MEMB113

05 Introduction to AutoCAD
adzly anuar 2001-2005

Contents
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Overview & background

Starting, interface & file system
Basic drawing commands
Basic editing commands
View command
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1
 Introduction
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

What is CAD?
Computer Aided Design and Draughting
(sometimes known as CADD)
Generally, it is the use of computers in design
and drawing processes
Traditionally, technical drawing are made using
manual drafting. It is often require a lot of effort
and time consuming particularly for large complex
drawing.
CAD is being used widely in modern practice. The
ability of computer that enable engineers to
produce, revise, store and transmit original drawings
has made it very important.
Example of CAD software:
AutoCAD, PRO/Engineer, IDEAS, UNIGRAPHICS,
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CATIA,SolidWorks, etc.

History of CAD
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Charles Barbage (1883) - developed idea for

computer.
IC Chip Revolution => Micro-Computers and CAD.
1st CAD demon by Ivan Sutherland (1963) -
SKETCHPAD.
A year later IBM produced the first commercial
CAD system.
Many changes has taken place since then, with
the advancement of powerful computers.
With these developments, it is now possible to do
all the designs using CAD including two-
dimensional drawings, solid modeling, complex
engineering analysis, production and
manufacturing.
New technologies are constantly invented which
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make this process quicker, more versatile and

more powerful.

2
 Advantages of CAD
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Easier Creation and Corrections - Working/detail

drawings may be created more quickly and
makings changes is more efficient than correcting
drawings made by hand.
Better Visualisation of drawings - Many systems
allow different views of the same object and 3D
pictorial view.
Database of Drawing Aids - Designs and symbols
can be stored for easy recall and reuse.
Increased Accuracy - Using the computer, the
drawing can be produced with more accuracy.
Improved Filing - Drawings can be more
conveniently filed, retrieved and transmitted on
disks and tape.
Quick Design Analysis
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Simulation and Testing

Computer System & Component

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

A computer system consists of hardware and

software.
Hardware is various pieces of physical
equipment that comprise a computer system.
Software is the programs and instructions that
permit the computer to operate. Software can
be divided into two; application programs and
operating system.
The hardware for a CAD system consists of the
physical devices used to support CAD software.
The hardware system consist of:
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Computer Operating System
Display Devices
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Input Devices
Output Devices

3
 AutoCAD
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Why use AutoCAD?

Wide of Use - 20,000 Installation World-wide
5 million user world wide
2 million student user world wide
Excellent Intro. To CAD - Cost Effectiveness -
Sufficiently Complex
Linked to Other Softwares - e.g. ANSYS, 3D-
Studio Max, etc.
Customized Application using high level
programming language Auto-LISP
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AutoCAD
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

How AutoCAD is used?

Electronic Paper with Drawings and Editing Tools -
Analogous to Manual Drafting
Valuable and More Efficient in Modifying Drawings.
Object can be moved, copied, rotated, erased,
redrawn, etc. Editing in AutoCAD is faster than in
manual drawing.
Drawing Layers to Enhance Drawing and Visibility.
AutoCAD provides a set of drawing layer which is
equivalent to the engineering layers on working
drawings.
Storage/database of Commonly used Object.
Complex objects that are frequently used can be
stored as symbol in the library. This would
increase the productivity in the drafting work.
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4
 Starting, Interface & File system
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Starting with AutoCAD 2002

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

How to start
Click icon [AutoCAD 2002], or select from START menu
[Start]>Program>MDT 6>AutoCAD2002
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5
 Starting screens
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

When AutoCAD is started, two windows will be opened

AutoCAD 2002 and AutoCAD Today
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Starting screens
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

AutoCAD Today window used to open or create new

drawings
Open drawing tab Create new drawing tab Option to Start from Scratch or
from Template or Wizards

Unit
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6
 AutoCAD main window
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Pull down menu

Icons/Toolbar

UCS Drawing area

(User coordinate
system)
Cursor

Model & layout tab

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Command prompt
area

Coordinate status

Creating new drawing

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

To create new drawing:

Template, Starting from scratch or Wizards
Usually start from scratch
In AutoCAD today window: Click on Create
Drawings Tab
In Select how to begin: box, select Start from
Scratch
Click on Metric
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7
 Initialising (New Drawing)
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Setting up drawing limit

