To align the workplane with the face of a 3D object

To align the workplane with the face of a 3D object

The left image shows the user coordinate system not aligned

to the face plate of the 3D object and the right image shows

the user coordinate system aligned to the face plate of the

3D object.

To construct objects on the face of the desk stand in the sample file, align the

XY plane (workplane) of the UCS with the face of the desk stand.

1

2 select

3 The UCS icon is displayed at the origin (0,0,0) of the current coordinateClick Open.

system.

Click ➤  Open.In the Select File dialog box, browse to C:\ My Documents\Tutorials and41 Stand.dwg.

Work with Coordinates in AutoCAD

Work with Coordinates

The coordinates of the world coordinate system(WCS) define the location of

all objects and the standard views of AutoCAD drawings. However, WCS are

permanent and invisible. It cannot be moved or rotated.

AutoCAD provides a movable coordinate system called the user coordinate

system(UCS). The XY plane of the UCS is called the workplane. In a drawing,

by default WCS and UCS have the same orientation. When you create and

modify objects in a 3D environment, you can move and reorient the UCS in

3D modeling view.

Use the right-hand rule to determine the positive axis direction of the Z axis.

By rotating your hand, see how the X, Y, and Z axes rotate as you change the

UCS.

In this lesson, you will learn how to:

■

Align the workplane with the face of an object

■

Create and modify objects on the workplane of the current UCS

Starting AutoCAD

• From the Desktop

          double click th AutoCAD icon

• From Desktop

          use right click on AutoCAD icon to display shortcut menu

• From Start menu

          choose programs. Then choose from the menu Autodesk, AutoCAD, AutoCAD

AutoCAD additional requirements for 3D modeling

• Intel Pentium 4 processor or AMD Athlon, 3 GHz or greater, or Intel AMD dual-core processor, 2 GHz or greater.
• 2 GB RAM
• 2 GB Hard disk space available in addition to free space required installation
• 1,280 x 1,024 true color video display adapter 128 MB or greater

How to create Line (L) in AutoCAD

Command - L
Creates straight line segments. With Close and Undo features.

Command : L Enter
Specify first point : click first point
Specify next point : @500,0 Enter

AutoCAD using crossing

Select objects within and crossing an area defined by two points. A crossing selection is diplayed as dashed lines or otherwise highlighted to differentiate it from window selection. Specifying the corners from right to left creates a crossing selection.

AutoCAD using window

Select all object completely inside a rectangle defined by two points. Specifying the corners from left to right creates a window selection.

Autocad special text characters

%%% - forces a single percent sign
%%p - draws a plus/minus symbol
%%d - draws a degree symbol
%%c - draws a diameter symbol
%%o - draws an overscore
%%u - draws an underscore

Autocad using button function of mouse

1. Left Button - pick or point button to specify a point location/position
                      - to select objects/commands/menus

2. Right Button - rapid acces is given to the available menu options. Different shortcut menus are available at different time.

Using Function Keys in Autocad

F1 = Online Help
F2 = Switches between graphics
F3 = Turns Osnap On/Off
F4 = Turns 3DOSNAP On/Off
F5 = Cycles to Top, Left & Right Isoplanes
F6 = Turns Dynamic UCS On/Off
F7 = Turns Grid On/Off
F8 = Turns Ortho On/Off
F9 = Truns Snap On/Off
F10 = Turns Polar Tracking On/Off
F11 = Object Snap Tracking On/Off
F12 = Turns Dynamic Input On/Off

Absolute Coordinates (Autocad)

Specify a point by entering its X and Y values in the format X,Y.

Command : L Enter
First Point : 10,10 Enter
Next Point : 80,10 Enter
Next Point : 80,30 Enter
Next Point : 60,40 Enter
Next Point : 10,60 Enter
then C for close

Autocad select template dialog box

Command: STARTUP
Enter new value <0> : 1

Create new drawing dialog box

OPEN A DRAWING: Opens a drawing you select from a list of the nine most recently opened drawings.

START FROM SCRATCH: opens a new drawing based on the measurement system you choose: Imperial (feet and inches) or Metric.

 USE A TEMPLATE: Opens a new drawing based on a template you select from a list.

 USE A WIZARD: Opens a new drawing that you set up using either the Quick Setup Wizard
or the Advanced Setup Wizard.

Autocad keyboard shortcut

CRTL+1 = MODIFY PROPERTIES
CRTL+2 = DESIGN CENTER
CRTL+3 = TOOL PALETTES
CRTL+4 = SHEETSET MANAGER
CRTL+5 =
CRTL+6 = DBCONNECT MANAGER
CRTL+7 = MARKUP SET MANAGER
CRTL+8 = QUICK CALCULATOR
CRTL+9 = COMMAND LINE WINDOW
CRTL+0 = CLEANSCREEN

CRTL+A = SELECT ALL
CRTL+B =  SNAP ON/OFF
CRTL+C = COPY TO CLIPBOARD
CRTL+D = DUCS ON/OFF
CRTL+E = ISOPLANE TOGGLE
CRTL+F = OSNAP ON/OFF
CRTL+G = GRID ON/OFF
CRTL+H = PICKSTYLE
CRTL+I = COORDS ON/OFF
CRTL+J = MTEXTEDIT
CRTL+K = HYPERLINK
CRTL+L = ORTHO ON/OFF
CRTL+M =
CRTL+N = NEW FILE
CRTL+O = OPEN FILE
CRTL+P = PLOT
CRTL+Q = QUIT
CRTL+R =
CRTL+S = QUICK SAVE
CRTL+T = CALIBRATE TABLET
CRTL+U = POLAR ON/OFF
CRTL+V = PASTE FROM CLIPBOARD
CRTL+W = OTRACK ON/OFF
CRTL+X = CUT
CRTL+Y = REDO
CRTL+Z  = UNDO

Autocad 2011 system requirements

For 32-bit:
-For windows vista or windows 7: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon dual core processor, 3.0 GHz or higher
with SSE2 technology, for Windows XP: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon dual-core processor, 1.6 GHz or higher with SSE2 technology.

• 2 GB RAM
• 1.8 GB free space for installation
• 1,024 x 768 display resolution with tru color

For 64-bit:
-Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise, Ultimate, Processor, or Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise, Business, or Ultimate (SP1 or later), or Microsoft Windows XP Professional (SP2 or later)

• 2GB RAM
• 2GB free space for installation
• 1,024 x 768 display resolution with true color
• Internet Explorer 7.0 or later