Introduction to Engineering

drawing

It is a graphical language used by engineers and other technical

personnel associated with the engineering profession. The
purpose of engineering drawing is to convey graphically the
ideas and information necessary for the construction or analysis
of machines, structures, or systems.
The basis for much engineering drawing is orthographic
representation (projection). Objects are depicted by front, top,
side, auxiliary, or oblique views, or combinations of these. The
complexity of an object determines the number of views shown.
At times, pictorial views are shown.
Engineering drawings often include such features as various
types of lines, dimensions, lettered notes, sectional views, and
symbols. They may be in the form of carefully planned and
checked mechanical drawings, or they may be freehand
sketches. Usually a sketch precedes the mechanical drawing.
Many objects have complicated interior details which cannot be
clearly shown by means of front, top, side, or pictorial views.
Section views enable the engineer or detailer to show the interior
detail in such cases. Features of section drawings are cutting-
plane symbols, which show where imaginary cutting planes are
passed to produce the sections, and section-lining (sometimes
called cross-hatching), which appears in the section view on all
portions that have been in contact with the cutting plane.
In addition to describing the shape of objects, many drawings
must show dimensions, so that workers can build the structure or
fabricate parts that will fit together. This is accomplished by
placing the required values (measurements) along dimension
lines (usually outside the outlines of the object) and by giving
additional information in the form of notes which are referenced
to the parts in question by angled lines called leaders.
Schematic or diagrammatic drawings make use of standard
symbols which indicate the direction of flow. In piping and
electrical schematic diagrams, symbols are used. The fixtures or
components are not labeled in most schematics because the
readers usually know what the symbols represent. See
Schematic drawing
Structural drawings include design and working drawings for
structures such as building, bridges, dams, tanks, and highways.
Such drawings form the basis of legal contracts. Structural
drawings embody the same principles as do other engineering
drawings.

Introduction to AutoCAD

In a little over a generations time the methods used to create

technical drawings have fundamentally changed from using
pencil and paper to the use of Computer Aided Drafting, better
known as CAD. The analog world of drafting boards, T squares,
triangles, and even the romantic French curve has given way to
the brave new digital world of computers. No longer must you
refill your mechanical pencil when you run out of lead, find your
eraser when you make a mistake, or walk across the room to
share a design with another person.
Using CAD, you can draw something once and copy it hundreds,
or even thousands, of times. Changing a design can be as simple
as pushing a button. Drawings can be shared instantaneously
across the room or even around the world over a computer
network.
Learning to use a CAD system is similar to learning a new
language. It is necessary to begin with the basic alphabet and
learn how to use it correctly and effectively through practice.
This will require learning some new concepts and skills as well as
learning a different vocabulary. Today, the majority of the
Mechanical CAD systems are capable of creating three-
dimensional solid models. Nonetheless, all CAD systems create
designs using basic geometric entities and many of the
constructions used in technical designs are based upon two-
dimensional planar geometry. The method and number of
operations that are required to accomplish the basic planar
constructions are different from one system to another.
In order to become effective and efficient in using a CAD system,
we must learn to create geometric entities quickly and
accurately. In learning to use a CAD system, lines and circles are
the first two, and perhaps the most important two, geometric
entities that one should master the skills of creating and
modifying. Straight lines and circles are used in almost all
technical designs. Triangles and polygons are planar figures
bounded by straight lines. Ellipses and splines can be
constructed by connecting arcs with different radii. As one gains
some experience in creating lines and circles, similar procedures
can be applied to create other geometric entities.
The term CAD (Computer Aided Design) applies to a wide range
of programs that allow the user to created drawings, plans, and
designs electronically. AutoCAD is one such program and it main
claim to fame is that it is relatively easy to use, it is very
comprehensive in its ability to create 2D and some 3D drawings,
and it is very popular. Seventy percent of the CAD users in the
world use AutoCAD.

Toolbars in AutoCAD
After starting the AutoCAD for the first time, the Standard, Object
Properties, Draw, and Modify toolbars are displayed. AutoCADs
standard menu provides 26 toolbars, each of which contains a
group of related commands. You can have any of these toolbars
visible at any time and control where they are placed on the
desktop. All of these toolbars can be customized by adding and
deleting buttons. You can also move and resize the toolbars, and
create new toolbars. Toolbars are probably the easiest and
fastest way to start AutoCAD commands.

DRAW Toolbar in AutoCAD

Function of every tool available in the above toolbar is discussed

below:

LINE:
In a simple line with connected segments, each segment is a
separate line object. This is drawn by selecting and then
specifying first point and then second point. However there are
other ways to draw the line too. Line can be either drawn by
adjusting its length and then giving it the angle by pressing the
tab button.
To activate the Line command use one of the following options:
1- Draw Toolbar.

2- Draw from the pull-down menu bar.

3- Key board: Type L for line on the command line and press
Enter.

CONSTRUCTION LINE:
Lines that extend to infinity in one or both directions, known as
construction lines, respectively, can be used as reference source
for the making of different shapes.
POLYLINE:
This is the line which works on the continuous basis in other
words it is used where there is required to draw a figure without
any break in the lines.(for continues construction).
To activate the Polyline command use one of the following
options:
1- Draw Toolbar.

