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AUTOCAD
Computer Aided Design (CAD) is simply, design and drafting with the aid of a computer. Design is creating a real product from an idea. Drafting is the production of the drawings that are used to document a design. CAD can be used to create 2D or 3D computer models. A CAD drawing is a file that consists of numeric data in binary form that will be saved onto a disk. AutoCAD is a computer aided design software developed by Autodesk Inc.AutoCAD and introduced in 1982

PREVIOUS CONCEPTS
Using co-ordinates Introduction A good understanding of how co-ordinates work in AutoCAD is very important if you want 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.

Cartesian Co-ordinates The position of a point can be described by its distance from two axes, X and Y. This results in a simple point description using two numbers separated by a comma e.g. 34.897,45.473. In the example the point described lies 34.897 drawing units to the right of the Y axis and 45.473 drawing units above the X axis. The first value (34.897) is known as the X co-ordinate because it's value is measured along the X axis. The second value is known as the Y co-ordinate because it's value is measured along the Y axis. AutoCAD allows you to use co-ordinates to draw objects rather than using pick points. For example

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you could draw a line like this: Command Sequence Command:LINE From point: 34.897,45.473 To point: 54.896,65.395 To point: (to end) Polar Co-ordinates

Polar co-ordinates achieve the same result i.e. the description of the position of a point. The main difference is that polar co-ordinates use one distance and one angle to describe the position of a point . The distance and angle measurements are made relative to an origin. This results in a point description which looks like this 34.897<30 where the first figure is the distance (in drawing units) and the second is the angle.

The UCS Icon In the bottom left hand corner of the AutoCAD drawing window you will see a symbol like the one shown on the right. This is called the UCS (User Co-ordinate System) icon and it is there to remind you which is the X axis and which is the Y axis. Absolute & Relative Co-ordinates Both Cartesian and polar co-ordinates come in two types: absolute and relative. The distinction is quite simple, absolute co-ordinates relate to the X and Y axes and the origin of the current co-ordinate system, but t relative co-ordinates relate to the current pick point. When you are specifying co-ordinates you need to tell AutoCAD which type you want. Absolute coordinates are typed exactly as in the examples above. To specify a relative co-ordinate you need to use the "at" ( @ ) symbol as a prefix. In the case of the two examples above a relative Cartesian

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co-ordinate looks like this @34.897,45.473 and a relative polar co-ordinate looks like this @34.897<30. Relative co-ordinates are very useful for drawing objects which you know the size of. For example, you could draw a square of 12 units with its lower left hand point at 30,40 as follows: Command Sequence Command: LINE From point: 30,40 (an absolute Cartesian co-ordinate) To point: @0,12 (a relative Cartesian co-ordinate) To point: @12<0 (a relative polar co-ordinate) To point: @0,-12 (another relative Cartesian co-ordinate) To point: C (to close) GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE AUTOCAD WINDOW Before you can start drawing you need to get familiar with the AutoCAD window. In the following lessons, I will be referring to all of the areas described below. So it is important for you to understand each of them.

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1. DRAWING AREA Location: The large area in the center of the screen. This is where you will draw. This area represents a piece of paper. 2. CROSSHAIRS / CURSOR Location: Can be anywhere in the Drawing Area. The movement of the cursor is controlled by the movement of the pointing device such as a mouse 3. COMMAND LINE Location: The three lines at the bottom of the screen. This is where you enter commands and Autocad will prompt you to input information. 4. COORDINATE DISPLAY (F6) Location: Lower left corner In the Absolute mode (coords = 1): displays the location of the crosshairs / cursor in reference to the Origin. The first number represents the horizontal movement (Xaxis), the second number represents the vertical movement (Yaxis) In the Relative Polar mode (coords = 2): displays the distance and angle of the cursor from the last point entered. (Distance<Angle) 5. STATUS BAR Location: Below the Command Line. Displays your current settings. These settings can be turned on and off by clicking on the word (Snap, Grid, Ortho, etc.) or by pressing the function keys, F1, F2, etc. See button descriptions below. [SNAP] (F9) Increment Snap controls the movement of the cursor. If it is off, the cursor will move smoothly. If it is ON, the cursor will jump in an incremental movement. The increment spacing can be changed at any time using Tools / Drafting Settings / Snap and Grid. The default spacing is .250. [GRID] (F7) The grid (dots) is merely a visual "drawing aid". The default spacing is 1 unit. You may change the grid spacing at any time using: Tools / Drafting Settings / Snap and Grid. [ORTHO] (F8) When Ortho is ON, cursor movement is restricted to horizontal or vertical. When Ortho is OFF, the cursor moves freely. [POLAR] (F10) POLAR TRACKING creates Alignment Paths at specified angles. (More detailed information on page 11-3)

BASIC COMMANDS

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CIRCLE
Center, Radius: (Default option) 1. Specify the center (P1) location. 2. Specify the Radius (P2).
3.

Center, Diameter: 1. Specify the center (P1) location. 2. Select the Diameter option using the shortcut menu or type D <enter>. 3. Specify the Diameter (P2). 4. 2 Points: 1. Select the 2 point option using the short cut menu or type 2P <enter>. 2. Specify the 2 points (P1 and P2) that will determine the Diameter . 3 Points: 1. Select the 3 Point option using the short cut menu or type 3P <enter>. 2. Specify the 3 points (P1, P2 and P3) on the circumference. The Circle will pass through all three points.

Tangent, Tangent, Radius: 1. Select the Tangent, Tangent, Radius option using the short cut menu or type T <enter>. 2. Select two objects (P1 and P2) for the Circle to be tangent to by placing the cursor on the object and pressing the left mouse button 3. Specify the radius.

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OBJECT SNAP