Power tools for mechanical design.

AutoCAD
®

Mechanical
The AutoCAD Mechanical Advantage

To compete and win in today’s design marketplace,

engineers need to create and revise mechanical drawings
faster than ever before. AutoCAD Mechanical software ®

offers significant productivity gains over standard AutoCAD ®

software by simplifying complex mechanical design work.

With comprehensive libraries of standards-based Keeping the AutoCAD user experience intact allows
Contents parts and tools for automating common design designers to maintain their existing workflows while
tasks, AutoCAD Mechanical accelerates the adopting the enhanced functionality of AutoCAD
Design and Drafting mechanical design process. Innovative design and Mechanical at their own pace. Designers gain a
Productivity Tools..........................................3 drafting tools are wholly focused on ease of use for competitive edge by saving countless hours of
Standards-Based Drafting the AutoCAD user. design time and rework, so they can spend time
and Part Libraries.......................................... 6 innovating rather than managing workflow issues.
Machinery Generators
and Calculators.............................................. 8
Documentation
and Reporting Tools.................................... 10 AutoCAD®
Feature AutoCAD®
Collaboration and Mechanical
Data Management.......................................12
Learn More or Purchase ............................14 Full AutoCAD Functionality • •
Familiar AutoCAD Interface • •
Powerful Drafting Tools • •
DWG™ Compatibility • •
700,000 Standard Parts and Features •
Support for International Standards •
Machinery Generators and Calculators •
Smart Dimensioning Tools •
Automatic Hidden Lines •
Associative Balloons and BOMs •
Integrated Data Management •
Autodesk Inventor Associativity
® ®
•

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Design and Drafting Productivity Tools

Built to save users time, AutoCAD Mechanical has a specific

tool for almost every aspect of the mechanical design process.

Mechanical Drawing Toolbar Automatic Hidden Lines

Create drawings more accurately with purpose- Reduce drafting effort with automatically generated
built tools. AutoCAD Mechanical provides options hidden lines that update to reflect drawing revi-
beyond those in basic AutoCAD software for draw- sions. Perform 2D hidden-line calculations based on
ing creation, including more than 30 options for user-defined foreground and background selections
creating rectangles, arcs, and lines; specialty lines that update automatically. These selections auto-
for breakout views and section lines; and mechani- matically redraw geometry, reducing the tedious
cal centerlines and hatching additions. manual task of trimming and changing properties of
lines in AutoCAD. The 2D Hide feature also warns
users of potential geometrical errors and provides a
graphical workflow that is easy to learn and use.

Constraint Manager
Design more intuitively and efficiently by defining
parametric constraints instead of manually drafting
part geometry. Using the constraint manager, users
can easily build intelligence into their designs by
incorporating dynamic constraint relationships such
as parallel, tangent, and perpendicular. Once the
parameters are defined, the constraint manager au-
tomatically updates geometry to maintain accurate
relationships as the design changes.

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Design and Drafting Productivity Tools

Streamlined Design Environment

AutoCAD Mechanical features a streamlined user Power Dimensions
interface. Find your favorite tools and commands Quickly change, edit, or delete dimensions, saving
faster, locate lesser-used tools more efficiently, and significant time and effort. AutoCAD Mechanical
discover relevant new features more easily. The makes AutoCAD dimensions easier to use with
result is less time searching through menus and abbreviated dialog boxes that conveniently
toolbars, and more time getting your work done. control and expand only the variables relevant
for manufacturing. With automatic dimensioning,
users can create multiple dimensions with minimal
input, resulting in instant groups of ordinate,
parallel, or symmetric items that are appropriately
spaced. Smart dimensioning tools force overlapping
dimensions to automatically space themselves
appropriately while integrating tolerance and fit list
information into the drawing. Inspection dimensions
enable users to specify testing criteria.

Workspaces
Quickly customize toolbars and settings with the
Workspaces toolbar, which offers a pull-down menu
where designers can easily store and access differ-
ent user-interface setups. Several prebuilt work-
spaces ship with the product, including the classic
AutoCAD workspace as well as workspaces that
make it easier to learn AutoCAD Mechanical. Dimension Stretch
Easily update designs to specific sizes and shapes
simply by changing the dimension values. The geom-
etry of a design resizes accordingly. For complex
designs, use multiple selection windows to choose
exactly which geometry should be changed by the
dimension value.

