Computer Aided Drafting

Lesson 1

Introduction to AutoCAD
Lesson 1

Introduction to AutoCAD
Introduction

AutoCAD allows the designer to use and manage it on multiple machines using network
licensing. Being an easily available program, AutoCAD is used globally by students,
teachers, architects, surveyors, designers, engineers, drafters, freelancers, engineers, fashion
designers. Like other CAD programs, AutoCAD also works on a database of geometric
systems, including points, lines, arcs, etc. The user works on the application through the
commands; editing or drawing is done from the inbuilt command line. AutoCAD is issued
free of cost to students, educators, and institutions.

AutoCAD has proven as an efficient and user-friendly program. Commercial drafting and
computer-aided design (CAD) software applications are AutoCAD. AutoCAD software is
recognized internationally for its remarkable editing capabilities, which make it likely to
digitally draw building plans or recreate 3D images. This software was developed in the year
1982 by Autodesk.

Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

- Basic Introduction in AutoCAD

- Understand the history of AutoCAD
- Know the highlights of AutoCAD

Duration

Lesson 1: Introduction to AutoCAD = 3 hours

(2 hours discussion; 1 hour assessment)
Introduction to AutoCAD

AutoCAD is the starting of modeling and designing on a digital platform. This is a CAD
software application developed by Autodesk in the year 1982. Prior to the intent of this
application, people used to design and create sketches and models by hand. This
obviously was a troublesome task. Also, it took a lot of time and money. But with the
invent of AutoCAD, everything got simplified and easier. It is a powerful program used
across the globe by engineers, architects, students, graphic designers, and even fashion
designers.

What is AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is computer-aided design (CAD) software that empowers architects, engineers,

and construction professionals to create precise drawings. AutoCAD can be defined as the
use of computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, optimization of a design.
It was developed by John Walker in December 1982 with the help of AUTODESK and
maintained it successfully. It is most commonly used for creating and modifying 2D &
3D designs for professional drafting with detail measurement information about the
conceptual design and layout of the product, also available in 14 different languages with
respect to location. Users can customize the CAD software with available add-on apps as
per project requirements. User specialized tool setting can be done to view and design
product in wireframe and surface modeling. Widely preferred in the industries of
mechanical, telecom, civil, architectural engineering. It stands on demand to students and
industries because of its requirements.

Highlights of AutoCAD

Before the invention of AutoCAD, all designing and modeling were done manually. This
was a time-consuming task and resulted in a lot of costly errors. But, with the invention of
AutoCAD, the process of modeling and designing got digitalized and simplified. A
technology that has emerged as a solution to most of the designers, engineers, and
architects.

Some of the most powerful components of AutoCAD are:

 The designers and architects can create accurate models, sketches, and drawings with
AutoCAD. This is next to impossible when done manually.
 With the introduction to AutoCAD, the user can even model 3D objects with colors &
materials that can be applied to various surfaces, making it simpler for the user to
anticipate the outcome, which cannot be fulfilled in manual 3D sketches.
 Creating drawings manually is a time-consuming task. When designers create
drawings on a digital platform with computer software, they get the benefit of the
application interface. Editing is also easy with AutoCAD as it has many editing
commands.
 AutoCAD is an advanced program that has default commands incorporated in the
application. With these commands, the users can edit and change their files without
any limitations.
Characteristics of AutoCAD

There are some main characteristics that one need:

 AutoCAD is a global application. It is being used globally by product development

teams, manufacturing facilities, medical professionals, in educational institutions, by
professionals and engineers.
 3D modeling and visualization are two main important features of the program.
AutoCAD allows the modelers to create powerful 3d models, wireframes, meshes &
surfaces by using various 3D tools & commands.
 AutoCAD is a professional application that has flexibility in design changes and has
an auto-specification check feature. The mistakes in the designs or the product can be
avoided and can be re-edit as and when required.
 AutoCAD has the capability to create section planes. These section planes help in
achieving cross-sectional views of 3D objects. The users can change, select, or move
the section planes to inspect the inner details of 3D objects.
 AutoCAD helps the user to develop, modify, and design better infrastructure, deliver
scalable and feasible building assignments, supervise production finances, and foresee
project results.
 Recreating and editing 2D images with their text properties can also be achieved with
AutoCAD.
 3D models from other CAD applications can also be imported to AutoCAD. The
designers can also work on imported online maps or locations.

How does AutoCAD make working so easy?

