INTRODUCTION TO AUTO- CAD

Contents
1.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................3

1.2 History of Auto-CAD........................................................................................................3

1.3 CAD System.....................................................................................................................3

1.4 CPU...................................................................................................................................4

1.5 Input Devices....................................................................................................................5

1.6 Out Put Devices................................................................................................................5

1.6.1 The Printers................................................................................................................5

1.6.2 Impact printers...........................................................................................................5

1.6.3 Non Impact Printers...................................................................................................5

1.6.4 Electrostatic Printers..................................................................................................6

1.6.5 Ink Jet Printers...........................................................................................................6

1.6.6 Laser Printers.............................................................................................................6

1.7 Plotters..............................................................................................................................6

1.7.1 Flat bed Plotters.........................................................................................................6

1.7.2 Drum Plotters.............................................................................................................6

1.8 Display Devices................................................................................................................6

1.8.1 The storage tube:........................................................................................................6

1.8.2 The Raster Scan Tube:...............................................................................................7

1.8.3 The Refresh Tube System:.........................................................................................7

1.9 Storage Devices.................................................................................................................7

1.10 Applications of Auto-Cad.............................................................................................7

1.11 Advantages of CAD......................................................................................................8

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1.12 Auto- CAD Window.....................................................................................................9

1.13 Selecting Commands in Auto-CAD..............................................................................9

1.13.1 Keyboard....................................................................................................................9

1.13.2 Screen Menu............................................................................................................10

1.13.3 Pull down menu.......................................................................................................10

1.13.4 Icon menus...............................................................................................................10

1.14 Setting of Drawing Aids..............................................................................................10

1.14.1 Ortho Command......................................................................................................10

1.15 Saving a File................................................................................................................10

1.16 Exiting Auto-CAD......................................................................................................10

1.17 Opening an Existing Drawing.....................................................................................11

1.18 Cad Entities/Primitives................................................................................................11

1.19 Methods of Drawing Straight Lines............................................................................11

1.19.1 Absolute Co-ordinates.............................................................................................11

1.19.2 Relative Co-ordinates..............................................................................................12

1.19.3 Polar Co-ordinates...................................................................................................13

1.20 Direct Distance Entry (DDE)......................................................................................18

1.21 Starting a New Drawing..............................................................................................18

1.21.1 Units.........................................................................................................................18

1.21.2 Limits.......................................................................................................................18

1.21.3 Paper Sizes...............................................................................................................19

1.21.4 Grid Command........................................................................................................19

1.21.5 Snap Command........................................................................................................19

1.22 Use of Function keys...................................................................................................19

1.22.1 Loading Line Types.................................................................................................20

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 1.23 Layers..........................................................................................................................20

1.23.1 Layers Options:........................................................................................................20

1.23.2 Creating Layers........................................................................................................21

1.24 Hatching......................................................................................................................21

1.1 Introduction
Auto-CAD is a powerful drafting and designing package used in many industries and
educational institutions all over the world.

It is flexible user friendly software that enables the user to create two dimensional drawings and
3 dimensional models for a wide variety of applications.

1.2 History of Auto-CAD

The first software of Auto-CAD came into market in December 1982 and the Release 10 in
1988. Auto-CAD R14 was released in 1998. The version of Auto-CAD 2013 was released in
March 2012 and the latest version is Auto-Cad 2015.

1.3 CAD System

It consists of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a Work Station.

Work Station: is a set of hardware and software equipment.

Software: is a collection of instructions by which a computer operates, used by a draughts

person to produce drawings.

The work station is connected locally or remotely to the Central Processing Unit of the
computer. It consists of the input and output devices, display devices and the supporting
software. The included software consists of programs, which are lists of instructions written in
computer language needed for producing drawing, images etc. Basic activities of any CAD
system are:

 Inputting,
 Storing,

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  Processing,
 Displaying and
 Outputting of information.

The diagram below shows the CAD System.

Figure 1 : Auto-Cad System

1.4 CPU
Central Processing Unit is brain of the entire System. It consists of integrated circuits of three
parts: Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Controller and Main Memory.

 The ALU consists of electronic circuits which perform logic and mathematical
operations.
 Controller Circuits are used to regulate various operations carried out in the computer.
 Main Memory circuit store processed dates such as results of calculations and
programme instructions inside the computer.

