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Drawing-Commands

The document outlines various drawing commands in AutoCAD, including Line, Construction Line, Polyline, Rectangle, Polygon, Circle, Arc, Ellipse, Hatch, Wipe Out, and Helix commands, along with their shortcuts and usage instructions. It emphasizes the importance of mastering these commands for efficient drafting and provides tips for using the software effectively. Additionally, it highlights the use of right-click context menus and keyboard shortcuts to streamline command execution.

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johnwickychapter123
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2 views

Drawing-Commands

The document outlines various drawing commands in AutoCAD, including Line, Construction Line, Polyline, Rectangle, Polygon, Circle, Arc, Ellipse, Hatch, Wipe Out, and Helix commands, along with their shortcuts and usage instructions. It emphasizes the importance of mastering these commands for efficient drafting and provides tips for using the software effectively. Additionally, it highlights the use of right-click context menus and keyboard shortcuts to streamline command execution.

Uploaded by

johnwickychapter123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Drawing Commands

Technical Drafting 10
• The Draw commands can
be used to create new
objects such as lines and
circles. Most AutoCAD
drawings are composed
purely and simply from
these basic components.
A good understanding of
the Draw commands is
fundamental to the
efficient use of AutoCAD.
• Command names or shortcuts can be
entered at the keyboard, commands can
be started from the Draw pull-down
menu, shown on the right or from the
Draw toolbar.
1. Line Command
With the Line command you can draw
a simple line from one point to another.
When you pick the first point and move
the crosshairs to the location of the
second point you will see a rubber
band line which shows you where the
line will be drawn when the second
point is picked.

Command: LINE or L(enter) Specify first point: (pick


P1)
2. The Construction Line
Shortcut key: XL
The Construction Line command creates a line of infinite length
which passes through two picked points. Construction lines are very
useful for creating construction frameworks or grids within which to
design.

Command: XLine

Specify first point (pick P1) Specify through point (pick P2)
3. Polyline Command
Shortcut Key: PL
The Polyline or Pline command is like
the line command except that the
resulting object may be composed of
several segments which form a single
object. In addition to the two ends a
polyline is said to have vertices
(singular vertex) where intermediate
line segments join. Follow the
command sequence below to see how
this works.
Command Sequence
Command: PLINE
Specify start point: (pick P1) Current linewidth is 0.0000
Specify next point or [Arc/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P2)
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick
P3) Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]:
(pick P4) Specify next point or
[Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: (pick P5)
Specify next point or [Arc/Close/Halfwidth/Length/Undo/Width]: Return
(or C to close)
4. Rectangle Command
Shortcut Key: Rec
The Rectangle command is used to
draw a rectangle whose sides are
vertical and horizontal. The position
and size of the rectangle are defined by
picking two diagonal corners.

Command Sequence
Command: RECTANGLE
Specify first corner point or
[Chamfer/Elevation/Fillet/Thickness/
Width]: (pick P1) Specify other corner
point or [Dimensions]: (pick P2)
4. Polygon command
Shortcut Key: Pol

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 center 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.
Command Sequence
Command: POLYGON or POL Enter number of sides <4>: 5
Return
Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: (pick P1 or type E to
define by edge length)
Enter an option [Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about
circle] <I>: Return (to accept the inscribed default or type C
for circumscribed)
Specify radius of circle: (pick P2 or enter exact radius)
In the illustration above, the polygon on the left is inscribed
(inside the circle with the polygon vertexes touching it), the
one in the middle is circumscribed (outside the circle with
the polyline edges tangential to it) and the one on the right
is defined by the length of an edge.
5. The Circle Command
Shortcut Key: C
The Circle command is used to
draw circles. There are several
ways you can define the circle.
The default method is to pick the
center point and then to either
pick a second point on the
circumference of the circle or
enter the circle radius at the
keyboard.
6. The Arc Command
Shortcut Key: A

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
points, 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. Once you have mastered the default
method try some of the others. You may, for
example need to draw an arc with a specific radius.
All the Arc command options are available from the
pull-down menu.
7. The Ellipse Command
Shortcut Key: EL
The Ellipse command gives you several
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.
After you have mastered the default
option, try out the others.
8. Hatch Command
Fills an enclosed area or
selected object with a hatch
pattern or fill.
9. The Wipe Out
Command
Keyboard Shortcut: Wipe out
A Wipeout is an image type
object. Most commonly it is
used to "mask" part of a
drawing for clarity. For
example, you may want to
add text to a complicated
part of a drawing.
10. Helix
Keyboard Shortcut: Helix Creates a 2D spiral or
3D spiral
TIPS and TRICKS
• You will have noticed that many of the draw
commands require the Enter key on the
keyboard to be pressed to end them.
• In AutoCAD, clicking the right mouse key and
selecting "Enter" from the context menu has the
same effect as using the Enter key on the
keyboard.
• Using the right-click context menu is a much
more efficient way of working than using the
keyboard.
• You can also use the Spacebar key or right mouse click
to repeat the last command used.
• When a command has ended, you can start it again by
right clicking and selecting "Spacebar command" from
the context menu rather that entering the command at
the keyboard or selecting it from the pull-down or
toolbar.
• By this method it is possible, for example, to repeat the
line command without specifically invoking it.

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