This is a tool I've been developing for a while that creates 2d views from a 3d model composed of 3d solids. It uses the HLR api from the ObjectARX SDK (under utils).
It's mainly at home in steel or mechanical detailing for creating the typical 3rd angle projected views and sections of an assembly or part but it can also be used in the main 3d model to create sections of the model or any type of view with a bit of creative thinking.
It produces two types of linework, visible and hidden which are placed on the layers L-Visible and L-Hidden respectively. These layers can be created before hand (i.e. put in your .dwt file or std drawing) with the users prefered lintypes and colors else it will create them and set them to some default settings.
It produces accurate hidden linework with no overlapping lines and also deletes tangental lines to produce a clean 2d view ready for detailing and annotation.
The commands are -
dcs_2dview - for creating 3rd angle projection views without clipping, requires user to pick view 'from' and 'to' points for view direction
dcs_2dsection - for creating 3rd angle projection sections clipped to the depths set by the user while picking the view direction
dcs_2dplan - for creating a view of the 3d solid in its primary/plan view, projects the linework to the current ucs (normally world) where the object is placed.
The technique for detailing parts is as follows -
1) copy and paste your 3d part or assembly of parts into your detail drawing, ensure it is placed in its final 'primary' of main view with correct rotations etc as required.
2) create your 3rd angle projected views using either the section or view commands, if you need views projected at angles that are not 'ortho'-graphic to your main view, set your ucs to a suitable state and create view (good for endplate projections
)
3) create your main view using the plan command, turn of the layers of your solid or delete them and you're done!.
The technique for creating section views in your model -
1) set up your view in the model to 'TOP' and your ucs to world.
2) use dcs_2dsection to pick your views and view depths as asked and pick a pont away off the side of your model to place the created line work.
3) cut/copy and paste or wblock the new linework out to a new drawing and annotate.
This has been tested on my 4 machines I have here and with 2004 and 2006 (not tested on 2005 but should be fine) and works quite well.
You can download the complete zip with instructions and associated files from here ->
http://www.dcservices.net.au/MickD/Downloads/Enjoy!
Cheers,
Mick.