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Introduction to AutoCAD 2011
Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 2D and 3D Design Alf Yarwood AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON • NEW YORK • OXFORD PARIS • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO Newnes is an imprint of Elsevier
Newnes is an imprint of Elsevier The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, UK 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA First edition 2010 Copyright â 2010, Alf Yarwood. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. The right of Alf Yarwood to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone (44) (0) 1865 843830; fax (44) (0) 1865 853333; email: permissions@elsevier.com. Alternatively you can submit your request online by visiting the Elsevier web site at permissions, and selecting Obtaining permission to use Elsevier material Notice No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Because of rapid advances in the medical sciences, in particular, independent verification of diagnoses and drug dosages should be made British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress ISBN: 978-0-08-096575-8 For information on all Newnes publications visit our website at www.books.elsevier.com Typeset by MPS Limited, a Macmillan Company, Chennai, India www.macmillansolutions.com Printed and bound in China 10 11 12 13 14 15 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Preface The purpose of writing this book is to produce a text suitable for students in Further and/or Higher Education who are required to learn how to use the computer-aided design (CAD) software package AutoCADđ 2011. Students taking examinations based on CAD will find the contents of the book of great assistance. The book is also suitable for those in industry wishing to learn how to construct technical drawings with the aid of AutoCAD 2011 and those who, having used previous releases of AutoCAD, wish to update their skills to AutoCAD 2011. The chapters in Part 1 – 2D Design, dealing with two-dimensional (2D) drawing, will also be suitable for those wishing to learn how to use AutoCAD LT 2011, the 2D version of this latest release of AutoCAD. Many readers using previous releases of AutoCAD will find the book’s contents largely suitable for use with those versions, although AutoCAD 2011 has many enhancements over previous releases (some of which are mentioned in Chapter 21). The contents of the book are basically a graded course of work, consisting of chapters giving explanations and examples of methods of constructions, followed by exercises which allow the reader to practise what has been learned in each chapter. The first 11 chapters are concerned with constructing technical drawing in 2D. These are followed by chapters detailing the construction of 3D solid drawings and rendering them. The final two chapters describe the Internet tools of AutoCAD 2011 and the place of AutoCAD in the design process. The book finishes with two appendices – a list of tools with their abbreviations and a list of some of the set variables upon which AutoCAD 2011 is based. AutoCAD 2011 is very complex CAD software package. A book of this size cannot possibly cover the complexities of all the methods for constructing 2D and 3D drawings available when working with AutoCAD 2011. However, it is hoped that by the time the reader has worked through the contents of the book, he/she will be sufficiently skilled with methods of producing drawing with the software to be able to go on to more advanced constructions with its use and will have gained an interest in the more advanced possibilities available when using AutoCAD. Alf Yarwood Salisbury 2010 xiii
xiv Preface Registered Trademarks Autodeskđ and AutoCADđ are registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office by Autodesk Inc. Windowsđ is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation. Alf Yarwood is an Autodesk authorised author and a member of the Autodesk Advanced Developer Network.
Chapter 1 Introducing AutoCAD 2011 AIM OF THIS CHAPTER The aim of this chapter is designed to introduce features of the AutoCAD 2011 window and methods of operating AutoCAD 2011. 3
4 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Opening AutoCAD 2011 AutoCAD 2011 is designed to work in a Windows operating system. In general, to open AutoCAD 2011, double-click on the AutoCAD 2011 shortcut in the Windows desktop ( Fig. 1.1 ). Depending on how details in CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Proﬁ les/Initial Setup in the Options dialog ( Fig. 1.16 , page 13 ), the Welcome dialog ( Fig. 1.2 ) may appear. This dialog allows videos showing Fig. 1.1 The AutoCAD methods of working AutoCAD 2011, to be selected from a list of icons. 2011 shortcut on the Windows desktop Fig. 1.2 Page 1 of the Initial Settings dialog When working in education or in industry, computers may be conﬁ gured to allow other methods of opening AutoCAD, such as a list appearing on the computer in use when the computer is switched on, from which the operator can select the program he/she wishes to use. When AutoCAD 2011 is opened a window appears, which will depend upon whether a 3D Basics , a 3D Modeling , a Classic AutoCAD or a 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace has been set as QNEW in the Options dialog . In this example the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace is shown and includes the Ribbon with Tool panels ( Fig. 1.3 ). This 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace shows the following details: Ribbon : Which includes tabs, each of which when clicked will bring a set of panels containing tool icons. Further tool panels can be seen by
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 5 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.3 The AutoCAD 2011 2D Drafting and Annotation workspace clicking the appropriate tab. The panels in the ribbon can be changed to any desired panels as required using the Customer User Interface dialog if desired. Menu Browser icon: A left-click on the arrow to the right of the A symbol at the top left-hand corner of the AutoCAD 2011 window causes the Menu Browser menu to appear ( Fig. 1.4 ). Workspace Switching menu: Appears with a click on the Workspace Switching button in the status bar ( Fig. 1.5 ). Command palette : Can be dragged from its position at the bottom of the AutoCAD window into the AutoCAD drawing area, when it can be seen to be a palette ( Fig. 1.6 ). As with all palettes, an Auto-hide icon and a right-click menu is included. Tool panels : Each shows tools appropriate to the panel. Taking the Home/ Draw panel as an example, Fig. 1.7 shows that placing the mouse cursor on one of the tool icons in a panel brings a tooltip on screen showing details of how the tool can be used. Two types of tooltip will be seen. In the majority of future illustrations of tooltips, the smaller version will be shown. Other tools have popup menus appearing with a click . In the example given in Fig. 1.8 , a click on the Circle tool icon will show a tooltip. A click on the arrow to the right of the tool icon brings a popup menu showing the construction method options available for the tool.
6 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.4 TheMenu Browser Fig. 1.5 TheWorkspace Switching popup menu Fig. 1.6 The command palette when dragged from its position at the bottom of the AutoCAD window
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 7 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.7 The descriptive tooltip appearing with a click on the Line tool icon Fig. 1.8 The tooltip for the Circle tool and its popup menu
8 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Quick Access toolbar : The toolbar at the top right of the AutoCAD window holds several icons, one of which is the Open tool icon. A click on the icon opens the Select File dialog ( Fig. 1.9 ). Navigation bar : contains several tools which may be of value. CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.9 Theopen icon in the Quick Access toolbar brings the Select File dialog on screen The mouse as a digitiser Many operators working in AutoCAD will use a two-button mouse as Lead a digitiser. There are other digitisers which may be used – pucks with Pick Return tablets, a three-button mouse, etc. Fig. 1.10 shows a mouse which has two button button buttons and a wheel. Wheel To operate this mouse pressing the Pick button is a left-click . Pressing the Return button is a right-click which usually, but not always, has the same result as pressing the Enter key of the keyboard. Fig. 1.10 The two- When the Wheel is pressed drawings in the AutoCAD screen can be panned button mouse by moving the mouse. Moving the wheel forwards enlarges (zooms in) the drawing on screen. Move the wheel backwards and a drawing reduces in size.
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 9 The pick box at the intersection of the cursor hairs moves with the cursor hairs in response to movements of the mouse. The AutoCAD window as shown in Fig. 1.3 shows cursor hairs which stretch across the drawing in both horizontal and vertical directions. Some operators prefer cursor hairs to be shorter. The length of the cursor hairs can be adjusted in the Display sub-menu of the Options dialog (page 13) . CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Palettes A palette has already been shown – the Command palette. Two palettes which may be frequently used are the DesignCenter palette and the Properties palette. These can be called to screen from icons in the View/Palettes panel. DesignCenter palette: Fig. 1.11 shows the DesignCenter palette with the Block drawings of building symbols from which the block Third type of chair block has been selected. Fig. 1.11 A left-click on the View/DesignCenter icon brings the DesignCenter palette to screen
10 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Properties palette: Fig. 1.12 shows the Properties palette, in which the general features of a selected line are shown. The line can be changed by entering new ﬁ gures in parts of the palette. CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.12 TheProperties palette Tool palettes Click on Tool Palettes in the View/Palettes panel and the Tool Palettes – All Palettes palette appears ( Fig. 1.13 ). Click in the title bar of the palette and a popup menu appears. Click on a name in the menu and the selected palette appears. The palettes can be reduced in size by dragging at corners or edges, or hidden by clicking on the Auto-hide icon, or moved by dragging on the Move icon. The palette can also be docked against either side of the AutoCAD window.
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 11 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.13 TheTool Palettes – All Palettes palette N o t e s Throughout this book tools will often be shown as selected from the panels. It will be seen in Chapter 3 that tools can be ‘ called ’ in a variety of ways, but tools will frequently be shown selected from tool panels although other methods will also be shown on occasion. Dialogs Dialogs are an important feature of AutoCAD 2011. Settings can be made in many of the dialogs, ﬁ les can be saved and opened, and changes can be made to variables. Examples of dialogs are shown in Figs 1.15 and 1.16 . The ﬁ rst example is taken from the Select File dialog ( Fig. 1.15 ), opened with a click on Open in the Quick Access toolbar ( Fig. 1.14 ). The second example
12 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.14 Opening the Select File dialog from the Open icon in the Quick Access toolbar Fig. 1.15 The Select File dialog shows part of the Options dialog ( Fig. 1.16 ) in which many settings can be made to allow operators the choice of their methods of constructing drawings. The Options dialog can be opened with a click on Options in the right-click dialog opened in the command palette. Note the following parts in the dialog, many of which are common to other AutoCAD dialogs: Title bar : Showing the name of the dialog. Close dialog button : Common to other dialogs. Popup list : A left-click on the arrow to the right of the ﬁ eld brings down a popup list listing selections available in the dialog. Buttons : A click on the Open button brings the selected drawing on screen. A click on the Cancel button closes the dialog. Preview area: Available in some dialogs – shows a miniature of the selected drawing or other feature, partly shown in Fig. 1.15 .
