AutoCAD

AutoCAD
Definition of AutoCAD:
CAD stands for Computer Aided Design. AutoCAD is an application software, used for
drafting, designing, mapping in both 2D and 3D. It is developed and sold by Autodesk. First released
in 1982.

Advantage of AutoCAD:
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Faster rate of producing drawing

Greater accuracy of drawings
Neater drawings
No repetition of drawings
Special drafting techniques
Quicker design calculations
Better drawing change procedure
Less development required
Integration of design with other disciplines

Interface:
Interface is a means of communication between user and the computer.

Types of Interface:
There are two types of interface:

1. Command Line Interface.

2. Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Command Line Interface
Command Line Interface is a type of user interface in which you type commands instead of
choosing them from a menu or selecting an icon. For example DOS.
Graphical User Interface
Graphical User Interface is abbreviated as GUI. GUI is a type of user interface that allows the
users to interact with the computer with images, buttons or icons, rather than the text commands.
For example MS-Words interface.
Interface of AutoCAD

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The AutoCAD Screen

Window Terminology of AutoCAD:

1. Menu Bar
2. Standard Toolbar
3. Object Properties Toolbar
4. Draw and Modify Toolbars
5. Drawing Area
6. Crosshair
7. User Coordinate System (UCS) Icon
8. Model Tab/ Layout Tabs
9. Command Window
10. Status Bar
Standard Toolbar
Contains frequently used buttons such as Redraw, Undo, and Zoom, as well as Microsoft
Office standard buttons such as Open, Save, Print.

Object Properties Toolbar

Sets object properties such as color, linetype, and lineweight and manages layers

Draw and Modify Toolbars

Provide access to common draw and modify commands. The Draw and Modify toolbars are
displayed when you start AutoCAD.

Drawing Area/Graphic Window

window and on the number of other elements (such as toolbars and dialog boxes) that are
displayed. Drawing area displays drawings. The drawing area size varies, depending on the size of
the AutoCAD

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Crosshair
Identifies pick and drawing points within the drawing area. Use the crosshairs, which are
controlled by your pointing device, to locate points and select and draw objects.

User Coordinate System (UCS) Icon

Shows the orientation of the drawing Coordinate systems are based on X, Y, and (for 3D) Z
coordinates. AutoCAD has a fixed world coordinate system (WCS)

Model Tab/ Layout Tabs

Switch your drawing between model (drawing) space and paper (layout) space. You
generally create your designs in model space, and then create layouts to plot and print your drawing
in paper space.

Command Window
Displays prompts and messages. In AutoCAD, you start commands in one of three ways:

Choose an item from a menu or a shortcut menu.

Click a button on a toolbar.
Enter the command on the command line.
Status Bar
Contains the default AutoCAD menus. Menus are defined by menu files that you can modify
or design on your own.

Command Window:
It is a window in which you can type the commands through keyboard to perform any action.
Some commands have the short keys. These short keys are known as ALIAS, alias are
used to enter commands.

Cursors modes:
As the command window aids you through messages, the cursor gives you clues about what
to do. Some cursors modes are:

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Selecting Objects:
We can select an object by drawing a window around the required object. This window
allows you to define a rectangle using two points. Once the window is defined, all objects which lie
entirely within the window will be selected.

Types of Selection Window:

There are two types of selection window in AutoCAD.

1. Standard Window or Standard Selection

2. Crossing Window Or Crossing Selection
Standard Window or Standard Selection:
When we will select an object from left to right then we have to select our required object
as a whole, this window will be the Standard Window and this selection is known as Standard
Selection.
Here overlapping or intersecting objects (within the window) will not be selected.

Crossing Window Or Crossing Selection:

When we will select an object from right to left then all overlapping or intersecting objects
(within the window) will be selected, this window is known as Crossing Window and this selection is
known as Crossing Selection.

Status Bar:
The status bar displays the coordinate values of your cursor, drawing tools, navigation tools,
and tools for Quick View.

Elements of Status Bar:

Snap
OSnap
Grid
Polar
Ortho
OTrack

Control Commands:
The commands which are used to control the drawing and drawing area.

Operational Commands:
The commands which are used for the drawing related operations.

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Sheet setting:
These are the steps of sheet setting.

Set the UNITS (UN).

