ME105 AutoCAD Basics

AutoCAD Screen
Pull-Down Menus

Slide Menus

Drawing Modify
Icons Icons
Graphics Window
(Drawing Editor)

UCS
Command Prompt

Object Handlers

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 ME105 AutoCAD Basics
Display Screen
1. AutoCAD uses dual display screens: Graphics Window (Drawing Editor) and
Command Prompts (Text Output). However, on many PCs, a single PC
serves for both graphics and text.
2. By default Text Screen has 3 lines and lies behind Graphics Window
3. To flip between the screens use GRAPHSCR or TEXT SCR (Old versions F1)
Key Board
1. Use <Enter> key after typing a command for AutoCAD to process
2. Use <backspace> key to continue executing a command.
3. To speed up the cursor, use the <Page Up> key.
4. To slow down the cursor, use the <Page Down> key.
Mouse
1. Movement of cross-hair (cursor) in Drawing Editor is controlled by mouse.
2. To select an object or menu item use the Left Mouse Button (LMB)
3. Use the Right Mouse Button (RMB) to quickly access Edit commands
anywhere on the Graphics Window.
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Object Handlers (Just below Command Prompt)
Snap
1. If snap mode is on, then all input co-ordinates are “snapped” to the nearest
point on the snap grid.
2. Use the SNAP command to specify the snap spacing of the snap grid.
Grid
1. Grid is used to set a desired grid spacing denoted by dots.
2. Advisable to set grid to snap spacing or double for easy handling.
Ortho
1. If ortho mode is on, only lines parallel to the X, Y or Z axes are drawn.
2. Alternatively hold down <Shift> key to achieve the same effect
Dynamic Input
1. Objects can be developed using Absolute, Relative or Polar Coordinates
2. Use DSETTINGS command to set the desirable input method
3. Advisable to keep Polar and Absolute ON but not all of them to avoid
confusion on dynamic input
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4 Methods of Entering Commands
Command Prompt
1. Make use of command aliases (L – Line etc.) at Command Prompt
2. List of command aliases available in Reference Manual under Help
3. Advisable to stick to command prompt as this does not change like icons
menus with different versions
Pull Down Menus
1. Select items from the 12 menus (File – Express)
2. Need familiarity e.g. Draw – Line, Modify – Erase etc
Icon Menus
1. By default drawing icons are located on the left of screen but flexible.
2. Need familiarity with the symbols but hovering cursor over each icon will
reveal the relevant icon
Mouse
1. Use LMB to pick on icons or pull down menus
2. Use RMB to quickly access previously used command or Edit menu
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Specifying Points to Drawing Editor
Absolute Cartesian Coordinates
1. Enter the (x, y, z) coordinates as required
2. Ford 2D draughting only first 2 matter as z is assumed be zero
Relative Coordinates
1. These are coordinates relative to a given or existing point
2. Prefixing the displacement with @, e.g. if given point was at (20.29,36.14),
typing @3,2 then the new point is at (23.29,38.14)
Polar Coordinates
1. Also relative to a given or existing point
2. The < sign is used to indicate the angle. e.g. if the last point was at (20,30),
typing @100<45, this would be 100 units away from (20,30) at 45o.
Mouse
1. Moving mouse around, moves the cross-hair and selecting a point on screen
picks the absolute coordinate
2. Useful only for sketching

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Setting Drawing Limits and Scales
Limits
1. It is advisable to work using mm unless a variation of this is required
2. Depending on paper size for output the drawings limits for the Graphics
Window can be set using the LIMITS command as follows:
3. A0 (1188,840), A1 (840,594), A2 (594,420), A3 (420,297), A4 (297,210)
4. The lower left corner is always set at (0,0)
Scale
1. Advisable to use units equivalent of mm unless specifically required
2. For clarity, drawings can be zoomed but this is not equivalent to scaling
3. Scaling magnifies an object by the scale factor – Also changes the size
4. The use of scaling is more applicable and necessary when printing/plotting
5. The visibility of dash or dotted lines can be adjusted using Linetype Scale
(LTSCALE)
6. Thickness of continuous lines can only be achieved by using polylines

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Saving Drawings
 Always advisable to periodically save your work as you develop the drawing
 Newer versions of AutoCAD automatically remove any unwanted objects.
 In older versions, use PURGE to remove these and reduce size of drawing.
 QSAVE is equivalent to Save in Microsoft and SAVE is Save As
 AutoCAD allows users to save drawings in different formats such as:
o Ordinary drawings (Default) (Name.dwg)
o Drawing templates for use as base for other drawings (Name.dwt)
o Interchangeable Data Exchange Format for use in other packages like
Microsoft (Name.dxf)
 AutoCAD drawings can also be exported to other packages such as
o Paint brush (Name.bmp)
o Windows Metafile (Name.wmf)
o Encapsulated Post Script file (Name.eps)
o American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)
(Name.sat)
o For use online or the internet – Design Web Format (Name.dwf)
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