Draftsight Manual: A Comprehensive Guide for CAD Users

Introduction

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Welcome to this comprehensive guide on using Draftsight, a powerful Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software developed by Dassault Systemes. This manual will walk you through the process of downloading and installing Draftssteel shapes from the American Institute of Steel Construction's (AISC) Steel Construction Manual 13th Edition.

System Requirements

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Before proceeding with this guide, ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for running Draftsight:

* Operating System: Windows XP or higher (64-bit recommended)

* RAM: 2 GB (4 GB or more recommended)

* Graphics Card: NVIDIA Quadro NVidia Quadro professional-grade graphics card (Quadro FX 1500/4000 or newer) or AMD Radeon HD 4870 XT / Mobility HD 4890

* Hard Drive Space: At least 3.5GB of available hard drive space

Downloading and Installing Draftsight

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1. Visit the official Dassault Systemes website at 'www.dass.com'(http://www.dassaoltworks.com) to download a trial version or purchase a permanent license.

2. Follow the installation instructions provided on-screen carefully, ensuring all components are selected during setup.

Configuring Draftsight for Optimal Performance

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After successful installation, follow these steps to optimize your system for optimal performance:

1. Open Draftsight and navigate to File > Options...

2. In the Options dialog box that appears, click on System Settings from the left-hand menu.

3. Under General, ensure the following options are checked:

* Use OpenGL rendering

4. Click OK to apply these changes.

Working with Draftssteel Shapes in SolidWorks

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1. Launch SolidWorks and create a new part or open an existing one.

2. To access the Steel Shape palette, go to File > Manage...

3. In the Open dialog box that appears, navigate to `C:\Program Files\Autodesk\SteelShape`

4. Double-click on `steelshape.sldlib` to load the library into SolidWorks.

Tips and Tricks

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* To extrude a 2D steel shape as an 3D solid model in SolidWorks:

+ Select the desired steel shape from the Steel Shape palette.

+ Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl + Click (Mac) on the selected object(s).

+ From the context menu, select Solid > Extrude.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

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* If you encounter any difficulties during installation or while using Draftssteel shapes in SolidWorks:

1. Ensure that your graphics card drivers are up-to-date.

2. Check for updates to both Draftsight and SolidWorks from their respective websites.

3. Consult the official Dassault Systemes support forums at 'www.dassaoltworks.com'(http://wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww) or contact Autodesk Technical Support via phone, email, or live chat.

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This comprehensive guide has walked you through every step of downloading and installing Draftsight on your computer. With the AISC Steel Construction Manual 13th Edition at your fingertips, you'll be able to create detailed steel structures in no time! Remember to follow these simple tips and tricks for optimal performance within SolidWorks.

Happy drafting with Draftssteel shapes!

References

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1. American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). (2017). AISC Steel Construction Manual 13th Edition.

2. Dassault Systemes Ltd.. (2020). DraftSight User's Guide, Version 12 SP3.

Draftsight manual