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Design and Drafting Productivity Tools

Power Snaps Design Navigation

Ease the repetitive task of geometry selection by Use the design navigation feature to better under-
using task-based power snap settings. AutoCAD stand how designs fit together. As the user moves
Mechanical includes five settings for object snaps, the cursor across a design, a small window displays
as well as many more options for selecting specific part names. Expand this window to show parent/
geometry than basic AutoCAD software offers. child relationships inside assemblies. The entire part
Quickly choose the snap setting that works best geometry is highlighted, with a single grip placed
for the task at hand. at the base point and an arrow showing default
orientation.

Software Developer Kit (SDK)

Customize and combine features in AutoCAD
Mechanical to achieve higher levels of productiv-
ity. The SDK for the API (application programming
interface) provides information to customize and
automate individual features or combinations of fea-
tures in AutoCAD Mechanical. It includes updated
API documentation and sample scripts.

Associative Detailing Tools

Update drawings quickly with powerful tools
that enable users to edit previous operations,
saving valuable design time. Easily re-edit fea-
tures without having to remove and re-create
the original feature. For example, resize a
chamfer using the original dialog parameters
by simply double-clicking the
chamfer.

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Standards-Based Drafting and Part Libraries
Realize consistent results on the shop floor by producing
accurate designs using a comprehensive set of more than
700,000 standard parts.

Standard Parts, Features, and Holes Standard Part Favorites

Produce accurate designs faster with standards- Customize AutoCAD Mechanical to fit your work-
based parts from the libraries in AutoCAD flow. Users can now save frequently used parts as
Mechanical, saving hours of design time. AutoCAD favorites, where they can be accessed quickly for
Mechanical contains more than 700,000 parts such easy reuse.
as screws, nuts, washers, pins, rivets, and bushings.
It also includes 100,000 predrawn features such
as undercuts, keyways, and thread ends. AutoCAD
Mechanical also contains more than 8,000 predrawn
holes, including through, blind, and oblong holes.
When users incorporate these features into a design,
AutoCAD Mechanical automatically cleans up the
insertion area, reducing the need for manual edits.

Part Publishing
Save time and maintain consistency across projects
by enabling users to easily leverage their existing
part designs. Part publishing offers the capability to
add new part families to the library.

Standards-Based Design
Multiply productivity with tools that help users de-
liver consistent, standards-based design documenta-
tion. AutoCAD Mechanical supports ANSI, BSI, CSN,
DIN, GB, ISO, and JIS drafting environments. Using
standards-based drafting environments helps groups
of users maintain a common form of communication.

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Standards-Based Drafting and Part Libraries

Screw Connections Annotation Symbols and Notes

Automate the creation and management of screw Save time and increase accuracy by using
connections with this easy-to-use graphical inter- standards-based mechanical symbols and notes.
face that supplies thousands of connection options, AutoCAD Mechanical includes drafting tools to
while helping users choose the best parts for their create standards-based surface texture symbols,
design. Create, copy, and edit entire fastener assem- geometric dimensioning and tolerances, datum
blies at one time. Pick the desired type of screw, cor- identifiers and targets, notes, taper and slope
responding washers, and type of nut. Appropriate symbols, and weld symbols.
sizes for nuts, washers, and holes are presented
depending on the screw selected and material thick-
ness. The hole is added to the part where specified,
and the entire fastener assembly is inserted into the
hole. All inserted parts are instantly captured by the
bill of materials (BOM).

Title and Revision Blocks

2d Structural Steel Shapes Quickly generate drawings with uniform, precre-
Create designs more quickly and accurately using ated title and revision blocks. AutoCAD Mechanical
predrawn geometry. AutoCAD Mechanical contains includes a full set of configurable title and revision
more than 11,000 predrawn standard structural blocks in both English and metric units. Users can
steel shapes that users can incorporate quickly easily customize these blocks with company-specific
into any design. These include common structural information.
shapes such as U-shape, I-shape, T-shape, L-shape,
Z-shape, rectangular tube, round tube, rectangular
full beam, and rectangular round beam.

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Machinery Generators and Calculators

Accelerate the design process and improve design accuracy

with a comprehensive collection of automated machinery
generators and calculators.

Spring Generator Shaft Generator

Select, calculate, and insert compression springs, Accelerate shaft drawings and analysis with minimal
extension springs, torsion springs, and Belleville input and effort. The extensive library of common
spring washers into a design using the spring gen- features and parts makes it easy to finish the draw-
erator, a fast, valuable, and easy-to-use tool. Control ing. The shaft generator creates drawing views of
the representation type of the spring, and create solid and hollow shafts. Add standard features such
a specification form to incorporate in the drawing. as center holes, chamfers, cones, fillets, grooves,
The spring calculator helps users select the right profiles, threads, undercuts, and wrench fittings. In
spring on the first try. addition, standard parts commonly found in shafts,
such as bearings, gears, retaining rings, and seals,
are supported and conveniently grouped together.
Automatically create associated side views and vali-
date the capability of completed shafts with built-in
calculated graphs and tables.