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 13 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.16 Part of the Options dialog Note the following in the Options dialog ( Fig. 1.16 ) : Tabs : A click on any of the tabs in the dialog brings a sub-dialog on screen. Check boxes : A tick appearing in a check box indicates the function described against the box is on. No tick and the function is off. A click in a check box toggles between the feature being off or on. Radio buttons : A black dot in a radio button indicates the feature described is on. No dot and the feature is off. Slider : A slider pointer can be dragged to change sizes of the feature controlled by the slider. Buttons at the left-hand end of the status bar A number of buttons at the left-hand end of the status bar can be used for toggling (turning on/off) various functions when operating within AutoCAD
14 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 2011 ( Fig. 1.17 ). A click on a button turns that function on, if it is off; a click on a button when it is off turns the function back on. Similar results can be obtained by using function keys of the computer keyboard (keys F1 to F10 ). CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.17 The buttons at the left-hand end of the status bar Snap Mode : Also toggled using the F9 key. When snap on, the cursor under mouse control can only be moved in jumps from one snap point to another . Grid Display : Also toggled using the F7 key. When set on, a series of grid points appears in the drawing area . Ortho Mode : Also toggled using the F8 key. When set on, lines, etc. can only be drawn vertically or horizontally. Polar Tracking: Also toggled using the F10 key. When set on, a small tip appears showing the direction and length of lines, etc. in degrees and units. Object Snap : Also toggled using the F3 key. When set on, an osnap icon appears at the cursor pick box . Object Snap Tracking : Also toggled by the F11 key. When set on, lines, etc. can be drawn at exact coordinate points and precise angles. Allow/Disallow Dynamic UCS : Also toggled by the F6 key. Used when constructing 3D solid models. Dynamic Input : Also toggled by F12 . When set on, the x,y coordinates and prompts show when the cursor hairs are moved. Show/Hide Lineweight : When set on, lineweights show on screen. When set off, lineweights only show in plotted/printed drawings. Quick Properties : A right-click brings up a popup menu, from which a click on Settings causes the Drafting Settings dialog to appear. N o t e When constructing drawings in AutoCAD 2011 it is advisable to toggle between Snap , Ortho , Osnap and the other functions in order to make constructing easier.
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 15 Buttons at the right-hand end of the status bar Another set of buttons at the right-hand end of the status bar are shown in Fig. 1.18 . The uses of some of these will become apparent when reading future pages of this book. A click on the downward-facing arrow near the right-hand end of this set of buttons brings up the Application Status Bar Menu 1 CHAPTER ( Fig. 1.19 ) from which the buttons in the status bar can be set on and/or off. Fig. 1.18 The buttons at the right-hand end of the status bar Fig. 1.19 TheApplication Status Bar menu
16 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 The AutoCAD coordinate system In the AutoCAD 2D coordinate system, units are measured horizontally in terms of X and vertically in terms of Y. A 2D point in the AutoCAD drawing area can be determined in terms of X,Y (in this book referred CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER to as x , y ). x , y 0,0 is the origin of the system. The coordinate point x , y 100,50 is 100 units to the right of the origin and 50 units above the origin. The point x , y 100, 50 is 100 units to the left of the origin and 50 points below the origin. Fig. 1.20 shows some 2D coordinate points in the AutoCAD window. Fig. 1.20 The 2D coordinate points in the AutoCAD coordinate system 3D coordinates include a third coordinate (Z), in which positive Z units are towards the operator as if coming out of the monitor screen and negative Z units going away from the operator as if towards the interior of the screen. 3D coordinates are stated in terms of x , y , z. x , y , z 100,50,50 is 100 units to the right of the origin, 50 units above the origin and 50 units towards the operator. A 3D model drawing as if resting on the surface of a monitor is shown in Fig. 1.21 .
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 17 Y Monitor screen X CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Z Fig. 1.21 A 3D model drawing showing the X, Y and Z coordinate directions Drawing templates Drawing templates are ﬁ les with an extension .dwt . Templates are ﬁ les which have been saved with predetermined settings – such as Grid spacing and Snap spacing. Templates can be opened from the Select template dialog ( Fig. 1.22 ) called by clicking the New icon in the Quick Access Fig. 1.22 A template selected from the Select template dialog
18 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 toolbar. An example of a template ﬁ le being opened is shown in Fig. 1.22 . In this example the template will be opened in Paper Space and is complete with a title block and borders. When AutoCAD 2011 is used in European countries and opened, the acadiso.dwt template is the one most likely to appear on screen. In this CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER part (Part 1 – 2D Design) of this book drawings will usually be constructed in an adaptation of the acadiso.dwt template. To adapt this template: 1. In the command palette enter (type) grid followed by a right-click (or pressing the Enter key). Then enter 10 in response to the prompt which appears, followed by a right-click ( Fig. 1.23 ). Fig. 1.23 Setting Grids to 10 2. In the command palette enter snap followed by right-click . Then enter 5 followed by a right-click ( Fig. 1.24 ). Fig. 1.24 Setting Snap to 5 3. In the command palette enter limits, followed by a right-click. Right- click again. Then enter 420, 297 and right-click ( Fig. 1.25 ). Fig. 1.25 Setting Limits to 420, 297 4. In the command palette enter zoom and right-click. Then in response to the line of prompts which appears enter a (for All) and right-click (Fig. 1.26). Fig. 1.26 Zooming to All
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 19 5. In the command palette enter units and right-click . The Drawing Units dialog appears ( Fig. 1.27 ). In the Precision popup list of the Length area of the dialog, click on 0 and then click the OK button. Note the change in the coordinate units showing in the status bar. CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.27 Setting Units to 0 6. Click the Save icon in the Quick Access toolbar ( Fig. 1.28 ). The Save Drawing As dialog appears. In the Files of type popup list select AutoCAD Drawing Template (*.dwt) . The templates already in AutoCAD are displayed in the dialog. Click on acadiso.dwt , followed by another click on the Save button. Fig. 1.28 Click Save N o t e s 1. Now when AutoCAD is opened the template saved as acadiso.dwt automatically loads with Grid set to 10 , Snap set to 5 , Limits set to 420,297 (size of an A3 sheet in millimetres) and with the drawing area zoomed to these limits, with Units set to 0 . 2. However, if there are multiple users by the computer, it is advisable to save your template to another ﬁ le name, e.g. my_template.dwt . 3. Other features will be added to the template in future chapters.
20 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Methods of showing entries in the command palette Throughout the book, a tool is “ called ” usually by a click on a tool icon in a panel – in this example entering zoom at the command line and the following appears in the command palette: CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Command: enter zoom right-click Specify corner of window, enter a scale factor (nX or nXP), or [All/Center/Dynamic/Extents/ Previous/Scale/Window/Object] : pick a point on screen Specify opposite corner: pick another point to form a window Command: N o t e In later examples this may be shortened to: Command: zoom [prompts]: following by picking points Command: N o t e s 1. In the above enter means type the given letter, word or words at the Command: prompt. 2 . Right-click means press the Return (right) button of the mouse or press the Return key of the keyboard. Tools and tool icons In AutoCAD 2011, tools are shown as names and icons in panels or in drop-down menus. When the cursor is placed over a tool icon a description shows with the name of the tool as shown and an explanation in diagram form as in the example given in Fig. 1.7 (page 5). If a small outward-facing arrow is included at the right-hand side of a tool icon, when the cursor is placed over the icon and the pick button of the mouse depressed and held, a ﬂ yout appears which includes other features. An example is given in Fig. 1.8 (page 5).
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 21 Another AutoCAD workspace Other workspaces can be selected as the operator wishes. One in particular which may appeal to some operators is to click AutoCAD Classic in the 2D Drafting & Annotation popup menu (Fig. 1.29 ). Fig. 1.30 shows the AutoCAD Classic workspace screen. 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.29 Selecting Classic Workspace from the popup menu Fig. 1.30 TheAutoCAD Classic workspace
22 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 In the AutoCAD Classic workspace, tools icons are held in toolbars, which are docked against the sides and top of the workspace. The tool icons in the Draw toolbar ( docked left-hand side) are shown in Fig. 1.31 . Note the grid lines, spaced at 10 coordinate units in both X and Y directions. CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Fig. 1.31 The tool icons in the Draw toolbar
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 23 The Ribbon In the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace, the Ribbon contains groups of panels placed at the top of the AutoCAD 2011 window. In Fig. 1.3 on page 3, there are eight panels – Draw , Modify , Layers , Annotation , Block , Properties , Utilities and Clipboard . Other groups of palettes can 1 CHAPTER be called from the tabs at the top of the Ribbon . If a small arrow is showing below the panel name, a left-click on the arrow brings down a ﬂ yout showing additional tool icons in the panel. As an example Fig. 1.32 shows the ﬂ yout from the Home/Draw panel. At the right-hand end of the panel titles (the tabs ) are two downward pointing arrows. A left-click on the right of these two arrows brings down Fig. 1.32 TheHome/ Draw panel and its a menu. A right-click on the same arrow brings down another menu ﬂ yout ( Fig. 1.33 ). Options from these two menus show that the ribbon can Fig. 1.33 The two menus from the right-hand arrow appear in the AutoCAD window in a variety of ways. It is worth while experimenting with the settings of the ribbon – each operator will ﬁ nd the best for him/herself. The left-hand arrow also varies the ribbon. Repeated left-clicks on this arrow cause the Ribbon panels to: 1. Minimize to tabs 2. Minimize to panel titles 3. Minimize to panel button 4. The full ribbon.
24 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Continuing clicks cause the changes to revert to the previous change. Fig. 1.34 shows the Minimize settings. Any one of these settings leaves more space in the AutoCAD drawing window in which to construct drawings. The various settings of the ribbon allow the user discretion as to how to use the ribbon. When minimized to panel titles or to panel buttons CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER passing the cursor over the titles or buttons causes the panels to reappear and allow selection of tools. Also try Undock from the right-click menu. Fig. 1.34 TheRibbon minimize settings The Quick View Drawings button One of the buttons at the right-hand end of the status bar is the Quick View Drawings button. A click on this button brings miniatures of recent drawings on screen ( Fig. 1.35 ). This can be of value when wishing to check back features of recent drawings in relation to the current drawing on screen. Fig. 1.35 The result of a click on the Quick View Drawings button
Introducing AutoCAD 2011 25 Customisation of the User Interface The AutoCAD 2011 workspace can be arranged in any format the operator wishes by making settings in the Customize User Interface dialog (Fig. 1.36) brought to screen from the right-click menu from the button in the Quick Access toolbar. The dialog can be opened using other methods such as entering 1 CHAPTER cui at the command line, but using this right-click menu is possibly the quickest method. The dialog is only shown here to alert the reader to the fact that he/she can customise the workspace being used to suit their own methods of working. Page space in this book does not allow further explanation. Fig. 1.36 TheCustomize User Interface dialog
26 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 REVISION NOTES 1. A double-click on the AutoCAD 2011 shortcut in the Windows desktop opens the AutoCAD window. 2. There are FOUR main workspaces in which drawings can be constructed – the 2D Drafting & Annotation, AutoCAD Classic, 3D Basics, 3D Modeling. Part 1, 2D Design, of this book deals with 2D drawings and these will be constructed mainly in the 2D CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER Drafting & Annotation workspace. In Part 2, 3D Design, 3D model drawings will be mainly constructed in the 3D Modeling workspace. 3. All constructions in this book involve the use of a mouse as the digitiser. When a mouse is the digitiser: A left-click means pressing the left-hand button (the Pick) button. A right-click means pressing the right-hand button (the Return) button. A double-click means pressing the left-hand button twice in quick succession. Dragging means moving the mouse until the cursor is over an item on screen, holding the left-hand button down and moving the mouse. The item moves in sympathy to the mouse movement. T o pick has a similar meaning to a left-click . 4. Palettes are a particular feature of AutoCAD 2011. The Command palette and the DesignCenter palette will be in frequent use. 5. Tools are shown as icons in the tool panels. 6. When a tool is picked, a tooltip describing the tool appears describing the action of the tool. Tools show a small tooltip, followed shortly afterwards by a larger one, but the larger one can be prevented from appearing by selecting an option in the Options dialog. 7. Dialogs allow opening and saving of ﬁ les and the setting of parameters. 8. A number of right-c lick menus are used in AutoCAD 2011. 9. A number of buttons in the status bar can be used to toggle features such as snap and grid. Functions keys of the keyboard can be also used for toggling some of these functions. 10. The AutoCAD coordinate system determines the position in units of any 2D point in the drawing area (2D Drafting & Annotation) and any point in 3D space (3D Modeling). 11. Drawings are usually constructed in templates with predetermined settings. Some templates include borders and title blocks. N o t e Throughout this book when tools are to be selected from panels in the ribbon the tools will be shown in the form, e.g. Home/Draw – the name of the tab in the ribbon title bar, followed by the name of the panel from which the tool is to be selected.
