AutoCad (version 2002)

User Manual -- Jan. 9, 2004

(for ECE 1202 Antenna Project)

This Manual contains the following User Guides

• How to Configure AutoCAD

• How to Use AutoCAD Polyline (Mouse Only)

• How to Use AutoCAD Polyline (Command Prompt)

• How to Use AutoCAD Array Tool

• How to Print from AutoCAD

Notes:

This User Manual is also available online at

http://www.ece.uncc.edu/research/clean_room/

in both .doc and .pdf format.

Any comments, suggestions, amendments or other changes to this User Manual should
be addressed to the author as indicated at the bottom of each page.

file: AutoCADTutorial (doc/pdf) User Manual provided by TJ LaFave

updated Jan. 9, 2004
Introduction to AutoCAD User Guides
These User Guides include simplified steps and procedures necessary for drawing the 1202 antenna
project design using AutoCAD. This introduction gives some useful notes regarding information provided
in the Guides.

A special font is used to indicate features appearing in the AutoCAD program. A special symbol ( )
indicates a reference to figures included on the User Guide page.
The first User Guide, How to Configure AutoCAD, demonstrates how to create an icon on your
Windows XP desktop so you do not have to search for the program in the Start menu every time you use
the program. When you have completed the 1202 project, feel free to delete the shortcut on your desktop.
This guide also gives typical configuration settings. By setting up SNAP and GRID values you are allowing
the mouse to be your primary measuring tool. For example, the configuration settings given provide a
GRID size of 1.0 mm (each block on the grid is 1.0 mm × 1.0 mm) is provided, and all line segments
drawn with the mouse are measured in increments of 0.1 mm (in other words, every block is subdivided
into 10 “snaps”). [NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED MORE THAN 0.1 mm OF RESOLUTION. The
printer resolution is only about 0.1 mm!!] “Snaps” is the somewhat universal term used in graphical
programs like AutoCAD to indicate the incremental movement of the mouse across the screen. When the
mouse moves across the work area a small box indicates the length and angle of a drawn line.
The second User Guide, How to Use AutoCAD Polyline (Mouse Only), explains how to quickly draw an
accurate antenna design using only the mouse. The third User Guide, How to Use AutoCAD Polyline
(Command Prompt) provides two alternative methods of using the Polyline tool: Command Prompt Only
and Command Prompt & Mouse.
The fourth User Guide, How to Use AutoCAD Array Tool, provides information on how to access the
Array Tool, and to what each array variable refers. The Array Tool is used once a drawing of a single
antenna is complete and ready to be duplicated several times both across and down the page in an array.
For example, the design may be duplicated into a 20×50 array – depending upon the individual size of the
antenna and how much space is needed to fill a printed page.
The last User Guide in this User Manual is How to Print from AutoCAD. First, AutoCAD uses the
terminology of “plotting” instead of “printing”. Second, and most important, the drawing must be printed
in the exact dimensions required (e.g. a 1.4 mm line should be printed as a 1.4 mm line). As well, some
pointers on what printed results are needed are provided.
These User Guides are not intended as a complete introduction to AutoCAD, but as an “adequate”
introduction to the program through the example of creating an antenna design.
How to Configure AutoCAD
User Guide

This User Guide demonstrates how to configure AutoCAD to allow for SNAP and GRID functionality and other
simple tasks. Typical configuration values are given.

Getting Started
1. Create an AutoCAD shortcut on your desktop:
a. From START, select, All Programs >> MOSAIC XP >> Engineering >> Mechanical >> AutoDesk
b. Right-hand click on AutoCAD 2002, and select SEND TO >> Desktop (Create shortcut).
c. An icon (similar to icon above) will appear on your desktop for future use.
2. Open AutoCAD (double click icon on desktop)
3. In the Startup window select:
A. Start from Scratch
B. Default settings: Metric
C. OK
Note: Once the program loads you will see the command prompt at the lower left of the AutoCAD window.

5. Set background of work area to white by first selecting Tools >> Options. Then in the Options window:
A. Select the Display tab
B. Select the Colors button
C. In the Color Options window, change color to White
D: Apply & Close Color Options window
E: OK the Options window
Configure SNAP and GRID
Note: Snap and Grid allow you to easily create accurate drawings using only the mouse.
1. Select Tools >> Drafting Settings

2. In the Drafting Settings window:

A. Select Snap and Grid tab.
B. Check the Snap On (F9) and Grid On (F7) boxes.
C. Check the Polar Snap radial.
D. Set Grid X spacing to 1.0 and Grid Y spacing to 1.0.
E. Set Polar distance to 0.1.
F. Select the Polar Tracking tab
G. Check the Polar Tracking On (F10) box
H. Set Increment angle to 5
I. Check Track using all polar angle settings radial in Object snap tracking section
J. Select Absolute radial in Polar angle measurement section.
K. Click OK button.
3. Select a Zoom scale of 10:
A. Select Tools >> Zoom >> Scale
B. In the Command Prompt type in a value of 1 <Enter>
Note: A dotted grid appears. The distance between grid points is 1.0mm if you followed these directions exactly.

User Guide created by TJ LaFave

Updated: Jan. 9, 2004
How to Use AutoCAD Polyline (Mouse Only)
User Guide

This User Guide demonstrates how to use the Polyline Tool for simple drawings. The symbol indicates a
graphic at right. A special font indicates items appearing in the program. See How to Configure AutoCAD User
Guide before following this Guide.

