What Is Pen Table in AutoCAD?

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What Is Pen Table in AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is a popular computer-aided design (CAD) software used by professionals in various industries. It offers a wide range of tools and features to create precise and detailed drawings. One such feature is the Pen Table, which allows users to control the pen assignments and properties for plotting or printing their drawings.

Understanding Pen Table

The Pen Table in AutoCAD acts as a bridge between the color and lineweight properties of objects in your drawing and how they appear on paper or other output devices. It determines how different colors are represented when printed or plotted.

With a Pen Table, you can assign specific pen numbers to different colors, line types, or lineweights. This enables you to have more control over the visual appearance of your drawings when printed or plotted.

Creating a Pen Table

To create a Pen Table in AutoCAD, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Open your drawing in AutoCAD.
  2. Navigate to the ‘Plot’ dialog box by typing ‘PLOT’ in the command line or selecting ‘Plot’ from the ‘File’ menu.
  3. In the Plot dialog box, click on ‘Properties’ next to the printer name.
  4. In the Plotter Configuration Editor dialog box, click on ‘Custom Properties’ in the left panel.
  5. Select ‘Pen Assignments’ from the list of properties.
  6. Click on ‘New Pen Assignment’ to create a new pen table.
  7. In the New Pen Assignment dialog box, you can assign pen numbers to different colors, line types, or lineweights using the available options.
  8. Once you have assigned the desired pen numbers, click ‘OK’ to save the pen table.

Applying a Pen Table

After creating a Pen Table, you can apply it to your drawing by following these steps:

  1. In the Plot dialog box, click on ‘Properties’ next to the printer name.
  2. In the Plotter Configuration Editor dialog box, select ‘Custom Properties’ in the left panel.
  3. Choose the desired pen table from the available options.
  4. Click ‘OK’ to apply the pen table and return to the Plot dialog box.

Benefits of Using Pen Tables

The use of Pen Tables in AutoCAD offers several benefits:

  • Consistent Output: By assigning specific pens to colors or line types, you can ensure consistent and predictable output irrespective of the printing or plotting device used.
  • Easier Editing: When changes are required in your drawings, modifying the pen assignments in a pen table is much easier than manually adjusting individual objects’ properties.
  • Presentation Flexibility: Pen tables allow you to modify how your drawings appear when printed or plotted without modifying their original design. This gives you greater flexibility when creating presentations or sharing your work with others.
  • Efficient Workflows: By saving and reusing different pen tables for different purposes, you can streamline your workflow and ensure consistent output across multiple projects or drawings.

In Conclusion

The Pen Table feature in AutoCAD provides users with the ability to control pen assignments and properties for plotting or printing their drawings. By assigning specific pens to colors, line types, or lineweights, you can achieve consistent output and have more control over the visual appearance of your drawings. Understanding how to create and apply pen tables can significantly enhance your CAD workflow and improve the presentation of your designs.