LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Draw an Inscribed or Circumscribed Polygon

2. Create an Ellipse using two different methods
3. Define an Elliptical Arc
4. Create Donuts
5. Define a Location with a Point
6. Select various Point Styles
7. Use 3 new Object Snap modes

LESSON 5
POLYGON

A polygon is an object with multiple edges (flat sides) of equal length. You may specify
from 3 to 1024 sides. A polygon appears to be multiple lines but in fact it is one object.
You can specify the center and a radius or the edge length. The radius size can be
specified Inscribed or Circumscribed.

CENTER, RADIUS METHOD

1. Select the Polygon command using one of the following:
Select the T and select
Ribbon = Home tab / Draw panel / Polygon
or
Keyboard = POL <enter>

2. The following prompts will appear on the command line:

_polygon Enter number of sides <4>: type number of sides <enter>
Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: specify the center location (P1)
Enter an option [Inscribed in circle/Circumscribed about circle]<I>:type I or C <enter>
Specify radius of circle: type radius or locate with cursor. (P2)

Note:
P2 P2
The dashed circle is shown
only as a reference to help  
you visualize the difference
between Inscribed and P1 P1
Circumscribed. Notice that
the radius is the same (2”)
but the Polygons are
different sizes. Selecting
Inscribed or Circumscribed is
important.
INSCRIBED CIRCUMSCRIBED

EDGE METHOD
1. Select the Polygon command using one of the options shown above.

2. The following prompts will appear on the command line:

_polygon Enter number of sides <4>: type number of sides <enter>
Specify center of polygon or [Edge]: type E <enter>
Specify first endpoint of edge: place first endpoint of edge (P1)
Specify second endpoint of edge: place second endpoint of edge (P2)



 

5-2
ELLIPSE

There are 3 methods to draw an Ellipse. You may (1) specify 3 points of the axes, (2)
define the center point and the axis points or (3) define an elliptical Arc.
The following 3 pages illustrates each of the methods.

AXIS END METHOD

1. Select the ELLIPSE command using one of the following:

Ribbon = Home tab / Draw panel

or
Keyboard = EL <enter>

2. The following prompts will appear on the command line:

Command: _ellipse
Specify axis endpoint of ellipse or [Arc/Center]: place the first point of either the
major or minor axis (P1).
Specify other endpoint of axis: place the other point of the first axis (P2)
Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation]: place the point perpendicular to the
first axis (P3).

 


  

 

Specifying Major Axis first (P1/P2), Specifying Minor Axis first (P1/P2),
then Minor Axis (P3) then Major Axis (P3)

Continued on the next page...

5-3
ELLIPSE….continued

CENTER METHOD

1. Select the ELLIPSE command using one of the following:

Ribbon = Home tab / Draw panel

or
Keyboard = EL <enter> C <enter>

2. The following prompts will appear on the command line:

Command: _ellipse
Specify center of ellipse: place center of ellipse (P1)
Specify endpoint of axis: place first axis endpoint (either axis) (P2)
Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation]: place the point perpendicular to the
first axis (P3)






Continued on the next page...

5-4
ELLIPSE….continued

ELLIPTICAL ARC METHOD

1. Select the ELLIPSE command using one of the following:

Ribbon = Home tab / Draw panel

or
Keyboard = EL <enter> A <enter>

2. The following prompts will appear on the command line:

Command: _ellipse
Specify axis endpoint of elliptical arc or [center]: type C <enter>
Specify center of axis: place the center of the elliptical arc (P1)
Specify endpoint of axis: place first axis point (P2)
Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation]: place the endpoint perpendicular to
the first axis (P3)
Specify start angle or [Parameter]: place the start angle (P4)

P3

P2 P1

P4

Specify end angle or [Parameter/Included angle]: place end angle (P5)

P5

5-5
DONUT

A Donut is a circle with width. You will define the Inside and Outside diameters.

 

1. Select the DONUT command using one of the following:

Ribbon = Home tab / Draw panel T /

or
Keyboard = DO <enter>

2. The following prompts will appear on the command line:

Command: _donut
Specify inside diameter of donut: type the inside diameter <enter>
Specify outside diameter of donut: type the outside diameter <enter>
Specify center of donut or <exit>: place the center of the first donut
Specify center of donut or <exit>: place the center of the second donut or
<enter> to stop

Note:
It will continue to create more donuts until you press <enter> to stop the command.

Controlling the “FILL MODE”

1. Command: type FILL <enter>

2. Enter mode [ON / OFF] <OFF>: type ON or OFF <enter>

3. Type REGEN <enter> to regenerate the drawing to show the latest setting of the
FILL mode.

FILL = ON FILL = OFF

5-6
POINT

Points are used to locate a point of reference or location. A Point may be represented
by one of many Point Styles shown below in the Point Style box.

The only object snap option that can be used with Point is Node.
(Refer to the next page for more information on Node object snap)

HOW TO USE THE POINT COMMAND

1. Select the POINT command using one of the following:

Ribbon = Home tab / Draw panel T / Note: The Draw panel

or option creates multiple
Keyboard = PO <enter> points until you press
the ESC key.

The keyboard entry

2. The following prompts will appear on the command line: method creates single
points.
Command: _point
Current point modes: PDMODE=3 PDSIZE=0.000
Specify a point: place the point location
Specify a point: place another point or press the “ESC” key to stop

HOW TO SELECT A “POINT STYLE” 3

1. Open the Point Style dialog box:

Ribbon = Home tab / Utilities panel T/ Point Style

or
Keyboard = ddptype <enter>

2. The Point Style dialog box will appear.

3. Select a point style tile.

4. Select the OK button.

4
Point Size:
Set Size Relative to Screen
Sets the point display size as a percentage of the screen size. The point display does
not change when you zoom in or out

Set Size in Absolute Units

Sets the point display size as the actual units you specify under Point Size. Points are
displayed larger or smaller when you zoom in or out.

