Introduction to

AutoCAD
What is Auto CAD?
• AutoCAD was developed by Autodesk.
• AutoCAD is a system software which supports both 2
Dimensional(2D) and 3 Dimensional (3D) formats.
• Bridges the gap between imagination and implementation,
as designs can be created, modified, and optimized in
electronic form.
AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer
Aided Design or Computer Aided
Drafting) software application for
2D and 3D design and drafting.
Tools of Auto CAD

• Computer
• Software
• These components together make up
a system referred to as CAD.
Users of CAD

CAD is used by:

– Drafters
– Designers
– Engineers
– Architects
They develop designs and drawings; and plot
them on paper.
The Applications of AutoCAD

• A drawing can have hundreds of colors and layers

which contain different kinds of information.
• The drawing objects can have “intelligence” in the
form of attributes.
• 3D models can be constructed, and rendered.
• Animation can be used to rotate models so they
can be viewed from any direction.
Commands

• Tool Bar
• Pull Down
• KEY COMMANDS
– From the Key
Pull-down
boardMenus

Draw Tool Palette

Dimension Tool Palette

AutoCAD WorkSpace

Layer TB Standard TB Object

Properties TB

Modify TB
PullDown Menus

Drawing TB Cursor Drawing

Area
Command Line

CoOrd Display Status Line

Function Keys

• Function Keys provide instant access to

commands.
• They can also be programmed to perform a
series of commands.
• AutoCAD uses only nine function keys.
Function Keys(Contd.)
• [F1] - Help
• [F2] - Flip screen from graphics to text toggle
• [F3] - displays Osnap Settings dialog box
• [F4] - Tablet mode toggle
• [F5] - Isoplane left, right, top
• [F6] - Coordinate display
• [F7] - Grid mode toggle
• [F8] - Ortho mode toggle
• [F9] - Snap mode toggle
• [F10] - Polar mode toggle
Keys

The [Esc] key: Cancels a command and returns to the

Command: prompt.
Control Keys: Control functions are activated by
pressing and holding the [Ctrl] key while pressing a
second key.
Function Keys
Button Functions
Keys(Contd.)
• Ctrl C - Copy
• Ctrl D - coordinate display on/off toggle
• Ctrl G - Grid on/off toggle
• Ctrl L - Ortho mode toggle
• Ctrl O - Open
• Ctrl P - Print (Plot)
• Ctrl S - Save
• Ctrl V - Paste
• Ctrl X - Cut
• Ctrl Y - Redo
• Ctrl Z - Undo
Object Snaps

The Object Snaps (Osnaps for short) are drawing aids

which are used in conjunction with other commands to
help you draw accurately.
• Midpoint
• End point
• Intersection
• Extension
• Center
• Quadrant
• Tangent
• Perpendicular
• Parallel
• Insert
• Node
Modify Commands

• The modify tools (from left to right):

Erase, Copy, Mirror, Offset, Array, Move
, Rotate, Scale, Stretch, Lengthen, Trim,
Extend, Break at point, Break, Chamfer
, Fillet, Explode
Erase

• Select this button then a drawing element

to erase it permanently from the drawing.

Copy
• Copy - The copy command will copy any
selected drawing elements and reposition
where specified by the user, without
affecting the original elements.
Mirror

Mirror - The mirror command will create a mirror

image of any selected drawing elements along
any line of symmetry specified by the user.
Offset

• Offset will make a copy of a line or series

of selected lines by a specified distance in
the direction specified.
Array

• The array command quickly creates copies of

a selected object(s) to a specified spacing..
Rectangular Array
Move

• The move command works exactly the same

as the copy command described above,
except instead of creating a copy of the
selected objects, the second objects are
moved.
Rotate

• The rotate command rotates any selected

objects about a defined point by the angle
specified. By default Autocad will rotate
objects anticlockwise when an angle is
entered.
Trim

• The trim command is an extremely useful

tool which will erase all parts of an
object beyond or within its intersection
with another object.
 Extend

• The extend command is similar

to the trim command in how it
functions, except it extends a
selected line to a point of
Intersection of another
selected object.
Break

• The break command is identical to the

break at point command, except the
break line isn't as neat as break at
point.
Chamfer

• The chamfer command will chamfer the

intersection of two lines to a specified
distance.
Fillet
• The fillet command is very similar to the
chamfer command above, except instead
of creating a straight line chamfer,
Autocad creates a radius between the t
wo points.
ZOOM

• AutoCAD's zoom command toolbar: