Pallaskenry Agricultural Engineering
AutoCAD 2009
Page Sizes
A0 = 1189x841 A1 = 841x594 A2 = 594x420 A3 = 420x297 A4 = 297x210
1
2
3
Choose Start, then Programs. Select AutoCAD 2009 from the Menu.
Open AutoCad fully.
Then click “QNew” drawing from the Quick Access Toolbar at the top of
screen
In the Create New Drawing box, make one of the following choices to set up a
new drawing:
 Choose open a drawing and select a document to open an
existing drawing.
 Choose start from scratch and select one of two measurement
systems.
 Choose Use a template and choose a template to use established
drawing settings.
 Choose a wizard, then choose Quick Setup or Advanced Setup
to use AutoCAD LT`s automatic setup features.
For now you will choose
Select
Choose
Use a Wizard
Avanced Setup
OK
The advanced setup wizard is displayed.
Choose decimal
Choose a Precision
OK
OK
OK etc
A co-ordinate is a set of numbers that specifies a point location on an axis, on a flat
2D (two-dimensional) surface or on a 3D object. In 2D drawing, you can specify a coordinate location with two numbers separated by a comma, such as (0,0). The first
number represents the X value (the horizontal distance) and the second number
represents the Y value (the vertical distance)
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AutoCAD 2009
Specifying Limits
420,297 is set by default which is the size of an A3 sheet of paper.
Saving Drawings.
When you are working on a drawing you should save it frequently. Saving
protects your work in case of a power failure etc. If you want to create a new
version of a drawing without affecting the original drawing, you can save it
under a different name.
By saving a drawing, you are also storing the drawing environment settings,
such as Grid, Snap, Layers, Dimensions etc.
To save a drawing.
Choose save. Alternatively at the command prompt type in save.
If you previously saved and named the drawing, AutoCAD 2009 saves any
subsequent changes and redisplays the command prompt. If you have never
saved the drawing, the Save Drawing As dialog box is displayed.
In the “Save Drawing As” dialog box, under File Name, enter the new drawing
name. Then choose the destination of your file, eg your computer or the
server.
Exiting AutoCAD LT.
If you have saved your most recent changes, then you can exit AutoCAD
without saving the drawing again. If you have not saved your changes,
AutoCAD prompts you to save or discard the changes, or cancel the
command.
To exit AutoCAD LT.
From the File menu, choose Exit. Alternatively type at the command prompt
EXIT, QUIT or END A third method is to highlight the “X” at the top right
corner of your screen.
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AutoCAD 2009
First Drawing.
Moving the mouse around moves the crosshairs around the screen and
highlights items on the menu. The left hand button on the mouse, when
pressed, is used to pick a point on the screen or selects an item on the menu.
To start a drawing operation you must have the prompt at the base of the
screen;
Command:
If a mistake is made, the prompt line can be cleared by pressing “Esc” . The
command prompt then returns.
All commands can be entered by typing in the key word at the command
prompt and then pressing the return key.
Commands can also be picked from the pull-down menu located along the
top of the screen or the Toolbar
To start with and to help you remember the command words, type the
commands as follows;
Command:
L 
From point:
Pick a point on the screen which is located by the
crosshairs, by pressing the left hand button on the mouse. Move the mouse and
press the left hand button again.
To finish the line press the return key. A line will be drawn between these two
selected points.
To create a multi-sided shape continue to pick points around the screen before
pressing the return key.
As the crosshairs are moved around the screen the co-ordinates of its position
are shown at the bottom of the screen.
You can also draw a line by entering the co-ordinates of the start and end
points, you must press the “return key” after each line of text,
There are three methods of drawing a line accurately,
1. Absolute co-ordinates
2. Relative co-ordinates
3. Polar co-ordinates
Absolute co-ordinates take the origin as their reference point,
Command;
From point;
To point;
To point;
To point:
L
30,30
90,30
90,180
30,180






The co-ordinates are the normal x (horizontal) and y (vertical).
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AutoCAD 2009
Relative co-ordinates take the last point entered as their reference and use
the @ symbol before each entry.
Command;
l

