American University of Beirut
MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab
Lab I
Introduction to AutoCAD
Objectives
This lab is an introduction to the basics of AutoCAD 2D:
- Command line/Ribbon/Panels/Shortcuts
- Points/Lines
- Undo/Redo/Erase
- Pick Box: Contained and Crossing
- Coordinate System
- Osnap
- Save / Save as
MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
1 Introduction
Computer-aided design (CAD), also known as computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), is
the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. AutoCAD is
an example of such software.
Computer-aided Engineering (CAE) is another kind of software that includes CAD and design
analysis engineering tools such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Solidworks and proE can be
examples of such softwares.
Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAM) is the use of computer software to control machine
tools and related machinery in the manufacturing of work-pieces (Computer Numerical Control-
CNC machines).
Throughout the entire semester we will be dealing with CAD and specifically we will be learning
how to do 2D drafting on AutoCAD. The focus will be on AutoCAD 2012, however you can use
any other version.
First, Open AutoCAD 2012. On top of the screen, where you have “Drafting & Annotation”, press
the pull down menu, and choose AutoCAD Classic. From now on we will always be working with
AutoCAD classic view for consistency reasons.
Launching a new file
When you launch a new tab, It will give an opportunity to start a new drawing or to select an
existing files. Clink on getting started to open a new file.
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
Main Screen:
Quick Access Toolbars
Application Menu
View cube
Ribbon
Command line
Navigation bar
Tab
Command
Panel
Drawing tab
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
1.1 Communication
F1 F2 F3 F7 F8 F9 F12 ESC
Help Command Line Osnap Grid Ortho Snap Dyn Cancel
2 Theoretical Background
2.1 Switch workspace layout:
Graphics screen
Use the workspace switching button at the bottom of the screen to switch to
Between workspaces .
Workspace switching
Status Bar
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
2.2 Commands
Each command can be called using different methods:
Command
Shortcut
From the Panel
2.2.1 Point:
Command Shortcut Panel:
point po Home Ribbon Draw panel
Note: To change the style of the point, write in the command line "PTYPE" or do to the home
ribbon, utilities panel, point style:
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
2.2.2 Line:
Command Shortcut Panel:
line l Home Ribbon Draw panel
Note: Draw multiple lines that are connected, when you want to close the drawing (i.e. connect the
last point to the first one) use the close command:
Command: close
Shortcut: c
If you want to exit any command you are using, just press Esc
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
2.2.3 Undo/Redo/erase:
Command Panel TB Shortcut
undo edit undo Ctrl+z
redo edit redo Ctrl+y
erase Modifyerase e
2.3 Object Select: Pick Box
1. Contained (left-to-right): Select what is inside the box only
Click only once on the left button of the mouse, scroll to the area you want to select, Click
again on the left button of the mouse.
2. Crossing (right-to-left): Select what is inside and in contact with the box
Click once on the left button of the mouse, scroll to the area you want to select, Click again
on the left button of the mouse.
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
`
2.4 Coordinate system
If you want to draw any engineering drawing you need accurate and detailed measurements.
For example, the site engineer will be measuring the distance on the AutoCAD map and
knowing the scale (example 1:100) he will be able to tell the real distance on site. For this,
and to be able to draw accurate drawings we need to work with coordinate systems.
We have two types of referencing: Absolute and relative. Absolute is when we reference
with respect to the global coordinates, while relative is when we reference with respect to a
certain point.
We have two types of coordinate systems: Polar and Cartesian. Polar is when we specify the
magnitude and angle. Cartesian is when we specify x and y (and z if in 3D) coordinates.
The following table summarizes the symbols used in order to indicate which referencing and
coordinate system to use:
Relative Absolute
Cartesian @ x,y # x,y
Polar @ Mag<Angle Doesn’t exist
Note: If you press F12 You can toggle Dynamic input (Dyn) on and off (look at the status bar
when you do so). This represents the writing in the above figure which helps to see the
coordinates of the point, line, etc. If you have Dyn off you can only use Absolute system.
2.5 Object Snap (OSNAP)
Command Shortcut
osnap os
While drawing an object, you have the option to let the cursor snap on certain specific points.
Suppose you want to draw a line from the center of the circle to the middle of the vertical line you
extended earlier. AutoCAD has a feature that makes this very easy. These are the Object Snaps (or
Osnaps "Oh-Snaps"). Type OS <ENTER>. You will see this dialog box appear.
OSNAP allows you to point out the midpoint, the endpoint, the tangent point, etc. of the objects you
are drawing.
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
You may select whichever points you want to 'snap' on an object.
You can also snap using command lines. For example if you have a line already drawn and
you want to snap another line to its midpoint, you can type MID and the snap point will be
shown. Here is a list of your options, followed by the command entry to invoke the needed
Osnap.
Endpoint - snaps to either the beginning or the end of an object such as a line - END
Midpoint - snaps to the exact middle of a line or an arc - MID
Center - snaps to the center-point of a circle or arc - CEN
Node - snaps to 'nodes' (not covered in this course) - NOD
Quadrant - snaps to any of the four quadrants of a circle - QUA
Intersection - snaps to the point where two object cross - INT
Extension - Snaps to the phantom extension of an arc or line - EXT
Insertion - snaps to the insertion point of an object (such as a block or text) - INS
Perpendicular - will snap so that the result is perpendicular to line selected - PER
Tangent - snaps to create a line tangent to a circle or arc - TAN
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
Nearest - will find the closest point an object and snap to that point - NEA
Parallel -Snaps parallel to a specified line - PAR
Example:
Choosing osnap for tangent and midpoint, you are able to draw the following figure.
2.6 Save / Save as
You may save your file by going to the application menu and select save , or click-
ing the save icon on the top left of the window , or by using the shortcut in the key-
board Ctrl - S. Save as is for saving a duplicate of the file and keeping the original
file whiteout overwriting the latter.
While saving you can pick the extension type of your file and which version you
want:
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
If you want to set your extension type and the version for all you files , go to the ap-
plication menu, click on option and you can pick the extension type of your file and
which version you want under" the open and save" tab:
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
Note: It's preferable to choose a older version so that other users of the file who have older
Autocad installed, can open the file.
3 Exercises
3.1 Exercise 1:
Draw the following rectangle using lines, and using: 1- Absolute Cartesian system and 2- Relative
Cartesian system:
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
3.2 Exercise 2:
Draw the following image using Relative Polar coordinate system:
All lines are of length 10.
3.3 Exercise 3:
To check lengths, use the di command.
Note: If you write distance or di in your command line, you can measure the distance between two
points by just selecting the first point and then the second point. You will get the below output.
Output of the ‘di’ command
3.4 Exercise 4:
To check object information, use the li command.
Note: If you have an object drawn on your graphic screen, for example a circle, you can use the list
command “li” to get information about your object.
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MECH220 – Engineering Graphics Lab Lab1- Introduction to AutoCAD
References
[1] www.autodesk.com
[2] http://www.we-r-here.com/cad/tutorials/
[3] http://www.cadtutor.net/tutorials/autocad/
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