Chapter 2 Introducing drawing Aims of this chapter The aims of this chapter are: 1. To introduce the construction of 2D drawing in the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace. 2. The drawing of outlines using the Line, Circle and Polyline tools from the Home/Draw panel. 3. Drawing to snap points. 4. Drawing to absolute coordinate points. 5. Drawing to relative coordinate points. 6. Drawing using the ‘tracking’ method. 7. The use of the Erase, Undo and Redo tools. 27
28 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 The 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace Illustrations throughout this chapter will be shown as working in the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace. In this workspace the Home/Draw panel is at the left-hand end of the Ribbon, and Draw tools can be selected from the panel as indicated by a click on the Line tool (Fig. 2.1). In this chapter all examples will show tools as selected from the Home/Draw panel. However, methods of construction will be the same if the reader wishes to work by calling tools from the Draw drop-down menu. In order to bring drop-down menus on screen, first click the small arrow button on chapter 2 the right-hand end of the Quick Access toolbar, then click Show Menu Bar in the menu which appears. Menu titles appear above the Ribbon. Click Draw in this menu bar. From the drop-down menu which appears tools from the Draw list in the menu can be selected. Fig. 2.2 shows the Line tool being selected. Fig. 2.1 The Line tool from the Home/Draw Fig. 2.2 Selecting the Line tool in the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace Panel with its tooltip
Introducing drawing 29 Drawing with the Line tool First example – Line tool (Fig. 1.3) 1. Open AutoCAD. The drawing area will show the settings of the acadiso.dwt template – Limits set to 420,297, Grid set to 10, Snap set 2 to 5 and Units set to 0. 2. Left-click on the Line tool in the Home/Draw panel (Fig. 2.1), or click Line in the Draw drop-down menu (Fig. 2.2), or enter line or l at the command line. chapter Notes a. The tooltip which appears when the tool icon is clicked in the Draw panel. b. The prompt Command:_line Specify first point which appears in the command window at the command line (Fig. 2.3). Fig. 2.3 The prompt appearing at the command line in the Command palette when Line is ‘called’ 3. Make sure Snap is on by either pressing the F9 key or the Snap Mode button in the status bar. will show in the command palette. 4. Move the mouse around the drawing area. The cursors pick box will jump from point to point at 5 unit intervals. The position of the pick box will show as coordinate numbers in the status bar (left-hand end). 5. Move the mouse until the coordinate numbers show 60,240,0 and press the pick button of the mouse (left-click). 6. Move the mouse until the coordinate numbers show 260,240,0 and left-click. 7. Move the mouse until the coordinate numbers show 260,110,0 and left-click. 8. Move the mouse until the coordinate numbers show 60,110,0 and left-click. 9. Move the mouse until the coordinate numbers show 60,240,0 and left-click. Then press the Return button of the mouse (right-click). The line rectangle Fig. 2.4 appears in the drawing area.
30 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 60,240,0 260,240,0 chapter 2 60,110,0 260,110,0 Fig. 2.4 First example – Line tool Second example – Line tool (Fig. 2.6) 1. Clear the drawing from the screen with a click on the Close button of the AutoCAD drawing area. Make sure it is not the AutoCAD 2011 window button. 2. The warning window Fig. 2.5 appears in the centre of the screen. Click its No button. Fig. 2.5 The AutoCAD warning window 3. Left-click New button in the File drop-down menu and from the Select template dialog which appears double-click on acadiso.dwt. 4. Left-click on the Line tool icon and enter figures as follows at each prompt of the command line sequence: Command:_line Specify first point: enter 80,235 right-click Specify next point or [Undo]: enter 275,235 right-click Specify next point or [Undo]: enter 295,210 right-click
Introducing drawing 31 Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter 295,100 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter 230,100 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter 230,70 right-click 2 Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter 120,70 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter 120,100 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter 55,100 chapter right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter 55,210 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter c (Close) right-click Command: The result is as shown in Fig. 2.6. 80,235 275,235 55,210 295,210 120,100 230,100 55,100 295,100 120,70 230,70 Fig. 2.6 Second example – Line tool Third example – Line tool (Fig. 2.7) 1. Close the drawing and open a new acadiso.dwt window. 2. Left-click on the Line tool icon and enter figures as follows at each prompt of the command line sequence: Command:_line Specify first point: enter 60,210 right-click
32 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Specify next point or [Undo]: enter @50,0 right-click Specify next point or [Undo]: enter @0,20 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @130,0 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @0,-20 right-click chapter 2 Third example – Line tool (Fig. 2.7) 1. Close the drawing and open a new acadiso.dwt window. 2. Left-click on the Line tool icon and enter figures as follows at each prompt of the command line sequence: Command:_line Specify first point: enter 60,210 right-click Specify next point or [Undo]: enter @50,0 right-click Specify next point or [Undo]: enter @0,20 right-click Specify next point or [Undo/Undo]: enter @130,0 right-click Specify next point or [Undo/Undo]: enter @0,-20 right-click Specify next point or [Undo/Undo]: enter @50,0 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @0,-105 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @-50,0 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @0,-20 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @-130,0 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @0,20 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter @-50,0 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: enter c (Close) right-click Command: The result is as shown in Fig. 2.7.
Introducing drawing 33 @130,0 @0,20 @0,�20 60,210 @50,0 @50,0 2 c (Close) @0,�105 @�50,0 @�50,0 @0,20 @0,�20 chapter @�130,0 Fig. 2.7 Third example – Line tool Notes 1. The figures typed at the keyboard determining the corners of the outlines in the above examples are two-dimensional (2D) x,y coordinate points. When working in 2D, coordinates are expressed in terms of two numbers separated by a comma. 2. Coordinate points can be shown in positive or negative numbers. 3. The method of constructing an outline as shown in the first two examples above is known as the absolute coordinate entry method, where the x,y coordinates of each corner of the outlines are entered at the command line as required. 4. The method of constructing an outline as in the third example is known as the relative coordinate entry method – coordinate points are entered relative to the previous entry. In relative coordinate entry, the @ symbol is entered before each set of coordinates with the following rules in mind: ve x entry is to the right. ve x entry is to the left. ve y entry is upwards. ve y entry is downwards. 5. The next example (the fourth) shows how lines at angles can be drawn taking advantage of the relative coordinate entry method. Angles in AutoCAD are measured in 360 degrees in a
34 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 counterclockwise (anticlockwise) direction (Fig. 2.8). The  symbol precedes the angle. 90� 135� 45� chapter 2 180� 0� 225� 315� 270� Fig. 2.8 The counterclockwise direction of measuring angles in AutoCAD Fourth example – Line tool (Fig. 2.9) 1. Close the drawing and open a new acadiso.dwt window. 2. Left-click on the Line tool icon and enter figures as follows at each prompt of the command line sequence: Command:_line Specify first point: 70,230 Specify next point: @220,0 Specify next point: @0,-70 Specify next point or [Undo]: @115<225 Specify next point or [Undo]: @-60,0 Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @115<135 Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: @0,70 Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: c (Close) Command: The result is as shown in Fig. 2.9.
Introducing drawing 35 70,230 @220,0 c(Close) @0,70 @0,�70 2 @115�135 @115�225 chapter @�60,0 Fig. 2.9 Fourth example – Line tool Fifth example – Line tool (Fig. 2.10) Another method of constructing accurate drawings is by using a method known as tracking. When Line is in use, as each Specify next point: appears at the command line, a rubber-banded line appears from the last point entered. Drag the rubber-band line in any direction and enter a number at the keyboard, followed by a right-click. The line is drawn in the dragged direction of a length in units equal to the entered number. In this example because all lines are drawn in vertical or horizontal directions, either press the F8 key or click the ORTHO button in the status bar which will only allow drawing horizontally or vertically. 1. Close the drawing and open a new acadiso.dwt window. 2. Left-click on the Line tool icon and enter figures as follows at each prompt of the command line sequence: Command:_line Specify first point: enter 65,220 right-click Specify next point: drag to right enter 240 right-click Specify next point: drag down enter 145 right-click Specify next point or [Undo]: drag left enter 65 right-click Specify next point or [Undo]: drag upwards enter 25 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: drag left enter 120 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: drag upwards enter 25 right-click
36 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: drag left enter 55 right-click Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: c (Close) right-click Command: The result is as shown in Fig. 2.10. 240 65,220 chapter 2 c (Close) 145 55 25 120 25 65 Fig. 2.10 Fifth example – Line tool Drawing with the Circle tool First example – Circle tool (Fig. 2.13) 1. Close the drawing just completed and open the acadiso.dwt template. 2. Left-click on the Circle tool icon in the Home/Draw panel (Fig. 2.11). Fig. 2.11 The Circle tool from the Home/Draw panel
Introducing drawing 37 3. Enter a coordinate and a radius against the prompts appearing in the command window as shown in Fig. 2.12, followed by right-clicks. The circle (Fig. 2.13) appears on screen. 2 Fig. 2.12 First example – Circle. The command line prompts when Circle is called chapter R55 180,160 Second example – Circle tool (Fig. 2.15) 1. Close the drawing and open the acadiso.dwt screen. 2. Left-click on the Circle tool icon and construct two circles as shown in Fig. 2.13 First the drawing Fig. 2.14 in the positions and radii shown in Fig. 2.15. example – Circle tool Fig. 2.14 Second example – Circle tool – the two circles of radius 50 R40 R50 R55 100,160 240,160 Fig. 2.15 Second example
38 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 3. Click the Circle tool again and against the first prompt enter t (the abbreviation for the prompt tan tan radius), followed by a right-click. Command_circle Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius]: enter t right-click Specify point on object for first tangent of circle: pick Specify point on object for second tangent of circle: pick Specify radius of circle (50): enter 40 right- chapter 2 click Command: The circle of radius 40 tangential to the two circles already drawn then appears (Fig. 2.15). Notes 1. When a point on either circle is picked a tip (Deferred Tangent) appears. This tip will only appear when the Object Snap button is set on with a click on its button in the status bar, or the F3 key of the keyboard is pressed. 2. Circles can be drawn through 3 points or through 2 points entered at the command line in response to prompts brought to the command line by using 3P and 2P in answer to the circle command line prompts. The Erase tool If an error has been made when using any of the AutoCAD 2011 tools, the object or objects which have been incorrectly drawn can be deleted with the Erase tool. The Erase tool icon can be selected from the Home/ Modify panel (Fig. 2.16) or by entering e at the command line. Fig. 2.16 The Erase tool icon from the Home/Modify panel
Introducing drawing 39 First example – Erase (Fig. 2.18) 1. With Line construct the outline Fig. 2.17. 130 40 2 90,255 35 chapter 35 90 Fig. 2.17 First example – Erase. An incorrect outline 2. Assuming two lines of the outline have been incorrectly drawn, left-click the Erase tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_erase Select objects: pick one of the lines 1 found Select objects: pick the other line 2 total Select objects: right-click Command: And the two lines are deleted (right-hand drawing of Fig. 2.18). Select objects Result after Erase Fig. 2.18 First example – Erase
40 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Second example – Erase (Fig. 2.19) The two lines could also have been deleted by the following method: 1. Left-click the Erase tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_erase Select objects: enter c (Crossing) Specify first corner: pick Specify opposite corner: pick 2 found Select objects: right-click chapter 2 Command: And the two lines are deleted as in the right-hand drawing Fig. 2.19. opposite corner Result after Erase first corner Fig. 2.19 Second example – Erase Undo and Redo tools Two other tools of value when errors have been made are the Undo and Redo tools. To undo any last action when constructing a drawing, either left-click the Undo tool in the Quick Access toolbar (Fig. 2.20) or enter u at the command line. No matter which method is adopted the error is deleted from the drawing. Fig. 2.20 The Undo tool in the Quick Access toolbar
Introducing drawing 41 Everything constructed during a session of drawing can be undone by repeated clicking on the Undo tool icon or by repeatedly entering u’s at the command line. To bring back objects that have just been removed by the use of Undo’s, left-click the Redo tool icon in the Quick Access toolbar (Fig. 2.21) or 2 enter redo at the command line. chapter Fig. 2.21 The Redo tool icon in the Quick Access toolbar Drawing with the Polyline tool When drawing lines with the Line tool, each line drawn is an object. A rectangle drawn with the Line tool is four objects. A rectangle drawn with the Polyline tool is a single object. Lines of different thickness, arcs, arrows and circles can all be drawn using this tool. Constructions resulting from using the tool are known as polylines or plines. The tool can be called from the Home/Draw panel (Fig. 2.22) or by entering pl at the command line. Fig. 2.22 The Polyline tool icon in the Home/Draw panel
42 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 First example – Polyline tool (Fig. 2.23) In this example enter and right-click have not been included (Fig. 2.23). Left-click the Polyline tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_pline Specify start point: 30,250 Current line width is 0 Specify next point or [Arc/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/ Width]: 230,250 Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/ chapter 2 Undo/Width]: 230,120 Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/ Undo/Width]: 30,120 Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/ Undo/Width]: c (Close) Command: 30,250 230,250 30,120 230,120 Fig. 2.23 First example – Polyline tool Notes 1. Note the prompts – Arc for constructing pline arcs, Close to close an outline, Halfwidth to halve the width of a wide pline, Length to enter the required length of a pline, Undo to undo the last pline constructed Width to change the width of the pline. 2. Only the capital letter(s) of a prompt needs to be entered in upper or lower case to make that prompt effective. 3. Other prompts will appear when the Polyline tool is in use as will be shown in later examples.
Introducing drawing 43 Second example – Polyline tool (Fig. 2.24) This will be a long sequence, but it is typical of a reasonably complex drawing using the Polyline tool. In the following sequences, when a prompt line is to be repeated, the prompts in square brackets ([]) will be replaced by [prompts] (Fig. 2.24). 2 40,250 160,250 260,250 chapter 260,180 260,120 40,120 160,120 Fig. 2.24 Second example – Polyline tool Left-click the Polyline tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_pline Specify start point: 40,250 Current line width is 0 Specify next point or [Arc/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/ Width]: w (Width) Specify starting width : 5 Specify ending width : right-click Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/ Undo/Width]: 160,250 Specify next point or [prompts]: h (Halfwidth) Specify starting half-width : 1 Specify ending half-width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: 260,250 Specify next point or [prompts]: 260,180 Specify next point or [prompts]: w (Width) Specify starting width : 10 Specify ending width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: 260,120 Specify next point or [prompts]: h (Halfwidth) Specify starting half-width : 2 Specify ending half-width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: 160,120 Specify next point or [prompts]: w (Width)
44 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Specify starting width : 20 Specify ending width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: 40,120 Specify starting width : 5 Specify ending width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: c (Close) Command: Third example – Polyline tool (Fig. 2.25) chapter 2 Left-click the Polyline tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_pline Specify start point: 50,220 Current line width is 0 [prompts]: w (Width) Specify starting width : 0.5 Specify ending width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: 120,220 Specify next point or [prompts]: a (Arc) Specify endpoint of arc or [prompts]: s (second pt) Specify second point on arc: 150,200 Specify end point of arc: 180,220 Specify end point of arc or [prompts]: l (Line) Specify next point or [prompts]: 250,220 Specify next point or [prompts]: 260,190 Specify next point or [prompts]: a (Arc) Specify endpoint of arc or [prompts]: s (second pt) Specify second point on arc: 240,170 Specify end point of arc: 250,160 Specify end point of arc or [prompts]: l (Line) Specify next point or [prompts]: 250,150 Specify next point or [prompts]: 250,120 And so on until the outline Fig. 2.25 is completed. 50,220 120,220 180,220 250,220 50,190 150,200 250,190 60,170 240,170 50,150 150,140 250,150 50,120 120,120 180,120 250,120 Fig. 2.25 Third example – Polyline tool
Introducing drawing 45 Fourth example – Polyline tool (Fig. 2.26) Left-click the Polyline tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_pline Specify start point: 80,170 Current line width is 0 Specify next point or [prompts]: w (Width) 2 Specify starting width : 1 Specify ending width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: a (Arc) Specify endpoint of arc or [prompts]: s (second pt) Specify second point on arc: 160,250 chapter Specify end point of arc: 240,170 Specify end point of arc or [prompts]: cl (CLose) Command: And the circle Fig. 2.26 is formed. 160,250 80,170 240,170 Fig. 2.26 Fourth example – Polyline tool Fifth example – Polyline tool (Fig. 2.27) Left-click the Polyline tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_pline Specify start point: 60,180 Current line width is 0 Specify next point or [prompts]: w (Width) Specify starting width : 1 Specify ending width : right-click Specify next point or [prompts]: 190,180 Specify next point or [prompts]: w (Width) Specify starting width : 20 Specify ending width : 0 Specify next point or [prompts]: 265,180 Specify next point or [prompts]: right-click Command:
46 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 And the arrow Fig. 2.27 is formed. 190,180 60,180 265,180 Width=1 Width=0 Width=20 Fig. 2.27 Fifth example – Polyline tool Revision notes chapter 2 1. The following terms have been used in this chapter: Left-click – press the left-hand button of the mouse. Click – same meaning as left-click. Double-click – press the left-hand button of the mouse twice. Right-click – press the right-hand button of the mouse – has the same result as pressing the Return key of the keyboard. Drag – move the cursor on to a feature, and holding down the left-hand button of the mouse pull the object to a new position. Only applies to features such as dialogs and palettes, not to parts of drawings. Enter – type the letters of numbers which follow at the keyboard. Pick – move the cursor on to an item on screen and press the left-hand button of the mouse. Return – press the Enter key of the keyboard. This key may also marked with a left facing arrow. In most cases (but not always) has the same result as a right-click. Dialog – a window appearing in the AutoCAD window in which settings may be made. Drop-down menu – a menu appearing when one of the names in the menu bar is clicked. Tooltip – the name of a tool appearing when the cursor is placed over a tool icon. Prompts – text appearing in the command window when a tool is selected, which advise the operator as to which operation is required. 2. Three methods of coordinate entry have been used in this chapter: Absolute method – the coordinates of points on an outline are entered at the command line in response to prompts. Relative method – the distances in coordinate units are entered preceded by @ from the last point which has been determined on an outline. Angles, which are measured in a counterclockwise direction, are preceded by . Tracking – the rubber band of the line is dragged in the direction in which the line is to be drawn and its distance in units is entered at the command line followed by a right- click. Line and Polyline tools – an outline drawn using the Line tool consists of a number of objects – the number of lines in the outline. An outline drawn using the Polyline is a single object.
