AUTOCAD WORKSHOP

SUMMER 2002  THE DISCOVERY MUSEUMS  TUFTS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING  LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES FOUNDATION

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

 use basic techniques for drawing in AutoCAD

What is AutoCAD?
CAD is an abbreviation of Computer Aided Drawing. AutoCAD is a computer program used
by engineers in the design of products.

Mistakes are okay!

One of the benefits of CAD is the ability to make changes and corrections. If you draw
something you want to change, “undo”  can delete it. The erase button can also
delete an object you have drawn. The Esc key can be used to restart a command if you
make a mistake in the middle of a command.

Exercise 1: Using the command bar

Follow the steps below to create a drawing using only line commands. Words in bold
face type are prompts AutoCAD will give. You type in the words after the bold
prompts.

1. First we must tell the program what shape we want to draw.

Command: line

2. Next we specify the parameter of our shape. Our line will start at coordinate
points 0,0 and be ten units long in the x-direction.

Specify first point: 0,0

Specify next point or [Undo]: 10,0

Click the right mouse button 1 time with the arrow in the black drawing space to
finish the command.

3. Let’s draw three more lines to make a square.

Command: line
Specify first point: 0,0
Specify next point or [Undo]: 0, 10
(Right click to end command)

Command: line
Specify first point: 10, 0
Specify next point or [Undo]: 10, 10
(Right click to end command)

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 Command: line
Specify first point: 0,10
Specify next point or [Undo]: 10, 10
(Right click to end the command)

5. To get a better look at what we’ve drawn we can zoom “extents”.

Command: zoom (or just type z)

Specify...<real time>: e

6. Now we will construct two lines at a 45º angle on top of the box.

Command: line
Specify first point: 0,10
Specify next point or [Undo]: @10<45
(right click to end command)

Command: line
Specify first point: 10,10
Specify next point or [Undo]: @10<135

Command: zoom
Specify...<real time>: e

Exercise 2: Using the tool bars

The commands in the AutoCAD tool bars can be used in place of typing commands.
We will focus on using toolbar icons and the mouse to add to our drawing.

1. Let’s use the toolbar to make a rectangle. Left click 1 time on the rectangle icon
Looking at the command bar you will see the that AutoCAD has filled in
the prompt

Command:_rectang
Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Ele…]: 0,0
Specify other corner point or [Dimensions]: 3,5

2. Now we can move our rectangle. Where do you want to place it? Left click 1 time
on the move icon
Again, AutoCAD has filled in the prompt

Command: _move
Select objects: left click the rectangle (it will become dashed)
Right click to end selection
Specify base point or displacement: left click on one corner of the rectangle

Now you can move the rectangle anywhere on the page with your mouse. Move
the rectangle to a new location and then left click to place it. Hmmm, is it a
house?

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3. How do we fix the roof?

Left click 1 time on the trim icon

In the command bar you will be prompted with “Select Objects:” This is a

request for the object you want to trim to.

Using the mouse, left click once on each of the angled lines. Right click once to
end the selection. The two angled lines will appear as dashed lines.

The next prompt in the command bar is:

Select object to trim or shift-select to extend or {Project/Edge/Undo]:
We want to “trim” our lines.
Left click on each of the over-hanging pieces of the angled lines.
Right click to end the selection.

Exercise 3: A sample of 3D drawing

1. Most 2D shapes can be turned into a 3D shape in AutoCAD. Left click
one time on the rectangle icon.

Command:_rectang
Specify first corner point or [Chamfer/Ele…]: 15,0
Specify other corner point or [Dimensions]: 25,10

Command: extrude
Select Objects: left click on the rectangle
(right click to end the selection)
Specify height of extrusion or [Path]: 10
Specify angle of extrusion <0>: 0

Now use the orbit icon to view your 3D box. Place the cursor on the green
circle and hold down the left mouse button. Move your mouse to view different
angles. Choose a shading icon option to view your box as a solid.

Exercise 4: Using “object snap”

Right click the OSNAP button on the bottom of the screen. Left click on the
Settings option. Select (a check mark means you have selected the option)
Endpoint and Midpoint. The yellow box highlights the end or midpoint of a line
and allows you to “snap” the end of a line to that exact point. This is useful for
making closed shapes.

1. You may need to move to a clear area of the working space to do the next task.

Left click one time on the line icon .

Command: _line Specify first point:

Left click anywhere one the page. Next, create a line in any direction by
moving your mouse and left clicking again. Right click once to end your line. Use

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this line drawing technique to write your name or your initials.