10

T.L.E.
Technical
Drafting
Quarter 1 – Module 3:
CAD WORKSPACE

Writer: Precious Faith G. Villanueva

 What I Know

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Pertains to the sets of menus, toolbars, palettes and ribbon control panel.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
2. Workspace switching button for 2-Dimensional Drafting.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
3. Workspace switching button for 3-Dimensional Drafting.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
4. Command used to modify settings to specific part of the workspace.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
5. Command key that allows user to take help online.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
6. Command key that restricts movements to grid.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
7. Command key that locks cursor movement to horizontal or vertical.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
8. Command key that show history on the drawing file.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
9. Command shortcut used for copying object.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
10. Command shortcut used for cutting object.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
11. Command shortcut used to create new drawing.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
12. Command shortcut used to save drawing.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
13. Command shortcut used for transparent swivel.
A. CP B. I
C. Z D. Ctrl+Long Left Click>>Drag
14. Command shortcut used to insert blocks on drawing file.
A. CP B. I
C. Z D. Ctrl+Long Left Click>>Drag
15. Command shortcut used to zoom drawing area.
A. CP B. I
C. Z D. Ctrl+Long Left Click>>Drag

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 Lesson

3 CAD Workspace

M
anipulating the CAD features simply mean to draw virtually using your
computer. On the previous modules you are able to familiarize yourself with
the different software and hardware requirements of CAD as well as its
working environment. You are now going to immerse yourself in workspace that will
introduce you to commands used to create drawings.
The whole series of this module is based on the use of the CAD software - AutoCAD.
As for this lesson, the primary objectives for LO 1. Operate CAD Software and
Computer Hardware are the following according to the sub- LO 1.3 which is to
Manipulate CAD Features as per Job Requirement:
1. Identify modification settings for CAD Workspace
2. Operate CAD Workspace
3. Manipulate CAD in creating drawings

What’s In

What is CAD Working Environment?

The CAD working environment is mainly composed of the Start Page and Drawing
Area graphical user interface. This virtual setup of the user’s working area allows the
person to get a hold of what’s going on the data input from the draftsman layout and
design.
Certain options are available on the Start Page to assist us in setting up our preferred
drawing area. As for the Drawing Area, it is where we create our drawings with the
use of the different toolbar options available such as draw, modify, annotate and the
different style properties.

Notes to the Teacher

This contains the CAD commands to help your
students familiarize how each are used to manipulate the
hardware and software features in creating drawings.

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 What’s New

CAD Features at the Tip of Your Hand

Direction: Below is a sample picture of what a keyboard looks like. On a separate
sheet of paper, write the commands that is linked to the keyboard keys highlighted in
blue. You may use the some of the stated functions.

Function Keys: A – Creates an arc.

F1 – S – Stretches objects crossed by a
F2 – selection window or polygon.
F3 – D – Creates and modifies dimension
F4 – styles.
F5 – F – Rounds and fillets the edges of
F6 – objects.
F7 – G – Creates and manages saved sets of
F8 – objects called groups.
F9 – H – Fills an enclosed area or selected
F10 – objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill,
F11 – or gradient fill.
F12 – J – Joins similar objects to form a
single, unbroken object.
Alphabet Keys: L – Creates straight line segments.
Q – Saves the current drawing. Z – Increases or decreases the
W – Writes objects or a block to a new magnification of the view in the current
drawing file. viewport.
E – Removes objects from a drawing. X – Breaks a compound object into its
R – Refreshes the display in the current component objects.
viewport. C – Creates a circle.
T – Creates a multiline text object. V – Saves and restores named views,
I – Inserts a block or drawing into the camera views, layout views, and preset
current drawing. views.
O – Creates concentric circles, parallel B – Creates a block definition from
lines, and parallel curves. selected objects.
P – Adds a parameter with grips to a M – Moves objects a specified distance
dynamic block definition. in a specified direction.

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 What is It

CAD Workspace

CAD workspace pertains to the sets of menus, toolbars, palettes, and ribbon control
panels that are organized so that you can work in a custom, task-oriented drawing
environment.
You can create your own workspaces using the following methods:
✓ Workspace Switching
✓ Workspaces toolbar or the Window menu
✓ WORKSPACE command

In AutoCAD version 2015 and latest, the AutoCAD Classic Workspace is not readily
available. Although the Ribbon interface was developed to offer ease of access, still
some opt to work using the old interface which are still on 2009-2014 versions of the
software.
Below are the task-based workspaces already defined in the product which you can
easily switch between through the Workspace Switching button on the status bar at
the bottom-right of the application window on latest AutoCAD versions.
➢ 2D Drafting & Annotation
➢ 3D Basics
➢ 3D Modeling

Primarily, 2D workspace allows you to create drawings that deals with the length
and width, while 3D workspace offers you to design your drawing showing its height
or depth.

