AutoCAD Basic
For Architects & Engineers
In this module, you learn about the AutoCAD graphic environment. Whether refreshing your knowledge or learning for the first time, these exercises will help you develop familiarity with basic entity creation and modification, entity properties, layers, blocks, layouts, and template files.
A strong knowledge of these basics will enable you to work with the AutoCAD Civil 3D lessons and software more efficiently.
Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
-
Navigate the AutoCAD graphic environment, zoom and pan to view
objects, use the command window, use the help system, and explore
environment settings and function keys. -
Configure fundamental drawing settings and options such as scale, grid,
Snap, Object Snap, file paths, and display colors. -
Create basic AutoCAD objects such as lines, polylines, circles, arcs, and
polygons using menus, palettes, keyboard commands, mouse controls,
coordinates, and object snaps -
Modify AutoCAD objects using multiple techniques including grip editing
and object properties. -
User layers to control object display. -
Navigate and view objects in 3D. -
Create reusable blocks. -
Use externally-referenced drawings in the current drawing. -
Draw objects in paper space (layouts) and configure one or more
viewports in a layout. -
Create a properly formatted layout with required map elements such as a
title block, north arrow, border, and scale. -
Configure the page setup and plot layouts to an engineering scale.
Notes
This module introduces you to the fundamentals of the AutoCAD environment. Prior to working with the advanced design environment of AutoCAD Civil 3D, you need to feel comfortable navigating, creating and modifying objects and blocks, and plotting to scale. Faculty should emphasize that while some of these exercises are drafting oriented, they are necessary to ensure that you are ready to work with Civil 3D in a design-oriented environment.
Student Exercises The following exercises are provided in step-by-step format. For this opening module, your goal is to become familiar with the basic AutoCAD environment and to be able to use the fundamental tools. For this reason, instead of using the AutoCAD Civil 3D program icon, you use the Civil 3D as AutoCAD 2008 icon on your desktop. This module highlights the differences and similarities between straight AutoCAD and AutoCAD Civil 3D. In general, AutoCAD can be described as a drafting program; AutoCAD Civil 3D is a design program that includes all of the features of AutoCAD.
1. Navigate the AutoCAD Graphics Environment
2. Review Drawing Settings and Environment Options
3. Create Objects
4. Modify Objects
5. Navigate the 3D Graphics Environment
6. Create Blocks and Use External References
7. Work with Layouts and Viewports
8. Plot an Engineering Drawing to Scale
AutoCAD Basics
AutoCAD is the graphical drafting environment used by the AutoCAD Civil
3D design software. Therefore, it is critical for you to learn the basics of
AutoCAD prior to continuing through the rest of this curriculum.
In the early years of CAD, design was performed separately from the drafting
and production of final drawings. AutoCAD Civil 3D has changed this
paradigm so that design and production are performed simultaneously.
Understanding the AutoCAD environment is crucial to design using the
intelligent objects of AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Key Terms
Template Files
Template files contain standard AutoCAD settings, layer definitions, linetypes, symbols, paper space layout definitions, dimension styles, and text style definitions. In addition, template files can include Civil 3D drawing information in either the Settings tree (including Civil 3D settings, object styles, label styles, tables, description keys, and point import/export formats) or the Prospector tree (including any Civil 3D object, such as point groups).
Grips
Small squares and triangles that appear on selected objects. After selecting the grip, you edit the object by dragging it with the pointing device instead of entering commands.
UCS Icon
An icon that indicates the orientation of the UCS (User Coordinate System) axes. (UCSICON).
Grid and Snap
A grid is an area covered with regularly spaced dots or lines to aid drawing. The grid spacing is adjustable. The grid dots are never plotted. Snap settings relate to an invisible grid that locks the pointer into alignment with the grid points according to the spacing settings. Snap grid does not necessarily correspond to the visible grid.
Object Snap (Osnap)
Methods for selecting commonly needed points on an object while you create or edit a drawing. Examples of object snaps include endpoint, midpoint, and center.
Layer
Layers are used to organize drawing data. Every drawing object is assigned to a layer. Objects can adopt the layer visibility settings, including on/off, freeze/thaw, color, and linetype.
Selection Window
A selection window is used to select one or more objects that a command can act upon at the same time. Implied windowing means using a right to left window to select items the window touches and a left to right window to select items entirely within the window.
Named Views
A view, or graphical orientation, that can be saved and restored.
Block
A generic term for one or more objects that are combined to create a single object.
External Reference A drawing file referenced by another drawing.
Layout
The environment in which you create and design paper space layout viewports to be plotted. Multiple layouts can be created within each drawing. Contract drawing borders are usually created on layouts.
Viewport
A bounded area that displays some portion of the model space of a drawing. A viewport is created on a layout.
Paper Space
One of two primary spaces in which objects reside. Paper space is used for creating a finished layout for printing or plotting, as opposed to doing drafting or design work. You design your model using the Model tab.
Model Space
One of the two primary spaces in which objects reside. Typically, a geometric model is placed in a three-dimensional coordinate space called model space. A final layout of specific views and annotations of this model is placed in paper space.
Lesson 1 --soon
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