Autocad 2D Tutorial

Learn AutoCAD 2D.

AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design) program used to design buildings and other three-dimensional (3D) structures. It's also used for 2D design work, such as the schematics required by electronics projects. AutoCAD is made by AutoDesk, which made one of the PC's first CAD programs (AutoCAD version 1.0) in 1982. The early versions of AutoCAD had only a few basic 2D objects (e.g., circles, lines) for users to design with. Current versions allow users to design virtually any conceivable 2D or 3D object.

Things You'll Need

• AutoCAD

Instructions

1. Start AutoCAD, then click the "Workspace Switching" button, which has a gear icon and is located on the right side of the status bar. Then, select "2D Drafting and Annotation."

   Workspace Switching lets you display different sets of tools, depending on whether you're doing 2D or 3D work.

2. Click the "Draw" tab's "Line" button, then hover your mouse pointer anywhere over the main drawing window. Notice the dynamically changing numbers and the text that accompany the cursor. The numbers are the 2D coordinates of the pointer. As the accompanying text box indicates, you can specify a precise coordinate with keyboard entry.

3. Click and drag anywhere in the window to begin forming a line segment. Notice the text boxes that accompany the line as you're forming it. The first box indicates the line's length, while the second indicates the angle the line is making with the horizontal edges of the application window.

4. Type "5," press "Tab," then type "45," to specify a 5-inch, 45-degree line segment. Press "Enter" to complete the segment. Notice that the application begins a new segment that's connected to the endpoint of the first.

5. Press "Escape" to end line-drawing mode. Then, hover your mouse pointer over the completed line segment. Notice that the segment darkens, indicating that it will be selected if you click the mouse.

6. Click the mouse to select the segment and observe the three points that appear on the segment. Click and drag either endpoint to change the segment's angle. Click and drag the middle point to move the segment to a new screen location.

7. Rotate a line segment: Select a line segment by clicking it. Then, click the "Modify" tab's "Rotate" button. Click somewhere near the segment to define a point for the segment to rotate around. Then, move your mouse to start the rotation. Click again to end the rotation.

8. Scale (resize) the line. Click a line segment to select it. Then, click the "Modify" tab's "Scale" button. Click a point near the segment, then move the mouse to begin resizing. Click again to end the resizing.

References

• "AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible"; Ellen Finkelstein; 2009