CAD Drawing Options

In order to operate the CAD software, familiarity on the most common

command features can greatly help in the speed and precision of drawing projects as
you are able to hone the mastery in computer-aided drawing.

Below are terms commonly used in CAD:

- Toggle refers switching of an item/mode into the on or off state.
- Hover refers to point cursor on something without clicking it.

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 Another way to speed-up the operation per project drawings is the use of
shortcut keys. Shortcut keys activate commands just by clicking a few combinations
of keyboard keys instead of clicking and typing all the command name. Other
keyboard shortcut commands are a combination of the first letters of the command
name.
Drawing Options redirect you to a pop-up window to modify the settings
to specific drawing environment such as the Display.
You can open this through the Application Button or by the OPTION
(OP↵) command.

CAD Drawing Aids

In order to apply the different CAD commands to function, you must click the
command button, key in the respective function keys or press the combination of
keys for the desired command.

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 The keyboard function keys F1 - F12 control settings are commonly
turned on and off as you work in the project.
Key Feature Description
F1 Help It allows the user to take help online on certain software
issues and via PDF when working offline
F2 Expanded Displays an expanded command history in the Command
history window.
F3 Object snap Turns object snap on and off. OSnap feature of this software
helps to draw or snap your drawing at a specific location of
your current object.
F4 3D object snap Turns on and off additional object snaps for 3D to accurately
pinpoint on the particular position of a body.
F5 Isoplane The plane with an angle of 30 degrees from horizontal.
SOPLANE provides the following modes when working with
a 2D isometric view of 3D models:
- Ortho Direction
- Snap Orientation
- Grid Orientation
- Polar Tracking Angles
If the snap style is set as Isometric, Ortho mode will use
appropriate axis pair from 30, 90, and 150 degrees.
F6 Dynamic UCS Turns automatic UCS alignment with planar surfaces on
(AutoCAD only) and off. This command is only used when working on 3-
dimensional objects.
F7 Grid display Turns the grid display on and off. The grid system allows the
user to reorient him and after that, he can focus on his
design.
F8 Ortho Locks cursor movement to horizontal or vertical.
F9 Grid snap Restricts cursor movement to specified grid intervals. By
using this key you can easily snap to a rectangular grid and
create your drawing more easily and efficiently.
F10 Polar tracking Guides cursor movement to specified angles. This command
is useful while working on objects having more than one
different orientation when one part of the object is rotated
45 degrees in relation to another part. While working with
this command ORTHO command will automatically be shut
off.
F11 Object snap Tracks the cursor horizontally and vertically from object
tracking snap locations. This is used with other commands to draw
your design more accurately.
F12 Dynamic input Displays distances and angles near the cursor and accepts
input as you use Tab between fields.

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 Below are some of the screen management commands used.

Manage Workflow
Ctrl+C Copy object
Ctrl+X Cut object
Ctrl+Y Paste object
Ctrl+Shift+C Copy to clipboard with base point
Ctrl+Shift+V Paste data as block
Ctrl+z Undo last action
Ctrl+y Redo last action
Ctrl+[ Cancel current command (or ctrl+\)
ESC Cancel current command

Manage Drawings
Ctrl+N New Drawing
Ctrl+S Save drawing
Ctrl+O Open drawing
Ctrl+P Plot dialog box
Ctrl+Tab Switch to next
Ctrl+Q Exit
Ctrl+A Select all objects
Ctrl+Shift+Tab Switch to previous drawing
Ctrl+Page Up Switch to previous tab in current drawing
Ctrl+Page Down Switch to next tab in current drawing
Z Zoom to increases or decreases the magnification

Special Key Functions

SHIFT +Long Left Click/ Ctrl Shift Long Left Click, then drag: Transparent Orbit
CTRL +Long Left click, then drag: Transparent Swivel

Enter Key Ends a command, or will repeat the previous command

Space Bar Same as the Enter Key, except when entering key.
CTRL+I Toggles COORDS palette
CTRL+L Toggles Ortho mode
CTRL+SHIFT+A Toggles Groups
CTRL+B Toggles Snap mode
CTRL+R Cycles through layout Clipboard with Base Point
CTRL+T Toggles Tablet mode
CTRL+CTRL+S Opens the Save As dialog box
CTRL+ PAGE UP Moves to the next layout Tab to the left of the current tab
CTRL+[;CTRL+\ Cancels the current Command (pressing Esc does the same

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 What’s More

Activity 1.1 Set It!

