Introduction to AutoCAD 2021

BES 114 – Computer-Aided Drafting

WMSU Reference/s:

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This document is for classroom use only and should not be shared outside the WMSU
community.
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 What is AutoCAD
AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting
software application developed by Autodesk. It allows the user of
this software to draw and edit digital 2D and 3D designs more
easily and more quickly than the traditional design by hand.

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 System Requirements
The following are system requirements for running AutoCAD
smoothly.
❑ Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1,
Windows 10 (64 bit)
❑ Processor:
➢ Basic: 2.5 to 2.9 GHz
➢ Recommended: 3+ GHz processor
❑ RAM: 8 GB (16 GB recommended)

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 System Requirements

❑ Display Resolution:
➢ Conventional Displays - 1920 x 1080 with True Color
➢ High Resolution & 4K Displays – Resolutions up to 3840 x
2160 supported on Windows 10, 64-bit systems (with
capable display card)
❑ Disc Space: 7 GB of free space for installation
❑ Browser: Google Chrome
❑ .NET Framework Version 4.8 or later

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 Starting with AutoCAD 2021

To start AutoCAD 2021, double-

click the AutoCAD 2021 icon on
your Desktop. Alternatively, click
START > AutoCAD 2021 >
AutoCAD2021, as shown.

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 AutoCAD User Interface
When you double-click the AutoCAD 2021 icon, the initial screen
of AutoCAD 2021 will be displayed, as shown.

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 AutoCAD User Interface
To open a drawing file, click on the large Start Drawing button
under Getting Started area of the initial screen.

When Template is selected, a dialog box appears. In this dialog box,

select the acad.dwt (inch units) or acadiso.dwt (metric units)
template for creating a 2D drawing. Select the acad3D.dwt or
acadiso3D.dwt template for creating 3D models.

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 AutoCAD User Interface
The drawing file consists of a drawing window, ribbon, menu bar,
toolbars, command line, and other screen components, depending
on the workspace being selected.

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 ❑ Application Menu consists of a list of self-explanatory
menus.
❑ Quick Access Toolbar consists of commonly used commands
such as New, Save, Open, Save As, and so on.

❑ Drawing File Tabs or simply File Tabs you can switch between
different drawing files by using the file tabs.

❑ ViewCube allows you to navigate in the 3D modeling and 2D

drafting environments. You can use this to set the orientation of
the model.

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 ❑ Navigation Bar contains navigating tools such as
Steering wheel, Pan, Zoom, Orbit, and ShowMotion.
❑ Command Line allows you to invoke commands. It also
displays the current state of the drawing and displays various
prompts , which are series of steps needed to successfully
execute a command.
❑ Status Bar contains many buttons which help you to create a
drawing very easily. You can turn On or Off these buttons just
by clicking on them. Some buttons are hidden by default, to
display, click the Customization button available at the bottom
right corner.
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 Workspaces in AutoCAD
Workspaces are sets of menus, toolbars, palettes, and ribbon
control panels that are grouped and organized so that you can
work in a custom, task-oriented drawing environment.

Workspaces available in AutoCAD:

❑ Drafting & Annotation (default)
❑ 3D Basics
❑ 3D Modeling

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 Workspaces in AutoCAD
You can activate other workspaces
by using the Workspace Switching
menu on the lower-right corner of
the window.

Drafting & Annotation – this workspace has all the tools to create a
2D drawing.

3D Basics & 3D Modeling – are used to create 3D models.

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 Entering Points in AutoCAD
There are three ways to enter points in AutoCAD, which you can
directly enter on the Command Line or anywhere in the drawing
window.
❑ Absolute Coordinate System – Using this method, you enter points
in reference to the origin of the User Coordinate System (UCS).
Format: x,y
❑ Relative Coordinate System – This allows you to enter points in
reference to the previous points entered. Format: @x,y
❑ Polar Coordinate System – You would use this system if you want
to draw a line with a certain distance at a particular angle. Format:
@D<A
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 Drawing Basics in AutoCAD
For your first drawing activity, you will learn to do the following:
❑ Draw lines, rectangles, and circles
❑ Use the Erase, Undo, and Redo tools
❑ Draw using the absolute coordinate points
❑ Draw using the relative coordinate points
❑ Draw using the absolute coordinate points
❑ Draw using the Direct Distance Entry

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 Using Absolute Coordinate System
To draw a line, click Home>Draw>Line on
the ribbon, or enter Line or L in the
command line. Then, follow the prompt
sequence given next (see command line).

Specify first point: Type 20,20 and press Enter

Specify next point or [Undo]: Type 100,20 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Undo]: Type 100,60 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Close Undo]: Type 20,60 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Close Undo]: Select the Close option
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 Using Absolute Coordinate System
The drawing will be created as shown below.

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 Using Relative Coordinate System
To draw a line, click Home>Draw>Line on
the ribbon, or enter Line or L in the
command line. Then, follow the prompt
sequence given next (see command line).

Specify first point: Type 20,20 and press Enter

Specify next point or [Undo]: Type @80,0 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Undo]: Type @0,40 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Close Undo]: Type @-80,0 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Close Undo]: Select the Close option
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 Using Relative Coordinate System
The drawing will be created as shown below.

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 Using Polar Coordinate System
To draw a line, click Home>Draw>Line on
the ribbon, or enter Line or L in the
command line. Then, follow the prompt
sequence given next (see command line).

Specify first point: Type 20,20 and press Enter

Specify next point or [Undo]: Type @80<0 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Undo]: Type @40<90 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Close Undo]: Type @80<180 and press Enter
Specify next point or [Close Undo]: Select the Close option
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 Using Relative Coordinate System
The drawing will be created as shown below.

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 Erasing, Undoing, and Redoing
To erase object in AutoCAD, click
Home>Modify>Erase on the ribbon or enter
Erase or E in the command line.
Select the object (line), as shown below and
press Enter; the line will be erased.

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 Erasing, Undoing, and Redoing
To Undo, click the Undo button on the Quick
Access Toolbar or enter Undo or U in the
command line; the line will be restored.

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 Erasing, Undoing, and Redoing
To Redo, click the Redo button on the
Quick Access Toolbar; the line will be
erased again.

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 Drawing Circles
You can draw circles using the tools available in the
draw panel or enter Circle or C in the command line.

(Center, Radius)
(Center, Diameter)
(2-Point)
(3-Point)
And so on

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Exercise 1

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Exercise 2

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