Lesson 2.

The Draw Commands

Overview: The students demonstrate the understanding of the concepts of geometrical

construction in drafting which is similar to CAD. CAD can facilitate the manufacturing
process by transferring detailed diagrams of a product’s materials. It can be used to
produce either two-dimensional or three dimensional diagrams which when rotated can
be viewed from any angle. Accuracy in measurement and execution is very important.

Specific Objectives: At the end of the topic, the students will be able to
1. Demonstrate the basic skills in making geometrical shapes such as
polygons, circles, etc. with accurate dimensions.
2. Execute with mastery the correct keyboard technique in issuing
shortcuts in the command line.
3. Demonstrate the traits of neatness, speed, legibility, and accuracy and
develop the virtues of prudence, humility and integrity in accomplishing assigned tasks.

Pretest

Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter of the correct answer:

1. The process of preparing drawing to communicate ideas and instructions to others is

called
a. Drafting b. Designing c. Lettering d. Sketching
2. What is another term used by technical men and industrial workers for “freehand
drawing”?
a. dimetric b. isometric c. orthographic d. trimetric
3. A pictorial drawing with vanishing points is known as
a. axonometric b. isometric c. oblique d. perspective
4. The circumference of a circle means the
a. area of the circle b. center of the circle
c. length of its diameter d. length of the circle
5. Which of the following figures is an ellipse?

a. b. c. d.

6. What pencil is recommended for freehand sketching?

a. B or 2B b. H or 2H c. HB or C d. HB or F

7. What do you call a triangle that has no equal sides?

a. equilateral b. isosceles c. right d. scalene
8. The fine line with arrowhead on both ends upon which dimension value or symbol are
placed is called
a. Dimension Line b. Extension Line c. Section Line d. Leader Line

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9. The regular polygon with ten equal sides and equal angles is known as
a. Decagon b. Heptagon c. Nonagon d. Octagon
10. A polygon outside the circle is called
a. circumscribed circle b. inscribed circle c. prescribed circle d. subscribed circle

Learning Activities:

o Hands-on exercises on creating different geometric figures with precise

measurements.
o Refer to Hands-on Enrichment Activities on p.41

Learning Concept:

The Draw commands is used to create new objects such as lines and circles. A good
understanding of the Draw commands is fundamental to the efficient use of AutoCAD.

AutoCAD DRAW commands

1.LINE command – draws a straight line.

Command entry: Line or L

Toolbar: Draw

To draw a line pick the first point and

move the cross hairs to the location of the
second point. You will see a rubber band line
that shows you where the line will be drawn
when the second point is picked.

fig. 1.0

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Example1: To draw a square with its sides equal to 4cm.

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2

Step 1 Type L or Line in the command window. Step 2 Drag the mouse slowly then input 4.
Line specify first point: pick pt A. Specify next point or [Undo]: pick pt B.

Figure 1.3 Figure 1. 4

Step 3 Drag the mouse slowly then input 4. Step 4 Drag the mouse slowly then input 4.
Specify next point or [Undo]: pick pt C. Specify next point or [Undo]: pick pt D.

Figure 1. 5

Step 5 Specify next point or [Undo]: <press Enter>

to end or c to close a series of line segments.

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Example2: To draw a rectangle with line AB 2cm long and line BC 4 cm long.
Figure 1.6 Figure1.7

Step 1 Type L or Line in the command window. Step 2 Drag the mouse slowly then input 2.
Line specify first point: pick pt A

Figure.1.8 Figure 1.9

Step 3 Specify next point or [Undo]: pick pt B Step 4 Drag the mouse slowly then input 4.
then input 2. Specify next point or [Undo]: pick pt. C.
Input 2 and specify next point or [Undo]: pick pt D

Figure 2.0

Step 5 Specify next point or [Undo]: <press Enter>

to end or c to close a series of line segments.

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2. POLYGON command – creates equilateral closed polylines.
Command entry: polygon or pol (press ENTER)
Draw: Toolbar:

Enter number of sides <current>: Enter a value between 3 and 1024 or press ENTER
Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: Specify a point (1) or enter e

Example 1: To draw a circumscribed polygon

1. Click Draw menu Polygon or type pol in the command line.
2. On the command line, enter the number of sides.
3. Specify the center of the polygon (1).
4. Enter c to specify a polygon circumscribed about a circle.
5. Enter the radius length (2).