Hundreds of electronic circuits are reduced and etched on to a silicon chip as small as a pin head.

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1.5 Input Devices

-Are used for making selections from a menu.

MENU: - A layout of a variety of commands and functions required to operate the system.
Sending these commands into the computer produces complete engineering drawings. The
choice of optional commands on the screen menu is made by indicating the required position
with the cursor cross hairs or by typing a required code. Movement of the cursor on the screen
may be controlled by the following devices.

(a) A Keyboard: where the located keys control the required movement.
(b) Thumb Wheel: where one wheel controls horizontal movement and another wheel
controls vertical movement.
(c) A Light Pen: where the required position is selected by pointing the pen directly at the
screen.
(d) A Joy Stick: a vertical lever mounted in a box controls movements in any direction.
(e) A mouse: a small box which when pushed across a surface controls movements in the
same direction.
(f) A Tracker Ball: - its rolling in mounting controls movements in any direction.

1.6 Out Put Devices

The output device receives data from the computer and provides an output, hard copy. There
are two main types of output devices namely printers and plotters.

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1.6.1 The Printers
The Printer may be impact, where images are formed by striking action or non-impact.

1.6.2 Impact printers

-Used for reproduction drawings.

They are the dot matrix type and form shapes by the appropriate selection of small dots from
the print head.

1.6.3 Non Impact Printers

Include electrostatic, ink jet and laser printers.

1.6.4 Electrostatic Printers

Creates shapes by burning a thin metallic coating on the special printing paper.

1.6.5 Ink Jet Printers

Use a print head which directs a jet of ink at the paper to create the required shapes.

1.6.6 Laser Printers

Use a fine beam of laser to light, to create the required shapes.

1.7 Plotters
There are 2 basic types of plotters namely flat bed and drum.

1.7.1 Flat bed Plotters

Have a flat area on which the paper of any type and thickness is placed and the pens of
various thickness and ink color are free to move in any direction with plot head providing all
the motion.

1.7.2 Drum Plotters

Have rotating drum over which the paper can move in two directions and pens are limited to
move only across the drum and with a combination of pen movement and rotation, required
motion is provided. They produce drawings of longer length compared with flatbed plotter.

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1.8 Display Devices
The display devices are used for visual display of information. There are three types of
computer display screen: storage, raster and refresh.

1.8.1 The Storage Tube:

A phosphor surface on the inside of the tube is bombarded by electrons to produce the
drawing image. When the picture is produced it remains stored on the screen without flicker.
The disadvantage includes a slow update procedure (replacing old image by new) and its
color capacity is limited.

1.8.2 The Raster Scan Tube:

-Is similar to the television screen. - Uses a grid of dots known as pixels to display the image.
The resolution or clarity of the image depends on the number of pixels per screen area. This
system achieves a fast update and a good quality of color and resolution.

1.8.3 The Refresh Tube System:

Is maintained by regular redrawing, 50 times per second of the picture, lines, arcs and curves.
First, the points are located, then the required connecting lines or curves are drawn directly
with an electron beam. The updating is very rapid but color capacity is limited and there is
tendency to flicker as the picture becomes more complex.

1.9 Storage Devices

There are two memories for storing computer information, symbols, programs etc.

(a) Primary Storage: is the main memory, which is connected directly to the CPU.
(b) Secondary Storage: is the auxiliary memory stored externally on magnetic disc,
USB/memory card and loaded into the main memory when required.

1.10 Applications of Auto-CAD

(a) Create conceptual models.
(b) Editing or refining the model to improve aesthetics, ergonomics and performance.
(c) Display the product in several colors, to select color combinations most appealing to
customer.

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 (d) Rotate and view the object from various sides and directions.
(e) Prepare detail component drawings, giving full details of dimensions, tolerance, surface
finish requirements, functional requirements, functional specifications etc.
(f) Prepare assembly drawings.
(g) Prepare exploded views of assemblies for service and maintenance manuals.
(h) Plot or print the picture/drawing stored in a computer file.
(i) Analyze stress, static deflection and dynamic behavior for different mechanical and
thermal loading configurations and carry out quickly and necessary design modifications
to rectify deficiencies in the design.

