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AutoCAD Training

By Muralidharan

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TOPICS

Topics of this session

Introduction Drawing Area Setup & Units Drawing Objects Modifying objects

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Introduction

Before using AutoCAD, we must understand a few basic concepts. Here we will lay out the basic AutoCAD setup, mouse controls, some tools, and terms. Below are some screenshots of different AutoCAD components.

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Introduction

Standard Tool Bar

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www.EnggNotes.in Drawing Area Setup & Units

Drawing Area Setup

Setting the Drawing Limits Control extents of the display. It also serves as a visual reference that marks the working area. Note that this setting does not limit the region for geometry construction. 1. In the pull-down menu select : [Format ] [Drawing Limits] 2. In the command prompt area , near the bottom of the AutoCAD screen , the message Reset Model Space Limits: Specify lower left corner or [On/Off] <0.00,0.00>: is displayed. press the Enter key once the default coordinates <0.00,0.00>.

3.

In the command prompt area the message Specify Upper corner or [On/Off] <0.00,0.00>: is displayed. Press the Enter key once the default coordinates <12.00,9.00>.

right

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Units

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Drawing Objects

The Draw commands can be used to create new objects such as lines and circles. Most AutoCAD drawings are composed purely and simply from these basic components. A good understanding of the Draw commands is fundamental to the efficient use of AutoCAD Draw commands is fundamental to the efficient use of AutoCAD.

Draw commands can be started in a number of ways. Command names entered or at short-cuts the can be

keyboard,

commands can be started from the

Draw Pull down Menu

Draw pull-down menu, shown on

the right or from the Draw toolbar

Draw Tool Bar

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Drawing Objects

Line Command
With the Line command you can draw a simple line from one point to another. When you pick the first point and move the cross-hairs to the location of the second point you will see a rubber band

line which shows you where the line will be drawn when the second point is picked. Line objects
have two ends (the first point and the last point). You can continue picking points and AutoCAD will draw a straight line between each picked point and the previous point. Each line segment drawn is a separate object and can be moved or erased as required. To end this command, just hit the key on the keyboard.

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Drawing Objects

Construction Line Command

The Construction Line command creates a line of infinite length which passes through two picked points. Construction
lines are very useful for creating construction frameworks or grids within which to design. Construction lines are not normally used as objects in finished drawings, it is usual, therefore, to draw all your construction lines on a separate layer which will be turned off or frozen prior to printing.

You may notice that there are a number of options with this command. For example, the "Hor" and "Ver" options can be used to draw construction lines that are truly horizontal or vertical. In both these cases, only a single pick point is required because the direction of the line is predetermined. To use a command option, simply enter the capitalized part of the option name at the command prompt. Follow the command sequence below to see how you would draw a construction line using the Horizontal option.

www.EnggNotes.in Drawing Objects

Ray Command

The Ray command creates a line similar to a construction line except that it extends infinitely in only one direction from the first pick point. The direction of the Ray is determined by the position of the second pick point.

Polyline Command

Polylines differ from lines in that they are more complex objects. A single polyline can be composed of a number of straight-line or arc segments. Polylines can also be given line widths to make them appear solid. The illustration below shows a number of polylines to give you an idea of the flexibility of this type of line.

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www.EnggNotes.in Drawing Objects

Rectangle Command

The Rectangle command is used to draw a rectangle whose sides are vertical and horizontal. The position and size of the rectangle are defined by picking two diagonal corners.

Polygon Command

The Polygon command can be used to draw any regular polygon from 3 sides up to 1024 sides.

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www.EnggNotes.in Drawing Objects

Circle Command

Arc Command

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Modifying Objects

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AutoCAD drawings are rarely completed simply by drawing lines, circles etc. Most likely you will need to Modify these basic drawing objects in some way in order to create the image you need. AutoCAD provides a whole range of modify tools such as Move, Copy, Rotate and Mirror.

As is usual with AutoCAD, the Modify tools can be accessed in one of three ways, from the keyboard, from the pull-down menu and from the toolbar. All of the Modify tools are available from the Modify pull-down and the Modify toolbar.

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Modify Tool Bar

Modifying Objects

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Erase Command

Copy Command

The multiple option allows you to create additional copies of the selected object(s) by picking as many new points as you like. To end a multiple copy, just hit the key.

Notice that the "Base point", P2 and the "Second point", P3 do not have to be picked on or near the object. The two points are simply used to indicate the distance and direction of the copied object from the original object.
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Modifying Objects

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Mirror Command

Offset Command

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Modifying Objects

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Array Command

The Array command makes multiple copies of selected objects in a rectangular matrix (columns and rows) or a polar (circular) pattern.

Rectangular Array

Polar Array

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Modifying Objects

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Move Command

The Move command works in a similar way to the Copy command except that no copy is made, the selected object(s) is simply moved from one location to another as shown.

Rotate Command

The Rotate command allows an object or objects to be rotated about a point selected by the user. AutoCAD prompts for a second rotation point or an angle which can be typed at the keyboard.

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Modifying Objects

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Scale Command

Stretch Command

The Stretch command can be used to move one or more vertices of an object whilst leaving the rest of the object unchanged. In the example below, a rectangle has been stretched by moving one vertex to create an irregular shape.

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Modifying Objects

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Lengthen Command

Lengthen command can be used to either lengthen or shorten Lines, Arcs, open Polylines, elliptical Arcs and open Splines without the use of cutting or boundary edges.

Trim Command

The Trim command can be used to trim a part of an object. In order to trim an object you must draw a second object which forms the "cutting edge". Cutting edges can be lines, xlines, rays, polylines, circles, arcs or ellipses. Blocks and text cannot be trimmed or used as cutting edges. The illustration on the right shows the Trim command in action.

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Modifying Objects

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Extend Command

This command extends a line, polyline or arc to meet another drawing object (known as the boundary edge). In the illustration on the right, two lines (red) are extended to meet another line (cyan) which forms the boundary edge. This command works in a similar way to the Trim command, described above. Two selections are made, one for the boundary edge(s) and one for the object(s) to extend.

Break Command

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