Illustration

Figure 2.1 Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3 inscribed polygon Figure 2.4 circumscribed polygon

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Example 2: To draw an inscribed polygon
1. Click Draw menu Polygon or type pol in the command line.
2. On the command line, enter the number of sides.
3. Specify the center of the polygon.
4. Enter i to specify a polygon inscribed within a circle of specified points.
5. Enter the radius length.

The difference between the inscribed and

circumscribed options is shown.

Specifying the radius with your

pointing device determines the rotation
and size of the polygon.

Specifying the radius with a value draws the

bottom edge of the polygon at at the current
snap rotation angle.

3. Rectangle – creates a rectangular polyline.

Command entry: Rec or Rectangle (press ENTER)
Draw:Toolbar

Example 1: To draw a rectangle

1. Click the Draw menu or type Rec in the command line.
2. Specify the first corner of the rectangle or [C or
[Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width]: (pick any point)
3. Specify other corner point (pick a point diagonally or type@5,3 then enter, to
create a 5x3 rectangle).

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 Figure 2.5

Figure 2.6 Figure 2.7

Hands-on Exercise:

Using the LINE, POLYGON, and RECTANG commands, draw the following objects.

4. Circle command – creates a circle

Command entry: circle or c (press ENTER)
Draw toolbar:

Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (ttr)]: (pick any point A)
Specify radius of circle or [Diameter]: (type value, then ENTER)

Three (3) Drawing Methods in creating a Circle

A. Center + Radius/Diameter (default)
B. 2 Points (along diameter)
C. 3 Points (along circumference)

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Exercise #1: Using Center + Radius = 2/diameter=4
Command: c or circle
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr/<Center point>:pick point A
Specify radius of circle or [Diameter]:2

Figure 2.8 using center + radius

Exercise #2: Using 2 points along diameter

Command: c or circle
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]: 2p
Specify first end point of circle’s diameter: pick point A
Figure 2.9 using 2 pts.
Specify second end point of circle’s diameter:

Exercise #3: Using 3 points along circumference

Command: c or circle
Specify center point for circle or [3P/2PTtr]: 3p
Specify first point on circle: pick point A
Specify second point on circle: pick point B
Specify third point on circle: pick point C
Figure 3.0 using 3 pts.

5. Text - displays text on screen as it is entered.

Command: text (press ENTER)
Current text style: “Standard” Text height: 0.2004
Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]: (pick any point)
Specify height <0.2004>: (type value for height, enter)
Specify rotation angle of text <0>: (type 0, enter)
Enter text: (type autocad)
Enter text: (press enter key)

Command: mtext or mt
Current text style: “Standard” Text height: 0.2004
Specify first corner: (pick any point)
Specify opposite corner or [Height/Justify/Line spacing/Rotation/Style/Width]:
(pick other point diagonally)

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Enrichment Activities: Do the following figures using Line, Circle and Polygon.

1. Create the object shown below by first drawing a six-sided polygon with the
POLYGON command. Then draw the six-pointed star using the LINE command.

fig. 1 – six pointed star

2. Draw the following figures:

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fig. 2 circumbscribed circle of decagon fig. 3 hexagon circle

inscribed circumscribed

fig.4 inscribed octagon fig. 5 inscribed and circumscribed triangle

Post-Test: Identify the draw command in the following statements.

______________1. It is a draw command that creates equilateral closed polylines.
______________2. It is a draw command that draws a rectangular polyline.
______________3. It is a draw command that creates straight line segments.
______________4. It is a draw command that creates a round shape.
______________5. It is a regular polygon with ten equal sides and equal angles.
______________6. It is the shortest distance from a point and the circumference to the
center of the circle.
______________7. It is the distance from two points of the circumference passing
through the center.
______________8. it is a polygon inside the circle.
______________9.It is a polygon outside the circle.
______________10. It is the command used to display text on screen

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Answer Key:
Pre-test Post-test

1. a 1. Polygon
2. c 2.Rectangle
3. b 3. Line
4. d 4. Circle
5. d 5. Decagon
6. d 6. Radius
7. d 7. Diameter
8. d 8. Inscribed
9. a 9. Circumscribed
10. b 10. Text

References:
Drafting Volume 1
by German Manaois

Technical Drafting
by E.Cardenas et,al.

Electronic sources :

www.cadtutor.com
learnCADfast.com
CADdigest,com

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