Belt and Chain Generator

Quickly and easily create chain and belt assemblies
that are based on engineering calculations for opti-
mum performance. Automatically calculate optimal
lengths for chains and belts based on user input, and
insert these assemblies into a design. Simply select
belts and chains from the standard libraries to get
started.

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Machinery Generators and Calculators

Cam Generator Moment of Inertia, Deflection, and

Quickly design and analyze cams while increas- Load Calculations
ing access to crucial information about the cam’s Save time and reduce the tedium of manual cal-
functionality. The cam generator creates linear, culations by using built-in engineering calculators.
circular, and cylindrical cams based on the input Instantly generate many different sets of calculated
border connections set by the user. Calculate and graphs and tables for screws, bearings, cams, and
display acceleration and jerk, as well as the cam shafts with minimal additional input. Quickly perform
curve path. Couple driven elements to the cam, and engineering calculations, such as a moment of inertia
create computer numerical control (CNC) data via of a cross section or deflection of a profile with given
the curve path. forces and supports.

2d Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Quickly identify potential areas of failure and ana-
lyze a design’s integrity under various loads, thereby
avoiding costly product testing or field mainte-
nance. The 2d FEA feature is an easy-to-use tool for
determining the resistance capability of an object
under static load. Add movable and fixed supports
to the part to be analyzed, as well as stress points,
lines, and areas.

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Documentation and Reporting Tools

AutoCAD Mechanical helps workgroups organize and

manage valuable design data and provide accurate reports
to downstream users.

Balloons and Bills of Materials Hole Charts

Use standards-based balloons and parts lists and Quickly create accurate hole charts that automati-
automatically update the BOM to seamlessly track cally update based on design changes, reducing
any changes—helping to keep teams on schedule by errors associated with creating charts manually.
reducing costly breaks in production due to incorrect When users place standard holes in the design,
part counts, identification, and ordering. AutoCAD the software automatically generates hole charts
Mechanical includes support for multiple parts that display detailed design information. Dynamic
lists per drawing, collapsible assemblies, automatic highlighting helps ensure that all holes needed
recognition of standard parts, and customizable for the chart are accurately represented. After the
options so features can be revised to match current user places a chart, it remains linked to the design,
company practices. The new BOM configuration dynamically updating to reflect changes and addi-
manager simplifies setup and customization. tions. Filtering capabilities enable users to separate
different hole sizes into different hole charts for
streamlined manufacturing processes.

Automatic BOM Extraction

Save time and maintain accurate information when Automatic Layer Management
extracting BOM data from legacy DWG™ files. Easily Avoid errors and save time by easily organizing and
reuse data and generate accurate BOM reports maintaining drawing layers. The intelligent layer
from legacy DWG files created with earlier versions management system in AutoCAD Mechanical au-
of AutoCAD or third party applications. Automatic tomatically places items on the correct layer, color,
extraction of both parts lists and title block informa- and linetype as you create your drawing. Users can
tion frees users from the error-prone process of easily customize the system to meet specific com-
manually opening and tracking sub-assemblies. pany requirements.

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Documentation and Reporting Tools

Construction Lines Paper Space Annotation Views

Reduce the time required to create geometry and Reduce errors and drafting time by easily creating
align drawings with a comprehensive construction multiple paper drawings from one master model.
line toolset. Construction lines are automatically Add specific parts and assemblies directly to a
placed in their own color and layer group, clearly dis- paper drawing. Apply visibility, scale, color, and view
tinguishing them from design geometry. Construc- overrides directly to each drawing without the use
tion lines do not show up when printing. of layers. The seamlessly integrated parts list keeps
accurate count of how many parts have been added
to each drawing for the parts lists totals.

Fit Lists
Instantly create fit lists that are linked to the actual
information in a design, helping to reduce errors
and improve productivity. As special fit informa-
tion is added to a design, the fit list table updates Scaling
automatically. Save hours of rework by maintaining only one copy
of a drawing, instead of multiple copies at different
scales. AutoCAD Mechanical offers several options
for scaling drawings to fit on larger or smaller paper
sizes. Update the scale factor and the drawing
correctly resizes. All annotations (text, dimensions,
blocks, hatches, and linetypes) remain appropriately
displayed.