To define the drawing area and limit the grid
display
[menu] > Format > Drawing Limits
In command box:

Setting up drawing unit

[menu] > Format > Units
Drawing Unit Window
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Initialising (New Drawing)

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Setting up grid and snap

Very useful tool, as a guide in drawing Without Grid
To activate:
Click on button GRID or SNAP

To modify the settings

Right click on button GRID
Select Settings
Showing Grid
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Changing Grid
and Snap setting

8
 Opening and saving
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

To open existing file

[menu] >File>Open or press
CTRL+O
Or click Open Icon
To save drawing
[menu] >File >Save or press
CTRL+S
Or click Save Icon
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Open Drawing Window Save Drawing Window

Printing
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Can be done from model view or from layout view (paper

space)
From model view (Make sure in Model Tab)
[Menu] > File > Plot or CTRL +P or click Plot Icon

Paper size Drawing

Orientation

Scale of
printout/plot
Plot area
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Preview

9
 Basic editing & drawing commands
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Using this guide

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Choosing an item from pull down menu

[pd menu]
Example:
To draw straight line,
[pd menu] >Design > Line
Icon & button
[icon item] or [button item]
Example:
To draw straight line click on [icon line]
Type in command prompt
command: command type here {enter}
Example:
To draw a straight line type in
Command: line {enter}
You just have to type in the word line and
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press the key Enter (on the keyboard)

The command is not case sensitive

10
 Basic stuff
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Definitions :
Click
Press once and release
Also commonly used to refer to left-click
Left-click
Press left-mouse button (LMB) once and release
Commonly used to pick or choose an item
Right-click
Press right-mouse button (RMB) once and release
Commonly used to access pop-up menu
Double-click
Commonly referred to clicking left mouse button twice
Click-and-drag
Commonly referred to pressing left mouse button (and not
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releasing it) and move the mouse as required

The left mouse button is released to finish the command

Basic stuff
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

How to draw:
using mouse, point and click in drawing area
Type in coordinates in command prompt window
When using the mouse
Recommended to use snap and grid as guide
Set snap and grid spacing accordingly

Mouse Pointer Command line

Points typed

Line drawn

Type the points here

Grid
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11
 Drawing straight line
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

3 methods to execute the command

By choosing [pd menu] > Draw > Line
By clicking [icon Line]
By typing in at command prompt Line command
command: line {enter} or command: L
{enter}
To draw a straight line
Using mouse
Using (typing) coordinate points

Line icon
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Drawing straight line

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Using a mouse
Move the pointer to the desired location as start
point
Click
Move the pointer to the second point, Click
To end the line press Enter
To continue, move the pointer to 3rd point, Click
Continue as required
Use snap and grid as guides 2nd point 3rd point

4th point
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Start point End point

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 Drawing straight line cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Using coordinate points, 3 methods:

Absolute coordinate
Relative coordinate
Polar
3rd point (4,4)
Absolute coordinate 2nd point (1,4)
4th point (2,2)

1st point (1,1)

Origin (0,0)
5th point (4,1)
Relative coordinate
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Drawing straight line cont

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Polar relative coordinate

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13
 Drawing circle
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Use mouse or type in command prompt to specify

point or value similar to drawing straight line
To execute circle command
[pd menu] > Draw > Circle >
[icon circle]
At command prompt command: circle
{enter} or command: c {enter}

Pull-down menu Shortcut Icon

Circle command

Command prompt
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3.2 Drawing circle cont

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Methods to draw circles

Center and radius
Center and diameter
Two points circle
Three points circle
Tan, tan, radius
Tan, tan, tan

Center and radius 1. Center point (2,4)

[pd menu]

2. Radius, 1.5
Command prompt:
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Note: mouse can be used to place the center point and the radius of the circle

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 Drawing circle cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Center and diameter

[pd menu] 1. Center point (2,4)

Command prompt: 2. Diameter, 3

2. 2nd point (3.5,4)

Two points
[pd menu]

1. 1st point (0.5,4)

Command prompt:
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Drawing circle cont

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

3 points 1. 1st point (2,5.5)

[pd menu]
2. 2nd point (2,2.5)