Set the LIMITS (LIMITS).
On the GRID (F7).

Help:
F1 is the short cut key for the Help.

Ortho:
This mode allows us to draw straight lines that can be vertical
and horizontal.

Polar:
This mode allows us to draw a straight line, and as well as we
can draw a straight line at any angle too. Short cut key for polar is F10.

Ortho

Grid:
The pattern of dots in the form of rows and columns on the drawing area is known as Grid. Short
cut key for grid is F7.

Snap:
Snap mode restricts the movement of the crosshairs to intervals that you define. Short cut key
for snap is F9.

Limits:
The limits of the grid are controlled by the Limits command. Command for limits is LIMITS.

Osnap:
OSnap controls running object snap settings. With running object snap settings (also called
Osnap), you can specify a snap point at an exact location on an object. Short cut key of Osnap is
F3.

LWT:
This button is for Line Weight. This is used for showing the line weight.

Grip
Grips are handles that allow you to manipulate the object.

Grips types
Warm
Hot
Cold
Warm Grip
When an entity is selected, the grip
blocks appear. These are the blue squares'
that get highlighted when you select an
object.

Hot Grip
Any grip on any object may be
selected again to become the 'Hot' grip.
Hot grip becomes the object's base point.
Warm Grip

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Cold Grip
To activate a GRIP just select one of
the
he blue GRIP boxes (cold GRIP).

Hot Grip

Drawing Tool Bar

Elements of Drawing Tool Bar

Line
Construction Line
Polyline
Polygon
Rectangle

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Arc
Circle
Revcloud
SPLine
Ellipse

Line:
Line objects have two points. 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. Short key for line tool is L.

Construction Line:
The Construction Line command creates a line of infinite length which passes through
two picked points. Short key for Construction line is XL.

Polyline:
The Polyline or Pline command is similar to the line command except that the resulting
object may be composed of a number of segments which form a single object. Short-cut
Short
key
for polyline is PL.

Polygon:
An object that have the same
same starting and ending point and that object can contain
any area in it, is known as polygon.

Rectangle:
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
picking two diagonal
corners. Short-cut
cut key for rectangle is REC.

Arc:
The Arc command allows you to draw an arc or a curve or a circular line. There are
numerous ways to define an arc, the default method uses three pick points, a start point, a
second point and an end point. Short-cut
Short
key for rectangle is A.

Circle:
The Circle command is used to draw circles. There are a number of ways you can
define the circle. The short-cut
cut key for the circle is C.

Revcloud:
The Revcloud command is used to draw a "freehand" revision cloud or to convert
any closed shape into a revision cloud.

Spline:
A spline is a smooth curve that is fitted along a number of control points. The short-cut
short
key for spline is SPL.

Ellipse:
The short-key
key for ellipse is EL.

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Hatch:
Hatch is used to add shaded patterns in an objects. We use it to
assigning a design to an object. Hatch patterns can be used to indicate a
material to be used, such as a sand hatch.

Gradient:
To assign shade in an object, we use Gradient. Alias for Gradient is GD.

Coordinate System:
A coordinate system is a system, which uses one or more numbers to uniquely determine
the position of a point or any other geometrical element.

Types of coordinate system:

Cartesian coordinate system
Polar Coordinate System
Absolute Coordinate System
Relative Coordinate System
Cartesian coordinate system:
A system in which the location of a point is given by coordinates that represent its distances
from perpendicular lines that intersect at a point called the origin. A Cartesian coordinate system in
a plane has two perpendicular lines (the x-axis and y-axis), in three-dimensional space, it has three
(the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis).

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Polar Coordinate System:

System
The polar coordinate system is a system
in which each point on a plane is
determined by a distance from a fixed
point and an angle from a fixed direction.

Absolute & Relative

coordinate system:
Both Cartesian and polar coco
ordinates come in two flavours, absolute
and relative. The distinction is quite
simple, absolute co-ordinates
ordinates relate to
the X and Y axes and the origin of the
current co-ordinate
ordinate system, whilst relative co-ordinates
co ordinates relate to the current pick point. When you
are specifying co-ordinates you
ou need to tell AutoCAD which type you want. Absolute co-ordinates
co
are typed exactly as in the examples above. To specify a relative co-ordinate
co ordinate you need to use the
"at" symbol as a prefix. In the case of the two examples above a relative Cartesian co-ordinate
co
looks
like this @34.897,45.473 and a relative polar co-ordinate
co
looks like this @34.897<30

Use of @ sign:
The @ symbol can be used to input the "last point" in response to any prompt that requests
a point value. When combined with a Cartesian or polar coordinate, the @ symbol produces a point
value relative (measured from) the "last point".