It specializes in developing great artwork by saving time and effort. It is also helpful in
creating a reusable library and smooth edits. It works best with commands such as copy,
rotate, scale and stretching.

These allow the designer to draw precise artworks with fractional dimensions that reduce
the risk of errors. Also, these precise drawings are impossible to achieve with manual
drafts. This is how it makes the workings of users easier, time saver and effortless.

Reasons for Implementing CAD systems

 To increase the productivity of the designer.

 To improve the quality of design.
 To create a database for manufacturing.
 To improve communication through documentation.

Before implementing this software, all engineers used drafters and sheets to draw design a
product. It took so much time for a designer to design a product. If the manufactured
product didn’t satisfy the customer need or the manufacturers found any errors in the
product after manufacturing, then they need to change the design of the product, which
was a time-consuming process. The designer needs to change the design of a product by
erasing or sometimes he needs to use the new chart for designing it.
It leads to the following problems:
 Delay in production.
 Increase in scrap rate.

To reduce the above problems, this software is one of the solutions for it. In this software,
we can save the design of product modifications; we can edit the design, which is saved
previously, which reduces time to design a product. It also reduced the human effort.

In this software, initially, we can create designs easily using commands afterward icons
were added in the software. With the uses of AutoCAD, we can design a product with
great accuracy.

What do you use AutoCAD for?

The uses of AutoCAD help to create blueprints for engine valves and engine spare parts
for manufacturing with accurate measurement. The designed blueprint will be carried
with the job for its complete stages of start to delivery in between production teams,
quality team and machine handling teams review the design in case of any issues of
understanding and continue machining with the reference of blueprint drafters can be
done in two types wiring diagram and a surface model diagram for use in the
manufacturing, assembling, and repairing of Parts. It’s also used for tracking the number
of orders completed in a required time span.

Applications
 Aerospace calls their final design as an assembly.
 Automotive call their final design a Parts design.
 Electrical and electronics call their final design as Blueprint and Circuit design.
 Rail and marine call their final design as Layout or Blueprint.
 Structural and civil call their final design as Layout.

What are the benefits of using AutoCAD?

Benefits of AUTOCAD:

 It has the ability to produce very accurate designs

 Drawings can be created in 2D or 3D and rotated.
 AutoCAD as an architectural planning tool: It enables architects to design, plan.
 AutoCAD as an engineering drafting tool: It helps engineers to design, analyze and
solve design issues resulting in accurate designs.
 In 3D printing: A 3D print has its own advantages for designers, and for this software
helps them. The designs can be exported to various preferred formats.
 AutoCAD in the fashion industry: It has the tools necessary for planning designs for
the manufacture of jewelry, toys and other delicate objects.
How does AutoCAD make working so easy?

It specializes in developing great artwork by saving time and effort. It is also helpful in
creating a reusable library and smooth edits. It works best with commands such as copy,
rotate, scale and stretching.

These allow the designer to draw precise artworks with fractional dimensions that reduce
the risk of errors. Also, these precise drawings are impossible to achieve with manual
drafts. This is how it makes the workings of users easier, time saver and effortless.

The various subsets

The different subsets are as follow –
 Viewing – Pan and Zoom in artwork and control the order of overlapping objects
 Geometry – Create basic geometrical shapes such as circle, lines and hatched areas
 Layers – Organize the sketches and artwork by putting them to specific layers.
 Properties – Change the color, size, type of individual objects or assign default
properties to layers.
 Modifying – Used to perform editing operations like erase, move and trim.
 Dimensions – Create multiple types of dimensions and save the dimension setting.
 Printing – Output a drawing layout and save & restore the printer settings as well.

Advantages of AutoCAD

Some of the major pros of using are-

 Better Communication
 Improve the quality of designs
 Increase the productivity of the designer
 It helps in creating realistic models and objects and give shape to the user’s creative
imagination.
 Easier to learn
 Technically used in a lot of industries.
 Creates drawings with accuracy and quickly.

Why should we use AutoCAD?

It was the beginning of CAD programs, and it started an era of digitalization over manual
drawings. This has preset tools and features.

We should use for the following purpose-

 To draw and print architectural floor plans.
 Civil 3D for environmental engineering.
 Wiring diagrams, piping diagrams, store planning layouts, fixing topo maps.
 Import geometry, render images and True Type text, into drawings.
 The selected objects stay in the selection set, even if zoomed or panned to the
maximum value.