Computer Applications in Mechanical Engineering

CAD Lecture 01: The Graphical User Interface (GUI)

25 July 2020

Step 1: Launching the program

The following are ways in which one can start AutoCAD. (Please try each one of them to see how
they behave)

i. Double click AutoCAD desktop icon

ii. Click Start or in the task bar > programs > Autodesk > AutoCAD xxxxxxx >
double click or enter.

iii. From an existing file in any location

iv. From an external disk

v. Use search engines in the system

One you do any one of the above actions, an AutoCAD window like the one shown below appears. (Take
note of the version you are using, this lecture was prepared based on AutoCAD 2020)

NB: The window is not active yet.

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Step 2: File creation

There are several ways of creating a file in AutoCAD. Here are some of the most common ways.

i. Start from scratch

By clicking on this icon will lead you to a Dwg. File where several settings are required before
proceeding.

ii. Use of templates (No template metric)

click on templates and scroll down to select No Template – Metric and wait for the window to appear.

Templates are pre-set Dwg. Files where all settings are pre-loaded for your convenience.

Step 3: Saving the Dwg. file

i. Ctrl + S
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ii. Enter File name

iii. Save

Step 4: The AutoCAD Window

Depending with the version being used, a learner should be able to know the purpose(s) of each of
items and areas numbered 1 – 11. Below is an explanation of some of the areas. Familiarise with them.

1. Application menu: provides access to AutoCAD file commands, settings, and documents.

2. Crosshairs and prompts: indicate the current cursor location. Prompts explain how to complete
each command.

3. Drawing window: The area of the screen in which the drawing is displayed, it might display the UCS

icon to indicate the current drawing plane.

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4. Quick access toolbar: provides access to commonly used commands and the workspace drop-down

list.

The drafting and annotation drop down arrow allows you to switch between work spaces i.e. from 2D
drawing (drafting and annotation) to 3D drawings (3D basics or 3D modelling).

NB: whenever your window is misbehaving, switch between these workspace settings.

5. Ribbon: contains the AutoCAD tools in a series of tabs and panels. Tabs are main menu folders
which contain panels. For example the Home Tab has panels of Draw, Modify, and Layers etc.

The panels contain a variety of tools, which are grouped by function. They are often referred to as
utilities or primitives. These tools are pre-loaded functions represented by icons giving a pictorial
view. For instance the draw panel shows a circle, a line, an arc, hatch and polygons.

6. Info centre: enables you to quickly access the online Help system (search)

7. Tool tips: displays the item’s name, a short description, and sometimes a graphic. They give
information about tools, commands, and drawing objects.

8. Command line: a text window located at the bottom of the screen. It is the active line where
commands appear, regardless of whether they are typed or triggered from the GUI. The complete history

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of commands scrolls upward as new commands are entered. Press <F2> to open an extended version
of the command line.

9. Status bar: enables you to change many of the AutoCAD drafting settings.

Open the customization menu by clicking the rightmost icon on the status bar so that you can control
which buttons appear on the status bar using this menu. All active settings are highlighted in blue.

10. File tabs: They are a quick way to switch between open drawings or to create a new one.

11. Navigation bar: enables you to access the various methods of moving around in the drawing, such

as zoom extents and pan . If the Navigation Bar is not displayed, go to the View tab > User
Interface panel > expand > select

The end!!!!!

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CAD Lecture 02: Drawing Settings

27 July 2020

Before drawing anything, make sure you have set the correct and useful DSettings. Below are
some of the important settings.

1. Setting units

Before you start drawing, it’s important to decide what drawing unit represents in the real world. You
need to choose a unit type that matches your country’s industry standard.

In the command line;

Type <units> and enter to bring up the Drawing Units dialog box

Metric users should select Decimal Degrees units from the Angle Type drop-down menu.

Click the Length and Precision drop-down menu and select 0.

Click the Insertion Scale drop-down menu and select millimetres for metric.

Select International for lighting units

Click OK to close the Drawing Units dialog box.

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2. Limits

Select drawing limits command using one of the following:

Type command: Limits <enter>

Command: Specify lower left corner or ON/OFF <0.00, 0.00> enter to accept.

Command: Specify upper right corner <12.00, 9.00> change to required paper sizes as given below.