Example of absolute & relative

r
coordinate system:
Command: LINE
From point: 30,40 (an absolute Cartesian co-ordinate)
co
To point: @0,12 (a relative Cartesian co-ordinate)
co
To point: @12<0 (a relative polar co-ordinate)
co
To point: @0,-12
12 (another relative Cartesian co-ordinate)
co
To point: C (to close)

Assignment:

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Different modes of entering data:

data
Interactive Entry Method
Direct Distance Entry
Grid Snap Entry
Polar Snap Entry

Interactive Entry Method:

Method
When we use only mouse, to enter the starting and ending point of an object.

Direct Distance Entry:

Direct distance entry enables you to draw an object, such as a line, by pointing in a particular
direction with the cursor and entering a distance at the command line.

Direct Distance Entry Method

Grid Snap Entry

It is a method in which we enter a point with the help of grid and snap.

Polar Snap Entry:

It is a method in which we enter a point with the help of polar, where we can define the
angle of object.

Tools of Modify Toolbar:

Toolbar

Erase
Copy
Mirror
Offset
Array
Move
Rotate
Trim
Scale
Stretch
Chamfer
Fillet
Lengthen
Extend

Erase:
This command erases (deletes) any selected object(s) from the drawing. Short-cut
Short
of
erase is E.

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Copy:
The Copy command can be used to create one or more duplicates of any drawing object
or objects. Short-cut key of copy is CO or CP.

Mirror:
The Mirror command allows you to mirror selected objects in your drawing by
picking them and then defining the position of an imaginary mirror line using two points.
Short-cut key of mirror is MI.

Offset:
The Offset command creates a new object parallel to or concentric with a
selected object . Short-cut key of offset is O.

Move:
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.
Short-cut key of move is M.

Rotate:
The rotate command allows an object or objects to be rotated about a point
selected by the user. Short-cut key of rotate is RO.

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Trim:
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, polylines, circles, arcs or ellipses. Alias of trim is TR.

Scale:
The Scale command can be used to change the size of an object or group of objects.
Short-cut key of scale is SC. For adjusting scale, we have a formula.
Scale= Required dimension/Existing dimension

Stretch:
The Stretch command can be used to move one or more vertices of an object while
leaving the rest of the object unchanged. Short-cut key of stretch is S.

Lengthen:
The 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.
Short-cut key of lengthen is LEN.

Extend:
This command extends a line, polyline or arc to meet another drawing object (known
as the boundary edge). Short-cut key of extend is EX.

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Chamfer:
The Chamfer command enables you to create a chamfer between any two non-parallel
non
lines.
Short-cut key of chamfer is CHA.

Fillet:
The Fillet command is a very useful tool which allows you to draw an arc between
two intersecting lines or adjacent polyline segments. Short-cut
cut key of fillet is F.

Explode:
The explode command allows you to change a grouped
grouped item into its individual
elements so it can be edited.

Array:
The array command in AutoCAD is used to make multiple copies of objects. Although you
can use the copy command to duplicate objects, the array command is more flexible
and precise. Onee advantage of using the array command is that it allows you to copy

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objects in a defined angle and exact number of copies. Therefore, you can create array in various
pattern.

Types of Array:
1. Rectangular Array
2. Polar Array

Creating rectangular array:

1. Type array in the command line or select from the modify toolbar.
2. Select the object you would like to array.
3. Input the number of rows. (negative number for downward array)
4. Input the number of columns. (negative number will point array to the left)
5. Pick or input the distance for the Row offset.
6. Pick or input the distance for the Column offset.
7. Enter the Angle for the array. (Use the default 0 degree).
8. Select the Preview button to see the sample array before you hit the Ok button.
9. You can accept the array or modify it. (Optional step).

Layer:
To organize our drawing into groups of objects, we make layers. For example in a floor plan
of a building, you want to keep the walls, ceiling, plumbing fixtures, wiring, and furniture separate so
that you can display or plot them individually or combine them in different ways. Then you need to
make different layers of different objects.

