Topics covered in this Lesson:

Line | Circle | Erase | Print | Undo

AutoCAD allows you to have access to a large number of commands. A general rule is that you will use 20% of the commands 80% of the time. I will start by introducing you to the most common drawing commands. When you combine these with the basic modify commands, you will be able to make elaborate drawings quite quickly. In other words, most of the commands you will use while using AutoCAD are taught in Level 1.

The important thing to remember is that AutoCAD will expect you give it information in a very particular order. The most frustrating thing when you begin using this program is that you will try to do something, but AutoCAD will 'not work'. In most cases, it means that you are trying to input information at the wrong time. This is why it is very important to be in the habit of looking at the command line.

The command line tells you what information AutoCAD requires to continue.

Your first drawing assignment will be to use the drawing commands in conjunction with the co-ordinate system defined in Lesson 1-1. This is a basic assignment, but it is very important to understand how to give the program accurate information. You will use the following commands:

Command	Keystroke	Icon	Location	Result
Line	Line / L		Home > LIne	Draw a straight line segment from one point to the next
Circle	Circle / C		Home> Circle > Center, Radius	Draws a circle based on a center point and radius.
Erase	Erase / E		Modify > Erase	Erases an object.
Print	Print / Plot CTRL+P		Quick Access Toolbar > Print	Enables the Print/Plot Configuration Dialog Box
Undo	U / CTRL+Z		Quick Access Toolbar> Undo	Undoes the last command.

Assignment #1 - Drawing lines to exact points

Duplicate the drawing called Assign #1.

Click HERE to see the finished drawing in JPG format.
Click HERE to download the DWG file.

You will not have to worry about the title block or text, or dimensioning.

Make sure you are comfortable with the co-ordinate system as explained in Lesson 1-1. When you are finished this assignment, check the printed drawing with a scale ruler. All lines should measure up exactly if all went well.

Steps:

Start AutoCAD and a new drawing by pressing the Application Button (top left corner) and pressing the new button to reveal the flyout.  Once you see the flyout, click on Drawing.

You will see a dialog box open that asks you to select a template drawing to use (as shown below):

Select the "acad.dwt" template file and press the Open button to continue to the drawing screen.

Once there, type in Z <ENTER> E <ENTER> this will zoom into to the extents of the drawing area and make it easier to see what you are drawing (NOTE: nothing will appear to happen).

For all lessons on this level, make sure that you do not have Dynamic Input turned on. You can check this on the status bar. Make sure (the DYN button) isn't depressed. Your status bar buttons (bottom of the screen) should like the image above with 3 icon pressed (in blue).

Start the LINE command (as explained in the table above) and draw a line from 1,2 to 3,2 to 3,4 to 1,4 Press enter after each point. (*Remember to watch the command line as you do this.) For the last line, you can either type in 1,2 or C to close the line back to the first point you entered. You have just drawn a 2" square using absolute co-ordinates. Your command history (F2 key) should look like this:

Command: L LINE Specify first point: 1,2

Specify next point or [Undo]: 3,2

Specify next point or [Undo]: 3,4

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: 1,4

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: 1,2

Specify next point or [Close/Undo]: <ENTER>

If you make a mistake, you can use the undo icon, press U or press CTRL+Z.

You can also use the ERASE command to get rid of lines you don't want.

Next draw a similar box using relative co-ordinates. Start the LINE command and begin at point 4.5,2. From there draw a line two units to the right by typing @2,0 (this means 2 units in the X direction, 0 units in the Y direction based on the last point you entered). Next type @0,2 then @-2,0 then @0,-2 to finish the box. (Remember to press enter after each point.)

Now erase the last box you just drew. Start the ERASE command and then select the lines you want to erase. Then press <enter>. Now redraw the box for more practice!

Draw a third box using polar co-ordinate input. Start the LINE command and begin at point 8,2 then enter. Type @1<45 to draw the first line. Next enter @1<135 then @1<225 then @1<315 (or C to close). What you have just done is drawn a line 1 unit long at 45^o, then another at 135^o and so on. Do the angles you entered make sense to you? If not, review it.

Start the CIRCLE command and add a circle that has a center point at 7,6 with a radius of .75 (Watch the command line for instructions).

To finish the drawing, try putting a 10"x7" border around the page starting at 0,0 using the any of the methods shown above (relative, absolute or polar).

When you have done the assignment, print (or plot) it out. To do this, bring up the plot dialog box using any method explained above (plot <enter> will work). Set it up to print as shown below. Follow these steps for a successful plot (see diagram below):

1. Select your printer - laser or inkjet will work fine.

2. Select the paper size - "Letter" ( 8-1/2" x 11") is needed in this case.

3. For the "Plot Area", select "Extents" - that will plot everything you drew.

4. Select the checkbox to "Center the Plot" on your sheet of paper (looks better).

5. If "Fit to Paper" is selected by default, uncheck it and select a scale of 1 inch to 1 paper unit (1:1). This will make your printout 'life-sized'.

6. Now Preview your drawing. I strongly recommend that you preview EVERY drawing you will ever draw in AutoCAD - a lot can go wrong, so you don't want to waste paper (especially when you're using expensive 3'x4' sheets!).If your preview looks good, cancel out of it by clicking on the large red X icon.

7. If you're sure that everything's ok (this is where good habits begin), press the OK button.

Note: You may have to change the paper size in your printer (Use the Windows printer settings to do this.) You may also have to change the rotation or origin of the plot. Check the Landscape radio button in the Drawing Orientation section.

If everything worked out, you should be able to measure your drawing and have it exactly the way you drew it (a couple of 2" squares, an angled 1" square and a 1-1/2" circle).

Save your drawing as you would any other Windows file. CTRL+S will bring up the Save or Save as dialog box.

If you want to check your input, click HERE to see the commands needed to complete this assignment.

This assignment has given you a basic introduction to drawing using a variety of methods. Once you have completed the assignment, practice these methods, as you will be using them often.

Your boxes should match the drawing example. They will be the same size and on the same place in the drawing. If you have a ruler, you will see that your lines are life-size (1:1). From these basic concepts, you can now draw lines anywhere if you know where they should go. The next lessons will add to these commands. As you get used to the AutoCAD interface, you will find it easier and easier to learn the new commands. But for now, mastering the co-ordinate systems, inputting commands and reading the command line should be your priority.

Extra Practice: Copy this drawing using the same methods as above. - Extra_001.gif

Extra Practice: Copy this drawing using the same methods as above (all measurements needed are in the drawing) - Extra_002.gif.

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