AUTOCAD LESSON - 6

MODIFYING COMMANDS - 1 :

In this assignment you will be adding some more common commands to your collection. All of these commands are ones that you will use on a regular basis.

Command	Keystroke	Icon	Location	Result
Move	Move / M		Home > Modify > Move	Moves an object or objects
Copy	Copy / CP		Home > Modify > Copy	Copies object(s) once or multiple times
Stretch	Stretch / S		Home > Modify > Stretch	Stretches an object after you have selected a portion of it
Mirror	Mirror / MI		Home > Modify > Mirror	Creates a mirror image of an object or selection set

This is a short assignment to show you how these commands are used. You will recreate the drawing called Assignment #4.

Click HERE to see the file in GIF format.
Click HERE to download the DWG file.

Start up AutoCAD and set up your drawing as you have in the previous assignments.

Turn on your Endpoint Osnap. 

This time draw the border first. Draw a 10" wide by 7" high rectangular border using any method. The bottom left corner must be at 0,0

Draw a 2" wide by 3" high rectangle using the
RECTANGLE command. The bottom left corner must be at 0,0

Notice that the small rectangle and the border are overlapping each other at the bottom left of your drawing. What you want to do is move the small rectangle over 1" and up 1" so that it is away from the border.

To do this, start the MOVE command by typing in either M or MOVE <ENTER>. Select all the lines of the rectangle using one of the selection methods described earlier. Press <ENTER>. Now AutoCAD asks for a "base point or displacement". What it is needing is a reference point. Click on the bottom left corner of the rectangle. AutoCAD now asks for a 'second point of displacement'. What it needs to know now is how far you want to move it. This is a great time to use relative coordinates. In this case, you want to move it 1" over and 1" up. So type @1,1 <ENTER> to achieve this. The rectangle will automatically move to its new location.

Now you want to copy this rectangle 3" over to the right. The copy command is very similar to the move command. (The only difference is that the copy command leaves an original behind.)

Start the COPY command. You will be asked to select objects. Select the rectangle you just moved. AutoCAD now needs the "base point or displacement" just like in the move command. Once again, select the bottom left corner of the rectangle. Once you've done this, you need to tell AutoCAD what the second point of displacement is. Since you want to move the rectangle over 3" to the right, type in @3,0 <ENTER> The rectangle has now been copied 3" over.

BREAK TIME : Copy and move are 2 commands that you use a lot with AutoCAD. Both commands work the same way in terms of the steps you take. Learn to use these commands well - you'll need them. Honestly. Being quick with these commands makes you a much better drafter.

But the rectangle is not as tall as the one in the sample drawing, the sample drawing's rectangle is 1" taller. To modify this, you'll use the stretch command.

Start the STRETCH command by typing S <ENTER>. AutoCAD now makes you select objects by using a crossing window or crossing polygon. You're going to use a crossing selection. Remember from the Lesson 1-5 that you make a crossing selection by creating it from the right to left. Left-click just a bit above and to the right of the top right hand corner of the new rectangle (P1). Move your crosshairs down and to the left until your (dotted) crossing window covers the top half of the rectangle completely and then left click again (P2). You'll see that the objects are highlighted now. Press <ENTER> to accept this. Next you're asked for that now familiar base point. Pick on the top left corner of the rectangle. Now give AutoCAD the second point of displacement. In this case, you want to stretch the rectangle 1" up, so type @0,1 <ENTER> to do this. The rectangle is now 1" taller.

The goal when selecting objects to stretch is to draw the window over the vertices or points that you want to stretch. If you miss a corner, you will change the shape of the rectangle. So always be aware of which points need to be stretched. In this example, it was pretty obvious, in more complex drawings - it won't be.

Next you want to draw the polygon on the right side. To do this, you will draw the three lines on the left side first and then mirror those lines over to the right side. Draw the 3 lines any way you like (hint: use absolute coordinates.).

Once they are drawn, begin the MIRROR command. Select the three lines (press <ENTER>) Now you are asked for the first point of the mirror line. With your endpoint Osnap turned on, pick the end of the line at 8,2. Now you are asked for the second point. Select the point on the line at 8,5. Once you've done this, AutoCAD wants to know if you want to delete the old objects. In this case you don't, so accept the default by pressing <ENTER>. The mirror line will be half-way between the object the you are mirroring and where you want it to be. Figuring out where the mirror line is the toughest part of this command.