IntroducingIntroducing AutoCAD drawing 2010 47 Exercises 1 Methods of constructing answers to the following exercises can be found in the free website: chapter 1. Using the Line tool, construct the rectangle 3. Using the Line tool, construct the outline Fig. 2.28. Fig. 2.30. chapter 2 40,250 270,250 140 60 60 315� 45� 90 225� 135� 40,100 270,100 Fig. 2.28 Exercise 1 60 60 Fig. 2.30 Exercise 3 2. Construct the outline Fig. 2.29 using the Line tool. The coordinate points of each corner of the rectangle will need to be calculated from 4. Using the Circle tool, construct the two circles the lengths of the lines between the corners. of radius 50 and 30. Then using the Ttr prompt add the circle of radius 25 (Fig. 2.31). 5 " 7−8 R25 R50 R30 " 3 4 4− 100,170 200,170 Fig. 2.29 Exercise 2 Fig. 2.31 Exercise 4
48 Introduction to AutoCAD 20102011 5. In an acadiso.dwt screen and using the Circle 8. Construct the outline Fig. 2.35 using the 1 and Line tools, construct the line and circle of Polyline tool. radius 40 shown in Fig. 2.32. Then using the Ttr prompt add the circle of radius 25. 110,210 180,210 50,210 250,210 R40 Width�2 Width�2 Width�20 chapter R25 Width�2 Width�10 200,190 Width�30 Width�10 Width�10 chapter 2 50,130 50,105 250,105 110,105 180,105 185 Fig. 2.35 Exercise 8 Fig. 2.32 Exercise 5 6. Using the Line tool, construct the two lines 9. With the Polyline tool construct the arrows at the length and angle as given in Fig. 2.33. shown in Fig. 2.36. Then with the Ttr prompt of the Circle tool, add the circle as shown. R1−5" 200,200 8 60,200 255,200 Width 20 and 0 " 7 8 Endpoint of arc 225, 130 3− 170,140 Width 25 and 0 1 " 60,95 5−8 Fig. 2.36 Exercise 9 295,70 Fig. 2.33 Exercise 6 120� 7. Using the Polyline tool, construct the outline given in Fig. 2.34. 30 20 120 20 30 20 80 Polyline width�1.5 20 20 20 20 Fig. 2.34 Exercise 7 260
Chapter 3 Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input Aims of this chapter The aims of this chapter are: 1. To give examples of the use of the Arc, Ellipse, Polygon, Rectangle, tools from the Home/Draw panel. 2. To give examples of the uses of the Polyline Edit (pedit) tool. 3. To introduce the Object Snaps (osnap) and their uses. 4. To introduce the Dynamic Input (DYN) system and its uses. 49
50 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Introduction The majority of tools in AutoCAD 2011 can be called into use by any one of the following six methods: 1. By clicking on the tool’s icon in the appropriate panel. Fig. 3.1 shows the Polygon tool called from the Home/Draw panel. chapter 3 Fig. 3.1 The Polygon tool and its tooltip selected from the Home/Draw panel 2. By clicking on a tool icon in a drop-down menu. Fig. 3.2 shows the tool names and icons displayed in the Draw drop-down menu. It is necessary to first bring the menu bar to screen with a click on Show Menu Bar in the left-click menu of the Quick Access toolbar (Fig. 3.3) if the menu bar is not already on screen. 3. By entering an abbreviation for the tool name at the command line. For example, the abbreviation for the Line tool is l, for the Polyline tool it is pl and for the Circle tool it is c. 4. By entering the full name of the tool at the command line. 5. By making use of the Dynamic Input method of construction. 6. If working in the AutoCAD Classic workspace by selection of tools from toolbars. Fig. 3.2 The tool icons In practice operators constructing drawings in AutoCAD 2011 may well in the Draw toolbar use a combination of these six methods.
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 51 3 chapter Fig. 3.3 Selecting Show Menu Bar from the left-click menu in the Quick Access toolbar The Arc tool In AutoCAD 2011, arcs can be constructed using any three of the following characteristics of an arc – its Start point, a point on the arc (Second point), its Center, its End, its Radius, the Length of the arc, the Direction in which the arc is to be constructed, the Angle between lines of the arc. These characteristics are shown in the menu appearing with a click on the arrow to the right of the Arc tool icon in the Home/Draw panel (Fig. 3.4). To call the Arc tool click on the flyout of its tool icon in the Home/Draw panel, click on Arc in the Draw drop-down menu or enter a or arc at the command line. In the following examples, initials of prompts will be shown instead of selection from the menu as shown in Fig. 3.5.
52 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 55,250 10,220 100,220 140,215 260,215 First example 320,210 420,210 Center is 200,190 Radius�75 Second example Third example Fig. 3.5 Examples – Arc tool First example – Arc tool (Fig. 3.5) Left-click the Arc tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_arc Specify start point of arc or [Center]: 100,220 chapter 3 Specify second point of arc or [Center/End]: Fig. 3.4 The Arc tool 55,250 flyout in theHome/ Specify end point of arc: 10,220 Draw panel Command: Second example – Arc tool (Fig. 3.5) Command:right-click brings back the Arc sequence ARC Specify start point of arc or [Center]: c (Center) Specify center point of arc: 200,190 Specify start point of arc: 260,215 Specify end point of arc or [Angle/chord Length]: 140,215 Command: Third example – Arc tool (Fig. 3.5) Command:right-click brings back the Arc sequence ARC Specify start point of arc or [Center]: 420,210 Specify second point of arc or [Center/End]: e (End) Specify end point of arc: 320,210 Specify center point of arc or [Angle/Direction/ Radius]: r (Radius) Specify radius of arc: 75 Command:
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 53 The Ellipse tool Ellipses can be regarded as what is seen when a circle is viewed from directly in front of the circle and the circle rotated through an angle about its horizontal diameter. Ellipses are measured in terms of two axes – a major axis and a minor axis, the major axis being the diameter of the circle and the minor axis being the height of the ellipse after the circle has been rotated through an angle (Fig. 3.6). 3 major axis minor axis Diameter Circle rotated through 60� Ellipse as chapter seen from Circle as Circle as seen direction of arrow seen from from direction a side of arrow Fig. 3.6 An ellipse can be regarded as viewing a rotated circle To call the Ellipse tool, click on its tool icon in the Home/Draw panel (Fig. 3.7), click its name in the Draw drop-down menu or enter a or arc at the command line. First example – Ellipse (Fig. 3.8) Left-click the Ellipse tool icon. The command line shows: Command:_ellipse Fig. 3.7 The Ellipse Specify axis endpoint of elliptical arc or tool icon flyout in the [Center]: 30,190 Home/Draw panel Specify other endpoint of axis: 150,190 Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation] 25 Command: Second example – Ellipse (Fig. 3.8) In this second example, the coordinates of the centre of the ellipse (the point where the two axes intersect) are entered, followed by entering coordinates for the end of the major axis, followed by entering the units for the end of the minor axis. Command:right-click ELLIPSE
54 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Specify axis endpoint of elliptical arc or [Center]: c Specify center of ellipse: 260,190 Specify endpoint of axis: 205,190 Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation]: 30 Command: Third example – Ellipse (Fig. 3.8) In this third example, after setting the positions of the ends of the major axis, the angle of rotation of the circle from which an ellipse can be obtained is entered (Fig. 3.8). chapter 3 30 25 30,190 150,190 205,190 260,190 First example Second example 30,100 Rotation�45� 120,100 Third example Fig. 3.8 Examples – Ellipse Command: right-click ELLIPSE Specify axis endpoint of elliptical arc or [Center]: 30,100 Specify other endpoint of axis: 120,100 Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation]: r (Rotation) Specify rotation around major axis: 45 Command: Saving drawings Before going further it is as well to know how to save the drawings constructed when answering examples and exercises in this book. When a drawing has been constructed, left-click on Save As in the menu appearing with a left-click on the AutoCAD icon at the top left-hand corner of the window (Fig. 3.9). The Save Drawing As dialog appears (Fig. 3.10).
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 55 3 chapter Fig. 3.9 Selecting Save As from the Quick Access menu Fig. 3.10 The Save Drawing As dialog
56 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Unless you are the only person using the computer on which the drawing has been constructed, it is best to save work to a USB memory stick or other form of temporary saving device. To save a drawing to a USB memory stick: 1. Place a memory stick in a USB drive. 2. In the Save in: field of the dialog, click the arrow to the right of the field and from the popup list select KINGSTON [F:] (the name of my USB drive and stick). 3. In the File name: field type a name. The file name extension .dwg does not need to be typed – it will be added to the file name. 4. Left-click the Save button of the dialog. The drawing will be saved with the file name extension .dwg – the AutoCAD file name extension (Fig. 3.10). chapter 3 Snap In previous chapters, several methods of constructing accurate drawings have been described – using Snap, absolute coordinate entry, relative coordinate entry and tracking. Other methods of ensuring accuracy between parts of constructions are by making use of Object Snaps (Osnaps). Snap Mode, Grid Display and Object Snaps can be toggled on/off from the buttons in the status bar or by pressing the keys, F9 (Snap Mode), F7 (Grid Display) and F3 (Object Snap). Object Snaps (Osnaps) Object Snaps allow objects to be added to a drawing at precise positions in relation to other objects already on screen. With Object Snaps, objects can be added to the end points, midpoints, to intersections of objects, to centres and/or quadrants of circles and so on. Object Snaps also override snap points even when snap is set on. To set Object Snaps – at the command line: Command: enter os And the Drafting Settings dialog appears (Fig. 3.11). Click the Object Snap tab in the upper part of the dialog and click the check boxes to the right of the Object Snap names to set them on (or off in on). When Object Snaps are set ON, as outlines are constructed using Object Snap icons and their tooltips appear as indicated in Fig. 3.12.
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 57 3 chapter Fig. 3.11 The Drafting Settings dialog with some of the Object Snaps set on Fig. 3.12 Three Object Snap icons and their tooltips
58 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 It is sometimes advisable not to have Object Snaps set on in the Drafting Settings dialog, but to set Object Snap off and use Object Snap abbreviations at the command line when using tools. The following examples show the use of some of these abbreviations. Object Snaps can be toggled on/off by pressing the F3 key of the keyboard. First example – Object Snap (Fig. 3.13) Call the Polyline tool: Command:_pline Specify start point: 50,230 [prompts]: w (Width) Specify starting width: 1 Specify ending width : right-click chapter 3 Specify next point: 260,230 Specify next point: right-click Command: right-click PLINE Specify start point: pick the right-hand end of the pline Specify next point: 50,120 Specify next point: right-click Command: right-click PLINE Specify start point: pick near the middle of first pline Specify next point: 155,120 Specify next point: right-click Command: right-click PLINE Specify start point: pick the plines at their intersection Specify start point: right-click Command: The result is shown in Fig. 3.13. In this illustration the Object Snap tooltips are shown as they appear when each object is added to the outline. Second example – Object Snap abbreviations (Fig. 3.14) Call the Circle tool: Command:_circle Specify center point for circle: 180,170
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 59 3 chapter Fig. 3.13 First example – Osnaps Specify radius of circle: 60 Command: enter l (Line) right-click Specify first point: enter qua right-click of pick near the upper quadrant of the circle Specify next point: enter cen right-click of pick near the centre of the circle Specify next point: enter qua right-click of pick near right-hand side of circle Specify next point: right-click Command: Notes With Object Snaps off, the following abbreviations can be used: end – endpoint; mid – midpoint; int – intersection; cen – centre; qua – quadrant;
60 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 nea – nearest; ext – extension.(Fig. 3.14) Quadrant Center Quadrant chapter 3 Fig. 3.14 Second example – Osnaps Dynamic Input (DYN) When Dynamic Input is set on by either pressing the F12 key or with a click on the Dynamic Input button in the status bar, dimensions, coordinate positions and commands appear as tips when no tool is in action (Fig. 3.15). With a tool in action, as the cursor hairs are moved in response to movement of the mouse, Dynamic Input tips showing the coordinate figures for the point Fig. 3.15 The DYN tips appearing when no tool is in action and the cursor is moved
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 61 of the cursor hairs will show (Fig. 3.16), together with other details. To see the drop-down menu giving the prompts available with Dynamic Input press the down key of the keyboard and click the prompt to be used. Fig. 3.16 shows the Arc prompt as being the next to be used when the Polyline tool is in use. 3 chapter Fig. 3.16 Coordinate tips when DYN is in action Notes on the use of Dynamic Input Although Dynamic Input can be used in any of the AutoCAD 2011 workspaces, some operators may prefer a larger working area. To achieve this a click on the Clean Screen icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the AutoCAD 2011 window produces an uncluttered workspace area. The command palette can be cleared from screen by entering commandlinehide at the command line. To bring it back press the keys Ctrl9. These two operations produce a screen showing only title and status bars (Fig. 3.17). Some operators may well prefer working in such a larger than normal workspace. Dynamic Input settings are made in the Dynamic Input sub-dialog of the Drafting Settings dialog (Fig. 3.18), brought to screen by entering os (or ds) at the command line.
