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Welcome to Day 2 of our 20 Days of 2D Exercises in AutoCAD.

Today we have the exercise below where


we are given a basic figure to draw. Our figure has 6 points: A, B, C, D, E and F, and we know the
distance of each segment as AB=5, BC= 7, DC= 2.5, DE= 3, EF= 2.5, FA=4.

The coordinate of the starting point is given but is not that important for this exercise. Check 2D AutoCAD
exercise Day #1 to see its importance.

To draw this figure.

1. Type LINE
2. Specify first point: 5,0
3. Make sure ORTHO is activated, give a right orientation to your line using your mouse, and type 5
4. Orientate your line upward using your mouse and type 7
5. Give the left direction to your line using your mouse and type 2.5
6. Orientate your line downward and type 3
7. Give the left direction to your line and type 2.5
8. Orientate your line downward and type 4
9. Press ESC
If you do not know how to activate the ORTHO mode, you should read the 9 tips on AutoCAD for
beginners. As an example, below is a typical exercise you should be able to perform after following the
steps above.

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I hope you learned something through this demo. Continue to AutoCAD Exercise Day #3 after you have
mastered this tutorial. Feel free to ask question below.

Here is the first exercise of a series of 20 individual 2D exercises for AutoCAD. In this series, I will walk
you through exercises with the aim of helping you learn how to draw in 2D using the software AutoCAD.

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The learning process will be simple. We start from the end, meaning we will set specific goals and we will
find how to use AutoCAD commands to meet such goals.

To begin, we will start by trying to draw this simple figure below. Too simple right? The objective here is
to learn how to use the command window in AutoCAD in order to draw without using the mouse. This will
help us have a first glimpse on how this window works.

We have 4 points and we have the coordinate of each of them. So, basically we have each starting point of
our lines and each ending point.

AutoCAD draws lines using coordinates. To better explain, we put our figure in a system of coordinates in
the image below in order to improve our understanding. If we consider a coordinate system formed by X,
Y, this is how our exercise will fit in the system.

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To draw this, open a new file in AutoCAD

1. Type “LINE”
2. Specify first point: 5,0
3. Specify next point or [Undo]: 10,0
4. Specify next point or [Undo]: 10,7
5. Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: 5,5
6. Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: 5,0
7. Hit the ENTER once more
8. Click on 8 (look at the figure below)
(The part in bold is what AutoCAD is asking you to enter. You will see those same words displayed in the
command windows. You should enter are those coordinates, e.g. 5,0 -> 10,0 -> 10,7 and so on. However,
remember after each step you need to validate your action by pressing the ENTER key on your keyboard)

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There you go! We are done with creating the figure. You noticed how we are able to draw withoutusing a
mouse. It may be difficult for a newcomer but not impossible.
AutoCAD draws lines from one point to the other and starts the next line where the previous one ended. In
step 7, we disabled the LINE command and at that step you can also press the ESC key instead of the
ENTER key, it will serve the same purpose. Step 8 is just to zoom out completely so you may see what
you have just drawn.

I hope you learned something in this exercise and take a look at AutoCAD Exercise Day #2. Feel free to
drop a comment below if you have any questions.

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Welcome to Day #3 of this series of learning AutoCAD with exercises. Today, we have a bit more
complex exercise compared to the two previous ones.

On Day #2, you learned how to draw lines with specific distances. In this exercise, all distances are given
but remember that while drawing a circle in AutoCAD that by default, the software will ask you to enter
the radius of the circle. In this exercise, however, we are given diameters.
Make sure to learn and understand the Day 1 exercise so you will be able to stick your line on the circle at
A and A’ the proper way.

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The TANGENT should be activated. Start from the bottom, meaning start the line at the point W’ and end
it at A’. While approaching the circle, AutoCAD will help you snap the end of the line on a right
tangentially to the circle.

9 tips you should know on your Day 1 of Using AutoCAD


You should notice the green circle in AutoCAD, as shown below.

Using this technique, you should be able to draw the complete figure below.