The assignment is now complete. Review what you have done and practice on these commands. Save and print your assignment. Copy and Move are very common commands. For example, you might create a ceiling light, then have to move it into place, and then copy it to other rooms. Fortunately, these commands work very similar, and once you master one, you have mastered both.

 View the video for this assignment.

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Extra Practice: Copy this drawing using the commands you have learned in lessons up to this point - extra_007.gif

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Extra Practice: This exercise uses an option of the CIRCLE command called "Tangent Tangent Radius" or TTR. To use it, pick the two tangents of the circle first, then enter the radius. The rest of it uses previous commands. extra_008.gif This one is tricky, so try it a few times before checking the video.

 View the video for Extra_008.

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MODIFY COMMAND -2

Now it's time to learn a few more commands. Like all of the commands learnt so far, these too will be ones that you will use regularly.

Here are the commands that you will be learning in this lesson.

Command	Keystroke	Icon	Menu	Result
Rotate	Rotate / RO		Home > Modify >Rotate	Rotates objects to a certain angle
Fillet	Fillet / F		Home > Modify >Fillet	Creates a round corner between two lines
Chamfer	Chamfer / CHA		Home > Modify >Chamfer	Creates an angled corner between two lines
Array	Array / AR		Home > Modify >Array	Creates a repeating pattern of the selected objects

Once again you will recreate a drawing. This one is called Assignment #5.

Click here to see the GIF format file.
Click here for the DWG file.

Follow the steps shown carefully. As these commands require a little more input, make sure that you keep an eye on the command line. You will be asked to provide information throughout the commands.

Start up AutoCAD and load the acad.dwt template like you have for the other lessons.

Start by drawing a horizontal 10" X 7" border with the bottom left corner at 0,0

Draw  a rectangle 1" wide by 3" tall with the bottom left corner at .75,.75

You are now going to rotate this rectangle 90° clockwise.

Start the ROTATE command. AutoCAD asks you to select objects. Select all parts of the rectangle and press <ENTER>. Now you must indicate a 'base point'. Think of this as a pivot point around which the rectangle will rotate. In this example, you want to select the bottom right corner (remember to use your Osnap). Once you've selected the base point, the command line shows rotation angle or [Reference]: This means that 'Rotation angle' is the default, so type in the angle you want to rotate the object. Think about howAutoCAD measures angles. Looking at your rectangle and the one on the assignment sheet, you'll see that you want to rotate the rectangle clockwise or: -90 degrees. Enter that number and press <ENTER>. 

Command: RO <ENTER>
Current positive angle in UCS: ANGDIR=counterclockwise ANGBASE=0Select objects: <Select the Rectangle> 1 found
Select objects: <ENTER>
Specify base point:<PICK BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF THE RECTANGLE>
Specify rotation angle or [Reference]:-90 <ENTER>

The rectangle is now been rotated -90 degrees from its original position. Picking different base points will give you different results. Undothe last command. Try a few different combinations of base points and angles to see what results you get. When you are done practicing, get the rectangle back to the position that it needs to be in.

Make a COPY of the rectangle 2" above the first one (remember your relative coordinates).

Now you're going to modify the second rectangle so that it has rounded corners. Start the FILLET command. Look at the command line. It will look something like this:

Command: F <ENTER> FILLET
Current settings: Mode = TRIM, Radius = 0.0000
Select first object or [Undo/Polyline/Radius/Trim/Multiple]:

AutoCAD first shows you what the current fillet radius is (0.0000). This will be the last value that was used. Once it's changed, it will keep the new value in memory. The next line shows you what options you have in this command. Remember that the Capitol of each option selects that particular option. What you want to do is change the fillet radius to 3/8" (or .375). To do this you have to type R<ENTER>. When you type this AutoCAD will give the chance to enter a new fillet radius. At this point enter .375 and press<ENTER>.

The fillet radius is now .375 (which is what you want). The default option is Select first object. Select the left side of the top rectangle (yes, the whole rectangle will highlight if you drew it as a rectangle). AutoCAD now asks you to select second object. Select the top line and AutoCAD will make a smooth round corner with a radius of .375. AutoCAD automatically ends the command at this point.

