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Cad Notes
Start -> AutoCAD 2020 > AutoCAD 2020. You can Also
double-click AutoCAD 2020 icon on your Windows Desktop.
2. The opening greeting, called a splashed screen, tells you which
version of AutoCAD you are using, to whom the program is
registered, and the AutoCAD dealers name and phone number,
should you need help.
After the splash screen closes, you see the AutoCAD window with a
blank default document named Drawing1.dwg as shown in Figure 1.
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ININLAVdIG SIIHdVUS - dLS/NUSTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT. AutoCAD Essentials
Button - This button displays commands for printing, saving, drawing
utilities and other non-drawing tools.
Quick Access Toolbar - This is for quick access to common commands like New,
Open, Save, Plot
Filename - The name of the current file you are working on.
Search Bar - Search for text in your drawing or search the help files.
Ribbon - The Ribbon has most of the commands/tools that you will use while you
are working.
Tabs - A series of Tabs make up the Ribbon (Home, Insert, Manage, etc) and
organize the Tools into common groups.
Panels - Contain a group of tools
Tools - These are the icons that start the commands you use to draw, modify,
etc.
Tool Tip - If you hover your mouse over a tool, a tool tip will appear to give you
more information. Hold it longer for more info.
Drawing Space - These is where you draw your designs.
Command line - When you type a command, you will see it here. AutoCAD uses
this space to 'prompt' you for information. It will give you a lot of information
and tell you where you are in the command. Watch this line while learning.
Status bar - This allows to see and change different modes of drawing such as
Ortho, Osnaps, Grid, Otrack, etc. You can right click this area to toggle between
icons and text for this area.
Tool Palette - Collection of tools in one area that can be organized into common
categories.
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You can also type at the Command prompt, enter MENUBAR. Enter 1
to display the menu bar.USTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT AutoCAD Essentials
i BASIC AutoCAD Terminology
Absolute co-ordinates |A way of inputting points based on AutoCAD's origin.
[This is the default template that automatically loads whenever you!
Acad.dwt “
| [start a drawing session. It can be customized to suit your needs. |
Associated Dimensions that are associated with specific points will update as
Dimensioning _|that point is moved.
‘AutoCAD can be set to automatically backup your drawing and
Backup file [save it. This is a safeguard in case your file gets corrupted. It is
lsaved with a .BAK extension =
Block |A pre-drawn image you can insert in your drawing to save time and
make your file size smaller.
Crosshairs This is your cursor when it is in the drawing space.
Cursor ‘our cursor will change depending on where it is in the program.
|An AutoCAD drawing file is actually one large database containing
| Database lall the information needed to reproduce the objects when the file
lis opened. Info for layers and linetypes, etc are stored in this
janner.
: ‘AutoCAD uses a large number of dialog boxes to get information
Dialog box from you. You must know how input the information that it asks |
for.
Drawing template file
IThis is a file that contains preset values for frequently used
Isettings. AKA a prototype drawing. The file extension is DWT.
[The outer boundaries of the objects you have drawn.
lelectrical) on a single layer and organize your drawing.
Extents
: his is pattern of dots displayed on the screen to guide you. It can
Gata be toggled on and off by pressing the F7 key. |
Grips ‘small ‘handles’ on objects that allow for quick editing.
‘ay lall objects are drawn ona layer. You can group objects (suchas
Layout Tabs More Info
IA space used for plotting your drawings (formerly called Paper
Space). ie ae
IA setting to impose an ‘artificial’ boundary on your drawing that |
Limits (Grid) sets the area of the grid, and when turned on, limits you to
\drawing in the grid area.
Linet [All objects are drawn with a particular linetype. Examples would be
meee Isolid, center, dashed, etc. cca oe
Model space [The drawing space where you ‘model the objects. e
Modify IA generic term used for changing your objects
Object |Any item that is in the AutoCAD database. Also known as an entity.
Origin ‘The (0,0) point of your current co-ordinate system. iI
©USTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT. AutoCAD Essentials
Ortho mode
| Osnap - Object snap [This is a method of ‘snapping’ to certain, precise points onan
IThis is a drawing mode that allows you to draw only perpendicular
lines, It is toggled on and off by pressing the F8 key.
jobject.
Path
[The specific folder where AutoCAD looks for, or saves files.
Property
[To select an object by ‘left-clicking' on it.
[Also known as print. To make a hard copy of your drawing.
‘Away of inputting points based on distance and angle.
iny specific characteristic of an object such as layer, scale,
llinetype, start point, etc.
| Relative co-ordinates
'A way of inputting points based on a starting point.
Selection set
he current group of objects selected for modifying.
Snap
[This is a drawing mode that allows you to snap your cursor to
lprecise points laid out in a grid pattern. Toggle with the F9 key.
|
Styles
User co-ordinate
system (UCS)
[Formatting that defines the look of text, dimensions, etc.
Modifications made to the World Co-ordinate System (WCS)
[results in a User Co-ordinate System (UCS)
View
‘A particular area of your drawing.
Viewport
[A separate ‘window’ on your drawing. You may have more than
lone viewport visible to see different areas of your drawing at the
\same time.
Wizard More Info
|An easy step-by-step instruction set to help you set-up certain
laspects of your drawing.