A title block is a drawing sheet that contains information such as the project
name, designer name, client name, date, sheet number, scale, etc. Let’s try making
a simple name and title block!
Direction:

✓ Open your CAD app and select your preferred template.

acad = English system
acadiso = Metric system
or if you opened the app by default, set the units to (inch/ millimeters).

✓ Before you start the drawing activity, open CAD options and set your
drawing area according to your preferences. Save on the previous folder
you made.

✓ File name: SECTION_SURNAME_LIMITS

✓ Create a name and title block for an A4 size paper.

Size: in = 8.27 x 11.69

mm = 210 x 297

✓ Title: LIMITS

✓ Set a border space of 10 on each side:

- If:
Portrait – 20mm on the left
Landscape – 20mm at the top

✓ Name and title block height from border: 12 mm

✓ Text Height: 6mm

✓ Input your name and Date Accomplished.

Note: You may layout your own sheet but observe proportion and harmony.

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Activity 1.2 Identify It!
Direction: Identify what is described on each number. Write the answer on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. CAD template used to apply Metric System.
2. CAD template used to apply English System.
3. An invisible rectangular boundary in the drawing area.
4. Command used to modify workspace.
5. Shortcut used to modify drawing area.

Activity 1.3 Decode It!

Direction: Below are the features on CAD. Decode if through writing the letter of the
alphabet before each letter shown. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Ex: DBE = CAD
1. PSUIP =
2. HSJE =
3. TOBQ =
4. EZOBNJD =
5. IFMQ =

Activity 1.4 Identify It!

Direction: Identify what is described on each number. Write the answer on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. This CAD feature helps to draw or snap your drawing at a specific
location of your current object.
2. A CAD feature that turns on and off additional object snaps for 3D
to accurately pinpoint on the particular position of a body.
3. The CAD feature that turns automatic UCS alignment with planar
surfaces on and off which is only used when working on 3-dimensional objects.
4. The feature that restricts cursor movement to specified grid
intervals.
5. A command feature that guides cursor movement to specified angles
which automatically shut off the ORTHO command.

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Activity 1.5 Try It!
Direction: After setting up your workspace, create the following objects, try using
commands based on the figures shown below. Write your answer on a separate sheet
of paper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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Activity 1.6 Short It Out!
Direction: Write the command shortcut used on the illustrations of processes on
each object below. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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 What I Have Learned

Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) refers to the operation of the computer

software in the preparation of drawing plans. The working drawings can be done
manually, electronically or both.
Autodesk AutoCAD is one of the most common application used in computer
aided drawing which makes the drafting process easier, precise and visually
appealing to the client.
CAD software and hardware features varies depending on the application
version which has different prescribed requirements according to its developer.
In order to operate the CAD software, familiarity on the most common
command features and with the mastery on the shortcut keys can greatly help in the
speed and precision of drawing project.

What I Can Do

Direction: Illustrate 5 command that can be used in drafting objects in CAD.

COMMAND ILLUSTRATION

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 Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Pertains to the sets of menus, toolbars, palettes and ribbon control panel.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
2. Workspace switching button for 2-Dimensional Drafting.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
3. Workspace switching button for 3-Dimensional Drafting.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
4. Command used to modify settings to specific part of the workspace.
A. Drafting and Annotation B. 3D Modeling
C. Option D. Workspace
5. Command key that allows user to take help online.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
6. Command key that restricts movements to grid.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
7. Command key that locks cursor movement to horizontal or vertical.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
8. Command key that show history on the drawing file.
A. F1 B. F2 C. F8 D. F9
9. Command shortcut used for copying object.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
10. Command shortcut used for cutting object.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
11. Command shortcut used to create new drawing.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
12. Command shortcut used to save drawing.
A. Ctrl+C B. Ctrl+N C. Ctrl+S D. Ctrl+X
13. Command shortcut used for transparent swivel.
A. CP B. I
C. Z D. Ctrl+Long Left Click>>Drag
14. Command shortcut used to insert blocks on drawing file.
A. CP B. I
C. Z D. Ctrl+Long Left Click>>Drag
15. Command shortcut used to zoom drawing area.
A. CP B. I
C. Z D. Ctrl+Long Left Click>>Drag

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 Additional Activities

Direction: Set your own workspace on your personal computer according to your
preference in preparation on drafting your CAD Activities.

*** You may send a file or a screenshot of your output ahead of time to your teacher
via e-mail.

References

• Arriola, Cesar T. et al., Technology and Livelihood Education –

Grade 10 Technical Drafting Learner’s Material, 1st Edition, 2013
• Autodesk. AutoCAD Support & Learning, accessed May 19, 2020,
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad

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