This post is the first step in the series called: Learn AutoCAD basics in 21 days.
The objective here is to split 21 CAD exercises in a series of posts, which after completion will have handed you all you need to know in AutoCAD 2D to start taking complex projects on your own.
If you have not yet download the last version of AutoCAD, note that you might qualify for a free license today. In fact, if you are a student or an aspiring instructor, Autodesk will provide you with AutoCAD for free. Click here to find the instruction about how you can download AutoCAD for free if you fall into the two aforementioned categories.
Learning AutoCAD Basics
Today we will start from what you need to know on Day 1. You need to have visited these AutoCAD tutorials before diving into the following. (Jump this step and read further down, if you feel that you can handle the rest of the content without needing anything else, feel free to do so).
Coordinate system
In AutoCAD, the Drawing Area is composed of a sheet in which every location has the particularity of having its own coordinate represented by x, y, and z.
Since we are going to be solely working in 2D in this series, we can forget about the z component of the coordinate system.
Looking at the following image, you will notice that each corner of the figure has coordinates
Though it is true that you probably won’t be using this a lot while drawing in AutoCAD, we will spend a minute talking about it. At this point, I will suggest you disable the Dynamic input before trying the following.
We will try creating the previous image using the coordinate system and the command window. It is simple, the concept will be to use the four points to draw the quadrilateral.
To do that using AutoCAD:
1. Type LINE and Press Enter
2. Type 9,9 and Press Enter
3. Type 25,9 and Press Enter
4. Type 20,17 Press Enter
5. Type 14,17 Press Enter
6. Type 9,9 And Press Enter
7. Press Esc
The first step allows activating the LINE command. (Learn more about the LINE command)
The second step allows specifying the starting point of the line and the same goes for next steps.
The last Step allows canceling the LINE command.
In AutoCAD stroking Esc (ESCAPE) allows exiting a command.
At this stage, you are not using the computer mouse, and you are required to pay close attention to the command windows while drawing. As we go, we will learn more about the command windows and how to use your mouse in AutoCAD.
Exercise
Use the technique we have just learned to create the following.
Note you can start from any point.
If you have any confusion about this, Just leave a comment below and I will have no problem explaining it further.
24 comments
Hi
I know nothing about cad drawring and am going no where at the moment I’ve been looking at cad for a will now but cant get my head about it. The only other subject that has xyz is my milling machine there must be a simpler drawring methed
John
What can we help you with? Have you got a CAD software you are trying to master? What are you struggling with?
I am using autocad 2016 and I cant seem to figure the coordinate point system out
You might need to Zoom after following the example above to really see what is happening.
Click on the area shown on the image below after following the example in this post. Let me know if it helped.
I am using AutoCAD 2016.
While drawing a line, I can only specify co-ordinates of the next point with respect to the current point and not w.r.t. to the origin.
Please help