62 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 chapter 3 Fig. 3.17 Example of using DYN in a clear screen Fig. 3.18 Settings for DYN can be made in the Drafting Settings dialog
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 63 When Dynamic Input is in action, tools can be called by using any of the methods described on page 50. 1. By entering the name of the tool at the command line. 2. By entering the abbreviation for a tool name at the command line. 3. By selecting the tool’s icon from a panel. 4. By selecting the tool’s name from a drop-down menu. When Dynamic Input is active and a tool is called, command prompts appear in a tooltip at the cursor position. Fig. 3.19 shows the tooltip appearing at the cursor position when the Line tool icon in the Home/ 3 Draw panel is clicked. chapter Fig. 3.19 The prompt appearing on screen when the Line tool is selected To commence drawing a line, either move the cursor under mouse control to the desired coordinate point and left-click as in Fig. 3.20, or enter the required x,y coordinates at the keyboard (Fig. 3.21) and left-click. To continue drawing with Line drag the cursor to a new position and either left-click at the position when the coordinates appear as required (Fig. 3.21), or enter a required length at the keyboard, which appears in the length box followed by a left-click (Fig. 3.22). Fig. 3.20 Drag the cursor to the required point and left-click Fig. 3.21 Enter coordinates for the next point and left-click
64 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Fig. 3.22 Enter length at keyboard and right-click When using Dynamic Input the selection of a prompt can be made by pressing the down key of the keyboard (Fig. 3.23) which causes a popup menu to appear. A click on the required prompt in such a popup menu will make that prompt active. The down key of the keyboard chapter 3 Fig. 3.23 The down Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline key of the keyboard 1. Select Polyline from the Home/Draw panel (Fig. 3.24). 2. To start the construction click at any point on screen. The prompt for the polyline appears with the coordinates of the selected point showing. Left-click to start the drawing (Fig. 3.25). Fig. 3.24 Selecting Polyline from the Home/Draw panel Fig. 3.25 Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline – the first prompt 3. Move the cursor and press the down key of the keyboard. A popup menu appears from which a prompt selection can be made. In the menu click Width (Fig. 3.26). 4. Another prompt field appears. At the keyboard enter the required width and right-click. Then left-click and enter ending width or right-click if the ending width is the same as the starting width (Fig. 3.27). 5. Drag the cursor to the right until the dimension shows the required horizontal length and left-click (Fig. 3.28). 6. Drag the cursor down until the vertical distance shows and left-click (Fig. 3.29). 7. Drag the cursor to the left until the required horizontal distance is showing and right-click (Fig. 3.30). 8. Press the down key of the keyboard and click Close in the menu (Fig. 3.31). The rectangle completes.
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 65 3 Fig. 3.26 Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline – click Width in the popup menu chapter Fig. 3.27 Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline – entering widths Fig. 3.28 Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline – the horizontal length Fig. 3.29 Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline – the vertical height
66 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 chapter 3 Fig. 3.30 Dynamic Input – first example – Polyline – the horizontal distance Fig. 3.31 Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline – selecting Close from the popup menu Fig. 3.32 shows the completed drawing. DYN – second example – Zoom 1. Enter Zoom or z at the command line. The firstZoom prompt appears (Fig. 3.33).
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 67 Fig. 3.32 Dynamic Input – first example –Polyline 3 chapter Fig. 3.33 Dynamic Input – second example – Zoom – enter Zoom at the command line. The prompts which then appear 2. Right-click and press the down button of the keyboard. The popup list (Fig. 3.34) appears from which a Zoom prompt can be selected. 3. Carry on using the Zoom tool as described in Chapter 4. Fig. 3.34 Dynamic Input – second example – Zoom – the popup menu appearing with a right- click and pressing the down keyboard button DYN – third example – dimensioning When using DYN, tools can equally as well be selected from a panel. Fig. 3.35 shows the Linear tool from the Home/Annotation panel selected when dimensioning a drawing.
68 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Fig. 3.35 Selecting Linear from the Home/Annotation panel A prompt appears asking for the first point. Move the cursor to the second chapter 3 point, another prompt appears (Fig. 3.36). Press the down button of the keyboard and the popup list (Fig. 3.36) appears from which a selection can be made. Fig. 3.36 Dynamic Input – third example – dimensioning – the popup menu associated with Linear dimensioning The Dynamic Input method of constructing 2D drawings can equally as well be used when constructing 3D solid models drawings (see Chapter 12 onwards). Why use Dynamic Input? Some operators may prefer constructing drawings without having to make entries at the command line in response to tool prompts. By using DYN drawings, whether in 2D or in 3D format, can be constructed purely from operating and moving the mouse, entering coordinates at the command line and pressing the down key of the keyboard when necessary.
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 69 Examples of using other Draw tools Polygon tool (Fig. 3.37) Call the Polygon tool – either with a click on its tool icon in the Home/ Draw panel (Fig. 3.1, page 69), from the Draw drop-down menu, or by entering pol or polygon at the command line. No matter how the tool is called, the command line shows: Command:_polygon Enter number of sides : 6 Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: 60,210 3 Enter an option [Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about circle] : right-click (accept Inscribed) Specify radius of circle: 60 Command: chapter 1. In the same manner construct a 5-sided polygon of centre 200,210 and of radius 60. 2. Then, construct an 8-sided polygon of centre 330,210 and radius 60. 3. Repeat to construct a 9-sided polygon circumscribed about a circle of radius 60 and centre 60,80. 4. Construct yet another polygon with 10 sides of radius 60 and of centre 200,80. 5. Finally another polygon circumscribing a circle of radius 60, of centre 330,80 and sides 12. The result is shown in Fig. 3.37. Inscribing circle 5-sided 8-sided 6-sided pentagon octagon hexagon Circumscribing circle 9-sided nonagon 10-sided 12-sided decagon duodecagon Fig. 3.37 First example – Polygon tool
70 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Rectangle tool – first example (Fig. 3.39) Call the Rectangle tool – either with a click on its tool icon in the Home/ Draw panel (Fig. 3.38) by entering rec or rectangle at the command line. The tool can be also called from the Draw drop-down menu. The command line shows (Fig. 3.39): Fig. 3.38 The Rectangle tool from 25,240 200,240 the Home/Draw panel Chamfers 15 and 15 160,160 300,160 chapter 3 20,120 200,120 Width�4 Width�2 Chamfers Fileets�R15 10 and 15 160,30 315,25 Fig. 3.39 Examples – Rectangle tool Command:_rectang Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/ Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/Width]: 25,240 Specify other corner point or [Area/Dimensions/ Rotation]: 160,160 Command: Rectangle tool – second example (Fig. 3.39) Command:_rectang [prompts]: c (Chamfer) Specify first chamfer distance for rectangles : 15 Specify first chamfer distance for rectangles : right-click Specify first corner point: 200,240 Specify other corner point: 300,160 Command:
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 71 Rectangle tool – third example (Fig. 3.39) Command: _rectang Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/ Fillet/Thickness/Width]: f (Fillet) Specify fillet radius for rectangles : 15 Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/ Fillet/Thickness/Width]: w (Width) Specify line width for rectangles : 1 Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/ 3 Fillet/Thickness/Width]: 20,120 Specify other corner point or [Area/Dimensions/ Rotation]: 160,30 Command: chapter Rectangle – fourth example (Fig. 3.39) Command:_rectang Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/ Fillet/Thickness/Width]: w (Width) Specify line width for rectangles : 4 Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/ Fillet/Thickness/Width]: c (Chamfer) Specify first chamfer distance for rectangles : 15 Specify second chamfer distance for rectangles : right-click Specify first corner point: 200,120 Specify other corner point: 315,25 Command: The Polyline Edit tool The Polyline Edit tool is a valuable tool for the editing of polylines. First example – Polyline Edit (Fig. 3.42) 1. With the Polyline tool construct the outlines 1 to 6 of Fig. 3.40. 2. Call the Edit Polyline tool either from the Home/Modify panel (Fig. 3.41) or from the Modify drop-down menu, or by entering pe or pedit at the command line, which then shows: Command: enter pe PEDIT Select polyline or [Multiple]: pick pline 2
72 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 123 Pline rectangel 120�80 456 Fig. 3.40 Examples – Edit Polyline – the plines to be edited chapter 3 Fig. 3.41 Calling Edit Polyline from the Home/Modify panel Enter an option [Open/Join/Width/Edit vertex/Fit/ Spline/Decurve/Ltype gen/Reverse/Undo]: w (Width) Specify new width for all segments: 2 Enter an option [Open/Join/Width/Edit vertex/Fit/ Spline/Decurve/Ltype gen/Reverse/Undo]: right- click Command: 3. Repeat with pline 3 and pedit to Width  10. 4. Repeat with line 4 and enter s (Spline) in response to the prompt line: Enter an option [Open/Join/Width/Edit vertex/Fit/ Spline/Decurve/Ltype gen/Reverse/Undo]: enter s 5. Repeat with pline 5 and enter j in response to the prompt line:
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 73 Enter an option [Open/Join/Width/Edit vertex/Fit/ Spline/Decurve/Ltype gen/Undo]: enter j The result is shown in pline 6. The resulting examples are shown in Fig. 3.42. 123 Pline 120�80 Pedit to Width�2 Pedit to Width�10 3 of Width�0 456 chapter Pedit using the Pedit drawing 5 Pline with open side Spline prompt using Close Fig. 3.42 Examples – Polyline Edit Example – Multiple Polyline Edit (Fig. 3.43) 1. With the Polyline tool construct the left-hand outlines of Fig. 3.43. 2. Call the Edit Polyline tool. The command line shows: 20 20 60 20 20 15 80 100 20 30 60 30 20 15 After Multiple Pedit pick Outlines using Line and Arc to Width=2 Fig. 3.43 Example – Multiple Polyline Edit