From point; 50,50

To point;
@100,0

To point;
@0,100

To point;
@-100,0


The 50,50 is the start point of the line, the @100,0 means 100units in the
positive x-direction and 0 units in the positive y-direction from the point
50,50. The @0,100 means 0 units in the negative x-direction and 100 units in
the positive y-direction from the point 100,0.
Polar co-ordinates also take the last point entered as their reference and also
uses the @ symbol before each entry, but polar co-ordinates introduce angular
input using the
< symbol.
Command;
From point;
To point;
To point;
To point;
To point:
l
50,50
@60<0
@100<90
@60<180
@100<270






@60<0, the 60 represents the length of the line and the 0 is the angle in
degrees from the right hand side horizontal (3 o`clock) measured in an anticlockwise direction. Thus vertically up is 90 degrees, horizontal left is 180
degrees and vertically down is 270 degrees.
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AutoCAD 2009
Another method of drawing lines is (AutoCAD 2009 only) is by using (making
sure Dynamic Input is on(at bottom of screen)) the length of the line then Tab
and the angle of the line.
This is a fast method but the cross hairs have to in the direction of the proposed line
direction. Also the direction is Anti-clockwise to 180 degrees above the X line and
Clockwise direction below the line to 180 degrees. In other words 90degrees above
and 90degrees below, the line direction is dependent on where the cross hairs are.
Thus a square can be drawn as:Command;
From point;
To point;
To point;
To point;
To point;
L
50,50
100tab0
100tab90
100tab180
100tab270







____________________________________________________________________
ORTHO
When on lines drawn on the screen are locked into been horizontal or
vertical an the word ORTHO can be seen on the status bar.
ORTHO can be switched on or off by pressing “F8”.
To summarise;
ORTHO
on/off press F8
POLAR
Same as above with slight differences
POLAR
on/off press F1
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AutoCAD 2009
ERASE
To erase any lines or objects use the command ERASE from the
Toolbar or CLEAR (from the Edit menu)
Command;
Selects objects;
E

You now have a small square at the intersection of the crosshairs
which you can place on a line and pick (using the mouse)-- the line
then appears as a dotted line. You can pick several lines and then press
the return key or right hand mouse button to erase the lines.
Highlighting an Object
There are a number of ways to highlight an object in AutoCAD LT.
For example, if you wanted to erase an object

Command;
E
Select objects;
1the cross-hairs have now turned into a
small box, using your mouse you can select each
object individually
2you can use a CROSSING WINDOW,
click at the top left hand corner of your screen
and drag a window around the object, everything
that is fully inside the window will be
highlighted.
3If you click at the top right of your
screen and drag a window around the object,
everything that is inside and touching the
window will be highlighted.(This window has a
broken line edge)
UNDO and RE-DO commands.
These are very useful commands, if a mistake is made you can click
UN-DO on the toolbar and the previous command is undone. Be
VERY careful with this command, you may undo more than you
bargained for. RE-DO un-does an UN-DO command.
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AutoCAD 2009
The ZOOM command.
The zoom command is used to alter the area showing on the screen. It
can be used to zoom in to enlarge detail or to zoom out to provide
space to accommodate a drawing.
From the Toolbar click the small arrow underneath Utilities, click the
small arrow below again and the zoom options are available.
Another method
Command:
Z

Draw a window around object,
The object is zoomed in closer now,
To zoom out again
Command:
Z
P


AutoCAD 2009 move the cursor to where you want to zoom and then roll the
wheel on mouse
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AutoCAD 2009
Object Snap (Object Pick)
OSNAP
(It is essential to use osnap at all times with other commands. Get to know
them very well)
With AutoCAD 2009 some OSNAPS are automatic
On drawings you will often need to draw a line from the end of an
existing line or from a point of intersection of two existing lines.
Although you can place the crosshairs on the location that appears
correct and construct a new line from there, if you examine closely by
zooming in, there will often be a gap or overlap.
The OSNAP command allows such points to be picked accurately.
OSNAP is short for Object Snap.
Example;
Draw several lines and circles at random on the screen, two of which
should cross.
The Osnap sub-commands are listed on the cursor menu. To display
the cursor menu press the shift button and the right hand mouse
button simultaneously. Release these buttons and then press the left
hand mouse button on any sub-command to highlight.
Use the Intersection sub-command which allows you to draw from
where these lines cross.
Command;
From point;
L