1.11 Advantages of Auto- CAD

 Productivity Improvement in Designing
Cad helps in increased design productivity by reducing the time for developing
conceptual design, analysis and drafting. It is also possible to reduce man power
requirements for a given project.
 Shorter Lead Time
Interactive CAD is faster than traditional manual design process. It speeds up the task of
preparing the bill off material using CAD system as finished set of drawing and
documentation can be prepared in a relatively short time.
 Flexibility in Design
With improved accuracy, CAD offers the advantage of easy modification of design to
accommodate customer specific requirements
 Design Analysis
The use of analysis helps to optimize a Design.
 Fewer Design Errors
Errors occur naturally during operation will be avoided.
 Standardization of designs, drafting and documentation.

Disadvantages of Auto-CAD
 Arc eyes due to exposure to the light on the screen for long periods of time.
 Back ache due to bad posture for long periods of time

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  Dependence syndrome and addiction
 Loss of stored information due to computer virus.
 A skilled and experienced draughtsperson is required to generate engineering drawings.

1.12 Auto- CAD Window

1.13 Selecting Commands in Auto-CAD

AutoCAD provides the following methods to enter or select commands

a) Keyboard
b) Screen menu
c) Pull down menu
d) Icon menu

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1.13.1 Keyboard
Enter any Auto-Cad command at the keyboard by typing the command name at prompt. After
entering command, press enter key.

1.13.2 Screen Menu

This menu is shown at the right or left hand side margin of the drawing screen. Select an item
from the screen menu by picking an icon using the cursor.

1.13.3 Pull down menu

The status line and menu bar presents a lot of titles for pull down menus. These pull down menu
are almost a repetition of the standard screen menu.

1.13.4 Icon menus

An icon menu displays different graphic images (icon) available for selection. Examples are
hatch patterns, text fonts etc.

1.14 Setting of Drawing Aids

Drawing aids are positioning tools for locating specific points on electronic drafting sheet. The
three positioning tools are Ortho, Grid and Snap.

1.14.1 Ortho Command

Ortho command enables you to draw perfect horizontal or vertical lines.

Command: Ortho (ON/OFF)

1.15 Saving a File

To save a file, choose “SAVE AS” from the pull down menu.

File → Save As.

The dialog box will appear.

Type the drawing file name and save.

1.16 Exiting Auto-CAD

Start the command by using one of the following methods:

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Typing: Exit <enter> or Quit <enter>

Pull Down: File → Exit. Save Changes: Yes, No or Cancel

1.17 Opening an Existing Drawing

To open an existing file, choose “OPEN” from the pull down menu of file, the select dialog box
will appear.

Type the required file name in the file name box. Then click on OPEN box.

1.18 Cad Entities/Primitives

An Engineering drawing is considered to be made up of different elements, called entities. These
are lines, circles, arcs, rectangles, etc.

To tell AutoCAD which entity to draw, type the required command (e.g. line) on the key board
or select the command from the menu by a pointing device e.g. mouse.

Then respond to the prompts on the screen, by supplying the parameters of the chosen entity.
When the entity parameters are complete, the drawing of entity appears on the screen.

Exercise 1

Draw the following CAD entities:

a line, an arc, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle and a polygon.

1.19 Methods of Drawing Straight Lines

A straight line can be drawn using the following methods of line command.

a) Absolute Co-ordinates
b) Relative Co-ordinates
c) Polar Co-ordinates
d) Trim/ Offset Commands
e) Direct Distance Entry Method

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1.19.1 Absolute Co-ordinates
Use the horizontal distance x and the vertical distance y from the fixed origin to locate the
required point.

Figure 2 : Absolute Coordinates

E.g Draw a line from point (30,100) to point (350, 275).

Command: LINE

From Point: 30, 100

To Point: 350, 275

To point: (Press Enter) or click left mouse button.

1.19.2 Relative Co-ordinates

Relative coordinates enable the user to locate a point with reference to the co-ordinates of
previous point.

Example: Draw a line from point (30,100) to point 300 units in x- axis and 75 units in y -axis
relative to first co-ordinates.

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 Figure 3 : Relative Coordinates

Command: LINE

From point: 30,100

Specify next point: @330,175

To point: (Press Enter) or click left mouse button.

1.19.3 Polar Co-ordinates

Polar coordinates use the length of the radius R and an anti-clockwise angle measured from
East to locate a required point.

