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GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

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RESEARCH PAPER 1
AUTOCAD

PREPARED BY:
NAME: GOWKARRAN CHAND
SUBJECT: AUTOCAD
LECTURER: MR. MATTHEW
PROGRAM: EM 1

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Introduction and History
AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software that has revolutionized the architecture,
engineering, and construction industries. It was first introduced in 1982 by Autodesk and has since
become the most widely used CAD software in the world. AutoCAD allows designers and
engineers to create 2D and 3D models of buildings, products, and other designs with precision and
accuracy. Its user-friendly interface and powerful tools have made it an essential tool for
professionals in various fields.

Basic drawing commands

Measuring Commands

GRID: Displays a grid of dots at a desired spacing on the screen.

Command: GRID (enter)
On/Off/Tick spacing(x)/Aspect: (enter value) (enter)

SNAP: Specifies a "round off" interval so that points entered with the mouse
can be locked into alignment with the grid spacing.
Command: SNAP (enter)
On/Off/Value/Aspect/Rotate/Style: (enter
value) (enter)

Basic Draw Commands

CIRCLE: Draws circles of any size.

Command: Circle (enter)
3P/2P/TTR/<center point>: (pick a center
point) Diameter or <Radius>: (Pick a point on
the circle)

LINE: Draws straight lines between

two points Command: LINE
(enter)
From Point: (pick a point using the
mouse) To Point: (Pick a point using
the mouse)
To Point: (Press return to end the command)

ARC: Draws an arc (any part of a circle or curve) through three known points.
Command: ARC (enter)
Center/ < Start point > : (pick the first point on
the arc) Center/End/ < Second point > : C
Center: (pick the arc's center point)
Angle/Length of chord/ <End point > : (pick the arc endpoint)
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Display Commands

LIMITS: Sets the size of the drawing paper. For size "A" drawing paper the limits should
be set for
10.5 x 8.
Command: LIMITS (enter)
On/Off/Lower left corner <0.0000>
(enter) Upper right corner: 10.5,8
(enter)

ZOOM: Enlarges or reduces the display of a drawing.

Command: ZOOM (enter)
All/Center/Dynamic/Extents/Left/Previous/Vmax/Window/<Scale(x/XP)>:
(pick a point to define one corner of a rectangular viewing window then pick a
point to define the second point to define the opposite diagonal corner of the
viewing window)

Note: To return the picture to its original viewing size enter ALL and press the
enter key when prompted instead of defining a window.

PAN: Allows you to move your view point around the drawing without changing
the magnification factor.
Command: PAN (enter)

Editing Commands

CHANGE: Alters properties of selected

objects Command:
CHANGE (enter)
Select objects or window or Last (select objects to be changed)
Properties/<Change point>: (type P)
Change what property (Color/Elev/Layer/Type/Thickness)?
(type Layer) New Layer: (enter new layer name and press
enter)

ERASE: Erases entities from the drawing.

Command: ERASE (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (Select objects to be erased and press enter
when finished)

EXTEND: Lengthens a line to end precisely at a boundary edge.

Command: Extend
(enter) Select
boundary edge(s)...
Select Objects (pick the line which represents the boundary edge which lines
will be extended to)
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(press enter when finished selecting cutting edges)
<Select object to extend>/Undo: (pick the line(s) that need to be extended

TRIM: Trims a line to end precisely at a cutting edge.

Command: Trim
(enter) Select
cutting edge(s)...
Select Objects (pick the line which represents the cutting edge of line in
which objects will be trimmed to)
(press enter when finished selecting cutting edges)
<Select object to trim>/Undo: (pick the line(s) that need to be trimmed)

GRIPS

You can edit selected objects by manipulating grips that appear at defining points on the
object. Grips is not a command. To activate grips simply pick the object. Small squares
will appear at various entity-specific positions. By selecting an end grip, you can stretch
the entity to change its size. By selecting the center grip, you can move the entity to a new
location. To remove grips, press CTL-C twice. You can perform the following using grips:
Copy, Multiple Copy, Stretch, Move, Rotate, Scale, and Mirror.

