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AUTOCAD
THE ENGINEER’S FRIEND
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1) Line.
COMMANDS IN DRAW TOOLBAR

2) Construction Line.
3) Polyline.
4) Rectangle.
5) Polygon.
6) Circle.
7) Arc.
8) Spline.
9) Revcloud.
10) Ellipse.
11) Hatch.
12) Point.
 Line
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 A simple line activated by ”l” or ”line”.

Three methods for drawing a line..
a)Absolute method (Measurements w.r.t origin)
b)Relative method (Measurements w.r.t last point)
c)Polar method (Measurements including angle)
It is the most important command and is used in every
design made in AutoCAD.
 Construction Line
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 Construction line is line extended in both directions.

 Activated by clicking second entry in draw toolbar.

 It is used for creating infinite number of lines by

clicking.
 Polyline
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 Polyline (combination of different types of single lines and arcs).

 Activated by command ”pl” or ”pline”.

 Important as only images made by polylines can be extruded or

revolved to from 3D objects.

 Single lines are converted into polylines by “pedit (polyline edit).”

o Pedit has options for closing pline , joining various plines, for
converting lines into arcs etc.
 Rectangle:
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 Rectangle can be drawn from draw toolbar.

 Activated using command ”rec” or ”rectangle”.

Two cases while making a rectangle:-

1)When vertices are given:
Drawing rectangle from its vertices, simply enter its
vertices as points.
2) When dimensions are given:
Entering length and breadth also forms rectangle.
 Why no shape of
Polygon polygon is given??
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 In AutoCAD, we can draw figures having number of sides

between 3 and 1024.

 Activated by command ”polygon”.

 Depending upon number of sides we get various types of

figures. e.g. Triangle for 3,tetragon for 4,Pentagon for 5…

 We can also form an inscribed circle or circumscribed circle

through polygons.
 Circle
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 Activated by command ”c” or ”circle”.

 Three methods used for making a circle:

1)Three point method.
It uses three arbitrary points.
2)Two point method.
It uses two points i.e. endpoints of chord .
3)Tangent tangent radius method.
It uses two points on two objects and provided radius.
 Arc
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 Activated by command ”Arc”.

 There are almost 9 methods for making an arc. But we will learn
only the important ones.
1)Three points arc:
In this method an arc is made by providing three points
( start, end, center).
2) Start, Center and Angle:
In this method an arc is made by providing two points( start, center)
and included angle.
 Spline
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 Spline is a combination of
many arcs.

 Activated by command
“Spline”.

Spline
 Revcloud
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 Revcloud is basically a
command in draw toolbar which
is used to make cloudlike
structures. Revcloud

 Activated by using command

”revcloud”.
 Ellipse
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 Ellipse is a special type of

circle.

 It is activated by command

El
lip
”ellipse”.

 Its size can be changed by
changing size of axes of
rotation.
se
What happens if size of
both axes of rotation
becomes equal??
 Hatch
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 Activated by command ”hatch”.

 Hatch is used to add color/design to a specific

geometry.
 It is used to show block patterns and bring reality to your

model.
For example:
In construction of house model, hatch with brick design can
be used.
 Point
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 Point refers to dot which is used to show joints or junctions in

electrical circuits.
 Activated by command “Point”.

 Different other commands are also present in point.

1)Point Measure for dividing object into measured values.
2)Point Divide for dividing object into specific number of
object by point.
3)Point Style which changes point type. Activated from “Point
style” in “Format toolbar.”
 Different Commands in Modify Toolbar

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1)Erase 2)Copy
3)Mirror. 4)Offset.
5)Array. 6)Move.
7)Rotate. 8)Scale.
9)Stretch. 10)Trim.
11)Break. 12)Chamfer.
13)Fillet. 14)Explode.
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Erase:
 Used for removing any mistake.
 Activated by “Erase”.

 In case of any mistake , we can use “undo”. In order

to bring back any object accidently erased we use

“OOPS”.
Copy:
 Used for producing a copy of developed image.
 Activated by using command “Copy”.
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Mirror:
 Produces an identical copy of object but original
object is removed or not according to user’s desire.
 Activated by command “mirror” or ”mi”.

Offset:
 Produces copy of object in number as desired by user
at equal distance.
 Activated by command ”offset”.
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Array:
 Produces copies of object in as many number as
entered by user.
 Activated by command “Array”.