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We reached the end of today’s exercise, feel free to comment, like and share.

Welcome to Day #4 of this series of 2DAutoCAD exercises. We have a simple image to replicate using
AutoCAD.
All dimensions are given.

If the drawing above is confusing, use the following one, where the image to draw is the one in the red
color.

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If you followed since Day #1, You should have no problem drawing this. However, the new part in this
excercises consists of the place where you need to draw a line knowing its inclination and itsdistance.
This is shown below:

In this figure, we have a line of length 4.6 and this same line is at an angle of 49 degrees with the another
line of length 2.

To achieve this drawing with AutoCAD, you should first draw the line of length 2, which you should know
how to do. Afterwards, start a new line at point A, type @4.6<41 and hit the ENTER key on your
keyboard. The command is defined as 4.6 being the length and 41 being the angle in degrees.
Are you wondering why 41 degrees when it is stated as 49 in the figure? AutoCAD counts angles in
trigonometry form. Therefore, to find the right angle you must do the math, for example, 90 – 49 = 41.

In general, a figure is shown below on how AutoCAD counts angles.

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This brings us to the end of today’s exercise, please like, share and comment.

DAY 5

Today we will daw a rectangle with rounded corners and 9 circles, all in a way to replicate the figure
below. On Day #2, we learned how to draw lines with precise directions and dimensions.
Today, we will learn how to use the FILLET command.

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Step A
Draw a rectangle of width 11.5 and height 9.6. You should get something like this:

Step B
Give the corners of the rectangle the right shape using the FILLET command.

1 – Click on FILLET icon


2 – You should be able to read this in the command window:
Current settings: Mode = TRIM, Radius = 0.0000
3 – Select first object or [Undo/Polyline/Radius/Trim/Multiple]: r
4 – Specify fillet radius <0.0000>: 1.9
5 – Select first object or [Undo/Polyline/Radius/Trim/Multiple]: Select the first line
6 – Select the second line

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If you started from the corner indicated on the image above, the 2 lines you must have selected would be
line 1 and 2. Do the same thing for other corners but you will now omit steps 2, 3 and 4. Click on the
FILLET icon and select the lines. You should get this:

Step C
Click on the RADIUS icon and draw circles.
If you click on the RADIUS command, make sure the Object Snap mode is activated, bring the cursor
closer to where you want to draw the circle, and a point should appear thus allowing you to snap the center

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of your circle at the right place. This works because if those rounded corner were circles their center will
be at the same point with those circle we are about to draw.
When the CIRCLE command is activated, if you bring the cursor near that area this is what should happen:

Therefore, I can easily find the center of my circle using this technique.

Step D

Draw a line from point A to point B. Point A is the center of its specific red line and the same applies for
point B. Now, activate the CIRCLE command and draw the last circle from the center of the line we just
drew from point A to B. Remember to delete this line at the end of this process.

DAY 6

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Today’s exercise will help us utilize the HATCH command and understand it. One thing that is interesting
about this exercise is the “angle game” this exercise will teach you.

There is more than a couple of segments in the exercise that will make you use some techniques we
learned in AutoCAD exercise Day #4, feel free to check how to draw a line with precise angle, you will
need it today.

After finishing drawing, which you will do without problem if you followed from Day #1, you will learn
how to use the HATCH command. This command helps you create a pattern like the one in the image
above.

To use the HATCH command in AutoCAD

1. Click on the HATCH icon


2. Select the Hatch pattern you want
3. Click to determine the HATCH boundary
4. Hit the ENTER key
After activation of the HATCH command in Step 1, the HATCH creation bar appears and allows you to
fix the settings of the HATCH you are creating.

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The HATCH pattern used for this exercise is ANSI32. You can navigate through the available patterns
using the HATCH creation bar shown above. You can also change the angle, the transparency, and other
settings.

DAY 7

Welcome to today’s AutoCAD 2D exercise.

