Learning AutoCAD Basics (Part 1)

Learn AutoCAD Basics- Photo by AutoCAD 2020© Logo

Introduction to AutoCAD ©

1- AutoCAD Meaning and History in a Glance

AutoCAD© stands for Auto Computer-Aided Drafting.

It was developed and marketed by Autodesk© in the year 1982, as an application running on the DOS operating system and with the microcomputers at this time.

Examples of complicated Mechanical Detailed Drawings; In fact, it is absolutely very difficult to draw it by hand
with the classics tools.

Back in the year 1979, drawing by hands with the traditional drafting tools, was in high demand for mechanical and hardware industries.

People there find the AutoCAD©
 remarkably useful and adopted it for their works and projects that need a long time to be accomplished regarding the huge details included in each drawing.

(See the figure above for an example of mechanical detailed sheets)

Then later, in the year 1979, the first edition was released under the name of Interact CAD, which then became AutoCAD, the official commercial name of the application.

2- Do the AutoCAD Works by Itself? | The AutoCAD Misconception

The answer to this question is a big NO!...

Before starting, I'd like to bring your attention to a misconception that some people, especially those who don't know much about how the technology works, believe that the AutoCAD© can do the designing job for you!... At least such was the idea of our instructors at the Architecture institute!

Not surprising at all, every new invention has its worries and prohibitions.

Anyway, it took us the whole semester to convict them and to remove this fake matter from their minds to allow us to use the AutoCAD© in our last project of graduation...

So, the idea that needs to be enlightened here is that:

The AutoCAD just works for you; it does not do anything on its own.

And this idea is definitely truthful, in the fact that it only follows the instructions given by you and acts accordingly.

3- Where AutoCAD is used?

Many fields of work and professions are using the Autodesk AutoCAD © today!

• Architectural drawings of all kinds.
• Drawings for Electronic, Civil, Mechanical, and other Engineering trades.
• Topographic maps.
• Graphical Art such as Logos-maker.

But the fields of application do not confine within the static images or drawings;

In fact, when used in combination with the other Autodesk© product, the 3ds Max Design©, and other animation engines, the AutoCAD forms the basics for making presentations and interactive displays, as well as advertising media and brochures...

4- Saving Time with AutoCAD | How to use AutoCAD | Options in AutoCAD© 

• It let you make updates and corrections easily without redrafting the whole drawing; was in the past, where a correction was provided to a drawing, we were obliged to redraw the entire document and spending precious time finding a way to erase the parts to be modified.
• Clarity and cleanliness of drawings and better presentations without traces and ink marks which are from the past.
• More precise and detailed drawings to reduce cumulated errors exactly for execution drawings production.
• More productively for the contractors' offices which is a critical matter ahead regarding their strategy of work; the more shop drawings produced the more money to get from the consultant.

5- Commands in AutoCAD | How AutoCAD Works

• AutoCAD provides various sets of Entities for constructing your multiple drawings.

Let's first define the word Entity in the AutoCAD terminology.

An Entity is a Drawing Element in AutoCAD that constitutes only one geometric element each, such as Line, Circle, Text, Rectangle, etc...

The AutoCAD User-Interface (UI) showing its main parts

To tell AutoCAD which Entity to draw, you type the command into the Command Line Prompt: for a circle, for example, enter the word ci (shorten for circle) then you specify its parameters (like its diameter, location of its center point, etc...), then the entity will appear on the working area.

Almost all the AutoCAD commands have this same sequel of entering orders:

1- Entering the command_name.

2- You will be shown a list of options to choose from, depending on each command apart.

3- Pressing the Enter button again to exit or re-entering another command.

I will be extracting here, a useful paragraph from where I'd discussed the how-to enter commands within the program in a previous post as the following:

1. Utilizing the Pull-Down Menus In the event that you take the most advantage of the AutoCAD screen, or what we called the model space,  you will notice menus like Draw, Edit, Modify, and so forth, located on the top side.
Interfere with these menus to dispatch AutoCAD commands.
As you become progressively acquainted with AutoCAD you may choose to utilize the toolbars and the Command Line prompt along with aliases to give orders.
However, new users and beginners learn and work quicker with the option of having all their familiar commands stuck inside the drop-down menus. 

Read more: In the meanwhile, you can read the complete article about the 10 Tips and Tricks for New AutoCAD Users who working in Companies previously posted on my blog.

• Sometimes entities are formed from multiple other geometric elements that will form a one-unit entity by itself; this is what we called the Blocks, to be discussed in a later post from this AutoCAD Tutorial.

6- The Essential Tools of AutoCAD | What Makes Working with AutoCAD Easier

Follow these tips for better AutoCAD manipulation:

• 6.a- Using the right tool at the right place | Organizing your Work
• 6.b- Getting the Most of AutoCAD | Using the Tools

The most powerful tools in AutoCAD ever are three, to be discussed individually in the upcoming learning courses: (randomly ordered)

1- The Layers
2- The Blocks
3- The Dimensions

Anyway, the power of these tools can be only specified by professionals which makes their tasks easier to achieve all the way...

In addition, we can found other useful drawing aids like the Snap Mode, Grids, and many more...

If you are new to AutoCAD and you are struggling for more, but you still far away from reaching the level you want then you need to work on yourself to get better results.

Book Recommendation | Learn at your own

The better way for increasing your knowledge is by self-teaching with the appropriate book.
Take advice from professional people; I did make the mission for you and did pick the right book for you!

A Note that you can take it or leave it!

As per my long years of experience working with AutoCAD©, is it really necessary to always update your software to the latest version?
As there is not a big difference between the releases, the right answer will be just a no.
However, the previous tutorial manuals still have great utility for all users.

Mastering AutoCAD 2013 and AutoCAD LT 2013: Autodesk Official Training Guide

by Authors: George Omura and Brian C. Benton

The Book Cover

Product Details

ISBN: 1118174070

ISBN-13 9781118174074

Publisher: Sybex Books

Cover: Paperback

Pub. Year: 01-06-2012

SKU 9781118174074

Number of Units No

Pages: 1200

Note About the Author

George Omura is a licensed architect and Autodesk Authorized Author, with more than twenty years of experience using AutoCAD. As a CAD specialist, he has worked on projects ranging from resort hotels to metropolitan transit systems to the San Francisco Library project. Mr. Omura is the all-time bestselling CAD author.

However, if you prefer a newer version of the software, and feel more comfortable in reading Arabic books, don't be disappointed because I get just what you need; It is the AutoCAD 2020 by the Egyptian Author Ahmad Khamiss. See the details below:

The Book Cover

Product Details

SKU 9002487

ISBN: 6224007896020

Author: Ahmad Khamiss

Pages: 416

Pub. Year: 2019

Publisher: المركز المصري لتبسيط العلوم

Cover: Paperback Cover

Order in Series N/A

*THIS ARTICLE MIGHT CONTAIN SPONSORED OR AFFILIATE PROGRAMS LINKS. WE MIGHT GET A SMALL COMMISSION ON YOUR PURCHASE AT NO EXTRA CHARGE TO YOU.