HANDOUT 2:

DRAWING TOOLS
AutoCAD Coordinate Systems

A good understanding of how co-ordinates work in AutoCAD is absolutely crucial if

you are to make the best use of the program. If you are not familiar with co-ordinates
and co-ordinate systems, take some time to familiarize yourself with the basic
concepts

Co-ordinates fall into two types, namely Cartesian and Polar. They can be either
Absolute or Relative.
The Cartesian co-ordinate system is the standard co-ordinate system. The position of
a point can be described by its distance from two axes, X and Y.
AutoCAD locates absolute X,Y coordinates with respect to the 0,0 point of the
drawing — usually, its lower-left corner. AutoCAD locates relative X,Y coordinates
and relative polar coordinates with respect to the previous point you picked or
typed.
The Polar co-ordinates on the other hand, uses one distance and one angle to
describe the position of a point rather than the two distances. The distance and
angle measurements are made relative to an origin.
You will see how AutoCAD uses all
Sample line segment using
three coordinate formats to draw a
AutoCAD Coordinate Systems
pair of line segments that start at the
absolute coordinates 2,1 (see
example) and then move to the right
2 units and up 1 unit (@2,1) relative to
the first point.

Note in particular how the first two

coordinate pairs use the same
numbers (2,1) but the second pair
defines a different point because of
the leading @ symbol, then (relative to
that point) move 2 units at an angle of
60 degrees (@2<60).

Notice that the separator in the

case of polar co-ordinates is the <
"less than" mathematical symbol.
 Basic Drawing Tools

The Draw commands can be used to create

new objects such as lines and circles. Most
AutoCAD drawings are composed purely
and simply from these basic components. A
good understanding of the Draw commands
is fundamental to the efficient use of
AutoCAD.

The sections below cover the most frequently used Draw commands such as Line,
Polyline and Circle as well as the more advanced commands like, Multiline and
Multiline Style. As a newcomer to AutoCAD, you may wish to skip the more advanced
commands in order to properly master the basics. You can always return to this
tutorial in the future after you have mastered the basics and become more
confident.

In common with most AutoCAD commands, the Draw commands can be started in
a number of ways. Command names or shortcuts can be entered at the keyboard,
commands can be started from the Draw pull-down menu, shown on the right or from
the Draw toolbar. The method you use is dependent upon the type of work you are
doing and how experienced a user you are. Don't worry too much about this, just use
whatever method you feel the easiest or the most convenient at the time. Your
drawing technique will improve over time and with experience so don't expect to be
working very quickly at first.

The Line Command

With the Line command you can draw a simple line from one point to another. When
you pick the first point and move the cross-hairs to the location of the second point
you will see a rubber band line which shows you where the line will be drawn when
the second point is picked.

Command: LINE or L(enter)

Specify first point: (pick P1)

Specify next point or [Undo]: (pick P2)

Specify next point or [Undo]: [press esc or enter]

The Polyline Command

The Polyline or Pline command is similar to the line command except that the
resulting object may be composed of a number of segments which form a single
object. In addition to the two ends a polyline is said to have vertices (singular vertex)
where intermediate line segments join. In practice the Polyline command works in
the same way as the Line command allowing you to pick as many points as you
like. As with the Line command, you also have the option to automatically close a
polyline end to end. To do this, type C to use the close option instead of hitting. Follow
the command sequence below to see how this works.

Command: PLINE or PL[enter]

Specify start point: (pick P1) Current line-width is 0.0000
Specify next point or [Arc/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P2)
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P3)

Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P4)

Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P5)

Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Half width/Length/Undo/Width]: (or C to close)

The Rectangle Command

The Rectangle command is used to draw a rectangle whose sides are vertical and
horizontal. The position and size of the rectangle are defined by picking two diagonal
corners. The rectangle isn't really an AutoCAD object at all. It is, in fact, just a closed
polyline which is automatically drawn for you.

Command: RECTANG or REC [enter]

Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/ Thickness/Width]: (pick P1)
Specify other corner point or [Dimensions]: (pick P2)

The Rectangle command also has a number of options. Width works in the
same way as for the Polyline command. The Chamfer and Fillet options have
the same effect as the Chamfer and Fillet commands.

The Polygon Command

The Polygon command can be used to draw any regular polygon from 3 sides up to
1024 sides. This command requires four inputs from the user, the number of sides, a
pick point for the center of the polygon, whether you want the polygon inscribed or
circumscribed and then a pick point which determines both the radius of this
imaginary circle and the orientation of the polygon.

Command: POLYGON or POL [enter]

Enter number of sides <4>: 5

Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: (pick P1 or type E to define by edge length)

Enter an option [Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about circle] <I>: (To accept the
inscribed default or type C for circumscribed)
Specify radius of circle: (pick P2 or enter exact radius)
The Donut Command

This command draws a solid donut shape, actually it's just a closed polyline consisting
of two arc segments which have been given a width. AutoCAD asks you to define
the inside diameter i.e.the diameter of the hole and then the outside diameter of
the donut. The donut is then drawn in outline and you are asked to pick the center
point in order to position the donut. You can continue picking center points to draw
more donuts or you can hit to end the command.

