INTRODUCTION TO AUTOCAD

This Module discusses operation and interface of AutoCAD software

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Create, open and save AutoCAD file.

Objective
 Create and Save AutoCAD drawing files

2D User Interface (AutoCAD 2007)

Drop-Down Menu: All options of AutoCAD can be accessed from this menu.
Standard Tool Bar: Shows copy, cut, paste, save, zoom icons.
Style Tool Bar: Shows current text style, dimension style, table style.
Layer Tool Bar: Shows current layer name.
Properties Tool Bar: Shows color, line type, line weight.
Draw Tool Bar: Shows line, rectangle, circle icons.
Modify Tool Bar: Shows modification icons.
Command Line: Shows activated command.

The UCS Icon

X-Y Co-ordinate

In the bottom left corner of the AutoCAD drawing window you will see a symbol like one
shown in top. This is called the UCS (User Co-ordinate System) icon and it is there to
remind you which is the X axis and which is the Y axis. In AutoCAD, there are two co-
ordinate systems:
 World Co-ordinate System: A fixed system.
 User Co-ordinate System: A movable system.
You can relocate the user co-ordinate system using any of these methods:
 Move the UCS by defining a new origin.
 Align the UCS with an existing object or with the current viewing direction.
 Rotate the current UCS around any of its axes.
 Restore a saved UCS.
You usually create drawings by combining and modifying several different basic
primitive shapes, such as lines, circles, and arcs, to create more complex shapes. Keep
in mind that one of the advantages of using CAD over drawing on paper is that you are
creating an accurate model of the drawing geometry.
Learning to use a CAD system is similar to learning a new language. It is necessary to
begin with the basic alphabet and learn how to use it correctly and effectively through
practice. This will require learning some new concepts and skills as well as learning a
different vocabulary. Today, the majority of the Mechanical CAD systems are capable of
creating three-dimensional solid models. Nonetheless, all CAD systems create designs
using basic geometric entities and many of the constructions used in technical designs
are based upon two-dimensional planar geometry. The method and number of
operations that are required to accomplish the basic planar constructions are different
from one system to another.
In order to become effective and efficient in using a CAD system, we must learn to
create geometric entities quickly and accurately. In learning to use a CAD system, lines
and circles are the first two, and perhaps the most important two, geometric entities that
one should master the skills of creating and modifying. Straight lines and circles are
used in almost all technical designs. In examining the different types of planar geometric
entities, the importance of lines and circles becomes obvious. Triangles and polygons
are planar figures bounded by straight lines. Ellipses and splines can be constructed by
connecting arcs with different radii. As one gains some experience in creating lines and
circles, similar procedures can be applied to create other geometric entities.
AutoCAD is one of leading CAD software that has been used by industries in design
processes. This chapter will give you few steps on how to start using the software.

Figure 1.0 General Company Structure

Starting Up AutoCAD 2017
1. Select the AutoCAD 2017 option on the Program menu or select the AutoCAD
2017 icon on the Desktop. Click Start Drawing to start a new drawing.

Once the program is loaded into memory, the AutoCAD 2017 main drawing screen will
appear on the screen.
Note that AutoCAD automatically assigns generic names, Drawing X, as new drawings
are created. In our example, AutoCAD opened the graphics window using the default
system units and assigned the drawing name Drawing1.
AutoCAD includes a standard tabbed ribbon across the top of the drawing area. You
can access nearly all the commands presented in this guide from the Home tab. In
addition, the Quick Access toolbar shown below includes familiar commands such as
New, Open, Save, Print, Undo, and so on.
The Command Window
At the heart of AutoCAD is the Command window, which is normally docked at the
bottom of the application window. The Command window displays prompts, options,
and messages.

You can enter commands directly in the Command window instead of using the ribbon,
toolbars, and menus. Many longtime AutoCAD users prefer this method.
Notice that as you start to type a command, an autocomplete menu appears. When
several options are available, such as in the example below, make your choice by
clicking the correct option or using the arrow keys and then pressing Enter or the
Spacebar to confirm your selection.
If necessary, click on the down-arrow in the Quick Access bar and select Show Menu
Bar to display the AutoCAD Menu Bar. The Menu Bar provides access to all AutoCAD
commands.

To switch on the AutoCAD Coordinates Display, use the Customization option at the
bottom right corner.

New Drawings
You can easily conform to industry or company standards by specifying settings for text,
dimensions, linetypes, and several other features. For example, this backyard deck
design displays two different dimension styles.
All these settings can be saved in a drawing template file. Click New to choose from
several drawing template files:

Create Your Own Drawing Template File

You can save any drawing (.dwg) file as a drawing template (.dwt) file. You can also
open any existing drawing template file, modify it, and then save it again with a different
filename if needed.

