AutoCAD Basic Commands Project
Your project must be submitted in a .dwg file format. Your project will be individually graded by your instructor and therefore will take up to a few weeks to
grade.
Be sure that all of your files contain the following information:
Your student ID number
The lesson number
Follow these steps to submit your graded project:
1. On the next page, select the Open in a new window button.
2. Choose Add a File.
3. Find the file you want to submit.
4. Choose the file and select Open. The file should then appear in the Uploaded Files section of the page.
5. After your file is uploaded, choose Submit for Grading.
Be sure to keep a backup copy of any files you submit to the school.
Instructions
As you complete the drawing, experiment with the UNDO and REDRAW commands. If necessary, feel free to make use of the HELP command. It's there
for you to use whenever you wish.
Completed drawing without dimensions
For this project, you won't create any text. You also won't need to print or plot your drawing for it to be graded. Keep in mind that the uploaded files will be
all that's needed for grading.
When you're finished, your drawing should look like what is shown in the image.
Border and Title Block Questions
As you complete the border and title block, ask yourself the following questions:
How wide is the title block?
⚫ What's the height of the title block?
What's the distance of the space between the inside border and the outer border?
Procedures
1. Open AutoCAD. A new project file will be created. Save the file to your computer or another storage device, calling it Project 3.dwg, and remember
to save the file after every few steps to protect your work from being lost. For this project, you'll use the default values of "Decimal" for the drawing
UNITS and "0,0 lower left corner 12,9 upper right corner" for the drawing LIMITS. Also make sure the OSNAP, SNAP, GRID, and DYN (dynamic
input) options are turned off since you'll enter absolute coordinates directly into the command line. You'll also need to create three layers to place
your objects on - Objects, Border, and Title Block. Be sure to place your objects on the appropriate layer.
2. Using the LINE command, draw an 8½" x 11" rectangular to represent the outer border or sheet size for your drawing. Begin the outer border line
at point 0,0 and draw the sheet for a landscape format. That is, orient the sheet so that the longest sides are at the top and bottom of the drawing.
(In a portrait format, the drawing has its longest sides on the left and right.) Choose any method of coordinate entry to create the outer border
line.
3. Draw the inside border of the sheet using the following absolute coordinates:
• 0.25,0.25
■ 10.75,0.25
■ 10.75,8.25
■ 0.25,8.25
■ 0.25,0.25
4. The border you just drew may not fill your entire screen. To make it easier to see your drawing as you complete the upcoming steps, it's helpful to
zoom in on the drawing so that it fills the screen. The easiest way to do this is using the ZOOM EXTENTS command. After entering ZOOM into the
command line, type EXTENTS and press Enter. The rectangle you drew should now fill the screen.
This source provides a detailed discussion of the ZOOM Command.
5. Create an area for the title block using the LINE command with the absolute coordinates 0.25,1.25. The ending coordinates are 10.75,1.25.
The Top View
While following these instructions, keep in mind that you won't be drafting this mechanical part in the most efficient way possible. Once you become
familiar with more AutoCAD drafting options, you'll be able to make even better decisions about which command to use at a particular time. The purpose
of this drafting project is to help you practice. As you gain knowledge, you'll develop your own ways to improve the processes. For now, though, follow the
instructions given.
Questions
As you complete the top view, ask yourself whether, when you're creating an arc, it makes a difference which points you enter first.
Procedures
Begin the top view by drawing the arcs on the left and right sides of the part. Drawing arcs can be confusing as you get started because there are a number
of ways to input the needed information. This procedure will lead you through three different methods to draw arcs. You need at least three pieces of
information to draw an arc - a beginning point, an ending point, and what circle the arc is theoretically a part of. 1. For the first arc, you'll use the three-point method, which uses the starting and ending points as well as a third point along the arc. You can specify
a three-point arc either clockwise or counterclockwise. Begin by entering the ARC command at the command prompt. Then, draw the arc with a
starting point of 4.00,6.75, a second point of 3.50,6.25, and an ending point of 4.00,5.75. Please note that the ARC command requires three inputs
-start, second, and endpoints. The input of three points must be in the sequence of start, second, and endpoint.
2. For the next arc, you'll use the Center, Start, End method by entering these three points. After initiating the ARC command, type the letter "c" and
press Enter. The prompt should now ask for the center of the arc, which is at the point 4.00,6.00. The start and end points of the arc are at 4.00,7.00
and 4.00,5.00. AutoCAD will draw the arc counterclockwise from the start point to the endpoint, since there isn't a third point along the arc
provided to determine the direction.
3. Select the Arc icon from the Draw panel on the Home tab of the ribbon to see a list of options for drawing an arc. Note that there are options for
drawing an arc with the included angle: start/center/angle, start/end/angle, and center/start/angle. For the final arc in this drawing, you'll use
the Start, End, Angle method. The angle refers to the angle formed if lines are drawn from the center point to the start and end points of the arc.