Creating Layers

LAYER: Creates named drawing layers and assigns color and line types properties to
those layers.
Command: LAYER (enter)
A Layer & Line type Properties dialog box will be displayed. To add a new
layer, pick the New button. A new layer listing appears, using a default name of
Layer1. the layer name can be changed by highlighting the layer name. Colors
and Line types can be assigned to each new layer by picking the color box to
assign a color and picking the line type box to assign a line type.

Standard AutoCAD colors

1 = Red 2 = Yellow 3 = Green 4 = Cyan
5 = Blue 6 = Magenta 7 = White

Standard AutoCAD line

types Hidden2 = hidden
lines Center2 = center
lines
Phantom2 = phantom or cutting-plane lines

Construction Commands

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 ARRAY: Makes multiple copies of selected objects in a
rectangular or circular pattern Command: ARRAY (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select object to
array) Rectangular or Polar array (R/P) <current>: (P)
Center point of array: (pick the point around which to form
the array) Angle to fill (+=CCW, -=Cw) <360>: (enter)

 COPY: Draws a copy of selected objects.

Command: COPY (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select objects to be copied)
Base point or displacement: (pick a point on the object to be use as a
reference point) Second point of displacement: (pick a point which
represents the new location of the copied object)

 MIRROR: Makes mirror images of existing objects.

Command: MIRROR (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select objects to
be mirrored) First point of mirror line: (pick a point
on top of the mirror line) Second point: (pick a point
on the bottom of the mirror line) Delete old objects?
<N> y or n (enter)

 MOVE: Moves designated entities to another location.

Command: MOVE (enter)
Select objects or Window or Last: (select objects to move)
Base point or displacement: (pick a point on the object to be use as a
reference point) Second point of displacement: (pick a point which
represents the new location of the object)

 OFFSET: Constructs an entity parallel to another entity at a specified

distance. Offset can be used with lines, circles, arcs, and polylines.
Command: OFFSET (enter)
Offset distance or through <last>: (enter a distance
value) Select object to offset: (select object to offset)
Side to offset: (Pick any point on the side of the object you wish to offset)

 FILLET: Changes any corner to a rounded corner.

Command: FILLET
Polyline/Radius/Angle/Trim/Method/ <Select first line >: (pick the
first line) Select second line: (pick the second line)

 CHAMFER: Changes any corner to an angled corner.

Command: CHAMFER
Polyline/Distance/Angle/Trim/Method/ < Select first line > : (pick
the first line) Select second line: (pick the second line)

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 OSNAP: Instantly locates exact points relative to existing objects (points).
Object Snap Modes: Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, Quadrant, Intersection, Insertion,
Perpendicular, Tangent, Nearest, Node, and None.

Placing lettering on a drawing

TEXT: Draws text characters of any size.

Command: TEXT (enter)
Justify/Style/<Start point>: (pick a starting point or enter a
justification letter) Height (0) (enter the height of the lettering)
Rotation Angle (0) (enter)
Text: (enter the desired lettering) (enter)

Summary of Options
<Start Point> Left-Justifies text along its baseline
Justify Justifies text according to the alignment options
Style Enters a new text style
Null reply Enters a new line of text below the previous text.
(space or Enter key will give a Null reply)

Text Alignment Options

Alignment Abbreviation Orientation
Aligned A Aligns text between two points.
Text
height will adjust automatically
Fit F Fits text between two points. Text
height
will not change
Centered C Centers text at the baseline of a
specified
point
Middle M Centers text horizontally and
vertically at
the baseline of a specified point
Right R Right Justify text at the baseline of a
specified point
Alignment Abbreviation Orientation
Top Left TL Left Justifies text at the top of text
Top Center TC Centers text at the top of text
Top Right TR Right justifies text at the top to text
Middle Left ML Left justifies text at the middle of
text
Middle Center MC Centers text both horizontally and
vertically
at the middle of the text
Middle Right MR Right justifies text at the middle of
text
Bottom Left BL Left justifies text at the bottom of
text
Bottom Center BC Centers text a the bottom of text
Bottom Right BR Right justifies text at the bottom of
text
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The SPELL command will check the spelling of a group of text.

Crosshatching a drawing

BHATCH: Allows the user to crosshatch areas of a section view.