Command prompt:

3. 3rd point (3.5,4)

3. Radius (1.5)
Tan tan radius 1. 1st object (line)
[pd menu]
2. 2nd object (line)
Command prompt:
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 Drawing circle cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Tan tan tan 1. Select 1st line using mouse

[pd menu] 2. Select 2nd line using mouse

3. Select 3rd line using mouse

Command prompt:

Note: these 3 lines must exist on the drawing area before the circle can be drawn
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Drawing arc
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Use mouse or type in command prompt to specify

point or value similar to drawing circle
To execute arc command
[pd menu] > Draw > Arc >
[icon arc]
At command prompt command: arc
{enter} or command: a {enter}

Pull-down menu Shortcut Icon

Arc shortcut icon

Command prompt
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16
 Drawing arc cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Methods many ways, most used

3 points
Start, center, end
Start, center, angle
Start, end, radius

3 points
[pd menu]

3. 3rd point (2,5)

Command prompt:
2. 2nd point (1,3.5)

1. 1st point (2,2)

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Drawing arc cont

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Start, center, end

[pd menu]
3. End point (2,5)
2. Center point (2,3.5)
Command prompt: 1. Start point (2,2)

Start, center, angle

[pd menu] 3. Angle (90degree)

2. Center point (2,3.5)

1. Start point (2,2)
Command prompt:
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 Drawing arc cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Start, end, radius

[pd menu] 3. Radius (1.5)

2. End point (3.5,3.5)

1. Start point (2,2)

Command prompt:
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Erasing/deleting & copy entity

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Erasing or deleting entity

using mouse
(2) click the entity to be erased - the entity will
become dotted with several blue square
(3) press Delete key
to delete multiple entities, click all that need to be
deleted and press Delete key
can also use the command prompt to delete
command: erase {enter}
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(1) (2) (3)

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 ...copy entity
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

To copy entity
can execute command from [pd menu] > Modify > Copy
type in command prompt command: copy {enter}
select on entity/entities to be copied
press Enter key after selecting entity/entities
select base point
select position of the entity to be placed
selecting can be done by mouse or typing the coordinate
of the entity (touching)

(1) (2) (3) (4)

Command prompt:
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Moving entity
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Moving entity/entities
using [pd menu] > Modify > Move
similar to copy entity

Command prompt:

using mouse
select entity - it will become dotted with blue
squares
click on the blue square in the middle
move your mouse to the desired location
click to place the entity on the new location
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(1) (2) (3) (4)

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 Scale / Resize
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

To scale or resize entity increase or reduce

[pd menu] > Modify > Scale
Or command: scale {enter}
(2) Select entities to be scaled, press Enter
(3) Select (click) base point, mouse can be
used to scale the entities or type in scale
factor at command prompt
Command prompt:
(1)

(2)
(3)
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(4)

Line types and line thickness

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

The line type need to be loaded before it can be used

[pd menu] > Format > Linetype
Line Types

Linetype Manager
dialog box will be
opened
initially we only have
one line type which
is continuous
click on [button
Load]
another dialog box is
opened Load or
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Reload Linetypes

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 Line types...
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Choose the types of

lines to be loaded by
clicking it from the
list
click [button OK]
the selected line will
be displayed in
Linetype Manager
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Line types...
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Line types and line thickness drop down list box

Before loading line types

After loading line types (DASHED)

Line thickness

Select the
required line
type and line
thickness
Draw the
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line, arc, etc

21
 Magnification (Zoom)
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Change the size of view, not size of

object
Useful to draw small feature, to
view overall size, etc.
Several options.. Commonly used
Zoom window
Zoom window
Zoom dynamic
Zoom all
Can be accessed from Zoom scale
[pd menu] > View > Zoom Zoom center
[icon zoom] Zoom in
Command: zoom {enter} Zoom out
Zoom realtime Zoom all
Zoom extents

- [pd menu] > View > Zoom > Realtime

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- Or click [icon Zoom Realtime]

Magnification (Zoom)cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Zoom window
[pd menu] > View > Zoom >Window
[icon Zoom Window]
Command: z {enter}
Use mouse to specify the window (click on one
corner, drag a rectangular window around the
area to be zoom, click on the opposite corner)
After

