CAD NOTES

Q1. What is CAD?

Ans- Computer aided design (CAD) is the use of computers to aid in the creation,
modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. CAD software is used to increase the
productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve communications through
documentation, and to create a database for manufacturing. CAD output is often in the form of
electronic files for print, machining, or other manufacturing operations. The term CADD (for
computer aided design and drafting) is also used.

CAD is an important industrial art extensively used in many applications,

including automotive, shipbuilding, and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural
design, prosthetics, and many more. CAD is also widely used to produce computer
animation for special effects in movies, advertising and technical manuals, often called
DCC digital content creation.

Q2. Name Some CAD Softwares.

ANS- Solid works , Auto CAD, Ansys, CATIA, Solid Edge, Creo, Micro station, MATLAB,
Corel CAD, Turbo CAD, etc.

Q3.What are advantages & disadvantages of CAD.

ANS- Advantages of CAD-

Saves Time- It saves the engineer a lot of work that can be put to good use on different projects
or perfecting the design of the ongoing one.

Increases Productivity- Time saved translates directly into augmented productivity. The same
amount of time can result in a higher number of completed projects.

Improves Accuracy- Manual sketching cannot measure up to the accuracy of CAD drawings.
CAD design’s accuracy is unparalleled with almost no errors. This gives it a huge advantage
over manual designing and drafting.

Better Quality- It provides the user with a vast number of tools to create the drawing just as
imagined.

Ease of Understanding- The availability of 3D models to accompany drawings can make even
the most difficult drawings easy to comprehend. This cannot be done in physical sketches as a
minimum of three sketches (plan, elevation, and side view) would be required to get a general
idea.
Quick Sharing- CAD drawings, being digital files, are easy to share among team members who
are working on the same product. No bulky drawings need to be transported.

Easy to edit: When you are making designs, you may find the need to make alterations. When
you are using computer aided design software, it will be much easier to make any changes
because you can fix the errors and modify the drawings easily.

Disadvantages of CAD-

 Work can be lost because of the sudden breakdown of computers

 Work is prone to viruses
 Work could be easily “hacked”
 Time taking process to know how to operate or run the software
 High production or purchasing cost for new systems
 Time and cost of training the staff which will work on it
 Needs less employment because of CAD/CAM systems

Q4. What are the various Coordinate systems used in a CAD?

Or
What are the different methods to locate the points in a CAD?
Or
What are the different ways to draw a line in a CAD?

ANS- Absolute Coordinate system-

Absolute coordinate entry is the default. Absolute coordinate entry always counts from the
origin. When drawing lines, AutoCAD is ready to place the next vertex wherever you tell it to
go.

1. Type L on the command line and press enter

2. Type 4,6 on the command line and press enter
 3. Type 5,3 on the command line and press enter
4. Press enter to finish the Line command

Relative Coordinate system-

For relative coordinates, AutoCAD does not count from 0,0. Instead, the reference point is the
previous point in the drawing.

1. Type L on the command line and press enter

2. Type 4,6 on the command line and press enter
3. Type @5,3 on the command line and press enter
4. Press enter to finish the line command

Polar Coordinate system-

Polar coordinates are named for their “pole”; the reference point to start counting from, which is
similar in concept to the origin. Polar coordinates employ one radial distance and one angle (by
convention, the angle is measured counterclockwise from the x-axis). The angle signifies the
direction, and the distance is how far to go in that direction from the pole.

Polar coordinates in AutoCAD are given as R<Degrees, where:

“R” is the radial distance

“<” is the less than sign (but in this case represents the angle)
“Degrees” is the value of the angle in degrees
 1. Type L on the command line and press enter
2. Type 4,6 on the command line and press enter
3. Type 5<60 on the command line and press enter
4. Press enter to finish the line command

Q5. What are the various Draw Commands in an Auto CAD?

ANS- LINE Command- With the Line command you can draw a simple line from one point to
another.

Polyline- Polylines differ from lines in that they are more complex objects. A single polyline can
be composed of a number of straight-line or arc segments. Polylines can also be given line
widths to make them appear solid.
Rectangle Command- The Rectangle command is used to draw a rectangle whose sides are
vertical and horizontal.

Polygon Command- The Polygon command can be used to draw any regular polygon from 3
sides up to 1024 sides. This command requires four inputs from the user, the number of sides, a
pick point for the centre of the polygon, whether you want the polygon inscribed or
circumscribed and then a pick point which determines both the radius of this imaginary circle
and the orientation of the polygon. The polygon command creates a closed polyline in the shape
of the required polygon.
Circle Command- The Circle command is used to draw circles. There are a number of ways you
can define the circle. The default method is to pick the centre point and then to either pick a
second point on the circumference of the circle or enter the circle radius at the keyboard.

Arc Command- The Arc command allows you to draw an arc of a circle. There are numerous
ways to define an arc, the default method uses three pick points, a start point, a second point and
an end point. Using this method, the drawn arc will start at the first pick point, pass through the
second point and end at the third point.

Ellipse Command- The Ellipse command gives you a number of different creation options. The
default option is to pick the two end points of an axis and then a third point to define the
eccentricity of the ellipse.
Ellipse Arc Command- The Ellipse Arc command is very similar to the Ellipse command,
described above. The only difference is that, in addition to specifying the two axis end points and
the "distance to other axis" point, you are prompted for a start and end angle for the arc.

Q6. What are the various editing/modifying command in Auto CAD.