Restart the FILLET command  and do this to the remaining corners so that you have an object similar to the example.

BREAK TIME : The Fillet command is commonly used with a Zero radius. This can sometimes be much quicker than trimming two lines that meet at endpoints. To practice this, fillet this lines you made with round corners using a Zero radius.

Copy the first rectangle to a point 4-1/2" above. Now you will use the chamfer command to give this rectangle sharp, angled corners.

Start the CHAMFER command.

This is very similar to the fillet command. You have several options available. Want you want is an even 45 degree angle 3/8" in from the corner. Like the fillet command, you first have to tell AutoCAD what distance you want. To do this, type D to select the Distance option. The command line now looks like this:

Specify first chamfer distance <0.5000>: .375 <ENTER> as your first distance.) The command line now asks for the second distance. AutoCAD will automatically change the default of the second distance to match the distance you entered for the first.

Specify second chamfer distance <0.3750>: (Press <ENTER> to accept this)

You will then be asked to Select first line. The chamfer command works just like the fillet command. Select the line on the left of the top rectangle. (Don't worry if the entire rectangle highlights.) When prompted to Select second line: select the top line. You will now have a perfect sharp corner at a 45 degree angle 3/8" in from the corner. Do this to the rest of the corners.

Look at the command line. It should look like this:

Command: CHA <ENTER> CHAMFER
(TRIM mode) Current chamfer Dist1 = 0.0000, Dist2 = 0.0000
Select first line or [Polyline/Distance/Angle/Trim/Method]: D <ENTER>
Specify first chamfer distance <0.5000>: .375 <ENTER>
<0.3750>: <ENTER>
Select first line or [Undo/Polyline/Distance/Angle/Trim/mEthod/Multiple]: <select one side of the rectangle>

Now look at the assignment sheet and notice the group of six rectangles on the bottom right. You could draw each one individually, but AutoCAD has a command that will allow you to draw one, and it will make the others.

Create a rectangle that is 1/2" square with the bottom left corner at 6,1.5 (absolute points).

Start the ARRAY command. Look at the dialog box shown below (if you are using AutoCAD 2012, please check these videos for the updated command):

When confronting a new dialog box, I recommend that you look for what is needed from the TOP DOWN to the bottom. This is a great example.

1. Choose the radio button for "Rectangular Array". This will array the object in a row/column arrangement.
2. Next select the object you want to array, by picking on the button in the top right corner. (Press enter when done)
3. Enter the number of rows (going across the page) and column (running up and down the page).
4. Enter the Row offset. This is this from the bottom left of the original rectangle, to the bottom left of where the first copy will go.
5. Enter the Column offset
6. Pick the Preview button to see the array before committing.
   
   Pick or press Esc to return to dialog or <Right-click to accept array>:

If the array is correct (check the sample drawing), press right click. If you need to change anything, press the ESC button, make your changes in the dialog box and preview again.

Now you are going to use the ARRAY (polar) command to create the shape in the top right corner of the assignment.

Start by making a CIRCLE with a center point of 7.5,5.5 and a diameter of 1.5 Next make a LINE from the center of the circle going 1" to the right (remember your relative input and Osnaps).

Start the ARRAY command. When asked to select objects, pick the line you just drew.

Examine the dialog box above. Remember to start from the TOP. In this case, you have to select your objects and select a Center Point for the array. (Select the center of the circle.)

NOTE: Sometimes the Array command can be quicker than the offset command. Think of creating lines for a ceiling grid. You 'could' offset 30 lines one at a time, or you 'should' use the array command to create all 30 lines at once.

ave and print your drawing.

 View the video for this assignment .

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So far in seven lessons, you have learned many of the common commands in AutoCAD. It may not seem like a lot, but the idea is to become fluent in them. It should be second nature to run these commands, as these are the ones you will be using most often. With practice, you won't need the command line to help you along. Think of the first time you drove a car with a manual transmission. After time, it got smoother, didn't it. I can't stress enough how important practice is during these early lessons

Extra Practice: Copy this drawing - extra_009.gif

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Extra Practice: Copy this drawing - extra_010.gif

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Extra Practice: Copy this drawing using 2 methods. First create the lines using the offset command, then create the lines using the Array command. Compare which method should be easier, and when you might use one over the other - extra_012.gif

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