circle representing the O. D. of the small shaft by using grid snap to locate the center and grid snap at 1" (diameter is 2"). Or, you can set the diameter or radius in Tool Settings. Draw large circle similarly.

15. To draw the small circle representing the chamfer, place the center of the small circle using grid snap and then use AccuDraw to place a point on the circle by dragging your cursor horizontally to the right and typing 0.875. (or set radius or diameter in Place Circle tool settings before placing center).

16. Select Element then Text. Set text height and width to 0.200.

17. Select Dimension Element at row 7, column 2 on Main palette. Use it to place the 4" side of the large rectangle. Just click on the side to be dimensioned.

18. For the 10" dimension, select "Dimension Size with Arrows". Note this special sequence: Snap to corner of shaft. Accept. Move cursor straight up, away from part and then click to set extension line depth. Move cursor to opposite extreme of shaft and snap to corner. Accept 10" dimension.

19. Reset to be at beginning of Dimension Size.

20. Select "Dimension Radial". Set mode to Radius in Tool Settings. Identify 4" circle. Accept. Identify 2" circle. Accept. Identify .875" radius circle. Accept. (If you want a horizontal leg on your leader, select Element>Dimension>Placement>Location:Manual. You will then be able to draw extra line segments on your leader).

21. Place centerlines of circles. The easy way is: use Dimension Radial Tool. In Tool Settings mode, select Centermark. Also, set Centersize to 3.

Summary

You have now completed a medium complexity mechanical drawing including chamfering, key-in of precise coordinates and dimensioning! Congratulations! We will go more deeply into dimensioning in a later chapter. But, you are already prepared for schematics and normal mechanical drafting with your MicroStation