BASIC COMMANDS AND SETTINGS IN AUTOCAD

How to set Drawing Limits for A3 paper

 On the menu bar, click on format.
 On format drop-down, click on drawing limits.
 Specify lower left corner press (zero, zero) ‘0, 0’ and press Enter.
 Specify upper right corner press 420,000, 297,000 (the conventional size for
A3 paper in millimeters), and press Enter.
 On the keyboard, press “Z” Enter and “E” Enter (To zoom extent of the
drawing area
Text Style.

 On the menu bar, click on Format, on the format fly-out,

 Click on Text style, on the text style dialogue box,
 Click on New and input name of text style and press OK.
 Specify Font name for instance “Time New Roman”
 Set the Font style as “Regular”
 Specify the Text Height to 200
 Click on “Set current” and click on “Close” to end the process.

Units
 On the menu bar, click on Format. On the format fly-out,
 Click on Units, on the unit dialogue box.
 Set the length type to decimal and Precision to zero ‘0’
 Set the insertion Scale to millimeter.
 Click OK to end the settings.

Circle
 Click Circle icon on draw tool bar.
Or
 Type C, press enter on the keyboard to activate move command.
 Specify the center point for circle,
 Specify radius for the circle,
 Then press enter to enter to end the command.
 Line
 Click Line icon on draw tool bar.
Or
 Type L; press enter on the keyboard to activate move command.
 Specify first point,
 Specify second point,
 Press Esc to end the command.

Move
 Click Move icon on modify tool bar.
Or
 Type MO, press enter on the keyboard to activate move command.
 Select the object you are to move, press enter.
 Specify first point or displacement,
 Specify second point or displacement,
 Press Esc or enter to end the command.

Copy
 Click copy icon on modify tool bar.
Or
 Type CO, press enter on the keyboard to activate copy command.
 Select the object you are to copy, press enter.
 Specify base point or displacement,
 Specify second point or displacement,
 Press Esc or enter to end the command.

Hatch
 Click on hatch icon on draw tool bar.
Or
 Type H; press enter on the keyboard to activate Hatch command.
 On hatch dialogue box,
 Set the preferred Type and Pattern, Angle and Scale (remember to start with a
bigger scale), also the Hatch Origin as Use Current.
 Click on the Add pick point tab at the top right of the box (To pick where to
hatch).
 Pick internal points.
 Press Enter.
 Then click OK.

Polygon
 Click on Polygon icon on the draw tool bar.
 Enter number of sides,
 Press Enter,
 Specify Center of Polygon,
 Enter an option (Inscribe in circle or Circumscribe about circle),
 Specify radius of circle,
 Press Enter to end the command.

Trim
 Click Trim icon on modify tool bar.
Or
 Type TR; press enter on the keyboard to activate Trim command.
 Select the entire object you are to trim, press enter.
 Select the object to trim all unwanted lines.
 Press Esc or Enter to end the Trim command.

Extend
 Click Extend icon on modify tool bar.
Or
 Type EX; press enter on the keyboard to activate Extend command.
 Select the entire object you are to trim, press enter.
 Select the object to extend all unwanted lines.
 Press Esc or Enter to end the Extend command
 Erase
 Click Erase icon on modify tool bar.
Or
 Types E, press enter on the keyboard to activate erase command.
 Select the object you are to erase, press enter.
 Press ESC to end command.

Offset
 Click on Offset icon on the modify tool bar.
 Specify the Distance you are to offset.
 Press Enter.
 Select the object to offset.
 Drop it on the side you want it to be.
 Press “ESC” to end the command.

Rotate
 Click Rotate icon on modify tool bar.
Or
 Type RO; press enter on the keyboard to activate rotate command.
 Select the object you want to rotate, press enter,
 Specify base point,
 Specify rotation angle, press enter.
 Press ESC of the keyboard to end the command.

Mirror
 Click Mirror icon on modify tool bar.
Or
 Type MI; press enter on the keyboard to activate rotate command.
 Specify first point of mirror line,
 Specify second point of mirror line,
 Answer the question, “Erase source object” press N for NO,
 The press enter on the keyboard to end the command.
How to Save AutoCAD drawings.

 On the menu bar, click on file. On the file fly out,

 Click on save.., on save dialogue box,
 Specify the folder you want the file to be save in e.g.(Desktop/Docs)
 Set the file name,
 Specify the file type, (always save with a lower version of the AutoCAD file you
are using)
 Then click save.

Advantages of Using AutoCAD

a. It improves productivity
b. It reduces man power and common errors made in manual drawing
c. It saves a lot of time
d. It is easy and accurate
e. It gives a paperless environment
f. It is easy to edit
g. It is easy to make repetition/addition
h. There’s no limitation to drawing size.
i. Dimensioning is very easy and accurate

Disadvantages of using AutoCAD

i. Electricity is mandatory
ii. Data storage is fragile
iii. Special computer skills are required
iv. Equipment is fragile and can be damaged drastically
v. Expensive equipment is required