ANS- Draw commands are used to create new objects. Modify commands or edit commands are
used to change existing objects or to use existing objects to create new and similar objects.
The commands listed below are covered in this unit:
Erase
Move
Rotate
Trim
Scale
Mirror
Array
Stretch
Extend
Fillet
Chamfer
Offset
ERASE

The erase command deletes the objects you select from the drawing. Any of the object selection
methods can be used to highlight the object to erase. The only other required action is press Enter
to cause the erase to take effect.

MOVE

Move allows you to relocate one or more objects from the existing position in the drawing to
any other position you specify. After selecting the objects to move, you must specify the base
point and second point of displacement.

ROTATE

Selected object can be rotated to any position with this command. After selecting object to rotate,
you select a “basepoint” ( a point to rotate about ) then specify an angle for rotation.
TRIM

The Trim command allows you to trim ( shorten ) the end of end object back to the intersection
of another object ( figure ). The middle section of an object can also be trimmed between two
intersection objects.

There are two steps to this command;

1. PICK one or more “cutting edge” ( existing object )

2. Then PICK the object or objects to trim ( portion to remove )

SCALE

The scale command is used to increase or decrease the size of objects in a drawing. The scale
command does not normally have any relation to plotting a drawing to scale.
MIRROR

This command creates a mirror image of selected existing objects. You can retain or delete the
original objects ( ‘old object’ ). After selecting objects, you create two points specifying a
‘rubber band line’, or ‘mirror line’, about which to mirror.

ARRAY

The array command creates either a Rectangular or Polar ( circular ) pattern of existing object
that you select. The pattern could be created from a single or from a group of objects. Array
copies a duplicate set of objects for each ‘item’ in the array.
1. Rectangular Array- This option creates an Array of the selection set in a pattern
composed of rows and columns.

2. Polar Array- This option creates a circular pattern of the selection set with any number
of copies or ‘items’. The number of item specified includes the original selection set. You
also specify the center of the array, angle to generate the array through and orientation of
‘item’.
STRETCH

The Stretch command can be used to move one or more vertices of an object whilst
leaving the rest of the object unchanged. In the example below, a rectangle has been
stretched by moving one vertex to create an irregular shape.

FILLET

The fillet command automatically rounds a sharp corner ( intersection of two Lines, Arcs,
Circles, or Pline vertices ) with a radius. You only specify the radius and select the
objects to be filleted. The objects to fillet do not have to completely intersect but can
overlap.
CHAMFER

Chamfer is a manufacturing process used to replace a sharp corner with an angled

surface. In AutoCAD, Chamfer is commonly used to change the intersection of two Lines
or Plines by adding an angled line. The Chamfer command is similar to fillet, but rather
than rounding with a radius or “fillet”, an angled line is automatically drawn at the
distances ( from the existing corner ) that you specify.

OFFSET

Offset creates a parallel copy of selected object. Selected object can be Lines, Arcs,
Circles, Plines or other objects. Two options are available with offset; offset a specified
distance and offset through a specified point.

Copy- The Copy command can be used to create one or more duplicates of any drawing
object or objects which you have previously created. Copy is a very useful and time-
saving command because you can create very complex drawing elements and then simply
copy them as many times as you like.
Q7. What are the various methods to draw an arc in a Auto CAD?

ANS-

Center, Radius: First select the center radius circle drawing option. Then select the
center of the circle and then put the numerical value of circle radius and press enter
button.
Center, Diameter: first select the center radius circle drawing option. Then select the center of
the circle and then put the numerical value of circle diameter and press enter button.

2 Point: This option is used if want to draw a circle that passing through any two points.

3 Point: This option is used if want to draw a circle that passing through or toughing any three
points.
Tan, Tan, Radius: When there is needed to draw a circle at which two already drawn lines are
tangent and also needed the value of circle radius, then we use this option. After selecting this
option first we select the first line and then select second line. After that put the value of circle
radius by using numerical buttons on keyboard and at the end press enter button.

Tan, Tan, Tan: When there is needed to draw a circle at which three already drawn lines are
tangent, then we use this option. After selecting this option first we select the first, second and
third line respectively which you want to make tangent on circle. Just after selecting the third
line required circle will appear.
Q8. What are the various methods to draw an arc in a Auto CAD?
ANS-
Q9. How to draw a rectangle in a Auto CAD?
ANS-

1. Click Home tab > Draw panel > Rectangle.

2. Specify the first corner of the rectangle.
3. Specify the other corner of the rectangle.

By Length and Width

1. Click Home tab > Draw panel > Rectangle.
2. Specify the first corner of the rectangle.
3. Enter D for Dimensions.
4. Enter the length.
5. Enter the width.
6. Specify the other corner.
Note: You are restricted by the length and width values.

By Area
1. Click Home tab > Draw panel > Rectangle.
2. Specify the first corner of the rectangle.
3. Enter A for Area.
4. Enter the area.
5. Do one of the following:
 Enter L to enter the length. The width is calculated based on the length and the area.
 Enter W to enter the width. The length is calculated based on the width and the area.
Enter the value for the length or width.
Q10. What is Geometric Modeling?
Geometric Modeling is the computer-aided design and manipulation of geometric objects.
During the process of geometric modeling the computer converts various commands given from
within the CAD software into mathematical models, stores them as files and finally displays
them as an image. The geometric models created by the designer can open at any time for
reviewing, editing or analysis. It is the basis for:
● computation of geometric properties
● rendering of geometric objects
● physics computations (if some physical attributes are given)

3D models are geometric representations of 3D objects with a certain level of abstraction.We

distinguish between three types of models:
● Wire Frame Models - describe an object using boundary lines
● Surface Models - describe an object using boundary surfaces
● Solid Models - describe an object as a solid
Q11. What is surface, solid, Wireframe Modeling?
Q12. What is User Coordinate System & World Coordinate system?