Constructing Construction Lines

Construction lines extend infinitely in both directions from an origin. You can use construction lines to create frameworks or grids for drawing construction.

Construction lines are placed on a specific layer. The separate layer for construction lines lets you turn off or freeze the layer before printing and delete the lines when the drawing is complete.

To construct construction lines:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Mechanical Contents > Tools > Construction Lines.
    • Enter AM_ConstLine in the Command window.
  2. In the graphics area, specify:
    • The central position of the construction line.
    • The through point to define the first construction line direction.
    • Different through points to define other construction lines through the same origin, or press Enter.

    Access

    Command: AM_ConstLine

    Ribbon: Mechanical Contents > Tools > Construction Lines

Creating Horizontal Construction Lines

To create horizontal construction lines:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Mechanical Contents > Tools > Construction Lines > Horizontal.
    • Enter AM_ConstLine in the Command window, then specify Horizontal.
  2. In the graphics area, specify:
    • The central position of the construction line.
    • Different through points to define parallel horizontal construction lines, or press Enter.

Creating Vertical Construction Lines

To create vertical construction lines:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Mechanical Contents > Tools > Construction Lines > Vertical.
    • Enter AM_ConstLine in the Command window, then specify Vertical.
  2. In the graphics area, specify:
    • The central position of the construction line.
    • Different through points to define parallel vertical construction lines, or press Enter.

Creating Parallel Construction Lines

You can create parallel construction lines at an angle from the origin.

To create parallel construction lines:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Mechanical Contents > Tools > Construction Lines > Angle.
    • Enter AM_ConstLine in the Command window, then specify Angle.
  2. Enter an angle value in the specified angle drawing units or specify the Reference option to specify a reference entity, then enter the angle from the reference entity.
    The construction line appears at the specified angle to the horizontal or to the specified entity.
  3. In the graphics area, specify:
    • The central position of the construction line.
    • Different through points to define parallel construction lines, or press Enter.

Creating Bisecting Construction Lines

You can create bisecting construction lines from a vertex.

To create bisecting construction lines:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Mechanical Contents > Tools > Construction Lines > Angle Bisect.
    • Enter AM_ConstLine in the Command window, then specify Angle Bisect.
  2. In the graphics area, click:
    • A point to define the vertex position.
    • A point to define the first angle for the bisecting construction line.
    • A point to define the second angle that determines the bisecting construction line through the vertex.
    • Different through points to define bisecting construction line, or press Enter.

Creating Offset Construction Lines

You can create construction lines that are offset from other linear entities:

To create offset construction lines:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Mechanical Contents > Tools > Construction Lines > Offset.
    • Enter AM_ConstLine in the Command window, then specify Offset.
  2. Enter an offset distance.
  3. In the graphics area:
    1. Select a linear source entity.
    2. Click to place the construction line.

  4. Repeat step 3, or press Enter.
    Instead of performing steps 3 and 4, you can:
    1. Use the Specify Position option.
    2. Select a linear source entity.
    3. Specify a point in the graphics area to define the offset distance.