Unit 2: Basic 2D Drawing

This unit is developed to provide you the necessary information

regarding the following content coverage and topics:
 Controlling the display in drawings
 Basic parameters AutoCAD
 Basic 2d drawing
 Modifying and Editing Drawings
 Dimensioning

This unit will also assist you to attain the learning outcomes stated
in the cover page. Specifically, upon completion of this learning
guide, you will be able to:
 Controlling the display in drawings
 Using basic parameters AutoCAD
 Creating basic 2d drawing
 Modifying and Editing Drawings
 Applying dimensioning

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2.1 Controlling the Display in Drawings
Controlling the display in drawings refers to various settings and commands
that allow you to customize how your drawing is displayed in AutoCAD.
Here is a brief explanation of each of the mentioned features:
 Drawing Units Setup
To set up the drawing units, follow these steps:
1. Go to the "Format" menu.
2. Select "Units" from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Units dialog box, choose the desired unit type, precision, and
format.
4. Click OK to apply the changes.
 Zoom Extent
To use this command, follow these steps:
1. Type "ZOOM" in the command line.
2. Select "Extents" from the options or press Enter.
3. AutoCAD will automatically adjust the view to fit all objects within the
drawing area.
Drawing Limits
To set the drawing limits, follow these steps:
4. Type "LIMITS" in the command line.
5. Specify the desired limits by entering the X and Y coordinates.
6. Press Enter to apply the changes.
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  Status Bar
 [SNAP]: Increment Snap controls the movement of the cursor.
 GRID : The grid (dots) is merely a visual "drawing aid".
 ORTHO: When Ortho is ON, cursor movement is restricted to horizontal
or vertical.
 POLAR: POLAR TRACKING creates “Alignment Paths” at specified
angles.
 OSNAP: RUNNING OBJECT SNAP Specific Object Snaps can be set to
stay active until you turn them off.
 OTRACK: OBJECT SNAP TRACKING Creates “Alignment Paths” at
precise positions using object snap locations.
 LWT: LINEWEIGHT. Displays the width assigned to each object.
 MODEL: Switches your drawing between paper space and model
space.
 Coordinate System:
 The UCS icon indicates the location of the Origin.
 ORIGIN: The location where the X, Y and Z axes intersect. 0,0,0
 PAN Real time: The PAN command allows you to shift or move the
view of your drawing in real-time without changing the zoom level.

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 2.2 Basic Parameters of Auto CAD
 The basic parameters of AutoCAD related to layers, colours, and line
types are essential for organizing and managing your drawings.
2.2.1 Layers

Layers in AutoCAD are used to organize and manage different elements

of your drawing. Layers are like transparent sheets that can contain
various objects such as lines, dimensions, text, hatches, etc.

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 2.2.2 Line types
AutoCAD includes different line types, such as continuous, dashed, dotted,
or defined by the user. Line types can be assigned to objects or layers to
differentiate between various elements in the drawing.

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2.2.3 Line Width
 Line width determines the thickness of the lines in the drawing.
 AutoCAD provides various line width options, allowing you to customize the
appearance and visibility of your objects

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 2.2.4 Colors
AutoCAD supports a wide range of colors that can be assigned to objects or
layers. Colors give your drawings visual depth and aid in distinguishing
between different components.

2.2.5 Text Format

You can specify font, size, style, alignment, and other formatting
parameters to enhance the clarity and readability of the text.

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2.3 Drawing Tools
1.Line: Straight lines are fundamental elements in CAD drawings and are
used to outline shapes, create boundaries, and indicate edges.
Different line types: Lines can be solid, dashed, dotted, or have custom
patterns, serving specific purposes or indicating d/t features.
Line weights: Lines can have d/t thicknesses or weights to distinguish
between various elements or emphasize certain details.
How you can create these shapes:
 Type "Line" in the command line or click on the "Line" icon in the "Draw" toolbar.
 Specify the starting point of the line by clicking on the desired location in the
drawing area.
 Specify the endpoint of the line by clicking on another location or typing
coordinates.