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Important points:

In AutoCAD we make different layers then overlay them.

Each layer has the different properties.
We can turned on the layer when we need it and similarly we can turned off the
layer when we dont need it.
Create as many layers as you want.
Change the visibility of drawing layouts.

Layer properties manager:

The Layer properties manager dialog box shows you at a glance the status of your layers.
Layer properties manager manages all the layers and its properties.

Steps to create layer:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Type layer in the command line or select from the layer toolbar.
By default AutoCAD will name the layer layer1.
Double click and rename it.
In the right column you can assign color, line type to the layer.
Select the object in the drawing to which the layer will be assigned.
Click on the layer icon bar and select the appropriate layer.

Line Types:
Format or the pattern of a line is said to be the line type. In AutoCAD there are many
different types of line. When you first start AutoCAD, the default template has only one linetype is
available. This is the continuous linetype. AutoCAD has many more available, but only loads in one to
start with in order to keep the drawing file size smaller. If you need a different linetype, you must
load it into your current drawing.

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Line Weight:
Another property of lines is their lineweight, or how wide they display on the screen and
when printed. Lineweight is the thickness of line.

Object Properties:
Every object has its own properties. For example, a line has
geometric properties, such as its length, and coordinates that
define its endpoints.

Object Properties
ties Window:
Window
The Object Properties window shows properties of the
selected object. This is also known as Object Properties Manager
(OPM), Object Properties Palette.

Boundary:
The Boundary
command creates a
polyline outline or region
within a selected area.
Boundary makes our object
as a single object. The alias
for boundary is BO.

Object Properties Palette

Boundary

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Drawing Points:
We have a tool to draw a Point in drawing toolbar. Alias for point is PO.

Point Style:
Point Style can be choose from:
Format Point Style

Setting out equal distance:

For setting out equal distance, we have a command of Measure. Measures alias is ME.

Use of Measure:
Enter the command of Measure.
Select the object to measure.
Type the required distance.
Now there will be points on the object with the equal distance.

Text:
Text can be added to an AutoCAD drawing to create notes and labels on your drawings.

Text Types:
There are two types of text in AutoCAD.
Single Line Text (Text)
Multi Line Text (MText)

Single Line Text:

The text command is a simple way to add basic text notes. The height and rotation of the
text can be quickly specified and the text can be viewed on the drawing while being typed. We can
choose it from Draw Text or simply type Text in command area.

How to use Single Line Text:

1) Enter the command text into the command area.
2) When prompted for a start point, select somewhere in the screen just left of centre
3) When asked for a height, enter the height of required text.
4) When asked for a rotation angle, hit enter to accept the default of 0 or enter the required angle.
5) Now simply enter your text.
6) Hit return twice to exit the text command.

Multi Line Text:

Multiline text is the more advanced text tool within AutoCAD. It can be chosen from the
'draw' toolbar by the icon. The multiline text command has its own editor, with all the options
available that you'd expect to see in a word processing program. Alias for MText is T and Mtext.

Dimension:
Physical value of an object is known as its dimension. Dimension can be defined as the
numerical value that defines the size or geometric characteristic of a feature.

Types of Dimension:
The following list shows the AutoCADs common methods for starting dimensions.
Linear
Aligned
Baseline
Continue
Angular

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Radius
Diameter

Linear Dimension:
Linear dimension measures the straight lines distance (either X or Y coordinate values) from
one point to other. Alias of linear dimension is DIMLINEAR or DLI.

Aligned Dimension
To get the true length dimension of the inclined object we use Aligned dimension, which
creates the dimension aligned with the object. Alias for aligned dimension is DIMALI or DAL.

Continue Dimension:
Continue dimensioning, also called chain dimensioning or point-to-point dimensioning, places
the dimensions in a line from one feature to the next. Alias of this dimension is DCO.

Linear & Aligned Dimention

Aligned Dimention

Linear Dimention

Continue Dimention

Baseline Dimension:
Baseline dimension (sometimes referred to as parallel dimensioning) is used to draw
dimension to multiple points from a single baseline. The first extension line origin of the initial
dimension (it can be linear, angular or ordinate dimension) establishes the base from which the
baseline dimensions are drawn. That is, all the dimensions in the series of baseline dimension will
share a common first extension line that can be its origin. Alias for this dimension is DBA.