The start and end points for this arc are 6.25,5.75 and 6.25,6.75. The angle is 180°. If the drawing displayed on your screen doesn't match this
drawing, check to make sure you used the right commands and entered the points in the correct order. Enter an angle in or specify an angle by
moving the pointing device counterclockwise.
These sources provide more detailed tips on ARC command:
•ARC Command
How to draw arcs using AutoCAD Arc command
The drawing you've completed to this point should contain the three arcs in the relative positions and orientation shown here.
4. Using the LINE command, draw a line segment. Begin at coordinate 4.00,5.00. Draw the line to a point that's 1.00 unit away at an angle of 0.00° by
specifying the next coordinate point 5,5 and press ENTER to end the command.
5. For the next line, begin at coordinate 7.50,7.00. Draw the line to a point 1.50 units away at an angle of 270°, and press ENTER to end the
command.
6. Now, begin at coordinate 7.75,5.75. Draw the line to a point 0.25 units to the right and 1.00 units up from your start point. Then, continue to a
point 0.25 units away at an angle of 180°. Finally, enter C to close the shape.
7. Next, begin at coordinate 4.00,7.00. Draw the line to a point 4.25 units away at an angle of 0.00°. Continue by drawing a line that's 1.50 units
straight down.
8. Next, continue drawing the line to a point 0.75 unit directly to the left. Now, continue drawing to a point 1.00 unit to the left and 0.50 units down
from where you previously stopped.
9. Continue the next line segment to a point 0.75 unit away at an angle of 180°. Then, draw a line to a point 0.25 unit away at an angle of 90°. Next,
draw a line to a point 0.75 units to the left, and finish with a line 0.25 units away at an angle of 270°, and press ENTER to end the command.
10. Begin at coordinate 4.00,5.75. Draw this line to a point 2.25 units away at an angle of 0.00° and press ENTER to end the command. 11. Begin a new line at coordinate 6.25,6.75. Draw the line to coordinate 4.00,6.75. Press ENTER to end the command, and your view should now be
complete.
The Front View
Question
As you complete the front view, ask yourself whether 270° is the same as -90°.
Procedures
Using the LINE command, draw the line segments described here.
A detailed explanation of the LINE command can be found at LINE (Command).
1. Begin at coordinate 7.50,2.00. Draw the line to a point that's 0.50 units away at an angle of 90° and press ENTER to end the command.
2. Begin at coordinate 5.00,2.00. Draw the line to a point 2.00 units directly to the left of your start point. Continue by drawing the line 1.5 units away
at an angle of 90°. Continue drawing the line 4.50 units directly to the right of where you last stopped. Now, continue the line 1.00 unit straight
down. Next, continue the line to a point 0.75 units away at an angle of 0.00°. Continue drawing the line 0.50 units away at an angle of -90°. Finally,
enter C to close the shape.
3. Begin at coordinate 3.50,3.50. Draw the line to a point that's 0.50 units away at an angle of -270°. Continue by drawing the line 3.25 units away
directly to the right of where you last stopped. Finally, draw the line 0.50 units straight down and press ENTER to end the command.
4. Begin at coordinate 5.00,2.00. Draw the line to a point 1.50 units away and at an angle of 90° and press ENTER to end the command.
5. Begin at coordinate 5.75,3.50. Draw the line to coordinate 5.75,2.00 and press ENTER to end the command.
6. Begin at coordinate 6.50,2.00. Draw the line to a point 1.50 units straight up from your start point and press ENTER to end the command.
7. Begin at coordinate 7.75,2.50. Draw the line to point 0.75 units straight up from your start point. Continue by drawing the line 0.25 units away at
an angle of 0.00°. Finally, draw the line from where you last stopped to a point 0.75 units away at an angle of 270° and press ENTER to end the
command.
8. Now that your drawing is complete save your work on your computer's hard drive in a location where it can be accessed easily.
Grading Criteria
Your drawing will be graded according to the criteria found in the rubric below. Your point total will be divided by the total number of points available for
the project.
Skill/Grading Criteria
Skilled Proficient Developing Inadequate
Border and Title Block set up completed correctly 20-16
15-10
9-5
4-1
Completeness of drawing
20-16 15-10
9-5
4-1
Correct location of objects
20-16 15-10
9-5
4-1
Correct layering of objects
Overall appearance
Total
20-16 15-10
9-5
4-1
20-16 15-10
9-5
4-1
Submission Checklist
Before submitting your exam for grading, consider the following points.
• Check for the correct shape, size, and placement of the entities. • You can confirm the exact placement by checking the coordinates of all the lines, points, and arcs.
. Check that the entities are on the right layers.
• Use the ERASE command to delete any unwanted marks.
⚫ Save the drawing file in the .dwg file format. This is the format the file needs to be in when submitted.
• Make sure you name the file using your student number and the lesson number.