74 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Command: enter pe PEDIT Select polyline or [Multiple]: m (Multiple) Select objects: pick any one of the lines or arcs of the left-hand outlines of Fig. 6.16 1 found Select objects: pick another line or arc 1 found 2 total Continue selecting lines and arcs as shown by the pick boxes of the left-hand drawing of Fig. 3.45 until the command line shows: Select objects: pick another line or arc 1 found 24 total Select objects: right-click [prompts]: w (Width) Specify new width for all segments: 1.5 chapter 3 Convert Arcs, Lines and Splines to polylines [Yes/ No]? : right-click [prompts]: right-click Command: The result is shown in the right-hand drawing of Fig. 3.43. Transparent commands When any tool is in operation it can be interrupted by prefixing the interrupting command with an apostrophe (’). This is particularly useful when wishing to zoom when constructing a drawing (see page 82). As an example when the Line tool is being used: Command:_line Specify first point: 100,120 Specify next point: 190,120 Specify next point: enter ’z (Zoom) >> Specify corner of window or [prompts]: pick >>>> Specify opposite corner: pick Resuming line command. Specify next point: And so on. The transparent command method can be used with any tool. The set variable PELLIPSE Many of the operations performed in AutoCAD are carried out under settings of SET VARIABLES. Some of the numerous set variables
Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input 75 available in AutoCAD 2011 will be described in later pages. The variable PELLIPSE controls whether ellipses are drawn as splines or as polylines. It is set as follows: Command: enter pellipse right-click Enter new value for PELLIPSE : enter 1 right- click Command: And now when ellipses are drawn they are plines. If the variable is set to 0, the ellipses will be splines. The value of changing ellipses to plines is that 3 they can then be edited using the Polyline Edit tool. Revision notes chapter The following terms have been used in this chapter: Field – a part of a window or of a dialog in which numbers or letters are entered or which can be read. Popup list – a list brought in screen with a click on the arrow often found at the right-hand end of a field. Object – a part of a drawing which can be treated as a single object. For example, a line constructed with the Line tool is an object, a rectangle constructed with the Polyline tool is an object and an arc constructed with the Arc tool is an object. It will be seen in a later chapter (Chapter 9) that several objects can be formed into a single object. Ribbon palettes – when working in either of the 2D Drafting and Annotation or of the 3D Modeling workspace, tool icons are held in panels in the Ribbon. Command line – a line in the command palette which commences with the word Command. Snap Mode, Grid Display and Object Snap can be toggled with clicks on their respective buttons in the status bar. These functions can also be set with function keys: Snap Mode – F9, Grid Display – F7 and Object Snap – F3. Object Snaps ensure accurate positioning of objects in drawings. Object Snap abbreviations can be used at the command line rather than setting in ON in the Drafting Settings dialog. Dynamic input allows constructions in any of the three AutoCAD 2011 workspaces or in a full screen workspace, without having to use the command palette for entering the initials of command line prompts. Notes There are two types of tooltip. When the cursor under mouse control is paced over a tool icon, the first (a smaller) tooltip is seen. If the cursor is held in position for a short time the second (a larger) tooltip is seen. Settings for the tooltip may be made in the Options dialog. Polygons constructed with the Polygon tool are regular polygons – the edges of the polygons are all the same length and the angles are of the same degrees.
76 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Polygons constructed with the Polygon tool are plines, so can be edited by using the Edit Polyline tool. The easiest method of calling the Edit Polyline tool is to enter pe at the command line. The Multiple prompt of the pedit tool saves considerable time when editing a number of objects in a drawing. Transparent commands can be used to interrupt tools in operation by preceding the interrupting tool name with an apostrophe (’). Ellipses drawn when the variable PELLIPSE is set to 0 are splines; when PELLIPSE is set to 1, ellipses are polylines. When ellipses are in polyline form they can be modified using the pedit tool. chapter 3
Draw tool ObjectIntroducing Snap and DynamicAutoCAD Input2010 77 Exercises 1 Methods of constructing answers to the following exercises can be found in the free website: chapter 1. Using the Line and Arc tools, construct the 3. Using the Ellipse and Arc tools, construct the outline given in Fig. 3.44. drawing Fig. 3.46. 80,250 260,250 80,230 40 290,230 260,230 R130 chapter 3 R130 230,160 260,90 80,75 290,75 260,70 Fig. 3.44 Exercise 1 Fig. 3.46 Exercise 3 2. With the Line and Arc tools, construct the 4. With the Line, Circle and Ellipse tools, outline Fig. 3.45. construct Fig. 3.47. 7" 3 −8 R−" R135 8 90,210 260,210 " 3 4 90,190 260,190 − R70 R70 " 7 8 5− 90,90 R135 260,90 90,70 260,70 1 " 9−2 Fig. 3.45 Exercise 2 Fig. 3.47 Exercise 4
78 Introduction to AutoCAD 20102011 5. With the Ellipse tool, construct the drawing 7. Fig. 3.50 shows seven hexagons with edges 1 Fig. 3.48. touching. Construct the inner hexagon using the Polygon tool, then with the aid of the 110,250 250,250 Edge prompt of the tool, add the other six hexagons. chapter 30 110,110 250,110 Each ellipse minor axis=30 Fig. 3.48 Exercise 5 chapter 3 6. Fig. 3.49 shows a rectangle in the form of a square with hexagons along each edge. Using Fig. 3.50 Exercise 7 the Dimensions prompt of the Rectangle tool, construct the square. Then, using the Edge prompt of the Polygon tool, add the four hexagons. Use the Object Snap 8. Fig. 3.51 was constructed using only the endpoint to ensure the polygons are in their Rectangle tool. Make an exact copy of the exact positions. drawing using only the Rectangle tool. 3 " 2−4 65 2" 2" 65 " " 1 8 5 8 − 4− Fig. 3.51 Exercise 8 Fig. 3.49 Exercise 6
Draw tool ObjectIntroducing Snap and DynamicAutoCAD Input2010 79 9. Construct the drawing Fig. 3.52 using the 10. Construct Fig. 3.53 using the Line and Arc Line and Arc tools. Then, with the aid of the tools. Then change all widths of lines and arcs 1 Multiple prompt of the Edit Polyline tool, to a width of 2 with Polyline Edit. change the outlines into plines of Width1. 60 170 60 160 40 120 chapter 80 40 50 60 10 Fig. 3.53 Exercise 10 60 40 100 R60 chapter 3 Fig. 3.52 Exercise 9 11. Construct Fig. 3.54 using the Rectangle, Line and Edit Polyline tools. 60 230 60 30 130 Chamfers 20�20 60 60 Inner pline of Width�10 Outer pline of Width�5 Fig. 3.54 Exercise 11
Chapter 4 Zoom, Pan and templates Aims of this chapter The aims of this chapter are: 1. To demonstrate the value of the Zoom tools. 2. To introduce the Pan tool. 3. To describe the value of using the Aerial View window in conjunction with the Zoom and Pan tools. 4. To update the acadiso.dwt template. 5. To describe the construction and saving of drawing templates. 81
82 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Introduction The use of the Zoom tools allows not only the close inspection of the most minute areas of a drawing in the AutoCAD 2011 drawing area, but also the accurate construction of very small details in a drawing. The Zoom tools can be called by selection from the View/Navigate panel or from the View drop-down menu (Fig. 4.1). However by far the easiest and quickest method of calling the Zoom is to enter z at the command line as follows: Command: enter z right-click ZOOM Specify corner of window, enter a scale factor (nX or nXP) or [All/Center/Dynamic/Extents/ Previous/Scale/Window/Object] : chapter 4 Fig. 4.1 Calling Zoom – from the Zoom/Navigate panel or from the View drop-down menu This allows the different zooms: Realtime – selects parts of a drawing within a window. All – the screen reverts to the limits of the template.
Zoom, Pan and templates 83 Center – the drawing centres itself around a picked point. Dynamic – a broken line surrounds the drawing which can be changed in size and repositioned to part of the drawing. Extents – the drawing fills the AutoCAD drawing area. Previous – the screen reverts to its previous zoom. Scale – entering a number or a decimal fraction scales the drawing. Window – the parts of the drawing within a picked window appears on screen. The effect is the same as using real time. Object – pick any object on screen and the object zooms. The operator will probably be using Realtime, Window and Previous zooms most frequently. Figs 4.2–4.4 show a drawing which has been constructed, a Zoom Window of part of the drawing allowing it to be checked for accuracy and 4 a Zoom Extents, respectively. chapter Fig. 4.2 Drawing to be acted upon by the Zoom tool Fig. 4.3 Zoom Window of part of the drawing Fig. 4.2
84 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Fig. 4.4 Zoom Extents of the drawing Fig. 4.2 It will be found that the Zoom tools are among those most frequently used when working in AutoCAD 2011. chapter 4 The Aerial View window Enter dsviewer at the command line and the Aerial View window appears – usually in the bottom right-hand corner of the AutoCAD 2011 Dimensions in millimetres DO NOT SCALE THIS DRAWING Sq thread ỉ25 ỉ25 Cham 3x3 140 120 R20 30 35 125 R20 80 185 Cham 5x5 30 35 35 10 100 ỉ10 ỉ15 Fig. 4.5 The drawing used to illustrate Figs 4.6 and 4.7 A. Yarwood 15/05/2007 Scale 1:1 BENCH VICE 2/4D
Zoom, Pan and templates 85 window. The Aerial View window shows the whole of a drawing, even if larger that the limits. The Aerial View window is of value when dealing with large drawings – it allows that part of the window on screen to be shown in relation to the whole of the drawing. Fig. 4.5 is a three-view orthographic projection of a small bench vice. Fig. 4.6 shows a Zoom Window of the drawing Fig. 4.5 including the Aerial View Window. The area of the drawing within the Zoom window in the drawing area is bounded by a thick green line in the Aerial View window. 4 chapter Fig. 4.6 Zoom Window of the drawing Fig. 4.5 with its surrounding zoom rectangle showing in the Aerial View window The Pan tool The Pan tools can be called with a click on the Pan button in the status bar, from the Pan sub-menu of the View drop-down menu or by entering p at the command line. When the tool is called, the cursor on screen changes to an icon of a hand. Dragging the hand across screen under mouse movement allows various parts of a large drawing not in the AutoCAD drawing area to be viewed. As the dragging takes place, the green rectangle in the Aerial View window moves in sympathy (see Fig. 4.7). The Pan tool allows any part of the drawing to be viewed and/or modified. When that part of the drawing which is required is on screen a right-click calls up the menu as shown in Fig. 4.7, from which either the tool can be exited or other tools can be called.