If you work independently, you can develop your drawing template files to suit your
working preferences, adding settings for additional features as you become familiar with
them.
To modify an existing drawing template file, click Open, specify Drawing Template
(*.dwt) in the Select File dialog box, and choose the template file.
Units
When you first start a drawing, you need to decide what the length of one unit
represents—an inch, a foot, a centimeter, a kilometer, or some other unit of length. For
example, the objects below could represent two buildings that are each 125 feet long, or
they could represent a section from a mechanical part that is measured in millimeters.

Every object we construct in a CAD system is measured in units. We should determine

the system of units within the CAD system before creating the first geometric entities

1. In the Menu Bar select:

Units
• The AutoCAD Menu Bar
contains multiple pull-down
menus where all of the
AutoCAD commands can be
accessed. Note that many of
the menu items listed in the
pull-down menus can also be
accessed through the Quick
Access toolbar and/or Ribbon
panels.
2. Click on the Length Type
option to display the different
types of length units
available. Confirm the Length
Type is set to Decimal.

3. On your own, examine the

other settings that are
available.

4. In the Drawing Units dialog

box, set the Length Type to
Decimal. This will set the
measurement to the default
English units, inches.
5. Set the Precision to two
digits after the decimal point
as shown in the above figure.

6. Pick OK to exit the

Drawing Units dialog box.

Model Scale
Always create your models at full size (1:1 scale). The term model refers to the
geometry of your design. A drawing includes the model geometry along with the views,
notes, dimensions, callouts, tables, and the title block displayed in the layout.
You can specify the scaling that is necessary to print a drawing on a standard-sized
sheet later, when you create the layout.
Recommendations
 To open Help for information about the command in progress, press F1.
 To repeat the previous command, press Enter or the Spacebar.
 To see various options, select an object and right-click or right-click a user
interface element.
 To cancel a command in progress or if you ever feel stuck, press Esc. For
example, if you click in the drawing area before entering a command, you will see
something like the following:
Here’s a Tip:
Press Esc to cancel this preselection operation.
Viewing
Zoom in on a drawing to better control the order of overlapping objects.
The easiest way to change your view is by using the mouse wheel.
 Zoom in or out by rolling the wheel.
 Pan a view in any direction by holding the wheel down while moving your mouse.
 Zoom in on a specific area for greater detail holding your mouse over the area
and clicking the wheel twice.
Most people use a mouse as their pointing device, but other devices have equivalent
controls.
Here’s a Tip:
When you zoom in or out, the location of the cursor is important. Think of your cursor as
a magnifying glass. For example, if you position the cursor in the upper-right area of the
floor plan as shown below, zooming in magnifies the dressing room without shifting the
view.
NOTE: If you cannot zoom or pan any more, type REGEN in the Command window and
press Enter. This command regenerates the drawing display and resets the extents
available for panning and zooming.
Here’s a Tip:
When looking for a command or option, try right-clicking. Depending on where your
cursor is located, different menus will display relevant commands and options.

Overlapping Objects
If you create objects that overlap, you might need to change which objects are
displayed on top or in front of the others. For example, if you want the yellow highway to
cross the blue river rather than the other way around, use the DRAWORDER command
to reorder the objects.
You can access several draw order options from the Modify panel on the ribbon. Click to
expand the Modify panel, and then click the down-arrow as shown below.

The draw order options that are listed include sending all hatches to the back, all text to
the front, and so on.
Drawing Area Setup
Next, we will set up the Drawing Limits by entering a command in the command prompt
area. Setting the Drawing Limits controls the extents of the display of the grid. It also
serves as a visual reference that marks the working area. It can also be used to prevent
construction outside the grid limits and as a plot option that defines an area to be
plotted/printed. Note that this setting does not limit the region for geometry construction.
1. In the Menu Bar select: Drawing Limits

2. In the command prompt area, the message “Reset Model Space Limits: Specify lower
left corner or [On/Off] <0.00,0.00>:” is displayed. Press the ENTER key once to accept
the default coordinates <0.00,0.00>.
3. In the command prompt area, the message “Specify upper right corner
<12.00,9.00>:” is displayed. Press the ENTER key again to accept the default
coordinates <12.00,9.00>.

4. On your own, move the graphics cursor near the upper-right corner inside the
drawing area and note that the drawing area is unchanged. (The Drawing Limits
command is used to set the drawing area, but the display will not be adjusted until a
display command is used.)
5. Inside the Menu Bar area select: [View] → [Zoom] → [All]
 The Zoom All command will adjust the display so that all objects in the drawing
are displayed to be as large as possible. If no objects are constructed, the
Drawing Limits are used to adjust the current viewport.
6. Move the graphics cursor near the upper-right corner inside the drawing area and
note that the display area is updated.
7. Hit the function key [F7] once to turn off the display of the Grid lines.

Note that function key [F7] is a quick key, which can be used to quickly toggle on/off the
grid display. Also, note the command prompt area can be positioned to dock below the
drawing area or float inside the drawing area as shown.