We have the image below to replicate, and luckily we are given all dimensions, which will make the task
simpler. Today’s difficulty is simply to learn how to draw a circle with specified radius tangent to two
objects. As you can see from the figure below, we need to be able to create the R180 circle and R75 circle.

The line AB forms an angle of 30 degrees with the horizontal. To draw this line, follow these steps:

1. Activate the LINE command


2. Click on point A
3. Write @210<30

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4. Hit the ENTER key

To obtain the two large circles, you will have to make sure the OBJECT SNAP mode is set in a way to let
AutoCAD detect Tangent points, and use the CIRCLE command shown below.

Find this command and use it to draw the two large circles. I hope this exercise was simple and you were
able to complete it. If you had trouble, please check the previous exercises. Otherwise, I look forward to
having you here for Day 9’s exercise.

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DAY 8

Today’s 2D exercise combines all that we have learned so far in the previous AutoCAD exercises. But I
would like us to experiment and learn about the ARC command today.

Try to replicate the image below using AutoCAD with all the techniques you have learned so far. When
you are done with the assignment, I invite you to check how to draw this 2D AutoCAD exercise using the
ARC command.
Again, I would love to your thoughts in the comments below.

See you in the next 2D exercise.

Welcome to today’s play. Here is a simple figure that will serve us today.

Again, we will be using tricks we have learned and leaning new tricks as well. I would love to show you
the ARRAY command today.

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I will recommend you look at how to create ARRAYS in AutoCAD. Here, we will create a polar Array
with 3 elements. Basically, we have to draw one element, and use the ARRAY command to get other
elements.
All 3 legs of the design are forming 120 degrees with one another, yes, they are uniformly placed in a
circular arrangement.

Step 1
Draw the figure below.

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Step 2
Use the ARRAY command to create a polar Array. A is the center of your array.

Step 3
Use the FILLET command to get H, P and Q. The raidius is 30.

Step 4
Draw the last piece of object, use the ARRAY command again to get the others around the whole design.
Use the same center as you did in Step 2

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Pretty easy right!?

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DAY 10

We have reached Day #10, and it is time to bring something tricky to the table to challenge yourself. Here
is today’s 2D exercise. As you can see, all members are neither vertically positioned nor horizontally
positioned. All dimensions are vertical and horizontal.

How do you think you can go about finishing this exercise? where do you think you can start for things to
be easy?

Tips
Start by drawing the upper side. Start from 1, then 2. And lastly, rotate from one leg with an angle of 40
degrees. Play with the line and position it like in 3.

Don not CARE just means that when you are drawing that object lying down, you do not have to bother
with the dimension of the line where this is mentioned. The objective of this is to get the shape right.

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However, after you rotate it then you need to figure out how to stick it to the line of length 6 at the right
position, which is actually easy following the process below.

Now, you may use the same technique to get the second part. Draw it standing up, and then you can rotate
it with an angle of 50 degrees. The point D will be used as the BASE Point of the rotation. After rotation,
find a way to put it at its right position, and use the trick demonstrated on the figure below to find the
center of the remaining circles.

Note that the 2 other circles are identical to the first one. This means that R = 0.7. In addition, A and C
represent the centers of other circles.

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I believe we tackle this the easiest way possible, but it is not the only way, so feel free to try it your way
first. If you get stuck, try it the way outlined in this exercise. If you found a better way to solve this
exercises, share your discovery so everyone can benefit. Feel free to drop me a note down below.

DAY 11

Today, we will try to learn few new stuff. Here we have a simple 2D exercise.

I believe you can have this exercise done with no hassle if you have been with me from Day #1. It is true
that there are many way you can go and reach your goals in AutoCAD. This being said, we will find out
what we could learn today, since we want to learn as much as possible in this series of 20 days of 2D
AutoCAD exercise.

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This exercise can be easily accomplished by looking at it like a symmetric figure. This will make you want
to draw only a side of the object, and use the MIRROR command to get the other part.

