Advance CAD 3D

Module 1: Introduction to CAD software

MODULE 1
Introduction to CAD software

Introduction

CAD or Computer Aided Design/Drafting is principally a drafting and design

package and also a tool. One of the main reasons that CAD has become an industry
standard is that it runs on relatively inexpensive personal computers and laptops. The
drawing takes place on a screen and the CAD software provides commands for making
this process as convenient and accurate as possible, these commands can be seen as
being analogous to the traditional draughtsman's tools of set square, compass,
"Letterset" and so on. CAD appears to be complicated to use but this is not necessarily
true. It is quite possible to produce drawings at an early stage once the basics of the
program have been mastered and the techniques can be refined as you get to know the
program better.

AutoCAD is a software application, developed and marketed by the

company Autodesk. It was first released in December 1982. It is used in industry, by
architects, project managers, engineers, graphic designers, city planners and other
professionals. It was supported by numerous training centers worldwide. There are
many other software products offering CAD applications however for the purpose of this
course, the AutoCAD software will be the software application that will be used.

This module is designed to help new users to learn the basics of AutoCad. It is
not necessary to have previous computer experience but a little knowledge of Personal
Computers and their operating system would be useful. The text does not aim to be a
comprehensive explanation of all AutoCad's many commands but gives guidance on
most of the commonly used functions in an effort to give you an understanding of the
way in which the program operates so that eventually you will be able to respond to a
previously unknown command in the correct way.

All the examples and exercises use metric units although AutoCad is quite
capable of using Imperial units if desired. Do not despair if things do not seem to be
working out as every new user has been tempted to throw the computer through a
window at some stage. Learning CAD can be likened to learning to ride a bike, you fall
off a couple of times to start with but once you have grasped the basics then you will be
up and away and wondering what all the fuss was about.

To give credit to the source, the contents of this module was adapted from the
1989 book entitled “AutoCad Workbook” by Phil Methrell. It was edited and adjusted to
the improvement, development, and changes of the CAD program thru the times.

Objectives

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

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Module 1: Introduction to CAD software

1. Identify the techniques and skills in computer-aided drafting that are

necessary for engineering practice
2. Creating electronic drawings using CAD

Benefits of CAD

Some of the benefits of using CAD as opposed to conventional methods are:

a) SPEED - Many claims have been made concerning this aspect but it very much
depends on the applications. A drawing that contains much repetition or shows
arrangements of standard components benefits most and can be up to 4 or 5 times as
fast as drawing board methods. A complex drawing of a "one-off" nature may not benefit
at all.

b) ACCURACY - There can be no dispute that CAD systems are potentially much more
accurate than drawing by hand. If a line is to be 3491mm long then this is exactly the
length the program stores and will scale it extremely accurately when plotted thus
avoiding the need for scale rules and the estimating they require. Of course the output
is only as precise as the input and the old adage "Garbage in, garbage out" applies.

c) CONVENIENCE - There are many respects in which a digitized drawing is more

convenient to use. These include the ease of amendment, the ability to plot to any
scale, the use of color, semi-automatic dimensioning, the storing of drawings in a very
compact and accessible form and many more.

d) PRESENTATION - As well as producing images on screens for discussion, CAD

generated drawings on paper have a clean, crisp appearance and if amendments are
needed then this is done on the computer and a new plot produced with no blemishes
that are typical of a drawing negative modified by hand. Although some critics find CAD
drawings "mechanistic", it is easy to produce a "house style" to your own tastes. This
can then be consistent across all your drawings.

e) FURTHER USES - In the mechanical and electrical engineering fields, the use of
Computer Aided Manufacture is ever increasing, where the digital drawing files control
the machines that produce the item. Information of a non-graphical nature can be
entered into the drawing e.g. product code, price, color, etc., to be later extracted to
form a Bill of Materials. There are also drawing management systems which will log the
time each drawing is being worked on and other information useful for costing the
design process.

The AutoCAD software

AutoCad first appeared in the USA in 1982 and quickly gained a reputation as a
flexible and relatively "friendly" CAD program. Because of its successes with all popular

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types of software, it is improved and extended at intervals and the various (later)
versions.

As a general rule, drawings created in earlier versions of AutoCad will load into later
versions but the reverse is not possible. In fact one of AutoCad's strengths is that it is
upwardly compatible, which means that commands and techniques in earlier versions
will still work in later versions so avoiding a re-learning with each release.

