Expert: Bill DeShawn - 6/12/2006

Question
Hi
I want to draw a box with welded corner lines.How can I give the welding pattern to them so that it seems real.
thanks

Answer
Typically, welds aren't drawn very fancy.  If you have an idea in mind, perhaps you can use the SKETCH command and create something that looks more realistic.  
There are a number of other ways, I'm sure.  One way that I've used is the revcloud routine, only I trim off the part that I don't need.  You didn't say 3-D, so I'm assuming 2-D.

Look here:
http://www.weldingengineer.com/Fillet%20Weld%20Size%2002.GIF
http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/phase-trans/2003/weld.preparation.jpg

One thing that I just did was to draw a circle tangent to two perpendicular lines (which could be two thin plates), and I trimmed it to be just an arc, then I hatched it with a solid hatch.  I think I like that look better than the others I've seen.

The simple way:
http://www.roymech.co.uk/images/weld_dim.gif
http://www.roymech.co.uk/images/fillet%20weld.gif

Here is a cross-section of a weld.
http://www.canvil.com/pages/catalogs/images/fsap7r-d.gif
Another cross-section
http://www.canvil.com/pages/catalogs/images/fsap7r-d.gif

Shaded solid:
http://www.canvil.com/pages/catalogs/images/fsap7r-d.gif
http://www.unified-eng.com/scitech/weld/unequallegs.gif

So, really, not much worth looking at.  For my own use, I like to use black solids to show welds.  The fabricator will see that and know what it is immediately.  Then use proper welding symbols to call out your specifications:
http://www.tpub.com/steelworker1/14250_files/image057.jpg

One thing that I just did was to draw a circle tangent to two perpendicular lines (which could be two thin plates), and I trimmed it to be just an arc, then I hatched it with a solid hatch.  I think I like that look better than the others I've seen.

Well, I don't think I gave you much more than you already knew, but I gave it my best shot.

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn