The document provides an overview of AutoCAD, including: - AutoCAD is computer-aided design (CAD) software used to design and document designs in 2D and 3D. - Its primary purpose is to produce precise drawings and specifications. Urban planners often use it to manipulate site plans. - The interface includes ribbon tabs, command line, zoom and pan tools, and drafting settings like object snaps. - Basic functions include making selections, drawing objects, modifying objects through moves, copies, offsets, scaling, and more. Hatching, blocks, and plotting are also covered.

1. AutoCAD Crash Course
Minjee Kim

2. CAD, also known as computer-aided design and drafting (CADD),
is the use of computer technology
for the process of design and design-documentation.
Based on C/C++ programming language, CAD may be used to
design curves and figures in two-dimensional (2D) space
or curves, surfaces, and solids in three-dimensional (3D) space.
AutoCAD
Basics

3. AutoCAD’s primary purpose is to
produce precise drawings and specifications.
AutoCAD
Hence, it is easy to acquire exact measurements.
Basics

4. AutoCAD’s primary purpose is to
produce precise drawings and specifications.
Urban planners are most likely to use AutoCAD
to manipulate and analyze site plans and possibly street sections.
AutoCAD
Basics

5. Ribbon: context-sensitive tabs that display
the tools you need when you need them
Command line: Drawing
Text commands are used to enter Area
actions, and then options about
those actions are displayed
AutoCAD
Interface

6. To Zoom In To Zoom Out To Move Around
Scroll Scroll Hold down the
Up Down Mouse Wheel
(using mouse wheel) (using mouse wheel)
& Drag
“Enter” “Exit” “Undo”
a Command a Command a Command
Spacebar Esc Ctrl + Z
AutoCAD ALWAYS HIT THE SPACEBAR after entering a * TIP: double click the mouse wheel,
the entire file you are working on will
Interface command or selecting a feature to complete the action fit in your current window

7. Object
Properties
Texts
Drawing
Modifying Tools
Tools
to manipulate
to create new
existing objects
objects
Layers
Measuring
to designate different layers for
Tools
different types of lines
to measure
distances and
areas
Default Ribbon tabs are frequently used.
AutoCAD However, memorizing the text commands is much more
Default Ribbon tabs time-efficient.

8. from left to right: from right to left:
select what is enclosed in the box select what is touching the box
AutoCAD
Making a Selection

9. OSNAP (F3)
to make objects snap to a point
ORTHO (F8)
to draw lines, move objects
in orthogonal direction
AutoCAD
Drafting Settings

10. To Make new document, Open, Save, Save As, & Print
The native file format of AutoCAD is .dwg
AutoCAD You are more likely to work with a pre-existing file than to
Opening a file create a new one.
(i.e. topography, surrounding neighborhood etc)

11. Properties of a layer
Active Layer
Visibility Lock Properties
when a layer is locked, you can Layer type, type of an
see objects contained in that object, measurements
layer but can’t make any edits etc
AutoCAD 1. Turn off the layers you don’t need so that they don’t
confuse you. * TIP: try typing “layoff” and select the
Understanding objects you don’t want to see.
& Clearing up a file 2. Create your own layer that you are going to work on.

12. 1
3
2 4 set to inches
AutoCAD operates under Absolute Coordinates,
AutoCAD which uses the Cartesian System to specify a position
Understanding according to its (X, Y) coordinates * TIP: Always draw true-to-scale
Therefore, the numbers can be interpreted in ANY unit (i.e.
& Clearing up a file inches, meters, etc.)

13. Type in “REC” to draw a rectangle
or “PL(PLine)” to draw a polyline.
* TIP: ALWAYS use PLine instead of
Line. Line will create objects
AutoCAD segmented at kinks.
Drawing your houses: REC and PLine * TIP: When drawing with PL,
Ortho(F8) option is useful.

14. 1. Type in “O(offset)”
3. Select the object
4. Specify a point on side to offset
2. Enter the offset distance
AutoCAD
Drawing a setback line: Offset

15. 1. Type in “M(Move)”
2. Select the object
4. Specify the point to move to
3. Specify a base point
AutoCAD
Modifying Objects: Move

16. 1. Type in “RO(ROtate)” 3. Specify a base point
2. Select the object 4. Type in “r” to designated a
reference line.
5. Specify a reference line
by selecting the base point and a second point on the object
you want to rotate in order to align it with some other object
6. Align it with the setback line
AutoCAD You can also rotate without using a reference line, but the angle would be arbitrary.
Modifying Objects: ROtate

17. 3. Specify a base point
1. Type in “CO(COpy)”
4. Specify a second point
2. Select the object
To keep an identical distance between objects:
1. Copy the object and place it at the desired distance from the original object.
AutoCAD 2. Copy the new object.
Modifying Objects: COpy 3. Specify a base point on the original object.
4. Specify a second point at the same place on the second object.

18. 1. Type in “SC(Scale)”
2. Select the object 5. Specify a second point
4. Type in “r” to designate a
reference line.
3. Specify a base point
AutoCAD As with rotating,
Modifying Objects: SCale you can also scale without using a reference line, but it will be hard to control the size

19. 1. Type in “MI(MIrror)” 2. Select the objects
3. Specify the first point
of mirror line
4. Specify the second point
of mirror line
AutoCAD
Modifying Objects: MIrror

20. 1. Type in “TR(TRim)”
3. Specify the segments
of objects that you want
to trim
2. Select the objects you want
to trim AND the cutting object
AutoCAD If you want to trim segments of a line, be sure there is another line or object that intersects
Modifying Objects: TRim the line you want to trim at the point(s) where you would like to trim it.

21. 1. Draw straight road using the
command: PL(PLine) & O(offset)
2. Type in “EX(EXtend)”
4. Click on the lines to extend
3. Specify the lines to extend
and the boundary line to
extend them to
* TIP: For TRim AND EXtend, instead
of specifying the lines you want to
AutoCAD work on, you can press enter twice.
Drawing your road: EXtend This action will select ALL the lines
and work with all of them,

22. 1. Type in “F(Fillet)”
2. Specify the first line to fillet
4. Specify the second line to
3. Type in “r” and then fillet
a number for radius
* TIP: At first, you might find it hard to
Fillet allows you to choose two lines and the angle at which enter an adequate radius value. Try it
AutoCAD you would like them to meet. The result is a curved several times if your value doesn’t
Drawing your road: Fillet intersection resembling curbs on a street. work. Once you get used to it, you’ll
be able to find it intuitively.

23. 1. Type in “PL(PLine)”
3. Type in “A(Arc)”
2. Pay attention to the 4. Once again, pay attention
command line. It’ll give to the command line!
many more options.
5. Type in “S(Second pt)”
AutoCAD You have many more options to draw a polyline than the example shown above.
Drawing an arc with a second pt, is just my own convenient way of controlling the shape.
Drawing your road: PLine

24. 1. Select the PLine that
needs modification
3. Try manipulating individual
control points to edit the shape
of the curve
2. Control points will show up
AutoCAD
Drawing your road: PLine

25. 1. Select the PLine that
needs modification
2. Type in “m” to edit
multiple lines and select 4. Type in “j” to join
the lines the polylines
3. Options will pop up on
the command line
If you join two polylines, you will end up with a single line.
AutoCAD Once again, you have many more options. Try them all out by carefully following the
Drawing your road: PLine command line. If you are editing a single polyline, you can also edit / insert / delete
individual vertexes (the control points) too.

26. 2. Select a pattern
3. Pick a point INSIDE
an ENCLOSED space
1. Type in “H(Hatch)”
4. manipulate angle
and scale for
different
appearances
AutoCAD The Hatch command allows you to indicate different types of * TIP : if the scale is to low, it might
Inserting Patterns: Hatch surfaces. cause the program to crash

27. 1. Type in “B(Block)” 2. Define the name of the block
4. Right-click on the
block for edit options
3. Select objects for block
AutoCAD It is convenient to block the components of an object (i.e., an outline and a hatch) so it will be
Planting trees: Block easy to edit all at once

28. Congratulations! Your neighborhood is complete.
AutoCAD Now you need to learn how to plot this cad file into
Plotting presentations.

29. 1. Draw a letter size
(8.5”x11”) rectangle
2. Scale it by 12,000
3. Adjust the plotting area
By scaling the letter size 12,000 times larger and then plotting
AutoCAD within the letter size, we are creating a plan that is in the scale
Plotting: plot scale of 1:12,000, which also means 1”:1000’.

30. Plot style
Select printer
Select
paper size
Set it to
“Window”
Set orientation
Check the box Uncheck the box Set it to 1:12,000
AutoCAD
Plotting: plot scale

31. For B & W
plan
You can designate a specific line weight
and line type for each color
AutoCAD
Plotting: plot style

32. Rhino can import .dwg directly with all the attributes intact
work with original layers, smooth curves
Sketchup can also import .dwg although not as intact as Rhino
Illustrator can open .eps files
but you can also simply copy & paste the objects
Therefore, AutoCAD is a very powerful design tool
that is the fundamental basic skill for many other design programs.
AutoCAD
Compatibility