Drawing the down or up side of the object, and using the MIRROR command will make you obtain the
whole figure. The Axis of Symmetry is shown on the figure below. You can try using this technique,
although I will want in next exercises to bring something more tricky to make you master the MIRROR
command.

The second way to look at the exercise, is the following. You have those 2 left rectangle being symmetrical
and the 3 right rectangle forming a rectangular Array.

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What will be more interesting today is pushing you to construct a Rectangular Array in AutoCAD.I will
suggest we modify our exercise to the one down below. You surely need to avoid drawing those objects
individually, what you need to do is to design one of them and use the ARRAY command to get other
object.

Use the MIRROR command to get F from T or vice versa. The Axis of symmetry is easy to find.

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Then use the ARRAY command to get the rest of the element of our exercise.

Hope you wont have any difficulties using the ARRAY command, feel free to check this post, explaining
clearly how to use the ARRAY command in AutoCAD.

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DAY 12

As promised in the last 2D AutoCAD exercise, I’m bringing this exercise which is an easy one. But
remember the objective of this is to master the MIRROR command.

Here we go, all data you need to draw have been given.

Hint
All you need to draw are those 2 lines the dimensions are given.

The first step is a little tricky, the line AB is actually having a 45 degrees inclinations to the ground. and it
B has to be in the beginning of the line of 15 of length.

Then CD is actually easy, since it is horizontal and D.

Then the last step is to have EF and use if accordingly.

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Hope you successfully master the MIRROR command through this exercise, feel free to drop a comment
down below in case you had difficulties.

DAY 13

Today’s assignment is the following. We have the image down below to replicate using AutoCAD. You
must have noticed the Dashed Thin Lines with Dots. We will not only be using continuous thin lines today,
we will be using other types of lines as well.

Today, we are going to learn how to create Layer in AutoCAD. And how to change line types.

Hint
How to draw the top part of this exercise.

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You can use the CIRCLE command combined with the OFFSET command. Or simply using circles.

Method #1
Using the CIRCLE command and the OFFSET command.

Step 1
Draw the figure below

Step 2
Use the OFFSET command with an offset distance of 0.9 to get one circle outside and another inside of
our already drawn circle.

To use the OFFSET command

1- Click on the OFFSET icon


2- Current settings: Erase source=No Layer=Source OFFSET GAPTYPE=0
Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <Through>: 0.9
3- Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: Select the circle of Radius 4.1
4- Specify point on side to offset or [Exit/Multiple/Undo] <Exit>: Click inside the circle
Repeat the same to obtain the outer circle

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You should get this

Step 3
Draw a circle of R 0.9 as shown in the figure below. The center is the intersection of the circle of 4.1 of
radius and the straight line.

Step 4
Rotate the Circle with an angle of 30 degrees from the center point A using the ROTATE command.

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Step 5
Use the MIRROR command to get an identical circle at the same position on the left side of the drawing

Step 6
Use the TRIM command to clean up

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Method #2
You can create a circle of radius (4.1-0.9=3.2) and a circle of radius (4.1+0.9=5) both having the same
center as the circle of radius 4.1. This will have you not to use the OFFSET command. After drawing those
circles, jump to step 3 in the method #1

How to change line types.


Method #1
Changing object properties
To load a new line type, Click on Other…

Click on Load

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Find the Linetype you would like to add

After Loading it, it now appears in the Linetype Manager

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To change the Linetype of an object, simply select the object first, and select the Linetype you want the
object to be made of.

method #2
Using LAYER command
Type LAYER and hit the ENTER key

Right click in a blank area in the new window

Click on New Layer

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The following window pops up. Here you can change the color, Lineweight and Linetype of a particular
Layer. The default Layer’s Name is Layer1. To change its Linetype, Simply click onContinuous, and you
will be taken to a window similar to the one in the previous method. Load a new Linetype, Select the
appropriate Linetype and hit OK.

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Now, to put any object in this layer, Simply select the object and Select the Layer you want it to be in.

DAY 14

Welcome to today’s exercise. We are getting a little serious today.