Basic Use of Polyline Tool

1. Select Polyline tool icon

2. On the grid area :
a) Click on the work area (starting point)
b) Move mouse to new location, and click
again (end point)
Note: The end point will produce a marker (in the case of Basic use of Polyline tool. (Steps 1 & 2)
figure shown, 32.0 mm at an angle of 15°).

3. To continue the same Polyline, repeat step 3 until

your figure is complete. For the final end point, click
once, then press the Enter key.

Set Width of Line

1. Select the line with the mouse.
2. Right-hand click on the line.
3. Select Polyline Edit from drop down menu.
4. Type “Width” in the command prompt. <ENTER>
Sketch of drawing
5. Type in the numerical width of the line. <ENTER>
An Example
A good sketch of your antenna , with units to only the first
decimal place, is a useful starting point. Since the printer
resolution is only about 0.1 mm, you should not include
measurements with greater precision.

1. Using the Polyline tool as described above, draw

the line segments as indicated by your drawing:
A) Starting point
B) first end point (Polar: 10.0000 < 0°)
C) second end point (Polar: 8.0000 < 270°)
D) third end point (Polar: 10.0000 < 180°)
E) Final end point (Polar: 6.0000 < 90°)
Step-by-step Polyline drawing
2. Press Enter key to end the drawing.

User Guide created by TJ LaFave

Updated: Jan. 9, 2004
How to Use AutoCAD Polyline (Command Prompt)
User Guide

This User Guide demonstrates, with an example , how to use the Polyline for simple drawings using line
commands or using the mouse combined with line commands.

Command Prompt Only

Note: Example, the Polyline command “@10<80” <ENTER>
produces a line segment at 80° of length 10 units.

1. At the command prompt type: “pline”<ENTER>

2. Type “0,0” <ENTER> (creates start point)
3. Type: “Width” <ENTER>
4. Type: “1.0” <ENTER>
5. Create the example figure :
A) “@10.0<0” <ENTER>
B) “@8.0<270” <ENTER>
C) “@10.0<180” <ENTER>
D) “@6.0<90” <ENTER> Sketch of drawing
E) <ENTER> (Exit Polyline mode)

Command Prompt & Mouse

Note: See How to Configure AutoCAD User Guide to set Polar
Tracking values for quick angular measurements with the mouse.

1. At the command prompt type: “pline” <ENTER>.

2. Type: “0,0” <ENTER> (creates start point)
2. Type: “Width” <ENTER> Angular coordinates
3. Type: “1.0” <ENTER> (1.0 mm line width)
2. a) Mouse: position line horizontal, to right
b) Prompt: “10.0” <ENTER>
3. a) Mouse: position line vertically down.
b) Prompt “8.0” <ENTER>
4. a) Mouse: position line horizontal, to left
b) Prompt “10.0” <ENTER>
5. a) Mouse: position line vertically up.
b) Prompt “6.0” <ENTER>
6.) <ENTER> (Exits Polyline mode)

User Guide created by TJ LaFave

Updated: Jan. 9, 2004
How to Use AutoCAD Array Tool
User Guide

This User Guide demonstrates how to use the Array Tool.

Arraying a Drawing
1. Select the drawing with the mouse (either by clicking
on it, or by sweeping an area around it with the mouse)
2. a) Select the Array tool by clicking on its icon.
3. Fill in values in the Array window :
A) Row Offset
Note: If, the height of your antenna is 5.0 mm, and
you want to have 2.0 mm spacing between antennas,
the Row Offset is 7.0.

B) Column Offset
Note: If the width of your antenna is 5.0 mm, and
you want to have 2.0 mm spacing between antennas,
the Column Offset is 7.0 mm. The Array window.

C) Rows
Note: The number of rows is the total height of the
array required divided by the value of the Row
Offset.

D) Columns
Note: The number of columns is the total width of
the array required divided by the value of the Column
Offset.

E) OK
Notes:
i.) You will need a total array size sufficient to cut out two 4-
inch diameter circles (the size of each wafer). Determine Offset values.

ii.) The diagram to the right indicates an arrayed pattern (A)

with spacing s. This shows how to calculate the offset values.

User Guide created by TJ LaFave

Updated: Jan. 9, 2004
How to Print from AutoCAD
User Guide

Note: The AutoCAD software uses the terminology “plot” instead of “print”.

Printing Procedure
1. Select File >> Page Setup
2. In the Page Setup window :
A) Select units of mm
B) Select Portrait orientation
C) Select a 1:1 plot ratio.
D) Select Extents
E) Click Plot Device tab
F) Select printer.
F) OK.

3. Select File >> Plot Preview. The

Preview window shows how the print job
will be printed. Make any necessary
adjustments to settings in step 2. Press ESC
or ENTER key to exit Preview.

4. When you are sure of how it will print, The Page Setup window
select File >> Plot, and continue below
Print a Test Copy:

Always print a test copy on blank paper to be sure your print job prints as expected. After printing the test copy:
1. Measure the dimensions of the antenna on the paper with a ruler.

2. Be sure there is sufficient area from which to cut out 2 four-inch diameter circles

3. (Important!) Be sure that you can visually see the separation of all lines of the individual design AND
the space between each design. If you cannot see these spacings, it is likely that the patterns cannot be
successfully cut apart and your antenna may “short” out – were it to actually be used.

Printing to Transparency

After you have successfully printed a test copy (as explained above) load a transparency:
1. The transparency has a rough side and a smooth side. The rough side should be face-down in the printer.

2. The arrows on the transparency should point into the printer, and be face up.

3. Allow about 2 minutes for the transparency to dry in the printer before removing it. Once removed, test
a corner of the print out to test for dryness.

User Guide created by TJ LaFave

Updated: Jan. 9, 2004