5.2AutoCAD Mechanical & normalized mechanical drawing
The AutoCAD Mechanical toolset is dedicated to normalized mechanical drawing. It brings huge libraries of standard components (screws, nuts, bearings, profiles… compliant with ISO, DIN, ANSI standards…), advanced mechanical dimensioning (tolerances, fits, GPS), and tools to automatically generate BOMs and part referencing.
The gain is major: instead of redrawing a standard screw, you insert it from the library; tolerances and mechanical symbols are standardized in one click; the BOM is generated and updated. For a mechanical drafter, this toolset saves considerable time while guaranteeing compliance with standards — essential for industrial manufacturing.
Section vocabulary
- AutoCAD Mechanical
- Toolset specialized in mechanical engineering: standardized libraries, mechanical dimensioning, automatic BOMs.
- Standard component library
- Thousands of standardized elements (screws, nuts, bearings, profiles) ready to insert (ISO, DIN, ANSI…).
- GPS dimensioning / tolerances
- Advanced mechanical dimensioning: dimensional and geometrical tolerances, fits, surface finishes.
- Bill of materials (BOM)
- List of components and quantities (Bill Of Materials), generated and referenced automatically.
- Part referencing
- Automatic numbering of the components of an assembly, linked to the BOM.
What does AutoCAD Mechanical offer?
In practice — Discovering the normalized mechanical tools
- In AutoCAD Mechanical, insert a standard component from the library (screw, standard nut).
- Dimension a part with tolerances and a fit (mechanical dimensioning).
- Add standardized symbols (surface finish, geometrical tolerance).
- Generate a BOM and the automatic referencing of an assembly's components.
Key points to remember
- AutoCAD Mechanical is dedicated to normalized mechanical drawing.
- Huge libraries of standard components (ISO, DIN, ANSI…).
- Advanced mechanical dimensioning (tolerances, fits, GPS).
- BOMs and referencing generated automatically.
Frequently asked questions
AutoCAD Mechanical or Inventor for mechanical engineering?
AutoCAD Mechanical stays in 2D mechanical drawing (standardized plans, very efficient for drafting and libraries). Inventor is parametric 3D CAD software: you model 3D parts and assemblies, from which the plans are derived. For 3D design and complex assemblies, Inventor wins; for fast standardized 2D drawing/drafting, the Mechanical toolset is excellent. Many workshops still use 2D mechanical heavily.
Do the libraries cover the standards I use?
AutoCAD Mechanical integrates the main international standards (ISO, DIN, ANSI, JIS, GB…) and lets you choose the working standard. Check that the one for your industry/country is covered, which is usually the case for common components. This avoids redrawing and guarantees compliance — a decisive asset for exchanges with manufacturing and suppliers.