Introduction

Cast-in materials have three views associated with them. A top, front and right view. They are AutoCAD blocks which represent the CIM from different right angles. These blocks will be inserted into drawings where the CIM is represented. It's easy to remember which view to use. They are the same as a dice.

The program will use these three views to create the remaining views to form a 3D cube or “die” of the cast-in material. Sometimes the views are used and sometimes not (it depends on the type of component). Think of the views as ways for the CIM to represent itself in a certain situation. For example, in an elevation section of a wall, you want the gods to be seen from the front (view 2). Perhaps you want the CIM in a wall section. In this case, you do not want it to be viewed from the front. You want it seen from its side, view 3 that is.

To know which views to create, you should think about which side or edge of the element that the cast-in material is going to be placed in most often. For example, a lift that is placed on the top edge of a wall (and front of a slab) view 1 should be used to create the lift seen from the top of the wall. Most of the time a CIM have all 

Below is a fastening plate. All three views are presented in the different sections. One block is inserted for each view at the CIMs position. The CIM itself is merely a position value. The views represent what is at that position. The blocks are inserted based on the insertion point in the CIM definition.

Define a CIM

Create a 3D representation of the object. You don't need special tools for this. Use the AutoCAD's built-in modelling tools. Start by modelling your CIM as a physical entity inside AutoCAD.

Open up the CIM definition window and add a new CIM. Enter a name and reference for the CIM and select an appropriate group. You can override the dimension style for the CIM. Tick Cut reinforcement mesh if you want the CIM to cut reinforcement inside it's boundary box. Show depth annotation will show depth in the dimensioning annotation in shop drawings.

Next, choose your view geometry. Choose select objects and select your 3D model. Pick the most logical insertion point and answer yes to 'automatic creation of 2D views'. This will create automatic views (block files) for you. Of course, you can specify the views yourself if you want to. Verify that the 2D views are correct and fill in any other information if necessary.

A view will be saved as a block file, which impact will copy into drawings when necessary. This will be covered further down in the defining section. The other views will follow view one since that’s locked. See example plate below. Pay special consideration to the insertion point (the crosshair in the figure below, it is imperative that it matches in all views).

Naming convention

The block files will be created, named and placed in the components folder automatically. This is how they are named.

0000XY.dwg
0000 = CIM identification. This is the name/number you see when using IMPACT design tools inside AutoCAD.
X = View
Y = Detail level

Example: 016421.dwg is CIM 0164, view 2 (front), detail level 1.
Example:016414.dwg is CIM 0164, view 1 (top), detail level 4.

Usually, detail level 1 is used for the most detailed view. This usually contains dimensions and all other information. Detail level 2 is the same as 1, minus all text and dimensions. Level 3 is sort of arbitrary, usually contains contour only. 4 is a full 3D representation of the gods. This is useful if you want to generate elements in full 3D. The example above is quite simple, as a symmetric lift looks the same in all views except the top.

In reality, you can use this in any way you want. At its core, is just a system which inserts AutoCAD blocks into a coordinate that you decide. Be creative! Many advanced users have found ways to use this in ways we never imagined.