Command: DONUT or DO[enter]

Specify inside diameter of donut <0.5000>:

(pick any two points to define a diameter or enter the exact length)

Specify outside diameter of donut <1.0000>: (pick any two points to define a diameter
or enter the exact length)

Specify center of donut or <exit>: (pick P1)

Specify center of donut or <exit>: [Enter]

The Circle Command

The Circle command is used to draw circles. There are a number of ways you can
define the circle. The default method is to pick the center point and then to either pick
a second point on the circumference of the circle or enter the circle radius at the
keyboard.

Command: CIRCLE or C[enter]

Specify center point for circle or [3P/2P/Ttr (tan tan radius)]: (pick P1)

Specify radius of circle or [Diameter] <50.0195>: (pick P2 or enter the

exact radius)

As you can see from the command prompt above the default options are always
indicated in triangular brackets like so <Default> and command options appear within
square brackets like so [Option]. Each option is separated by a forward slash like this /.

The Arc Command

The Arc command allows you to draw an arc of a circle. There are numerous ways to
define an arc, the default method uses three pick points - a start point, a second point
and an end point. Using this method, the drawn arc will start at the first pick point, pass
through the second point and end at the third point.
Command: ARC or A[enter]
Specify start point of arc or [Center]: (pick P1)

Specify second point of arc or [Center/End]: (pick P2)

Specify end point of arc: (pick P3)

Note: It is also possible to create an arc by trimming a circle object.

The Spline Command

The Spline command creates a type of spline known as a non-uniform rational B-spline,
NURBS for short. A spline is a smooth curve that is fitted along a number of control points.
The Fit Tolerance option can be used to control how closely the spline conforms to the
control points. A low tolerance value causes the spline to form close to the control
points.

A tolerance of 0 (zero) forces the spline to pass through the control points. The illustration
on the right shows the effect of different tolerance values on a spline that is defined
using the same four control points, P1, P2, P3 and P4. Splines can be edited after they
have been created using the SPLINEDIT command, Modify Object Spline from the pull-
down menu. Using this command, you can change the tolerance, add more control
points move control points and close splines, among other things. However, if you just
want to move spline control points, it is best to use grips.

Command: SPLINE or SPL[enter]

Specify first point or [Object]: (Pick P1) Specify next point: (Pick P2)

Specify next point or [Close/Fit tolerance] <start tangent>: (Pick P3)

Specify next point or [Close/Fit tolerance] <start tangent>: (Pick P4)

Specify next point or [Close/Fit tolerance] <start
tangent>: Specify start tangent: (pick a point)

Specify end tangent: (pick a point)

The Ellipse Command

The Ellipse command gives you a number of different creation options whereas the
default option has only three options, that is it picks that is, it picks the two end points
of an axis and then a third point to define the eccentricity of the ellipse. After you have
mastered the default option, try out the ellipse command.

Command: ELLIPSE or EL[enter]

Specify axis endpoint of ellipse or [Arc/Center]: (pick P1) Specify other endpoint of axis:
(pick P2)

Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation]: (pick P3)

The ellipse command can also be used to draw isometric circles.

 OBJECT SELECTION

Object Selection

Before you start to use the AutoCAD Modify commands, you need to know something
about selecting objects. All of the Modify commands require that you take one or more
object selections. AutoCAD has a whole range of tools which are designed to help you
select just the objects you need.

Selecting Objects by Picking

Perhaps the most obvious way to select an object in AutoCAD is simply to pick it. Those
of you who have used other graphic based utilities will be familiar with this concept.
Generally, all you have to do is place your cursor over an object, click the mouse button
and the object will be selected. In this respect AutoCAD is no different from any other
graphics utility.

When you start a Modify command such as ERASE, two things happen. First, the cursor
changes from the usual crosshairs to the pickbox and second, you will see the "Select
objects" prompt on the command line. Both of these cues tell you that AutoCAD is
expecting you to select one or more objects.

To select an object, place the pickbox over a part of the object and left- click the
mouse. When the object has been picked it is highlighted in a dashed line to show that
it is part of the current selection and the command line reports "1 found". You will now
see the "Select objects" prompt on the command line again. At this point you can
continue adding more objects to the current selection by picking them or you can press
the Space Bar to complete the selection.
When you pick one or more objects in response to the "Select objects" prompt, you are
effectively creating a selection set. Selection sets are an important concept in
AutoCAD because they can be used to great effect, especially when drawings
become larger or complicated.

Crossing and Window Selection Method

The Crossing method is invoked by typing C at the "Select objects" prompt and is a
variation of the Window command. The command sequence is exactly the same but
objects are selected which lie entirely within the window and those which cross the
window border.

Command: (start one of the Modify commands such as ERASE) Select objects: W
First corner: (pick first corner)

Specify opposite corner: (pick second corner)

Select objects: (at this point you can either select more objects or complete the
selection set, and continue with the current command.)

Adding and Removing Objects

AutoCAD provides two methods for adding and removing objects to and from a
selection set. As you know, objects can be added to a selection set simply by picking
them or by using one of the methods outlined above. You can remove selected objects
from a selection set just as easily by shift picking. If you hold the Shift key down on the
keyboard while picking a selected object, that object will be deselected (removed
from the current selection set).

You can tell when a selected object has been deselected because it is no longer
highlighted. You can remove more than one object at a time by holding down the Shift
key while using implied windowing. However, none of the other selection options which
require keyboard input will work using the shift pick method.

Tips: When you are picking objects in a complex drawing, use the ZOOM command
transparently to make object selection easier. All Zoom options selected from the
toolbars are automatically transparent but if you invoke the command from the
keyboard you will need to enter zoom.