Figure 4 : Polar Coordinates

Example: Draw a line from point (30,100) to a length of 70 units at 60°.

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 Figure 5 : Polar Coordinates

Command: LINE

From point: 30,100

To point: @70 < 60

To point: (Press Enter) or click left mouse button.

QUESTION

Draw bracket shown in figure 6 using (a) Absolute Coordinates, (b) Relative Coordinates and
(c) Polar Coordinates. Assume coordinates of the starting point to be 30,100.

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Figure 6 : The Bracket

SOLUTION

(a) Absolute Coordinates

Figure 7 : Absolute Coordinates

Specify the first point: 30,100 Specify next point: 230,130

Specify next point: 230,100 Specify next point: 180,130

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Specify next point: 180,210 E.T.C

(b) Relative Coordinates

Figure 8 : Relative Coordinates

Command: Line Specify next point: @-50, 0

Specify the first point: 30,100 Specify next point: @0, 80

Specify next point: @200, 0 E.T.C

Specify next point: @0, 30

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(c) Polar Coordinates

Figure 9 : Polar Coordinates

Command: Ortho

Command: Line Specify next point: @30<90

Specify the first point: 30,100 Specify next point: @50<180

Specify next point: @200<0 Specify next point: @80<90

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Specify next point: @20<180 Specify next point: @20<180

Specify next point: @40<270 Specify next point: @80<270

Specify next point: @50<180

Specify next point: @60<180 Specify next point: @80<270

Specify next point: @40<190

1.20 Direct Distance Entry (DDE)

Direct Distance Entry is a combination of Keyboard Entry and Cursor Movement. DDE is
used to specify distances in the horizontal or vertical axes from the last point entered. DDE is a
relative input. Since it is used for horizontal and vertical movements, Ortho must be ON.

Using DDE is simple. Just move the cursor and type the distance. Negative and positive is
understood automatically by moving the cursor up (Positive), down (negative), right (positive)
or left( negative) from the last point entered. No minus sign necessary.

 Moving the cursor to the right and typing 5 and < enter> tells AutoCAD that the 5 is
positive and horizontal.

 Moving the cursor to the left and typing 5 and < enter> tells AutoCAD that the 5 is
negative and horizontal.

 Moving the cursor up and typing 5 and < enter> tells AutoCAD that the 5 is positive
and vertical.

1.21 Starting a New Drawing from Scratch

When starting a new drawing the user should define and set the following:

Units, Limits, Grid Spacing, Snap Spacing, Object Snap, Line Types and Layers.

1.21.1 Units
Type: Units <Enter> or Pulldown : Format Units

Dialog box appears. Select appropriate type, precision and press the OK button.

1.21.2 Limits
Select drawing limits command using one of the following:

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Type: Limits <enter>

Pull Down: Format→ Drawing Limits.

Command: Specify lower left corner or ON/OFF <0.00, 0.00>

Command: Specify upper right corner <12.00, 9.00>

NB You can specify one of the following paper sizes the coordinates of the upper right corner:

1.21.3 Paper Sizes

A4 210 * 297 mm A1 594 * 841 mm

A3 297 * 420 mm A0 841 * 1189 mm

A2 420 * 594 mm

1.21.4 Grid
It displays dotted lines on the screen at defined spacing. These dotted lines act as a graph used as
reference lines in drawing. You can change grid spacing as you require.

Command: Grid

Grid spacing or ON/OFF/SNAP/ASPECT<0>: 0.5 <ENTER>

1.21.5 Snap
It is used to set increments for cursor movement. If the screen is on snap mode, the cursor jumps
from point to point only. This jumping distance can be set to any value, say 0.5 units.

Command: SNAP

Snap spacing or ON/OFF/Aspect/Rotate/Style <current>: 0.5 <ENTER>

You can select drafting setting by using one of the following:

a) Typing : DS <ENTER> or OS <ENTER>

b) Pull Down: Tools→ Draughting Settings
- The dialog box appears
- Select the GRID and SNAP tab.
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View→ Zoom All- to make the screen display the new drawing limits and other settings.

1.22 Use of Function keys

Function keys F1, F6, F7, F8, F9 and F10 act as toggle switches to make the function ON/OFF
by pressing.

F7- turns the grid ON or OFF.

F8 – turns the ORTHO ON or OFF.

