AutoCAD Drawing Tools PDF

CHAPTER 3: INTRODUCTION TO BASIC DRAWING TOOLS IN AUTOCAD 1. Creating Simple Shapes: Lines, Polylines, Circles, Arcs, Rectangles, and Polygons 1.1 Drawing Lines Command: Line (LINE) Access: Home tab > Draw > Line or type `LINE` in the command line. Usage...

CHAPTER 3: INTRODUCTION TO BASIC DRAWING TOOLS IN AUTOCAD 1. Creating Simple Shapes: Lines, Polylines, Circles, Arcs, Rectangles, and Polygons 1.1 Drawing Lines Command: Line (LINE) Access: Home tab > Draw > Line or type `LINE` in the command line. Usage Click to define a starting point, then enter the coordinates of the endpoint or click directly in the drawing area. Coordinates: Absolute to specify an exact position (e.g., 50,50). Relative with an @ symbol to draw relative to the last point (e.g., `@100,0` to draw 100 units to the right). Polar for a distance and angle (e.g., `@100 Draw > Polyline or type `PLINE` in the command line. Usage: The Polyline command allows you to draw a line composed of connected segments, which can be straight or curved. Options: Starting a Polyline: Click to set the first point, then click for each subsequent point. Straight Line: After the first point, click to define each straight segment. Arc: Use the "Arc" option to add curved segments within the polyline. Width: Set the line width for design effects. Close: Use the "Close" option to connect the last point to the first, creating a closed shape. Application: Polylines are ideal for complex contours or wall outlines that require precise control. 1 1.3 Creating Circles Command: Circle (CIRCLE) Access: Home tab > Draw > Circle or type `CIRCLE` in the command line. Options: Center and Radius: Click to set the center, then enter a radius (e.g., 10 for a circle with a radius of 10). Center and Diameter: Click to set the center, then enter a diameter. Usage: Enables drawing precise circles, often useful for representing columns or other rounded elements. 1.4 Drawing Arcs Command: Arc (ARC) Access: Home tab > Draw > Arc or type `ARC` in the command line. Methods: 3 Points: Click three points to define the start, midpoint, and end of the arc. Start, Center, End: Specify a start point, the center of the arc, and the endpoint. Usage: Ideal for drawing curved segments, for example, for architectural design elements or openings. 1.5 Creating Rectangles Command: Rectangle (RECTANGLE) Access: Home tab > Draw > Rectangle or type `RECTANGLE` in the command line. Methods: Opposite Points: Specify two opposite corners to define the rectangle. Length and Width: Use length and width values to create a rectangle with precise dimensions. Usage: Often used to draw rooms or windows in architectural plans. 2 1.6 Creating Polygons Command: Polygon (POLYGON) Access: Home tab > Draw > Polygon or type `POLYGON` in the command line. Methods: Number of Sides: Specify the number of sides of the polygon (e.g., 5 for a pentagon). Centered in Circle: Click to define the center, then enter the radius of the circle in which the polygon will be inscribed. By Side: Define the vertices directly by clicking or entering precise coordinates. Application: Polygons are often used for regular structural or decorative elements, like columns, or to represent objects with simple geometric shapes. 1.7 Creating Points Command: Point (POINT) Access: Home tab > Draw > Point or type POINT in the command line. Usage: Allows you to place single points on the drawing area, useful for marking specific locations or for referencing purposes. Options: Specify Coordinates: Enter specific coordinates to place a point at an exact location (e.g., 30,50). Relative Positioning: Use @ to place points relative to the last location (e.g., @10,10). Application: Points are commonly used as markers, reference points for measurements, or to divide objects in AutoCAD. 1.8 Setting Point Style Command: Point Style (DDPTYPE) Access: Home tab > Utilities > Point Style or type DDPTYPE in the command line. Options: Point Display Style: Choose from various point styles such as dots, crosses, circles, or squares to customize the appearance of points. 3  Point Size: Set the size of points either relative to the screen or at a fixed size. Usage: Adjusting the point style can help make points more visible and distinguishable in your drawings, especially in complex designs. 1.9 Measuring Distances with Points Command: Measure (MEASURE) Access: Home tab > Draw > Measure or type MEASURE in the command line. Usage: Places points at regular intervals along a selected line, polyline, arc, or curve based on a specified distance. Options: Specify Distance: Enter the desired distance between points (e.g., entering 5 places a point every 5 units along the object). Application: Useful for dividing an object into equal sections or placing reference points at set intervals for construction or alignment purposes. 1.10 Dividing Objects with Points Command: Divide (DIVIDE) Access: Home tab > Draw > Divide or type DIVIDE in the command line. Usage: Places a specified number of equally spaced points along a selected line, polyline, arc, or curve. Options : Number of Segments: Enter the number of segments into which the object should be divided (e.g., entering 4 divides the object into 4 equal parts, placing points at each division). Application: Often used to divide an object evenly for structural or layout design, such as dividing a wall into equal sections for framing or spacing elements in a pattern. 4 1.11 Creating Ellipses Command : Ellipse (ELLIPSE) Access: Home tab > Draw > Ellipse or type ELLIPSE in the command line. Usage: Allows you to draw ellipses by defining their center and axes, useful for representing oval shapes in architectural and engineering drawings. Methods : Center, Axis, and Distance: Click to set the center point, then specify the length of the first axis, and finally, the length of the second axis. Axis, End, and Rotation: Specify the endpoints of one axis, then define the length of the second axis by rotating around the first. Elliptical Arc: You can also create an elliptical arc by specifying start and end angles. Application: Ellipses are often used to represent arches, circular designs viewed at an angle, or other elongated circular elements. 1.12 Creating Hatches Command : Hatch (HATCH) Access: Home tab > Draw > Hatch or type HATCH in the command line. Usage: Fills a closed area or selected shape with a pattern, solid color, or gradient to represent materials or textures in drawings. Options : Pattern: Choose from a variety of predefined hatch patterns (e.g., brick, concrete, sand). Solid Fill: Fills the area with a single color. Gradient: Applies a gradient fill for a more detailed effect. Scale: Adjust the size of the hatch pattern to make it larger or smaller. Angle: Rotate the hatch pattern to align it with other elements in your drawing. Application: Hatches are commonly used to represent different materials in sections or to distinguish between elements in floor plans, like walls, flooring, and landscape areas. 5 2. Precision Commands: Grid and Object Snap 2.1 Grid Activating the Grid: To activate the grid, simply click on the grid icon in the status bar or type GRIDMODE in the command line. Or (F7) Configuration: In the Options menu, you can adjust the grid spacing to match the units of the current project. Utility: The grid is crucial for visualizing the workspace and accurately positioning objects. It is especially useful for repetitive and symmetrical drawings, enhancing precision and organization of elements. 2.2 Object Snap Activating Object Snap: Access this feature by clicking on the Object Snap icon in the status bar or by using the command OSNAP. Or (F3) Common Options: Endpoint: Allows snapping to the endpoints of lines. Midpoint: Provides the ability to snap to the midpoint of a line or arc. Center: Enables snapping to the center of circles and arcs. Intersection: Allows snapping to the intersection points of two lines or objects. Utility: Object Snap ensures the precision of elements by automatically aligning objects to specific, predefined points, resulting in clean and accurate drawings. 6