2- Draw from the pull-down menu bar.

3- Key Board: Type Pl at the command line and then press Enter.

POLYGON:
This tool help us to construct the polygon in several of varieties
which means (their number of sides can vary).

RECTANGLE:
This is used to draw the rectangle by specifying the first point
and then the second point for the other corner of the rectangle.

ARC:
You can create arcs in several ways. With the exception of the
first method, arcs are drawn counter clockwise from the start
point to the endpoint. It can also be constructed by giving first
point, then the middle point and finally the last point

CIRCLE:
You can create circles in several ways. The default method is to
specify the centre point and the radius.it can either be
constructed by choosing triple from the command which now will
be passing through three specified points on the axis.
To activate the Circle Command use one of the following options:

1- Draw Tool bar.

2- Draw from the pull-down menu bar.

3- Key Board: Type C on the command line and then press Enter.

SPLINE:
A spline is a smooth curve that passes through or near a given
set of points. You can control how closely the curve fits the
points.

ELLIPSE:
The shape of an ellipse is determined by two axes that define its
length and width. The longer axis is called the major axis, and
the shorter one is the minor axis.

BLOCK:
You create blocks by associating objects and giving them a
name. You can also attach information (attributes) to a block.

POINT:
Point objects are useful as nodes or reference geometry for
object snaps and relative offsets.

HATCH:
You can hatch an area using a predefined hatch pattern, define a
simple line pattern using the current line type, or create more
complex hatch patterns. One type of pattern is called solid,
which fills an area with a solid colour.
REGION:
Regions are two-dimensional enclosed areas that have physical
properties such as centroids or centres of mass. You can combine
existing regions into a single, complex region to calculate area.

TABLE:
A table is an object that contains data in rows and columns.
When you create a table object, you first create an empty table,
and then you add content to the cells in the table.

MULTILINE TEXT:
This is used to write any text in the form of line on the figure.
 MODIFY Toolbar in AutoCAD

Function of every tool available in the above toolbar is discussed

below:

Erase:
You can erase objects from your drawing using several methods.
Erase them with ERASE.
Select them and then cut them to the Clipboard with CTRL+X.
Select them and press DELETE

Copy:
You can create duplicates of objects at a specified distance and
direction from the originals.

Mirror:
You can flip objects about a specified axis to create a symmetrical
mirror image. Mirroring is useful for creating symmetrical objects
because you can quickly draw half the object and then mirror it
instead of drawing the entire object.

Array:
You can create copies of objects in a rectangular or polar (circular)
pattern called an array.

Offset:
Creates a new object whose shape parallels the shape of a selected
object. Offsetting a circle or an arc creates a larger or smaller circle
or arc, depending on which side you specify for the offset.

Move:
You can move objects at a specified distance and direction from the
originals.

Rotate:
You can rotate objects in your drawing around a specified base point.

Trim:
You can shorten or lengthen objects to meet the edges of other
objects. In addition you can cut the lines in a better way which are
not required.

Extend:
You can shorten or lengthen objects to meet the edges of other
objects.

Chamfer:
A chamfer connects two objects with an angled line. It is usually
used to represent a beveled edge on a corner.

Fillet:
A fillet connects two objects with an arc that is tangent to the
objects and has a specified radius.
Explode:
If you need to modify one or more objects within a block separately,
you can disassemble, or explode, the block reference into its
component objects.

DIMENSION Toolbar in AutoCAD

Function of every tool available in the above toolbar is discussed

below:

Linear:
You can create linear dimensions with horizontal, vertical, and
aligned dimension lines. These linear dimensions can also be
stacked, or they can be created end to end.

Aligned:
You can create dimensions that are parallel to the locations or
objects that you specify.

Arc length:
Arc length dimensions measure the distance along an arc or polyline
arc segment.

Radius:
Radial dimensions measure the radii and diameters of arcs and
circles with optional centerlines or a center mark.

Diameter:
Dimensioning is the process of adding measurement annotation to a
drawing.

Angular:
Angular dimensions measure the angle between two lines or three
points. To measure the angle between two radii of a circle, you
select the circle and specify the angle endpoints

Dimension style:
A dimension style is a named collection of dimension settings that
controls the appearance of dimensions, such as arrowhead style,
text location, and lateral tolerances. You create dimension styles to
specify the format of dimensions quickly, and to ensure that
dimensions conform to industry or project standards.
 Drawings in AutoCAD
Actual Diagram:

AutoCAD Diagram:
Actual Diagram:
AutoCAD Diagram:

Hatch & Gradient

To Covers an area with a predefined pattern we use Hatch and

gradient command. There are a large number of hatch patterns
available when hatching drawings in AutoCAD 2007. Some examples
from the Other Predefined set of hatch patterns in the Hatch Pattern
Palette sub-dialog are shown below.
Other hatch patterns can be selected from the ISO or ANSI hatch
pattern palettes, or the operator can design their own hatch
patterns and save them to the Custom hatch palette.
An example of a Hatch and gradient image is given below:

Few more examples of Hatch and gradient are given below: