ABOUT AUTOCAD

AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD)

and drafting software application. Developed and marketed
by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1989 as a
desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics
controllers. Before AutoCAD was introduced, most commercial CAD
programs ran on mainframe computers or minicomputers, with each
CAD operator (user) working at a separate graphics terminal. Since
2010, AutoCAD was released as a mobile- and web app as well,
marketed as AutoCAD 360.
AutoCAD is used in industry, by architects, project managers,
engineers, graphic designers, city planners and other professionals. It
was supported by 750 training centers worldwide in 1994.

INTRODUCTION TO AUTO
CAD TOOLS
Various components of the basic AutoCAD screen are menu bar,

drawing area, several toolbars, command window, model and layout

tabs and status bar. The title bar has AutoCAD symbol and the current

drawing name is displayed on top of the screen. The various AutoCAD

tools present to assist in drawing a certain part/component, the most

basic types used are:

 Line

 Circle

 Rectangle

 Polyline

 Trim

 Extend

 Copy

 Mirror

 Rotate

 Erase

 Offset

 Move

 Array

 Scale
  Fillet

 Explode

VARIOUS AUTOCAD
TOOLS
Here are the various AutoCAD Tools which are given below

1) Line: You can invoke the LINE command by choosing the LINE tool

from the Draw panel or you can also invoke the LINE tool by entering

LINE or L at the Command Prompt. You will have to specify the

starting point of the line by clicking mouse then you will be prompted

to specify the second point. You can terminate the LINE command by

pressing ENTER, ESC or SPACEBAR.

2) Circle: A circle is drawn by using the CIRCLE command. You can

draw a circle by using six different tools ie: by specifying center and

radius, by specifying center and diameter, by specifying two

diametrical ends, by specifying three points on a circle, tangent to two

objects, tangent to three objects.

3) Rectangle: You can draw rectangles by specifying two opposite

corners of the rectangle, by specifying the area and the size of one of

the sides or by specifying the dimensions of the rectangle.

4) Polyline: Polylines means many lines. To draw a polyline, you need

to invoke the PLINE command. After invoking the PLINE command and

specifying the start point.

5) Trim: When creating a design, you may need to remove the

unwanted and extending edge. In such cases, you can use the Trim

tool. On invoking the Trim tool you will be prompted to select the

cutting edges. These edges can be lines, polylines, circles, arcs, ellipses,

rays, splines, text, blocks, xlines or even viewports. After the cutting

edge/edges are selected, you must select each object to be trimmed.

6) Extend: The Extend tool may be considered as the opposite of the

Trim tool. You can extend lines, polylines, rays, and arcs to meet the

other objects using the Extend tool. You can use this option whenever

you want to extend the objects that do not actually intersect the

boundary edge but would intersect its edge if the boundary edges

were extended.

7) Copy: This tool is used to make the copies of the selected objects

and place them at the specified location. On invoking this tool, you

need to select the objects and then specify the base point. Next, you

need to specify the second point where the copied objects have to be
placed. You can continue specifying the second point for creating

multiple copies of the selected entities.

8) Mirror: This tool is used to create a mirror copy of the selected

objects. The objects can be mirrored at any angle. This tool is helpful

in drawing symmetrical figures. On invoking this tool, you will be

prompted to select objects. On selecting objects to be mirrored, you

will be prompted to enter the first point of the mirror line and the

second point of the mirror line. A mirror line is an imaginary line about

which the objects are mirrored.

9) Rotate: On invoking this tool, you will be prompted to select the

objects and the base point about which the selected objects will be

rotated. By default, a positive angle results in counterclockwise

rotation, whereas a negative angle results in a clockwise rotation. The

Rotate tool can also be invoked from the shortcut menu by selecting
an object and right-clicking in the drawing area and choosing Rotate

from the shortcut menu.

10) Erase: Sometimes, you need to erase the unwanted objects from

the objects drawn. To erase an object, choose Erase tool from the

Modify panel. To invoke the Modify toolbar, choose

View>Windows>Toolbars>AutoCAD>Modify from the ribbon. On

invoking the Erase tool, a small box, known as pick box, replaces the

screen cursor. To erase the object, select it by using the pick box; the

selected object will be displayed in dashed lines and the Select objects

prompt will be displayed again. You can either continue selecting the

objects or press ENTER to terminate the object selection process and

erase the selected objects.

11) Offset: You can use the Offset tool to draw parallel lines, polylines,

concentric circles, arcs, curves, etc., While offsetting an object, you

need to specify the offset distance and the side to offset.

12) Move: The Move tool is used to move one or more objects from

their current location to a new location without changing their size or

orientation.

13) Array: In some cases, you may need to create an object multiple

times in a rectangular or circular arrangement. This type of

arrangement can be obtained by creating an array of objects. In

Rectangular Array, you need to mention the number of rows and

columns along with the Row offset distance and Column offset

distance. Whereas in Polar Array you need to specify the Center point

around which you need the number of objects.

14) Scale: Sometimes you need to change the size of objects in a

drawing. For this purpose, the Scale tool comes in handy.

15) Fillet: The edges in a model are generally filleted to reduce the

area of stress concentration. The fillet tool helps form round corners

between any two entities that form a sharp vertex.

16) Explode: This tool is useful when you have inserted an entire

drawing and you need to alter a small detail. After you invoke the

Explode tool, you are prompted to select the objects you want to

explode. After selecting the objects, press ENTER or right-click to

explode the selected objects and then end the command.

CONCLUSION

Thus we have seen that from the above-mentioned tools a drawing

can be drawn and further modified, scaled, copied. These tools help us

in major operations of drawing using AutoCAD software. Apart from

these, we can further color the line with a specific line-type and line-

weight.