In the field of design, 2D drawings still play a very important part. Even though 3D models provide the advantage of automatically generating linked 2D drawings, in some industries, designers rely on 2D drawings as the fundamental standard.
To significantly improve the efficiency of creating these essential 2D drawings in 3D CAD software, the best solution is to customize the templates that form the basis of the final documentation.
This guide primarily discusses the function and importance of the 2D Drawing Template, and then provides step-by-step instructions on how to customize this template within ZW3D software.
A 2D Drawing Template, or 2D Sheet Template in CAD software is a specialized, pre-configured file that serves as the standardized starting point for creating all new engineering or technical drawings.
It is much more than just a blank page, it is a meticulously set up document that contains all the non-geometric elements required for a professional and compliant drawing.
The template's primary function is to enforce consistency and save drafting time by pre-defining the following elements:
| Component | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet Format | The paper size (e.g., A4, A3, B size) and orientation (portrait/landscape), including the drawing border lines. | Ensures all drawings fit standard print sizes and look uniform. |
| Title Block | A structured block, typically in the bottom right corner, that contains essential data fields. | Captures critical information like Drawing Title/Part Name, Drawing Number, Revision Level, Company Name, Designer/Checker/Approver names, and the Date. |
| Attribute Links | Hidden code (expressions or variables) embedded in the Title Block fields. | Automation: Automatically pulls data from the linked 3D model or drawing file properties (e.g., Material, Weight, Project Number, Scale) to eliminate manual entry and reduce errors. |
| Drafting Styles | Pre-set rules for text, dimensions, and lines. | Standardizes the appearance of the drawing (e.g., all dimensions use ISO standard, Arial font, 0.5mm line thickness). |
| Predefined Layers | A structured layer system (e.g., separate layers for Dimensions, Center Lines, Hidden Lines). | Improves drawing organization and control over visibility and print settings. |
Using a standard 2D Drawing Template is a fundamental best practice in engineering and design for three main reasons:
● Consistency: Every drawing produced by the team or company looks the same, which is crucial for manufacturing, quality inspection, and archiving.
● Efficiency: It eliminates the need for drafters to manually set up borders, text styles, and property links every time they start a new drawing, leading to significant time savings.
● Compliance: It enforces organizational or industry standards (like ASME or ISO), ensuring all documentation is compliant with required technical specifications.
In essence, the 2D Drawing Template makes the transition from a 3D model to a complete, ready-to-use 2D technical drawing as fast and error-free as possible.
ZW3D is an all-in-one 3D CAD/CAM solution designed for product design, manufacturing, and general machinery. It integrates 2D drafting, 3D modeling, mold design, sheet metal design, and CNC machining in a unified environment, enabling seamless collaboration between design and manufacturing teams.
Creating a customized 2D drawing template in ZW3D can significantly improve your daily work efficiency. The customization process involves modifying the drawing sheet, format, standards, and detail attributes.
Open the existing template file by navigating to the pull-down menu File > Templates, then click the plus button to create and name a new drawing sheet.
Right-click the new sheet in the Sheet Manager and select Attribute to define the overall properties of the drawing sheet.
Then we can set sheet attribute such as Sheet scale, Background color, Sheet shadow. amd Start label.
Right-click on Sheet Format and select Attribute to edit the layout details.
You can select a standard template and get a preview, or use a custom format.
Then define the fowllowing elements:
● Paper size
● Border
● Trimming Mark
● Centering Mark
● Partition value
The title block holds important drawing information. You can double-click the Title Block to enter the sketch level to customize the title block.
You can use the Text tool to add new items, adn apply variables such as part name, designer provided by ZW3D or customize your own.
You can also use the Image function to easily add the company logo to the 2D drawing template.
After setting sheet attributes, you can create several layers to manage different sheet objects and set it in the drawing standard.
You can create a new drawing standard to set various detailed attributes essential for your documentation, including View, Table, Annotation, and Drawing Entities.
In the View tab, you must set the core view attributes for new view creation, such as the Projection angle, PMI inheritance, and other view-specific parameters.
More detailed attributes can be defined in the Style tab. Following this, modify the default layer attributes for elements like text, dimension, and view.
Once saved, the template is ready for immediate use with any 3D model.
When you open a new 3D model, simply select the customized template. You can then proceed with detailing the drawing, adding all necessary views, dimensions, and notes.
Upon completion of the detailing, you will observe that all entities including dimensions, notes, and views, are created with the predefined attributes and are correctly placed into the matched layers. Furthermore, information such as the part name, designer, and company logo are automatically generated and displayed in the title block.
If you would like to try it, then take just a few minutes to customize your own 2D drawing templates in ZW3D and enhance your efficiency.
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