NB You can specify one of the following papers sizes the coordinates of the upper right corner:

Paper Sizes in portrait

A4 210 * 297 mm

A3 297 * 420 mm

A2 420 * 594 mm

A1 594 * 841 mm

A0 841 * 1189 mm

Enter to accept and end command.

3. Grid

It displays dotted lines on the screen at defined spacing. These dotted lines act as a graph used as
reference lines in drawing. You can change grid spacing as you require. NB; Turn off the grid for your
convenience. Use F7 to turn ON/OFF the grid

Type Command: Grid

Grid spacing or ON/OFF/SNAP/ASPECT<0>: 0.5 <ENTER>

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4. Snap

It is used to set increments for cursor movement. If the screen is on snap mode, the cursor jumps from
point to point only. This jumping distance can be set to any value, say 0.5 units.

Command: SNAP

Snap spacing or ON/OFF/Aspect/Rotate/Style <current>: 0.5 <ENTER>

Use F9 to turn ON/OFF the grid Layer states

5. Layer settings

If you double click on layer properties manager. A new window appears and the effects of each
command is explained below.

The orange icon will add a new layer

The blue icon will freeze current layer. (It is not shown in some versions)

The red icon deletes the unwanted layer

The green icon make a layer current (active)

NB: By default, a layer named zero is always loaded. Please do not change or alter its
settings.

i. On/ Off

A layer can be turned on (displayed) or turned off (not displayed). Off temporarily remove the layer
from the drawing. Turned off layers are not displayed and cannot be plotted. AutoCAD warns you
with an alert box if you turn off layers. Off is used to turn off a layer that is to remain dormant for
long periods of time. A turned off layer that is not displayed (visible), but they are still part of the file,
thus they are turned off temporarily.

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ii. Thaw/ Freeze

These are very similar to ON and OFF. Freezing is similar to turning off, except that the layer does
not require calculation time when regeneration occurs. Current layers cannot be frozen and frozen
layers cannot be made current. Freeze makes a layer inaccessible (invisible) and this saves time
during regenerations and redraws when working with complex and large drawings because the
information is not active. Objects on a frozen layer cannot be accidentally erased by typing ALL

Thawing requires regeneration to make the layer visible. Thaw turns off freeze. Only thawed layers
can be edited and plotted additionally.

iii. Lock/ Unlock

Locked layers are visible but cannot be edited. They are slightly greyed out by default.

iv. Plot

This command sets the layers to be printed or not. It is wise to leave this section untouched i.e. all
printers must be active.

v. Layer colours

Each layer must have a unique colour to distinguish it from others when drawing. To assign a colour
to a layer, select or click on the square box and a rainbow of colours appear from which you choose
colour of choice.

There are three options i.e. index color, True colour and colour blocks. It is recommended that you
use index colours

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vi. Linetype

By default all layers have continuos line types so change to a correct linetype using the following
procedure.

 Click on continuous: A dialog box headed Select line type appears

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 Click on Load to bring up the required line types

 Highlight the required linetype and say OK. For example if you want Centre line.

 By selecting the centre line and say OK, it is loaded

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 Select the centre line (it turns blue if selected) and say OK. It is loaded and changed.

vii. Lineweight

 Click on Default Lineweight and a dialog box appears

 Each line should have a thickness but the thickest line is always the outline or border. Click OK.

 When done close the Layer properties manager using the x shown.
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 Check if all your layers have been created and are loaded so that you get ready to draw.

Task: Use of function keys

State the function of F1 to F12

Exercise

Based on Lecture 01 and Lecture 02;

 Create a drawing file in your name and class using AutoCAD version of your choice.
 Insert the following layer settings;

Outline (Continuous, Default colour, 0.35 mm thick)

Centre line (Centre, Red colour, 0.18 mm thick)

Hidden line (Hidden, Yellow colour, 0.20 mm thick)

Text (Continuous, Green colour, 0.25 mm thick)

Hatch (Continuous, Magenta colour, 0.15 mm thick)

Dimension line (Continuous, Blue colour, 0.20 mm thick)

 Save as Question 01 Online Lectures 2020.

 Print the screen and submit a PDF file before 30 July 2020.
[25 marks]

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SAMPLE ANSWERS

a) Drawing file in your name and class

b) Layer settings

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