AutoCAD - Lengthen Command

LENGTHEN

                This command is used to change length or angle of line or circle on the basis of DELTA, PERCENTAGE, TOTAL & DYNAMIC MODE.

• Can be used as alternate to TRIM/EXTEND with specific values.
• Does not affect closed objects.
• After selecting the object AutoCAD shows the current length and angle

Option Available

• DELTA: Specify distance to be added or subtracted from original object
• PERCENTAGE: Specify percentage by which one wants to make charges in the object.
• TOTAL: Specify the total distance or angle required.
• DYNAMIC: Drag the courser as per required distance or angle

refer the following video for details.

AutoCAD - Rotate Command

ROTATE :
Rotate command is used to rotate i.e. change angle of single/multiple objects with known angle or with the reference object.
Command line shortcut : RO

More Options :

1. rotate with specific angle

2. rotate with unknown angle i.e with reference.

3. Copy original object.

Find the video tutorial explaining all options in rotate command

AutoCAD - MIRROR Command

Mirror Command:
         
          Mirror command is used to create symmetrical objects/components in AutoCAD.
it is fast & efficient way of drawing. One can select one or multiple objects to mirror.

steps :
1. select command from modify tool
                  or
    Command Line Shortcut: MI
2. select objects to mirror.
3. select mirror line points 1 & 2.
4. Delete Source objects(YES/NO)
5. End of command.

Refer Following Video:

AutCAD - Start a Command

There are various command in AutoCAD to Draw, Modify, Annotate, Daft etc.

To start new command in AutoCAD there are different ways.

1.      Command Line – you can enter shortcuts of COMMANDS.

2.      Ribbon Icon – Click on the specific icon assigned for a COMMANDS.

3.      Menu bar – go to a menu bar and access required command from various menus.

From all above options most convenient ways are Command line shortcuts & ribbon. You don’t need to remember command line shortcuts for every command. Some practice with command line shortcuts may help you to guess a shortcut. This certainly helps to save time by using shortcuts in command line for a large plot files.

SPACE BAR/ENTER will quick start previously used command.

You can also use arrow kyes to access previously used commands in that file.

Press F2 to open command line tab to go through commands used so far.

Also prompt is provide as you start typing command in the command line (From version 2014)

For a ribbon the commands are divvied into different panels to differentiate its application like home (Draw, modify, modeling, view), annotate, visualize, parametric etc.

Slowest way to access commands is the menu bar. Every time you need to access menu bar to open a new command. This will certainly slow down your performance and efficiency.

Refer following image

AutoCAD - Circle Command

        The most common shape in every mechanical / architecture drawing is a Circle. Circle command is used in AutoCAD to draw circular shapes.

Command line shortcut: C

        Before using these command user should go through some basic concepts in Circle i.e. Center, Radius, Diameter, chord & Chord length, tangent. Refer following image

Also refer video tutorial below...

AutoCAD - Prospective views

Prospective view

      Prospective view drawing is an approximate representation or image as it is perceived by the eye on a flat surface like paper.

Characteristics of prospective view

• Smaller as their distance from the observer increases

• Foreshortened: the size of an objects dimensions along the line of sight are relatively shorter than dimensions across the line of sight.

All prospective drawings assume a viewer is a certain distance away from the drawing. Objects are scaled relative to that viewer.

An object is even not scaled properly, a circle often appears to be ellipse and a square can appear as a trapezoid. This distortion is referred to as foreshortening.

A prospective representation of a scene that includes parallel lines has one or more vanishing points in a prospective drawing. Any number of vanishing points are possible in a drawing, one for each set of parallel lines that are angled relative to the plane of drawing.

Types of prospective:

One point prospective view

            One vanishing point is typically used for roads, railroad tracks or buildings viewed so that the front is direct facing the viewer. Any objects that are made up of lines either directly parallel with the viewer’s line of sight or directly perpendicular can be represented with one point prospective view.

AutoCAD - MOVE & COPY Command

Move:

         Move command is used to move/displace object from one co-ordinate to other co-ordinate.

Move command icon is placed in Modify tool bar.

Command Line Shortcut: M

Copy:

         Copy command is used to copy selected object from one co-ordinate to other co-ordinate.

The only difference between move and copy is copy command duplicates original components.

Command line Shortcut: CO/CP

Isometric drawing Basics

Isometric Drawing
        Isometric drawing is the 3D representation of any object in 2D environments using 2D commands.
Important points to consider for ISOMETRIC DRAWING

• 3 planes Right , Top , Left
  

• F5 toggle between planes while working
• Using Ellipse - -Isocircle command for circle/fillets

NOTE : Use Copy ,Move ,Trim/Extend ,Erase commands.Avoid use of MIRROR ,OFFSET etc. when woking with ISOMETRIC Drawings.

effective handing of AutoCAD - 02

       In AutoCAD one can use function keys for fast and effective handling. All function keys except F1 allows to change drafting setting you are working in. F1 allows user toopen HELP topics. other fuctions of each key is as follows :

Function key	Description
F1	Display Help
F2	Toggle text screen
F3	Toggle object snap mode
F4	Toggle 3DOsnap
F5	Toggle Isoplane
F6	Toggle Dynamic UCS
F7	Toggle grid mode
F8	Toggle ortho mode
F9	Toggle snap mode
F10	Toggle polar mode
F11	Toggle object snap tracking
F12	Toggle dynamic input mode

Effective handling of AutoCAD 01

Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) -  First look to AutoCAD

·         Application Button - This button displays commands for printing, saving, drawing utilities and other non-drawing tools.
·         Quick Access Toolbar - This is for quick access to common commands like New, Open, Save, Plot
·         Filename - The name of the current file you are working on.
·         Search Bar - Search for text in your drawing or search the help files.
·         Ribbon - The Ribbon has most of the commands/tools that you will use while you are working.

Introduction to AutoCAD

Introduction to AutoCAD

AutoCAD providers the ultimate in flexibility because it can be easily customized for your needs. With these capabilities and more, AutoCAD delivers the power and flexibility needed to take documentation and design further.

AutoCAD software is used by CAD technicians, designers, engineers, architects, project managers and CAD/IT managers in a variety of industries including the manufacturing, building, civil, mapping industries.