 It can produce copies in two ways:

1)Rectangular (Doesn’t include angles)

2)Polar (Includes angles)
Move:
 Moves an object from one place to another.
 Activated by command “Move” or ”m”.
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Rotate:
 Rotates or spins any object about a specified point.
 Activated by “rotate” or ”ro”.

Scale:
 Compresses or expands size of object.
 It is activated by command “Scale”.
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Stretch:
 Stretches and meet two broken parts of an already
developed object.
 Activated by using command “stretch”.

Trim:
 Cuts off any extra lines extending out of boundary of
already developed object.
 Activated by command “trim” or ”t”.
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Break:
 Breaks a line between any two points in object.
 Activated by command “break”.

Chamfer:
 Makes sharp corners in any object.
 Activated by command “chamfer”.
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Fillet:
 Produces smooth corner in any image.
 Activated by command “fillet” or “f”.

Explode:
 Activated by command “Explode” or “xp”.
 Divides a single object into a large number of lines .

 Polyline is converted into multiple lines via “Explode”.

 Miscellaneous Functions
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1)Extrude. 9)Line parameters.

2)Revolve. 10)Text parameters.
3)Orbit. 11)Dimension parameters.
4)Zoom. 12)Units.
5)Pan. 13)Inquiry.
6)Views. 14)Draft Settings.
7)Design Center. 15)Solid editing.
8)UCS. 16)Facetres.
 Extrude
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 Activated by command “extrude” or “ext”.

 Used for creating 3D solids.

 After selecting this command, we select object in 2D

to be converted into 3D.Then we specify the height to

which it is to be extruded.
 After that , we select the angle through which this

solid is to be extruded . This angle should lie between

0
and 90(degrees).
 Revolve
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 Activated by command “rev” or ”revolve”.

 Used to produce 3D solids.
 After selecting this command, we select the 2D solid

to be converted into 3D solid and then revolve it

according to X-axis or Y-axis.

 Revolving around any one of axis we get a 3D solid .
 Orbit
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 Activated by command “orbit”.

 Used to spin the solids and observe them .

 There are two types of orbit:

1)3D orbit:
“The type of orbit which is controlled by us all time and as
we leave mouse, object stops spinning.”

2)3D continuous orbit:

“The type of orbit which is controlled by us only one time
and if we leave mouse , it continues its motion in same
path.”
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Zoom: Pan:
Activated by command Activated by command
“zoom”. ”pan”.

Focuses in and Brings our object

focuses out to get a closer on working screen
proper view of our if it is an inappropriate
developed position for us to see and
object. work with.
 Views
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 Activated by command “v” or “view”.

 Used to observe our object from different angles.

Different types of views:

1)Top View. 6)Left View.

2)Bottom View. 7)NE Isometric View.

3)Back View. 8)SW Isometric View.
4)Front View. 9)NW Isometric View.
5)Right View. 10)SE Isometric View.
 Design Center
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 Activated by command “dcenter”.
 Contains a large number of in-built items used in

making different types of images.

There are different types of items relative to different

fields such as:
 Capacitors, ground, battery for Electrical field.

 Machine parts for Mechanical field.

 Different house related items for Civil etc.

 UCS
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 UCS stands for “Ultimate Coordinate System”.

 Activated by command “UCS”.
 Used to change reference axes.

 For example to make an image in 3D, first we make

an image in 2D and then make another over it by
changing UCS.
 While making any solid , we place Z-axis in such a

way as it becomes perpendicular to other two axes.

 Line Parameters
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 Line parameters refer to line type , line color and

line thickness.

 It can be activated by commands:

1.Line weight:
It is used for changing thickness of line.
2.Line type:
It is used to change the type of line.
 Text Parameters
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 Activated by command “textstyle” or ”ddstyle”.

 Text helps in understanding ,construction and

working
of object.

 It includes following parameters:

1.Font Of Text: It decides font of added text.
2.Size Of Text: It indicates the size of text to be used in
diagram.
 Dimension Parameters
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 Activated by command “dim”.

 Show dimensions of a particular image.

Parameters used in dimensions:

1.Linear dimensions:
Dimensions of lines are measured by linear dimension.
2.Angular dimensions:
Dimensions including angles are measured by angular dimension.
3.Radial/Dia dimensions:
Dimensions including radius or diameter of arc or circle is
measured by radial/Dia dimension.
 Units
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 Activated by command “Units”.

 Units are really important in making a good model.

 Various units measuring length and angle can be

used ranging from:
o Engineering and decimal in length and degrees,

o Radians and gradients in angle.

 Precision in results can be changed.

 Inquiry
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 Activated from “Tools” toolbar.
 It is used to inquire and get info about any image.

Parameters present in inquiry:

1)List: It gives complete information about an images
including lengths, angles, radii, circumferences , areas ,
distance from origin etc.
2)Distance: It gives distance between two points.
3)Area: It gives area of image.
4)ID Point: It gives distance from origin.
 Draft Settings
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 Activated by command ”dsettings”.

 Locate different geometric points of an image

such as endpoint , midpoint , tangent to circle, nearest
point to line etc.

 It contains an option of Polar Tracking by means

of
which we can check magnitude and angle of our
drawn object every time.
 Solid Editing
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 Solid editing refers to editing a solid in 3D.

Parameters:
1)Extrude Faces: Used to extrude faces of a 3D solid.
2)Taper Faces: Used to produce tapered faces in object.
3)Color Faces: Used to color individual faces of 3D solid.
4)Union: It is usually performed at the end . It is used to combine
different components of an image.
5)Intersection: It is used to get the component of image which is
common between two parts.
 Facetres
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 Activated by command “facetres”.

 Applied on the surface after writing “regen” in

command bar and pressing enter.

 Increases smoothness of an object.

 The smoothness factor value can be between 0.5

and 10. 0.5 represent most rough whereas 10

represent most smooth surface.
 Giving A Touch Of Creativity To Image
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 Adding material is activated by command “rmat”.

 This is achieved by:

o Using commands of “Solid Editing”
o Using another method known as “Adding Material”.

 It adds much more life to your object and makes it

presentable.
 Example Model
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These were basic

terminologies used in
AutoCAD..
Hope u understood it
well!!
Here is an example
model for u to
practice…
 Solution
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The above figure is made by following these steps:

1)Making a base
2) Forming Stand
3) Formation Of Circles On Main Base Rectangle
4) Formation Of A Hollow Circle At Top
5) Formation Of A Triangle Between Two Lower
Holes
6) Modifying Or Giving Some Life/Color To Design
 Making a base
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 A base for this object can be

made by constructing a
rectangle of desired dimension
let say(length=85 and
breadth=65).
 After that we extrude rectangle
at desired height let say(16)
and angle of 0(degrees).
 Forming Stand
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Here UCS would be changed as line will be drawn in space.

 In order to form a stand, we draw a line of desired length let

say(60) from center of long side of rectangle.

UCS changed!!
 After that we draw a circle of desired radius let say(6) with center

at end point of line from midpoint .

 Then we draw two tangent lines from both endpoints of long side

of rectangle to circle and complete object by polyline and pedit.

 Then we extrude this whole object at desired length let say(16).
 Figures Showing Formation Of Stand

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 Formation Of Circles On Main Base Rectangle
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 Then we form circles of desired radii let

say(3) on main rectangle at equal distance
Instead
let say(10) from mid point of short side of of forming
rectangle. two circles we
can form one
 Then we extrude both the circles in
circle and
downward then copy it
as they are of
direction with such extrusion length that they
same radii!!
cross through our developing image with
extrusion angle of 0 degrees.
 After that ,to create holes we subtract our

extruded circles from our developing geometry

through subtract command.
 Formation Of Circles On Main Base
Rectangle

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 Formation Of A Hollow Circle At Top
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 In order to create a hollow circle at the top , we form a circle

with desired radius let say(5) inside the circle formed earlier and
then extrude it with such extrusion length that it crosses
through our developing image with extrusion angle of 0
degrees.
 After that ,to create hole we subtract our extruded circle

from our developing geometry through subtract command.

 Figures Showing Formation
Of A Hollow Circle At Top

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 Formation Of A Triangle Between Two Lower
Holes
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 In order to form a triangle of desired sides between two

circles as support to stand we form a triangle by polylines.
 After formation of triangle by polylines between two circles

we extrude it along any one side.

 In order to obtain same extruded triangle along other side we

use extrude faces from solid editing. We also perform union and
facetres at this stage.
 Figures Showing Formation Of A
Triangle Between Two Lower Holes

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 Modifying Or Giving Some Life/Color To Design
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 In order to add some life to our

design ,we will use command of

solid editing.

 By solid editing’s option color

faces ,we can select faces and

give them our desired color.

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Any
Questions??

If yes , write me at:

Suddiyasnawaz@rocketmail.com
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Thank You!!