Cartesian and polar Coordinate System
AutoCAD provides the user with an infinite two-dimensional area to work with. Any entities place
on the working two-dimensional plane can be defined relative to the Cartesian coordinate
system. The Cartesian coordinate system divides a two-dimensional plane with two perpendicular
axes. The X axis runs horizontal across the bottom of the screen. The Y axis runs vertically
along the left side of the screen.
These two axis intersect at the bottom left corner of the screen. Each of this axis is further divided
into segments. Each segment is given a value. The X axis segments increase in value to the right.
The positive X values are to the right of the intersection of the two axes.
The negative X values are to the left.
The positive Y values are above the intersection and increase up.
The negative Y values are below.
Polar coordinates use a distance and an angle to locate a point. With both Cartesian and polar
coordinates, can enter absolute coordinates based on the origin (0,0), or relative coordinates based
on the last point specified.
Angles in AutoCAD Programs
Angles measure sets the direction for angle 0. east (x positive) is the AutoCAD default. (Select
clock wise from units dialog box if you want to change the AutoCAD default setting for
measuring angles).
Method of Entering Coordinate
User coordinate systems
Many times, you can conveniently define an additional coordinate system to more easily create
drawings. This non–world coordinate system, known as a user coordinate system, is so widely
used that UCS now refers to every coordinate system in AutoCAD
1. 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:
Example: 7,3
2. Relative Coordinate system
For relative coordinates, AutoCAD does not count from 0,0. Instead, the reference point is the
previous point in the drawing. Let’s draw another line, and see what it looks like compared to
the old one:
Example: @7,3
3. 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
Example :6<45
4. Relative Polar Coordinate)
Example: @6<45
5. Direct Distance Entry Method
Move the cursor in the correct direction and type the distance on the command line (should be
used with Ortho or Polar Tracking). This is the simplest method.
Examples
1. Wright coordinate entry system and Draw in AutoCAD, note the figure start from the
original point (0,0)
1. Absolute Coordinate System 2. Relative Polar Coordinate System
Command: Line Specify first point:0,0
Specify first point:0,0 Specify next point:@10<0
Specify next point:10,0 Specify next point:@8<90
Specify next point:10,8 Specify next point:@2<180
Specify next point:8,8 Specify next point:@6<270
Specify next point:8,2 Specify next point:@2<180
Specify next point:6,2 Specify next point:@6<90
Specify next point:6,8 Specify next point:@2<180
Specify next point:4,8 Specify next point:@6<270
Specify next point:4,2 Specify next point:@2<180
Specify next point:2,2 Specify next point:@6<90
Specify next point:2,8 Specify next point:@2<180
Specify next point:0,8 Specify next point:@8<270 or C
Specify next point:0,0 or C
Example 2.
Draw the following figure ,note the figure is start from the point (5,5).
1. Absolute Coordinate System
Command: Line 2. Relative Coordinate System
command: Line
Specify first point:5,5
Specify first point:5,5
Specify next point:7,3 Specify next point: @2,-2
Specify next point:9,5 Specify next point:@2,2
Specify next point:@0,10
Specify next point:9,15
Specify next point:@-2,2
Specify next point:7,17 Specify next point:@-2,-2
Specify next point:@0,-10 or C
Specify next point:5,15
Specify next point:5,5 or C
3. Relative Polar Coordinate System Specify next point:@2<135
command: Line Specify next point:@2<225
Specify first point:5,5 Specify next point:@10<270
Specify next point:@2<315
Specify next point:@2<45
Specify next point:@10<90
Exercise
1. Draw following figures using line commands.
Fig 1
Fig 2
(0,0)
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 4