Before 1stclick and drag

the window
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2nd click

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 Magnification (Zoom)cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Zoom all

[pd menu] > View > Zoom > All

[icon Zoom All]
Command: z {enter}
Command: a {enter}
Before After
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Magnification (Zoom)cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Zoom realtime

- [pd menu] > View > Zoom > Realtime

Pan realtime
- Or click [icon Zoom Realtime] Zoom realtime
- Cursor icon will change to magnifying
glass Zoom window
- Press LMB, move mouse up to zoom Zoom previous
in,
- Press LMB, move mouse down to
zoom out
- Release LMB for the new view
Pan realtime
- Click [icon Pan Realtime]
- Cursor icon change to hand
- Press LMB, move mouse to move view of
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screen
- Release mouse for the new view

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 Pan cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

To move the view of the drawing

around the screen - left, right, etc..
To access command
[pd menu] > View > Pan >
[icon pan]
command: pan {enter} or
command: p {enter}
several options:
most used - realtime
others - left, right, up, down
effect of pan similar to moving the scroll
bar (horizontal & vertical)

REDRAW refresh display, removing

element such as markers left from
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editing commands
REGEN refresh display, recalculate
all coordinates

Drawing text
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

2 types
Multiline text From pull down menu
Single line text
Shortcut icon

Text icon
Single line text

Several ways
Type in at command prompt
Command: text {enter}
[pd menu] > Draw > Text > Single Line Text
After executing the command
Click in drawing area or type in coordinates
for start point of the text
Type in the height of the text
Type in the rotation, if required
Type in the text
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Pressing enter to go to the next line

To end the command, press enter twice

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 Drawing text cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Multiline text
Several ways
Type in at command prompt 1st corner
Command: mtext {enter}
[pd menu] > Draw > Text > Multiline Text
[Icon Multiline Text]
To produce multiline text
Activate the command Opposite corner
Click on drawing area to specify the first corner, and click again
to define the area where the text is to be drawn
Multiline Text Editor window is displayed
Type in the text in writing area, change its properties if required
Click OK button to finish
Writing area Font Size Bold Italic Underline Colour Insert symbol
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Drawing text cont

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Properties tab Justify Width (box) Rotation

Line spacing tab

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Change line spacing

25
 Drawing aid: Object snap
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Object snap or OSNAP

Are functions to aid the drawing process, a very useful tool
To snap on a geometric point on an object
Can be turned off or on by clicking OSNAP button on status bar
or press CTRL+F or F3 key
When turned on, the cursor will jump or snap to the certain
point on an object e.g. mid-point of a line or tangent of a circle
Includes visual aid AutoSnap
Several OSNAP modes available, can activate any number at a
time

Nearest
Endpoint Tangent
Quadrant Node
Midpoint Insert
Center
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Intersection Parallel
Extension
Apparent Intersection Perpendicular

Object snap cont

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

OSNAP setting
Right-click OSNAP
button
Drafting Setting dialog
box turns up
Can be used to turn on
or off object snap
modes
Symbols indicated by
each mode are shown
in drawing with yellow
marker
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26
 Object snap cont
MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

How to use:
You need to have an object on drawing area
Then you need to be in a drawing command, e.g.
CIRCLE, LINE, ARC, etc.
Hover the mouse over the existing object,
Yellow marker shows up with tool tip
Indicating what type of geometric point snap can be
done
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Endpoint Midpoint Intersection Example of OTRACK

Object snap modescont

MEMB113 | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | UNITEN | 2005
05 INTRO TO AUTOCAD

Endpoint
Snap to endpoint of the nearest entity, e.g. end of a line
Midpoint
Snap to the midpoint of an entity, e.g. midpoint of a straight line, or arc
Center
Snap to the center of entity such as circle, arc or ellipse
Node
Snap to the nearest point (entity)
Quadrant
Snap to the quarter position on the circumference of an arc, circle or ellipse
Intersection
Snap to the intersection of two entities
Tangent
Snap to the tangent of entities such as circle, arc or ellipse
Nearest
Snap to the nearest point on an entities
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Perpendicular
Snap to the point perpendicular to an entity such as straight line

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 adzly anuar 2001-2005

End of chapter [05]

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