F9 – turns the SNAP ON or OFF.

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1.22.1 Loading Line Types
Type Ltype on the command prompt area or use the Pulldown menu as follows:

Format Linetype. Linetype Manager Dialogue box appears. Pick the LOAD tab to open
the load or reload linetypes dialogue box. Select the required types of lines from the available
list. E.g centre line, hidden line, etc. A continuous line for outlines is loaded by default.

After loading the required linetypes, press the OK button and close the linetype manager box.

1.23 Layers
It is necessary to create and use different types of layers and lines because:

i. Layers: control the drawing by means of visible drawing entities in color, linetype
and line weight.
ii. To facilitate drawing management through layer options:

1.23.1 Layers Options:

i. On/Off: used to turn off a layer that is to remain dormant for long periods of time. A
turned off layer that is not displayed, thus they are still part of the file, but they are
turned off temporarily.
ii. Freeze /Thaw: freeze makes a layer inaccessible and this saves time during
regenerations and redraws because the information is not active. Thaw turns off
freeze.
iii. Lock /Unlock: Locking a layer makes it inaccessible but may remain visible for
reference to features to be drawn on other layers.
iv. Freeze /Thaw in current viewport: used when drawing is generated with more than
one viewport. Freeze makes a layer in current viewport inaccessible and saves time
during regens and redraws.

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1.23.2 Draughting Layers

NO LAYER WEIGHT COLOR

1 Hatching Lines, Centre 0.1 Grey
Lines
2 Hidden 0.13 Red
3 Assembly Drawing 0.25 Green
1.23.3 Creating
Components
4 Cyan 0.35 Elevations in Layers
Arctechtural drgs
A layer is 5 Out Lines 0.45 White an
electronic 6 Border Lines 0.65 Magenta drawing
sheet which 7 Out Lines 0.5 Blue consists of
a name, color, line
type, line weight and whether or not it should plot.

Using layers is an important part of managing and controlling your drawing. It is better to have
too many layers than too few. Draw like objects on the same layer.

For example, place all hidden lines on the layer “hidden line” or centerlines on the layer
“centerline”.

When you create a new layer you will assign a name, color, line type, line weight and whether or
not it should plot.

1. Select the Layer command using one of the following:

TYPE on the Command area: LA

PULLDOWN = FORMAT / LAYER

TOOLBAR = OBJECT PROPERTIES.

The layer Properties Manager dialog box shown below will appear.

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 2. Select the New Layer button and a new layer will appear.

Type the new layer name and assign colour, linetype and line weight.

3. Click on any of the features and a dialog box will appear.

1.24 Hatching
The following are the hatch options.

1.24.1 Hatch Options

Hatch options give alternatives of hatching of either associative or non-associative hatching
which helps to conform to or not to conform to the boundary of internal or island objects being
hatched.

Pick Points: determines and selects the boundary from existing objects visible on the screen.
The objects must form an enclosed area. A point within the boundary area to be hatched selects
the whole defined object.

Select Objects: determines and selects the boundary from existing forming enclosed area. The
CAD primitives of line, arc and circle forming the component profile are selected.

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Angle: specifies the angle of the hatch pattern gradient fill relative to the x-axis of the current
UCS.

User Defined Pattern: creates a hatch pattern of lines by user, based on the current linetype in
the drawing. The angle, spacing style of the hatch pattern lines are the parameters that can be
controlled in user-defined pattern.

Scale: expands or contracts a predefined or custom hatch pattern to define the hatch density in
relation to paper and object to be hatched scale.

Text Creation

(a) Mtex and Dtext

(b) Dtext : Single Line Text allows you to draw one or more lines of text. The text is visible
as you type.

To place the text in the drawing, you may use the default START POINT( the lower left
corner of the text), or use one of the many styles of justification described on the next page

(b) Mtext: Multiline Text- command allows you to easily add a sentence, paragraph or
tables. The Mtext editor has most of the txt editing features of a word processing program.
You can underline, bold, italic, add tabs for indenting, change the font line spacing and width
of the paragraph

When using MText you must define a text boundary box. The text boundary box is defined by
entering where you wish to start the text(first corner) and approximately where you want to end
the text(opposite corner). It is very similar to draw2ing a rectangle. The paragraph text is
considered one object rather than several individual sentences.

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