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2. Polyline
How you can create these shapes:
 Type "Polyline" in the command line or click on the "Polyline"
icon in the "Draw" toolbar.
 Specify the vertices of the polyline by clicking on the desired
locations.
Press Enter to finish the polyline
polyline

3. Rectangle
How you can create these shapes:
Type "Rectangle" in the command line or click on the "Rectangle"
icon in the "Draw" toolbar.
Specify the first corner of the rectangle by clicking on the desired
location or typing coordinates.
Specify the opposite corner of the rectangle by clicking on another
location or typing coordinates.

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4. Arcs
 Arcs are curved lines that form a portion of a circle or an elliptical

shape. They are used to create curved or rounded features in a

drawing.

5. Circles
Perfectly round shapes are created using circles. They are often used to
represent cylindrical objects or rounded elements in a design.

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6. Polygons:
 Polygons are closed shapes with straight sides and angles.
They can have any number of sides, ranging from three
(triangles) to many sides (polygons).

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7. Ellipses:
 Ellipses are oval shapes that are elongated or compressed

in a specified direction. They are often used to represent

curved or elliptical elements, such as wheels or openings
in a design.

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8. Hatching or Filling of Areas:
 To differentiate between different regions or materials,
CAD drawings can use hatching or filling techniques to
add patterns or colors to specific areas.

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SUMMARY OF DRAW COMMANDS

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 2.4. Modifying and Editing Drawings
AutoCAD provides several modify tools that allow you to edit and modify
objects within your drawings. List of some commonly used modify tools in
AutoCAD along with their definitions and associated commands:
1. Move: Moves selected objects to a new location. The move command in
AutoCAD is used to move objects at a specified distance and direction.
 Select objects

 Specify the base point

 Specify the point to place a moving object

 Displacement

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 2. Copy:
 Creates a copy of selected objects at a new location.
a) Select the copy icon from the ribbon panel.
b) Select the objects. To select it, click on the boundary of objects
through a small square cursor.
c) After the selection is completed, press Enter.
d) Specify the displacement or base point.
e) Specify the base point of the objects.
f) Specify the second base point. It is the point where we want to
move that object.
g) To continue copying objects, repeat steps e and f.
h) To Exit, press the Esc button.

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 3. Rotate:
Rotates selected objects around a base point.
a) Select the rotate icon from the ribbon panel
b) Select the object. Here, we will rotate the full object
c) Press Enter.
d) Specify the base point on the figure
e) Drag the cursor counter-clockwise (or anti-clockwise) to rotate the
object

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4. Scale:
 Resizes selected objects uniformly or with different X, Y,
and Z scale factors.

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5. Stretch (ST): Resizes selected objects by stretching them in a
specified direction or along a specified path.
a) Select Stretch icon from the ribbon panel
b) Select the object. We have selected the object with the help of box
selection
c) Press Enter.
d) Specify the base point or displacement value
e) Specify second point or the displacement value
6. Mirror:
Creates a mirrored copy of selected objects along a selected axis.
a) The half/partial object is created
b) Select the mirror command from the ribbon panel
c) Select the half part with the help of box selection
d) Press Enter.
e) Specify the first and second point of the mirror line

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 7. Offset: Creates parallel copies of selected objects at a
specified distance.
a) Create a circle with any specified radius.
b) Select the Offset icon on the ribbon panel.
c) Specify the value of offset distance.
d) Press Enter.
e) Select the object to offset. We need to select the object with a small
square cursor.
f) Move the cursor inside or outside to place the offset object
g) Press Esc or Enter to exit from the offset command.

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8. Trim: Removes portions of intersecting objects that lie outside a selected
boundary.
a. Select the Trim icon from the ribbon panel,
b. Press Enter
c. Select the line or curve
d. Press Enter/Left click.

9. Extend: Extends selected objects to a selected boundary or object.

a) Select the Extend icon from the drop-down list of the Trim

b) Press Enter

c) Select the part to extend & left click.

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10. Fillet: Rounds the sharp corners between two selected objects.
1) Select the Fillet command from the ribbon panel
2) Select the first object.
3) Type R or Radius.
4) Press Enter.
5) Specify the radius of the Fillet and press Enter.
6) Select the second object.
11. Chamfer: Creates bevelled corners between two selected objects.
 Select Chamfer icon from the drop-down list of Fillet
 Type D or Distance on the command line.
 Press Enter.
 Specify first distance value and press Enter.
 Specify second distance value and press Enter.