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Angular Dimension:
Angular dimensions measure the angle between two lines or three points. Alias of angular
dimension is dimang or dan.

Diameter Dimension:
This feature of dimension provides us to create diameter dimensions for arcs and circle
depending on the size. Alias for diameter dimension is DIMDIA or DDI.

Radius Dimension:
Radius dimensions are used to create radial dimensions of arcs or circles Alias for radius
dimension is DIMRAD or DRA.

Angular Dimention

Diameter Dimention

Radius Dimention

Dimension Style:
A dimension style is a named group of dimension settings. When you apply a style to an
object, the setting determines the format of that object. Similarly when you apply style to
dimension, the setting determines the format of dimension. The command of Dimension Style can
be chosen from Dimension Dimension Style OR Simply Type D in command area for dimension
style.

Block:
A block in AutoCAD is a collection of all of the line and arc entities that create an object,
'moulded' together to make one selectable object. Selecting one particular entity (such as a
midpoint of a line for example) will select all objects contained within the block. They can be moved,
rotated, mirrored etc and will always be treated by AutoCAD as one whole object.

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Types of Block:
Block has 2 types:

Make the Block

Write the Block

To Create Blocks Within a Drawing:

1. From the draw menu, choose BlockMake. Or type BLOCK or B in the command
line.
2. At the prompt of the block definition dialog box, enter a block name in the name box.
3. Under objects, select Convert to Block.
Disregard the other options. As selecting delete will erase the original objects used to
create the block definition in your drawing, so make sure the Delete option is not
selected.
4. Choose select objects.
5. Use your mouse to select the objects to be included in the block. Then press enter or
the space bar to complete object selection.
6. Under base point, choose pick point or specify on-screen and use your mouse device
to specify the block insertion point. You can also enter the X,Y,Z coordinate of the
point manually (but not recommend).
7. In the description box, enter a description for the block. This will be displayed in
AutoCAD Design Center. (Optional Step)
8. Under behavior, check allow exploding if you want to disassemble them later.
9. Select OaK to close the block definition dialogue box.

Block Drawing

WBlock

To create Drawing Files for Use as Blocks (Wblock):

1. Open an existing drawing or create a new drawing containing the objects to be converted
into block.
2. In the command prompt, enter WBLOCK or W,
3. In the write block dialog box, choose select objects.
4. Use your mouse to select the objects to be included in the new Wblock. Then Press enter or
the space bar to complete object selection.
5. Under base point, choose pick point or specify on-screen and use your mouse device to
specify the block insertion point or specify the XYZ coordinate to be (0,0,0).
6. Under destination, enter a file name or browse to the directory where you want to save the
new block.
7. Select OK to close the Write block definition dialogue box.

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Insert a Block:

Type I for insert.

Then choose the required block name.
Press ok.

Polyline:
Polylines differ from lines in that they are more complex objects. A single polyline can be
composed of a number of straight-line
straight
or arc segments. Pick the tool from Drawing toolbar Type
PL in command area for polyine.

SPLine:
A spline is a smooth curvilinear line that is fitted
along a number of control points. The short-cut key for
spline is SPL.

Multiline:
Multilines are complex lines that consist of between
1 and 16 parallel lines, known as elements. The default
multiline style has just two
wo elements but you can create
additional styles of an almost endless variety. The Multiline
Style command enables you to create new multiline styles
by adding line elements, changing the color and linetype
and etc Activate the tool from:
Draw Multiline Or Type ML in command area
for Multiline.

The Multiline Style Command:

Command
Pull down Format and choose Multiline Style. Or Simply type MLStyle in command
area for multiline style.

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Design Centre:
The AutoCAD Design Center is a graphic interface where you can manipulate and re-use
drawings and drawing objects (blocks, layers and etc) from drawing files and Internet locations. This
way, you can speed up drawing constructing. Design Center lets you keep track of your favorite files
and helps you locate files, blocks, and other drawing components. In addition, you can import blocks
and other drawing components from one drawing to another by using a simple click and drag. The
AutoCAD Design Center is one of the most efficient ways of sharing information between projects
and drawings. DC is used as alias of Design Center.

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