Command: BHATCH (enter)

The Boundary Hatch dialogue Box will be displayed. Select the Hatch

Options box. The Hatch Options box will be displayed. Select the

Patterns box.

The Choose Hatch Pattern box will be displayed. Select the desired hatch
pattern.

The Hatch Options box will be displayed again. You can select a scale and
rotation angle for the crosshatch pattern. Select the OK box when finished. The
Boundary Hatch dialogue box will be displayed again. Select the Pick Points
box. When prompted select the internal point of the are to be crosshatched.
Press the enter key when finished.

The Boundary Hatch dialog box will be displayed again. Select the Apply box to
add the crosshatching to the drawing.

Reference:
 BASIC DRAWING COMMANDS FOR AUTOCAD Measuring Commands GRID:
Displays a grid of dots at a desired spacing on the screen. Command: GRID (enter)
On/Off/Tick spacing(x)/Aspect: (enter value) (enter). (n.d.).
https://classes.engr.oregonstate.edu/cce/winter2020/cce203/CE413_W2020/
ACAD_Basic_Commands.pdf
‌

AutoCAD Drawing Environment

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 Application menu: the application menu offers various file operations. These include
creating new drawings and projects, opening different file formats such as drawing files,
project files, DGN files, and IFC files. You can save drawings in different formats,
including the current file format, AutoCAD 2024 file format, DWT file, or DWS file.
Additionally, there are options to export files to formats like DGN, DWF, PDF, IFC,
gBXML, and DuctXML, as well as previous versions of AutoCAD. Other functions include
plotting drawings, publishing them to Map Guide, DWF, PDF, Seek, and transmit, as well
as accessing drawing setup, drawing utilities, and program options. Finally, you can also
close drawings and projects.
 Quick access toolbar: The Quick Access Toolbar in AutoCAD allows users to store
frequently used commands for easy access. By default, it provides quick access to
commands like New, Open, Save, Plot, Undo, and Redo. Users can also add commands to
this toolbar using the shortcut menus found in the ribbon, menu browser, and toolbars.
 Info Center: You can search for information using keywords or phrases, view the
Communication Center panel for product updates and announcements, or access saved
topics in the Favorites panel. Additionally, you can receive information from subscribed
RSS feeds or feeds published by your CAD manager.

 Ribbon: The Ribbon is a compact interface that maximizes work area, containing tools and
controls found in toolbars and dialog boxes, displayed horizontally, vertically, or as a
floating palette.
 File tab: Navigate files and create and open files
 Drawing area/graphic area: Main drawing space
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 View cube: User can change the view, top, front, 3D, or more
 Navigation bar: Zoom in and out, pan, zoon to all, and more
 Command box: Can type commands and see the previous commands
 Layout tab: Can see model space and print spaces
 Status bar: Can set grid, snaps, scales, and more

Layers and Blocks.

Layers organize objects in drawings by function, reducing visual complexity and improving
display performance. Create useful layers for your work, like foundation, floor plan, doors,
fixtures, and electrical in a house plan while CAD blocks are groups of objects that create repeated
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content, saving time, maintaining consistency, and reducing file size by allowing reuse and sharing
of content.
In AutoCAD, you can create layers in a number of ways:

1. "Layer Properties Manager": This tool allows you to create, modify, and manage
layers. You can access the Layer Properties Manager by typing "LAYER" in the
command line or by going to the "Layers" tab in the ribbon and clicking on the
"Layer Properties" button.
2. "New Layer" button: This button allows you to create a new layer quickly. You
can find this button in the Layer Properties Manager or in the Layers Panel of the
Home tab.
3. "New Layer" command: Type "LAYER" in the command line and press enter, in
the Layer Properties Manager dialog box select the "New Layer" button in the
right-hand side of the dialog box, then type the name of the new layer and press
enter.
4. Layer" button: This button is located in the "Home" tab, you can select it and
then choose "New Layer" or "New Layer with properties" to create new layers
quickly.
5. "Layer Wizard": This option allows you to create multiple layers at once. You
can find this option in the Layer Properties Manager, select "Layer Wizard" and
choose the number of layers you want to create and the properties you want them
to have.

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