Today we have this “bent pipe joint” in 2D to draw as an exercise in AutoCAD. You can go ahead a use
the HATCH command at the end of the design, nonetheless the more important in this exercise is to use a
little bit of thinking and all techniques we have learned to get the curve right. All dimensions from your
design should coincide with the one in the exercise.

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Hint
The most tricky part in the exercise in my opinion is to get the curve shape right, and to place the two ends
at their right positions.

To achieve this. Use the trick shown below.

Draw the rectangle 37 x 225 and rotate is around the R225 circle with an angle of 45 degrees. And use the
R225 circle to obtain the curve of the bent.

The circle intersect the rectangle at the center of the lower side.

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Use the OFFSET command to get outer lines from the one left by the R225 circle. You can easily find the
OFFSET distances using the inner and outer diameter of the pipe.

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All hard parts have been done. You will need to use the FILLET command to get those rounded corners.

DAY 15

Today, we are going a little banana, but don’t be put off, if you were here since Day #1 you actually
possess all the skill to come out of this exercise successfully. Here is a simple 2D exercise that I will want
us to work on in today’s session.

As an advice, you should always before putting yourself to work with this sort of AutoCAD exercise, try
finding what will be easy to start with. I will suggest in this exercise to start by putting those two giant
circles in place. You actually have all the information to start drawing them without any hassle.

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Other information I would like to provide in this exercise are the following. You will need the ARRAY
command in AutoCAD to place those object the way they are in this exercise. And to construct an Array,
you need a reference object, and in this exercise the reference object is a bit inclined seeing from the center
of the array. Their angle of inclination are provided on the image below.

I think you have all to start, in spite of all the information I just provided I will go ahead I shoot some Hint
to help you in this exercise.

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You can easily get the arc A using the Tangent feature learned in past AutoCAD exercises. Draw B using
the OFFSET command. The same approach applies to FGH.
If you still have some difficulties drawing this, feel free to drop a comment below. Do not forget to share
and like if this helped you.

See you on the next session.

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DAY 16

Welcome to 2D AutoCAD exercise Day #17. It’s been more than a couple of week we are learning 2D
tricks on AutoCAD. Today’s exercise is the following.

The image below serves as exercise for today.

Image by Kevin Brown


Hint
Use the CIRCLE and LINE command to get the following objects.

Clean it up using the TRIM command, you should have this

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Use the OFFSET command to get the outer image of each block. You will need to find the appropriate
OFFSET dimension for each block.

From this point on, you should be good to go, if you had some difficulties at the beginning of this session.
With hope you had some difficult time today, I will love to see you in tomorrow 2D AutoCAD exercise
session.

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Welcome to Day #17.

Today’s AutoCAD exercise consists of the following. We have this simple figure to replicate given all
dimensions.

Complementary information

Today’s exercise have been conceived with the aim to have you use all what you have learned so far. But
we will have to draw our first polygon today.

The 6 point start in the design is easily replicated using a polygon with 6 sides. You might want to
check how to draw a 5 point start in AutoCAD to apprehend how you can go about this.
The POLYGON command

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Notice that the star is Circumscribed about the circle of R12.7 in our exercise.

There is actually two ways to draw a polygon in AutoCAD: Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about circle.
And the information you need to provide will be, the center and the radius of the circumscribed circle or
inscribed circle. Play around with both possibilities and notice the difference.

You are free to use whatever technique you master best to have this exercise done, but I will suggest you
explore and trying different things for experiment sake.

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DAY 18

We are almost at the end of this series ofAutoCAD learning exercises. Today, we have a tricky one, and I
hope it is really tricky for you. The drawing below is to be replicated using AutoCAD or any other CAD
software you may have at hand.

Complementary information.

The head on the far right side is constructed like this.

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You might want to consider the image B, to apprehend how you should start drawing image A which is of
course part of the exercise.

There is an Array to construct around the center of the circle R7.5. You will figure the element out looking
at the exercise.

Hint for the whole exercise.

The distance between these two points is 40

This bring us to the end of today’s session.

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