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Collaboration and Data Management

The intelligent file formats in AutoCAD Mechanical and tight

integration with Autodesk manufacturing products facilitate ®

collaboration by enabling workgroups to share accurate design

information reliably and securely.
Autodesk® Inventor® Associativity STEP/IGES Translators
Easily detail and document native Autodesk® Simplify accurate collaboration with suppliers and
Inventor® part and assembly models. Browse customers by enabling sharing and reuse of design
through Inventor files, and begin creating new, linked data with other CAD/CAM systems. Read and write
AutoCAD Mechanical drawings that are based on design and drawing data using industry-standard
the most current 3d designs. Incorporate design revi- formats.
sions quickly and easily through the associative link,
which alerts users to changes and regenerates the Autodesk® DWF™
2d drawing. Visualize design intent by shading and Publish DWF™ files directly from Autodesk manufac-
rotating solid models, and review other attributes as- turing design applications and securely collaborate
sociated with the Inventor design. Information stored on 2D and 3D designs with customers, suppliers,
in Inventor models is automatically available to the planners, and others outside your engineering
BOM database in AutoCAD Mechanical, so users can workgroup. Using the free* Autodesk® Design Re-
quickly add balloons, parts lists, and annotations. view software, team members can digitally review,
measure, mark up, and comment on your 2D and 3D
designs while protecting your intellectual property.
Tight integration with Autodesk manufacturing
products allows for accurate communication of
design information, including assembly instructions,
bills of materials (BOM), and finite element analysis
(FEA) results, without requiring CAD expertise.
Autodesk Design Review tracks comments and
their status, and the DWF-based markups can be
“round-tripped,” speeding the revision process and
minimizing information loss.

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Collaboration and Data Management

Integrated Data Management Language Translation

Securely store and manage work-in-progress design Accelerate language translation and simplify
data and related documents with data management international communications with built-in tools.
tools for workgroups. Team members can accelerate AutoCAD Mechanical offers a basic library of
development cycles and increase their company’s prewritten language strings that can automati-
return on investment in design data by driving cally translate drawing text from one language to
design reuse. another. The library is an open format that can be
expanded and modified.
Autodesk® Vault Manufacturing
Autodesk® Vault Manufacturing software (sold
separately and previously known as Autodesk®
Productstream®) securely stores and manages
engineering information, design data, and
documents, enabling you to shorten the design-to-
manufacturing process. It helps design, engineering,
and manufacturing departments across separate
locations collaborate and share Digital Prototyping
information. It also gives your design departments
advanced tools to track engineering change orders,
manage BOMs, and promote earlier collaboration
through integration with manufacturing business
systems. With support for multi-CAD environments,
Vault allows you to share and manage designs and
engineering data created with third-party software
and AutoCAD® software throughout the product
lifecycle.

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Digital Prototyping for the Manufacturing Market

Autodesk is a world-leading supplier of engineering software,

providing companies with tools to help them experience their
ideas before they are real. By putting powerful Digital Prototyping
technology within the reach of mainstream manufacturers,
Autodesk is changing the way manufacturers think about their
design processes and is helping them create more productive
workflows. The Autodesk approach to Digital Prototyping is
unique in that it is scalable, attainable, and cost-effective, which
allows a broader group of manufacturers to realize the benefits
with minimal disruption to existing workflows, and provides the
most straightforward path to creating and maintaining a single
digital model in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.

Learn More or Purchase

Access specialists worldwide who can provide product expertise, a deep
understanding of your industry, and value that extends beyond your software
purchase. To purchase AutoCAD Mechanical, contact an Autodesk Premier
Solutions Provider or Autodesk Authorized Reseller. Locate a reseller near you
at visit www.autodesk.com/reseller.

Autodesk Learning and Education

From instructor-led or self-paced classes to online training or education
resources, Autodesk offers learning solutions to fit your needs. Get expert
guidance at an Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC®) site, access learning
tools online or at your local bookstore, and validate your experience with
Autodesk certifications. Learn more at www.autodesk.com/learning.

Autodesk Services and Support

Accelerate return on investment and optimize productivity with innovative
purchase methods, companion products, consulting services, and support from
Autodesk and Autodesk authorized partners. Designed to get you up to speed
and keep you ahead of the competition, these tools help you make the most
of your software purchase—no matter what industry you are in. Learn more at
www.autodesk.com/servicesandsupport.

Autodesk Subscription
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license management with Autodesk® Subscription. You get any new upgrades
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these are released during your Subscription term. In addition, you get exclusive
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self-paced training, and e-Learning, help extend your skills and make Autodesk
Subscription the best way to optimize your investment. Learn more at www.
autodesk.com/subscription.

*Free products are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license agreement that accompanies
download of the software.

Cover image courtesy of Prensa Jundiai, Brazil

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, DWF, DWG, Inventor, and Productstream are registered trademarks
or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.
All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves
the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for
typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
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