World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

1. AutoCAD Interface

AutoCAD provides countless methods and tools for producing, viewing, and editing 2- dimensional
drawings and 3- dimensional models. The software permits designers, drafters, engineers, and others to
create, revise, model, and document industrial parts and assemblies for prototyping, model making, and
manufacturing around the word, organizations also use AutoCAD for the design of maps, buildings,
bridges, factories, and about every product imaginable, ranging from car parts and stereo equipment to
snow skis and cellular phones.
The AutoCAD screen is divided into six distinct areas:
 Title bar
 Menu bar
 Toolbars
 Document window or drawing area
 Command window
 Status bar

-7-
 World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

1.1. The States Bar

The Status Bar is the area below the command line that shows messages as well as coordinates,
modes, and the current time. To activate SNAP, GRID, ORTHO, OSNAP, OTRACK, POLAR, DYN,
LWT and MODEL you must double-click on the mode to change.

a. Alignment Grid
The grid command allows you to set an alignment grid of dots of any desired spacing, making it

easier to visualize distances and drawing size. you can turn the grid on and off by pick the grid button
located in the status bar or( by pressing Ctrl + g or the F7 function key).The drafting setting dialog box
permits you to review and make changes to the grid settings:
 Menu bar Tools  drafting setting

b. Snap grid
The snap grid is similar to the visual grid, but it is an invisible one. You cannot see the snap feature,
but you can see the effects of it as you move the crosshairs. It is like a set of invisible magnetic points.

-8-
 World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

The crosshairs jump from point to point as you move the pointing device. This allows you to layout
drawings quickly, yet you have the freedom to toggle snap off at any time.

Pick the snap button in the status bar to turn on the snap grid, (or pressing Ctrl + b or the F9 function
key).

c. The Ortho Mode

Ortho short for orthogonal, allows you to draw horizontal or vertical lines quickly and easily.

Ortho is on when the Ortho button on the status bar is depressed. You can toggle Ortho on and off by
clicking the Ortho button. (or press F8 function key).

d. Polar
Polar makes it easy to draw lines at regular angular increments, such as 30, 45, or 90 degree. Using
the F10 key or polar button toggles polar tracking on or off.

e. Object Snap (Osnap)

AutoCAD provides a capability called "object snap" , or OSNAP for short, that enables you to
"snap" to existing object end points, midpoints, centers , intersections, etc. available object snap mode are
illustrated bellow:

-9-
 World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

f. Object Snap Tracking (Otrack)

Object snap tracking is active when the alignment paths appear from one or more acquired object
snaps. This feature is a part of AutoCAD's Auto tracking. You

can toggle Auto Tracking on and off with the Otrack button on the status bar or by toggling F11.

g. DYN
DYN, or dynamic input, is a feature that helps you visualize and specify coordinate vales angular
values when drawing lines, arcs, circles, etc. DYN may display absolute Cartesian coordinates (X and Y
values) or relative polar coordinates (distance and angle) depending on the current command prompt and

the setting you prefer. Pick the DYN button in the status bar to turn on the dynamic, (or press the F12
function key).

h. LWT
LWT short of line weight produces the line weight settings dialog box, this dialog box assigns line
weights to objects.

i. Model
Model Space used to construct engineering model where paper space used to print or draw
engineering model.

j. Units
The units command open dialog box to determine measurement units for drawing angles and
direction and precision. Access the command by:
 Menu bar: format  units
 Length type. Determine length types (scientific, decimal, engineering, architectural, and
fractional).
 Angle type. Determine angle type. (The default decimal degree).
 Precision.determine accuracy of angles and lengths. Precision is the number of places to the right
of the decimal to display.
 Clock wise. Control angle direction.

-10-
 World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

k. Limits
Limits used to determine the limits of board. To access the command by:
 Menu bar format Drawing limits
Specify lower left corner or [on / off] <0.0000, 0.0000>:
Specify upper right corner <420,297>:

1.2. Cartesian and polar Coordinate System

AutoCAD provides the user with an infinite two dimensional area to work with. Any entities place
on the working two dimensional plane can be defined relative to the Cartesian coordinate system.
The Cartesian coordinate system divides a two dimensional plane with two perpendicular axis. The
X axis runs horizontal across the bottom of the screen. The Y axis runs vertically along the left side of the
screen. These two axis intersect at the bottom left corner of the screen.
Each of these axis is further divided into segments. Each segment is given a value. The X axis
segments increase in value to the right. The positive X values are to the right of the intersection of the two
axis. The negative X values are to the left. The positive Y values are above the intersection and increase
up. The negative Y values are below.

-11-
 World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

Polar coordinates use a distance and an angle to locate a point. With both Cartesian and polar
coordinates, can enter absolute coordinates based on the origin (0,0), or relative coordinates based on the
last point specified.

1.3. Angles in AutoCAD Programs

Angles measure sets the direction for angle 0. east (x positive) is the AutoCAD default.
(Select clock wise from units dialog box if you want to change the AutoCAD default setting for
measuring angles).

1.4. Method of Entering Coordinate

1. (Absolute Cartesian Coordinate). Example: 7,3
2. (Relative Cartesian Coordinate). Example :@7,3
3. (Absolute Polar Coordinate). Example :6<45
4. (Relative Polar Coordinate). Example : @6<45

-12-
 World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

Example.

1. Draw Line using Absolute Cartesian Coordinate System.

Command line: Line
Specify start Point: 2, 2
Specify next Point: 5, 4
The length of line calculated from original point (0, 0)

2. Draw Line using Relative Cartesian Coordinate System.

Command line: Line
Specify start Point: 2, 2
Specify next Point: @3, 2
The length of line calculated from point (2, 2)

3. Draw Line using Absolute Polar Coordinate System

Command line: Line
Specify start Point: 2, 2
Specify next Point: 6.40<38.65
The length of line calculated from original point (0,0) using fethagorian triangle as following:

L  X 2  Y 2  52  4 2  6.40
The angle is calculated as following:

( )

4. Draw Line using Relative Polar Coordinate System

Command line: Line
Specify start Point: 2, 2
Specify next Point: @3.60<33.69

-13-
 World Scientific News 27 (2016) 1-168

The length of line calculated from point (2, 2) using fethagorian triangle as following:

L  X 2  Y 2  32  2 2  3.60
The angle is calculated as following:

( )

1.5. Methods of Zooming

Zoom: zooming does not change the size of the drawing objects, zooming change only the display of
objects.
 Real time Real time is the default option of zoom. If you type zoom, just press enter to activate the
real time option. You can type Rtzoom to invoke this option directly.
 Window :to zoom with a window is to draw a rectangular window around the desired viewing area.
The windowed area is magnified to fill the screen.
 All, or enter Z and A at the key board. AutoCAD zooms the drawing to its original size.
 Extents, or enter Z and E at the keyboard. AutoCAD zooms the drawing as large as possible while
still showing the entire drawing on the screen.
 Scale: this option allows to enter a scale factor for the desired display.
 In: zoom in magnifies the current display by a factor of 2X.
 Out :zoom out makes the current display smaller by a factor of 0.5X.
 Center :first specify a location as the center of the zoomed area. Then specify either a magnification
factor, a height value for the resulting display, or pick two points forming a vertical to indicate the
height for the resulting display.
 Previous: selecting this option automatically changes to the previous display.
Pan: Pan means to move the display area slightly without changing the size of current view window.
Using the pan function, you drag the drawing across the screen to display an area outside of the current
view in the drawing editor.

REMARK
In all examples must change the
Limit, Units, Grid, Snap
To appropriate measurement scale
Then click View  Zoom  All
To apply changes to the drawing board.

-14-