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12. Array: Creates multiple copies of selected objects in a specified
pattern.
There are three types of arrays, which are listed below:
 Rectangular Array
 Polar Array
 Path Array

13.Erase (E): Removes selected objects from the drawing

14. Join (J): Combines selected lines, arcs, or polylines to create a single object.

16. Break (BR): Breaks a selected object into two separate objects at a specified point.

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SUMMARY OF MODIFY COMMANDS

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 2.5 Dimensioning
 Dimensioning is the process of adding measurements to a drawing to
indicate the size, shape, and location of features on an object.
Dimension Style:

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 2.5 AutoCAD in building drawings
Fi gure: Pr eci si on f or mat
2.6.1. Introduction to Building Drawings
 Building drawings refer to technical drawings that represent various
aspects of a building, such as floor plans, elevations, sections, and
details. These drawings provide information about the design,
dimensions, construction, and materials used in a building.

 In basic 2D drawing and drafting, these elements and techniques are

used to create accurate representations of objects, structures, or
buildings.

 They form the foundation of the drafting process and are essential for
communicating design intent, dimensions, and specifications.
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2.6.2 Floor plan
Floor plans are commonly used in architecture, interior design, real estate,
and construction industries.
Floor plans typically include the following information:
 Room layout: The floor plan shows the layout and dimensions of each
room, including bedrooms, living areas, kitchen, bathrooms, and other
spaces.
 Walls: The walls are showed as lines on the floor plan, indicating their
length, thickness, and location.
 Doors and windows: Doors and windows are represented by symbols
or rectangles, indicating their size, shape, and location within the walls.
 Dimensions: Measurements are included to indicate the size of rooms,
walls, and other elements.
 Furniture and fixtures: In some cases, floor plans may include
furniture and fixtures to provide a better understanding of how the
space can be utilized.
 Annotations: Labels and annotations may be added to indicate room
names, usage, or specific features.

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To draw a floor plan on AutoCAD, follow these
steps:
1. Open AutoCAD and start a new drawing by clicking on "New" or using the
shortcut Ctrl + N.
2. Set up the drawing units by clicking on the "Units" button in the bottom
right corner of the AutoCAD window.
3. Set the drawing area by specifying the limits. Type "Limits" in the
command line, then enter the desired coordinates to define the boundaries
of your floor plan.
4. Begin drawing the walls of your floor plan using the Line command. Type
"Line" in the command line
5. Use the Offset command to create interior walls. Type "Offset" in the
command line, then specify the distance between the existing wall and the
new interior wall. Click on the existing wall, then click on the side where you
want to create the new wall.
6. Add doors and windows using the appropriate AutoCAD commands. For
doors, you can use the Rectangle or Polygon commands to draw the door
shape, then use the Trim command to remove the excess lines.
7. Label and dimension your floor plan using the Text and Dimension
commands. Type "Text" in the command line to add labels for rooms, doors,
and windows.
8. Save your floor plan by clicking on the "Save" button or using the shortcut
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Ctrl + S. Choose a location and name for your file.
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2.6.3 Floor plan with Electrical Plan
 The electrical plan is sometimes called as electrical drawing or wiring
diagram.
 It is a type of technical drawing that delivers visual representation and
describes circuits and electrical systems.
 It consists of electrical symbols and lines that show case the engineer's
electrical design to its clients. In short, an electrical plan describes the
position of all the electrical apparatus.
 An electrical drawing may include all of these essential details described
below:
 Interconnection of electrical wires and other parts of the system
 Connection of different components and fixtures to the system
 Power lines with details such as size, voltage, rating, and capacity
 Power transformers and also their winding connections
 The main switches, tiebreaker, and fused switches
 Other essential equipment such as solar panels, batteries,
generators, air conditioning, and so on

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To draft an electrical plan with CAD, you can follow these steps:
 Draw the floor plan of the building.
 Add the electrical symbols to the floor plan. You can find CAD electrical
symbols online or in libraries.
 Draw the electrical circuits. Use different colours to represent different
circuits.
 Add a legend to the drawing. The legend should explain the electrical
symbols and colours used in the drawing.
 Label the electrical devices.
 Dimension the drawing.
 Save and print the drawing.

Figure: Electrical plan 13/12/2024 36