5-7
MORE OBJECT SNAPS

3 MORE OBJECT SNAP OPTIONS:

NODe This option snaps to the object “POINT” described on the previous
page. Select Node object snap and place the cursor on the POINT.
The cursor will snap to the POINT.
Note: This is the ONLY object snap that you can use with the object
POINT.

NEArest Snaps to the nearest location on an object.

For example, if you want to attach a Line somewhere on a Circle
between quadrants.
Select the Line command then select Nearest object snap.
Place the cursor anywhere on the circumference of the Circle and
press the left mouse button. The Line will now be accurately
attached to the Circle at the location you selected.

NO M2P Mid Between 2 Points

TOOL Locates a midpoint between two points

You may select this option from the object snap menu (shift+Rt Click) or you may type
M2P <enter> when prompted for an endpoint. No tool or running object snap option is
available.

HOW TO USE “MTP”:

1. Select the Line command and

draw 2 parallel lines.

2. Select the Line command again.

3. Type M2P <enter>

P1
4. Using Endpoint object snap select each of the
2 endpoints (P1) and (P2) P2

5
5. The new line's first endpoint should start exactly
midpoint between those 2 endpoints.

5-8
 EXERCISE 5A
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.

2. Draw the Circle first using the Center / Radius option.
3. Draw the Circumscribed Polygon next using object snap Center to locate the center
of the Polygon at the center of the Circle and Quadrant object snap to locate the
radius of the Polygon on the Circle.
4. Draw the Lines last using Object snaps Midpoint and Endpoint.
5. Ortho (F8) ON
6. Increment Snap (F9) OFF (It will get in your way)
7. Use layer: Object Line
8. Save the drawing as: EX5A
Locate the Line using
Midpoint object snap

Circle and Polygon

have the same
Center location.

Circle and
Polygon have
the same
Radius

Use Endpoint
or
Intersection
object snap

5-9
 EXERCISE 5B
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.

2. Select the Point Style shown below
3. Draw the Point first.
Note: Your Point may not appear as large as the one shown below.
4. Draw the Inscribed Polygons
a. Locate the center of each Polygon using Object Snap NODE.
5. Ortho (F8) ON
6. Increment Snap (F9) OFF
7. Use layer Object Line
Note:
Place the Polygon points with the cursor. If you type a radius the Polygon will
automatically rotate and locate the flat at the bottom.

8. Save the drawing as: EX5B

5-10
 EXERCISE 5C
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.

2. Draw the Objects below using Ellipse, Line and Donut.
3. Use Object Snap: Quadrant, Center and Nearest.
4. Ortho (F8) ON
5. Increment Snap (F9) OFF
6. Use any layer you like.
7. Save the drawing as: EX5C

Place the outer Use Object Snap

endpoint of the line Center to place
first and then use Donut in Center
object snap of Ellipse.
“Nearest” to attach
to the ellipse.

Use Object Snap Note:

Quadrant to place This is the “eye” of the
Axis accurately tornado.
(Just a little fun)

5-11
 EXERCISE 5D
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.

2. Select the Point Style shown below
3. Draw the Point first.
4. Draw the Ellipses:
a. Locate the center of each Ellipse using Object Snap: NODE.
b. Locate the Axis using Object snap: Quadrant
5. Ortho (F8) ON
6. Increment Snap (F9) OFF
7. Use layer: Object Line
8. Save the drawing as: EX5D

Use “Node” object snap

to place ellipse center
Use Quadrant object
snap to place ellipse
axis accurately

5-12
 EXERCISE 5E
INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1
1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.
2. Draw the 3 DONUTS shown below.
3. Use Object Snap Center to place the centers accurately.
4. Increment Snap (F9) OFF
5. Use layer: Object Line
Donut sizes

1. ID = 0 OD = 1

2. ID = 1.5 OD = 2

3. ID = 2.5 OD = 3.5

STEP 2
6. Turn the FILL mode OFF
7. Type Regen <enter>
8. Save the drawing as: EX5E

5-13
 EXERCISE 5F
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.

2. Draw the objects below using: Point, Polygon, Ellipse and Donut.
3. Ortho (F8) ON
4. Increment Snap (F9) OFF
5. Use whatever layers you like
6. Save the drawing as: EX5F
Snap center of
Donut to
endpoint of
Polygon

Snap Ellipse to
Midpoint of
Polygon side

Snap center of Ellipse to

the Point using “Node”
object snap

5-14
 EXERCISE 5G
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.

2. Draw the Zig Zag Lines approximately as shown below.
3. Set Running Object Snap to “Endpoint”.
4. Increment Snap (F9) OFF
5. Ortho (F8) = ON
6. Draw the circles at the “Midpoint between 2 points”. (P1 and P2)
7. Use layer: Object Line.
8. Save the drawing as: EX5G

P1

P2

5-15
 EXERCISE 5H
INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start a NEW file using 2015-Workbook Helper.dwt.

2. Draw the Rectangle on the left first. (any size)
3. Draw the Polygon next using the “EDGE” option.
A. Use Object Snap: “Endpoint” to place Edge points accurately.
4. Increment Snap (F9) OFF
5. Ortho (F8) = ON
6. Use Layer: Object Line
7. Save the drawing as: EX5H

5-16