86 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Fig. 4.7 The Pan tool in action showing a part of the drawing, while the whole drawing is shown in chapter 4 the Aerial View window. Notes 1. If using a mouse with a wheel both zooms and pans can be performed with the aid of the wheel. See page 8. 2. The Zoom tools are important in that they allow even the smallest parts of drawings to be examined and, if necessary, amended or modified. 3. The zoom tools can be called from the sub-menu of the View drop- down menu or by entering zoom or z at the command line. The easiest of this choice is to enter z at the command line followed by a right-click. 4. Similarly the easiest method of calling the Pan tool is to enter p at the command line followed by a right-click. 5. When constructing large drawings, the Pan tool and the Aerial View window are of value for allowing work to be carried out in any part of a drawing, while showing the whole drawing in the Aerial View window. Drawing templates In Chapters 1–3, drawings were constructed in the template acadiso.dwt which loaded when AutoCAD 2011 was opened. The default acadiso template has been amended to Limits set to 420,297 (coordinates within
Zoom, Pan and templates 87 which a drawing can be constructed), Grid Display set to 10, Snap Mode set to 5 and the drawing area Zoomed to All. Throughout this book most drawings will be based on an A3 sheet, which measures 420 units by 297 units (the same as Limits). Note As mentioned before if others are using the computer on which drawings are being constructed, it is as well to save the template being used to another file name, or if thought necessary to a memory stick or other temporary type of disk. A file name My_template.dwt, as suggested earlier, or a name such as book_template can be given. 4 Adding features to the template Four other features will now be added to our template: Text style – set in the Text Style dialog. chapter Dimension style – set in the Dimension Style Manager dialog. Shortcutmenu variable – set to 0. Layers – set in the Layer Properties Manager dialog. Setting text 1. At the command line: Command: enter st (Style) right-click 2. The Text style dialog appears (Fig. 4.8). In the dialog, enter 6 in the Height field. Then left-click on Arial in the Font name popup list. Arial font letters appear in the Preview area of the dialog. Fig. 4.8 The Text Style dialog
88 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 3. Left-click the New button and enter Arial in the New text style sub- dialog which appears (Fig. 4.9) and click the OK button. 4. Left-click the Set Current button of the Text Style dialog. 5. Left-click the Close button of the dialog. chapter 4 Fig. 4.9 The New Text Style sub-dialog Setting dimension style Settings for dimensions require making entries in a number of sub-dialogs in the Dimension Style Manager. To set the dimensions style: 1. At the command line: Command: enter d right-click And the Dimensions Style Manager dialog appears (Fig. 4.10). Fig. 4.10 The Dimensions Style Manager dialog
Zoom, Pan and templates 89 2. In the dialog, click the Modify button. 3. The Modify Dimension Style dialog appears (Fig. 4.11). This dialog shows a number of tabs at the top of the dialog. Click the Lines tab and make settings as shown in Fig. 4.11. Then click the OK button of that dialog. 4 chapter Fig. 4.11 The setting for Lines in the Modify Dimensions Style dialog 4. The original Dimension Style Manager reappears. Click its Modify button again. 5. The Modify Dimension Style dialog reappears (Fig. 4.12), click the Symbols and Arrows tab. Set Arrow size to 6. 6. Then click the Text tab. Set Text style to Arial, set Color to Magenta, set Text Height to 6 and click the ISO check box in the bottom right- hand corner of the dialog. 7. Then click the Primary Units tab and set the units Precision to 0, that is no units after decimal point and Decimal separator to Period. Click the sub-dialogs OK button (Fig. 4.12). 8. The Dimension Styles Manager dialog reappears showing dimensions, as they will appear in a drawing, in the Preview of my-style box. Click the New button. The Create New Dimension Style dialog appears (Fig. 4.13). 9. Enter a suitable name in the New Style Name: field – in this example this is My-style. Click the Continue button and the Dimension Style Manager appears (Fig. 4.14). This dialog now shows a preview of the My-style dimensions. Click the dialog’s Set Current button, following by another click on the Close button. See Fig. 4.14.
90 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Fig. 4.12 Setting Primary Units in the Dimension Style Manager chapter 4 Fig. 4.13 The Create New Dimension Style dialog Fig. 4.14 The Dimension Style Manager reappears. Click the Set Current and Close buttons
Zoom, Pan and templates 91 Setting the shortcutmenu variable Call the line tool, draw a few lines and then right-click. The right-click menu shown in Fig. 4.15 may well appear. A similar menu will also appear when any tool is called. Some operators prefer using this menu when constructing drawings. To stop this menu appearing: Command: enter shortcutmenu right-click Enter new value for SHORTCUTMENU : 0 Command: And the menu will no longer appears when a tool is in action. Fig. 4.15 The right- click menu 4 Setting layers 1. At the command line enter layer or la followed by a right-click. The Layer Properties Manager palette appears (Fig. 4.16). chapter 2. Click the New Layer icon. Layer1 appears in the layer list. Overwrite the name Layer1 entering Centre. Fig. 4.16 The Layer Properties Manager palette 3. Repeat step 2 four times and make four more layers entitled Construction, Dimensions, Hidden and Text. 4. Click one of the squares under the Color column of the dialog. The Select Color dialog appears (Fig. 4.17). Double-click on one of the colours in the Index Color squares. The selected colour appears against the layer name in which the square was selected. Repeat until all five new layers have a colour.
92 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Fig. 4.17 The Select Color dialog 5. Click on the linetype Continuous against the layer name Centre. chapter 4 The Select Linetype dialog appears (Fig. 4.18). Click its Load button and from the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog double-click CENTER2. The dialog disappears and the name appears in the Select Linetype dialog. Click the OK button and the linetype CENTER2 appears against the layer Center. Fig. 4.18 The Select Linetype dialog 6. Repeat with layer Hidden, load the linetype HIDDEN2 and make the linetype against this layer HIDDEN2. 7. Click on the any of the lineweights in the Layer Properties Manager. This brings up the Lineweight dialog (Fig. 4.19). Select the lineweight 0.3. Repeat the same for all other layers. Then click the Close button of the Layer Properties Manager.
Zoom, Pan and templates 93 4 Fig. 4.19 The Lineweight dialog Saving the template file chapter 1. Left-click on Save As in the menu appearing with a left-click on the AutoCAD icon at the top left-hand corner of the screen (Fig. 4.20). Fig. 4.20 Calling Save As
94 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 2. In the Save Drawing As dialog which comes on screen (Fig. 4.21), click the arrow to the right of the Files of type field and in the popup list associated with the field click on AutoCAD Drawing Template (*.dwt). The list of template files in the AutoCAD 2011/Template directory appears in the file list. chapter 4 Fig. 4.21 Saving the template to the name acadiso.dwt 3. Click on acadiso in the file list, followed by a click on the Save button. 4. The Template Option dialog appears. Make entries as suggested in Fig. 4.22, making sure that Metric is chosen from the popup list. The Fig. 4.22 The Template Description dialog
Zoom, Pan and templates 95 template can now saved to be opened for the construction of drawings as needed. Now when AutoCAD 2011 is opened again the template acadiso.dwt appears on screen. Note Remember that if others are using the computer it is advisable to save the template to a name of your own choice. Template file to include Imperial dimensions If dimensions are to be in Imperial measure – in yards, feet and inches, 4 first set Limits to 28,18. In addition the settings in the Dimension Style Manager will need to be different from those shown earlier. Settings for Imperial measure in the Primary Units sub-dialog need to be set as shown in Fig. 4.23. Settings in the Text sub-dialog of the Text Style dialog chapter also need to be set as shown in Fig. 4.24. In addition the settings in the Primary Units dialog also need settings to be different to those for Metric dimensions as shown in Fig. 4.25. Fig. 4.23 Settings for Imperial dimensions in Primary Units
96 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 chapter 4 Fig. 4.24 Settings for Imperial dimensions set in Text Fig. 4.25 Settings for Imperial dimensions in the Primary Units dialog
Zoom, Pan and templates 97 Revision notes 1. The Zoom tools are important in that they allow even the smallest parts of drawings to be examined, amended or modified. 2. The Zoom tools can be called from the sub-menu of the View drop-down menu, or by entering z or zoom at the command line. The easiest is to enter z at the command line. 3. There are five methods of calling tools for use – selecting a tool icon in a panel from a group of panels in the Ribbon; entering the name of a tool in full at the command line; entering an abbreviation for a tool; selecting a tool from a drop-down menu. If working in the AutoCAD Classic workspace, tools are called from toolbars. 4. When constructing large drawings, the Pan tool and the Aerial View window allow work to be carried out in any part of a drawing, while showing the whole drawing in the Aerial View window. 5. An A3 sheet of paper is 420 mm by 297 mm. If a drawing constructed in the template acadiso.dwt described in this book, is printed/plotted full size (scale 1:1), each unit in the drawing will be 1 mm in the print/plot. 6. When limits are set it is essential to call Zoom followed by a (All) to ensure that the limits 4 of the drawing area are as set. 7. If the right-click menu appears when using tools, the menu can be aborted if required by setting the SHORTCUTMENU variable to 0. chapter
98 Introduction to AutoCAD 20102011 Exercises 1 If you have saved drawings constructed either by following the worked examples in this book or by answering exercises in Chapters 2 and 3, open some of them and practise zooms and pans. chapter chapter 4
Chapter 5 The Modify tools Aim of this chapter The aim of this chapter is to describe the uses of tools for modifying parts of drawings. 99
100 Introduction to AutoCAD 2011 Introduction The Modify tools are among those most frequently used. The tools are found in the Home/Modify panel. A click on the arrow at the bottom of the Home/Modify panel brings down a further set of tool icons (Fig. 5.1). They can also be selected from the Modify drop-down menu (Fig. 5.2). In the AutoCAD Classic workspace, they can be selected from the Modify toolbar. Fig. 5.1 The Modify tool icons in the Home/Modify panel Using the Erase tool from Home/Modify was described in Chapter 2. Examples of tools other than the Explode follow. See also Chapter 9 for Explode. First example – Copy (Fig. 5.5) chapter 5 Fig. 5.2 The Modify 1. Construct Fig. 5.3 using Polyline. Do not include the dimensions. drop-down menu 200 25 5 5 130 Fig. 5.3 First example – Copy Object – outlines The Copy tool 2. Call the Copy tool – either left-click on its tool icon in the Home/ Modify panel (Fig. 5.4) or enter cp or copy at the command line. The command line shows: Command: _copy Select objects: pick the cross 1 found Select objects: right-click