World Co-ordinate
System (WCS)
‘This is the common X-Y co-ordinate system that is the default. If it
lis modified, it becomes a User co-ordinate System (UCS)
Zoom
[To view either a smaller section of your drawing (zoom in) or a
larger section (zoom out)AutoCAD Essentials
USTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT
FUNCTION KEYS
Turns Object Snap tracking on/off-
Turns Polar tracking on/off ~~,
Turns snap on/off ( or Ctrl B) ~.
ESC Turns Ortho on/off (or Ctrl) ,
Turns grid on/off (or ctrl+G),
f
F4 || F2 || F3 ||| Fé || FS Fé | FT ||| F8 Fo [FA0) Fail]
~ |
| \cturns coordinates display on/off (or Ctrl+D)
\ Toggles through isometric mode of top,right
{ ‘and left isoplane
\ Turns tablet mode on/off (or CTRL +T)
Turns Dynamic Input on/off -
y-Cancel command
‘= Turns OSNAP on/off
Deselect selection ~
Button functions of a Mouse
Object
Selection Zoom
Drawing ;
Customization to
_-— Improve
Productivity
SpecificationUSTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT AutoCAD Essentials
STARTING A DRAWING
Starting Your First Drawing
You will start by opening the Create New Drawing dialog box. This dialog box
helps new users setup drawings quickly. Follow these steps:
Now let's create a new file:
4. Choose Quick Access Toolbar —> Click NEW to open the SELECT
TEMPLATE dialog box or select file at Menu bar and click new.
Creates a blank drawing file
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| Gan QNEW
Press F1 for more help
2. Choose Quick Access Toolbar -> Click NEW to open the SELECT TEMPLATE
dialog box.
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@)USTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT. AutoCAD Essentials
3. Click OPEN. A new drawing file appears in the AutoCAD window.
4. From the menu bar, choose VIEW >> ZOOM > ALL. This ensures that your
display covers the entire drawing area.
5. To give your new file a unique name, choose File-> SAVE AS to open the
SAVE Drawing As dialog box.
6. Type the file name. As you type, the name appears in the File Name text
box.
7. Click SAVE.
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* — Oryou can create your own template files.USTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT AutoCAD Essentials
Understanding the X,Y Coordinates System
Everything that you draw in AutoCAD is exact. It will be more accurate than you will
aver need It to be. All objects drawn on the screen are placed there based on a simple
GY coordinate system. In AutoCAD this is known as the World Coordinate System
(WCS). You must understand this how to put things where you want them. Below is a
diagram showing you how this system works. :
Here is how it works:
AutoCAD uses points to determine where an object is located. There is an origin
where it begins counting from. This point is (0,0). Every object is located in relation to
the origin. If you were to draw a line straight out to the right from the origin, this
would be considered the positive X-axis. If you were to draw a line straight up, this
would be the positive Y-axis. The picture above shows a point located at (9,6). This
means that the point is 9 units over in the X-axis and 6 units up in the Y-axis. When
you are working with points, X always comes first. The other point shown is (-10,-5).
This means that the point is 10 units in the negative X-axis (left) and 5 units in the
negative Y-axis (down).
(a)USTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT AutoCAD Essentials
Angular Measurement
AutoCAD measures angles in a particular way also. Look at the diagram below and then place your
mouse on it to see how this is done.
90°
180°
270"
measuring the angle from 0 degrees, which is at the
it would go straight up. The example above (when
When drawing lines at an angle, you have to bi
3 o'clock position. If you drew a line at 90 degrees,
you move your mouse over it) shows a line drawn at +315 degrees, or ~45 degrees.
You might not always have an obvious reference point for 0 degrees. Look at the example below and
place your mouse on the image to find out angle in question.
130
180% 0°
In this example, you are given information about the lines, but not the angle AutoCAD needs to draw
the line from the start point. What you are given though, is (a) the knowledge that 0° is at the 3 o'clock
position (b) the knowledge that 180” is at the 9 o'clock position and (c) the angle between 180° and the
line you want to draw is 150°. With this information, you can figure out what angle you need. Here is a
fool-proof way of getting the angle you need:
1.) Start at the 0° position and measure counter-clockwise (+) to 180°.
2.) From 180*, measure clockwise 150°.
3.) Consider that you just went +180-150 and use that as an equation: +180-150=30
4.) Now you can draw your line using polar co-ordinates.
@)USTP - GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT. AutoCAD Essentials
DRAWING COMMAND
Drawing Straight Lines
Icon] Command Keystroke Menu Result
5 Draw a straight line segment
ty b HOME> Line | from one point to the next.
A line has two points, a start point and an end point. AutoCAD works with the points
to display the line on the screen.
Exercise 1. Drawing a single line segment.
For this exercise, make sure that you do not have Dynamic Input & Ortho turned on.
You can check this on the STATUS BAR. Make sure the DYN & ORTHO is not
depressed. Dynamic input-.
~ Dynamic input
DYNAMIC INPUT allows you to get prompts near the location of the crosshairs
without having to look up and down between the Command line window and the
drawing window.
A
If you make mistake, you can use the undoicon ‘’ ,
press U or press CTRL+Z
You can cancel a command without completing it by pressing ESC.
Steps:
B. reps:
2. first point: pick point A
3. next point: pick point B
(Continue clicking more points if you wish to
A add line segments).
i A. Press