AutoCAD Tutorial #1

I am going to launch a series of AutoCAD tutorials based on the course i've recently taken. Teaching people how to draw 2D & 3D drawings by using AutoCAD software.

For the tutorials, i am going to use AutoCAD 2005 as the platform (AutoCAD 2004 has very similar interface). If you are using different versions, please play around at the menu list to find appropriate functions i am talking about. Thanks and cheers :)

Let's get to know more about the interface of AutoCAD 2005 (click to enlarge the image):

Part 1
How to Draw a Line?
There are at least three ways to draw a line:-

1. using two sets of absolute coordinate points (origin and end points)
2. using incremental value
   
3. using angle

Tutorial #1
Method #1: Using Two Sets of Absolute Coordinate Points to draw LINE(s)

Firstly, open a new file (file->new->'Open with no Template - Metric'); NOTE: we will be using metric scale for all the upcoming tutorials. By default, the AutoCAD opens a 420 x 290 mm drawing screen for you to draw. How to make sure i was right?















When you open a new file, :-
i) type 'z' then enter to zoom;
ii) type 'e' then enter to extend the zoom to fit the drawing limit to the maximum of the screen;
iii) hit 'F7' to view the grids (as shown in snapshot below);
















iv) move the mouse cursor to bottom where the coordinate reference locates, click on the 'SNAP' and check in Command Line where it states 'Snap on', now you can move your crosshair around and can see the crosshair only points to the grid;
v) Select Tools -> Inquiry -> ID Point on the menu bar. Command Line asks you '_id Specify point'; so now you click the crosshair to the bottom left; you can see the result in the command line stating: 'Command: '_id Specify point: X = 0.0000 Y = 0.0000 Z = 0.0000' ; repeat the same steps in v) to check the coordinates of the top right grid.









Practice #1: Let's now draw a horizontal line starting from point of 25,25 and 125 mm away from the origin

1.1.1 select the draw line button from the left tool bar menu (refer to the image above); or type 'line'; or type 'l' in the command line at the bottom of the AutoCAD screen, then hit enter.

1.1.2 Command Line now turns to 'LINE Specify first point:', type 25,25 then hit enter

1.1.3 Command Line now asks you to 'Specify next point or [Undo]:'; now you type in 150,25 then hit enter TWICE to complete the draw line task.


















AutoCAD then draws you a horizontal line that is 125 mm in length.



Practice #2: Let's now continue to draw a vertical line starting from the end of the horizontal line that we just drawn at 150,25 and 100 mm up

1.2.1 Let's draw the vertical line from the end point of the horizontal line. Click on 'Snap to Endpoint'
















1.2.2 Click on the end point of the horizontal line as the first point then type 150,125 and hit enter. You've now drawn a vertical line 100 mm up from the end point (as shown in snapshot below).

Let's continue on the current drawing to make it a rectangle.
- Draw another line starting from P3 to P4 locates at 25, 125; then continue to draw another line to P1.



















So simply put, you can draw this rectangle in one shot as follow:
1.) l, 'enter';
2.) 25,25 'enter'
3.) 150,25 'enter'
4.) 150,125 'enter'
5.) 25,125 'enter'
6.) type 'c' to close or 25,25


Here's the Exercise:



Please practice yourself and i'll be giving the answer in next four days