Opening AutoCAD

AutoCAD is designed to work in a Windows operating system. In general, to open

AutoCAD, either double-click on the AutoCAD icon shortcut in the Windows desktop or
right-click on the icon, followed by a left-click on Open in the menu which then appears.

When AutoCAD 2008 is opened a window appears, depending upon whether a 3D

Modeling, Classic AutoCAD or a 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace has been
used previously. In this example the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace is shown
and includes the drop-down menu from which a choice of the AutoCAD workspace to be
opened can be made (Fig. 1.3). This 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace shows:

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The AutoCAD 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace with its various parts

The tools in the Standard Annotation toolbar

Command palette can be dragged from its position at the bottom of the AutoCAD window into the
AutoCAD drawing area, when it can be seen as a palette (Fig. 1.6). As with all palettes, an AutoHide
icon and a right-click menu is included:

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Module 1: Introduction to CAD software

The mouse as a digitizer

Many operators working in AutoCAD will use a two-button mouse as the digitiser. There
are other digitisers which may be used – pucks with tablets, a three-button mouse etc.
To operate this mouse pressing the Pick button is a left-click. Pressing the Return
button is a right-click. Pressing the Return button usually has the same result as
pressing the Enter key of the keyboard. When the wheel is pressed drawings in the
AutoCAD screen can be panned. Moving the wheel forward enlarges (zooms in) the
drawing on screen. Moving the wheel backwards reduces the size of a drawing. The
pick box at the intersection of the cursor hairs moves with the cursor hairs in response
to movements of the mouse. The AutoCAD window as shown in Fig. 1.3 includes cursor
hairs which stretch across the drawing in both horizontal and vertical directions. Some
operators prefer cursors hairs to be shorter. The length of the cursor hairs can be
adjusted in the Display sub menu of the Options dialog.

The AutoCAD coordinate system

In the AutoCAD 2D coordinate system, units are measured horizontally in terms of X

and vertically in terms of Y. A 2D point can be determined in terms of X, Y (in this book
referred to as x, y). x,y _ 0,0 is the origin of the system. The coordinate point x,y _
100,50 is 100 units to the right of the origin and 50 units above the origin. The point x,y
_ _100,_50 is 100 units to the left of the origin and 50 points below the origin.

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2D coordinate points in the AutoCAD window.

3D coordinates include a third coordinate (Z), in which positive Z units are towards the
operator as if coming out of the monitor screen and negative Z units going away from
the operator as if towards the interior of the screen. 3D coordinates are stated in terms
of x,y,z. x,y,z _ 100,50,50 is 100 units to the right of the origin, 50 units above the origin
and 50 units towards the operator. A 3D model drawing as if resting on the surface of a
monitor is shown:

Drawing templates

Drawing templates are files with an extension .dwg. Templates are files which have
been saved with predetermined settings – such as Grid spacing, Snap spacing, etc.
Templates can be opened from the Select template dialog (see Fig. 1.20) called by

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clicking New... in the File drop-down menu. An example of a template file being opened
is shown:

Activity 1: Install the AutoACD program in your personal or laptop computer. Any
available version but as much as possible use version 2014 or later.

Take a photo of the screen showing the installed program and send it to:
lyndon.trinidad@urs.edu.ph
Use the filename format: ACAD-2CE_Act01-yoursurname. Put your designated section
on the blank space.

Submit on or before: TBA

Activity 2: Open the AutoCAD program and make a screen shot of the AutoCAD
Interface.

Send it to: lyndon.trinidad@urs.edu.ph

Use the filename format: ACAD-2CE_Act02-yoursurname. Put your designated section

on the blank space.

Submit on or before: TBA

Self-Assessment Questions (SAQ) # 1

1. How did the AutoCAD program become a standard in the industry?

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2. Enumerate the benefits of using AutoCAD.

Output can be either e-files or print-outs. Take a photo and send it to

lyndon.trinidad@urs.edu.ph

Use the filename format: ACAD-2CE_SAQ01-yoursurname. Put your designated

section on the blank space.

Submit on or before: TBA

Answer to Self-Assessment Questions (ASAQ) # 1

1. One of the main reasons that CAD has become an industry standard is that it
runs on relatively inexpensive personal computers and laptops.

2. Benefits of using AutoCAD are:

a. Speed
b. Accuracy
c. Convenience
d. Presentation
e. Further uses