pick Endpoint on the cursor menu(using your mouse)
You now have a small square at the intersection of your crosshairs and
if you place this on the end of an existing line and pick, the new line
will locate exactly on the end of the existing line.
To point;
pick Endpoint on the cursor menu
Again place the square over the end of another line.
Press  to finish.
The other Osnap sub-commands are,
CENtre
-picks centre of a circle or arc;
INTersection
-picks the intersection of two lines or arcs
MIDpoint
-picks the midpoint of a line
NEArest
-picks the nearest point of a selected line
PERpendicular
-draws a line perpendicular to a selected line
QUAdrant
-picks to the nearest quadrant of a selected
circle
TANgent
-makes a tangent to selected circle
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AutoCAD 2009
CIRCLE
You can create circles in several ways; The default method is to
specify the centre and the radius.
Command;
C

Or alternatively you use the Toolbar
DRAW and then CIRCLE
or the pull down menu --
From the following prompt or pull down menu you then have a choice
of;
CEN RAD
CEN DIA
3 POINT
TTR
TTT
DONUT
pick or locate with co-ordinates the circle
centre point. Then “drag out” or enter the
radius as a dimension.
Same as for Cen Rad but you specify
diameter in place of radius.
3 points on the circumference of a circle
either picked or entered as co-ordinates.
2 tangents to a circle select 2 lines and then
specify radius.
TAN TAN TAN
Draws a donut shaped object. Specify the internal dia and then
the external dia.
ARC
Command;
ARC
Alternatively use the Toolbar
LINE and then ARC
or the pull down menu—
You can create arcs in many ways; by default, AutoCAD draws
arcs anti-clockwise.
3 points
SCE
SCA
SEA
pick 3 points, the 1st and 3rd will be the ends
of the arc
When you know the start point, centre point,
and end point, you can draw an arc by
specifying either the start point or end point
first. The centre point is the centre of the
circle that the arc resides in.
Pick Start, Centre, then “drag” or specify the
included angle which determines the endpoint
of the arc.
Pick Start, End, “drag” or specify the
included angle.
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AutoCAD 2009
POLYGON
Great for draw rectangles
A rectangle polygon can be used to draw a border around your drawing.
Click on rectangle
And then type in your opposing co-ordinates
For example
0,0 for one corner and 297,210 for the opposite corner. This will put a
border around the A4 sheet.
OFFSET
Offsetting creates a new object that is parallel to a selected object at a
specified distance. For example, to draw a stepped shaft draw a vertical
line to the left of the screen at the end of the shaft and then offset this
at each change in diameter.
Command;
OF

enter the offset dimension (or pick 2 points representing the
dimension),
select the line to be offset,
pick the side it is to be offset to,
A parallel line will be constructed at the specified distance from the
original.
Alternatively use the Toolbar
MODIFY and then OFFSET.
or the pull down menu---
TRIM
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AutoCAD 2009
Trim is used to tidy up a drawing and remove construction lines. To
demonstrate how this works draw two lines that intersect,
TR

pick one line (using mouse) 
pick the other line to one side of the
cutting edge 
Command;
Select cutting edge(s);
Select objects;
The selected line is erased (or trimmed) to the selected cutting edge.
This command is used a lot.
Alternatively use the Toolbar
MODIFY and then TRIM
or the pull down menu---
EXTEND
You can extend the end of a line to meet another line exactly.
Command;
EX
Alternatively use the

Toolbar or the pull down menu---
MODIFY and then EXTEND
AS ABOVE
MIRROR
You can rotate objects about an axis called a mirror line to create a
mirror image. If a drawing is symmetrical about an axis then only half
of it needs to be drawn, this half can then be mirrored about its centre
line.
Command;
Select objects;
First point of mirror line;
Second point;
MIRROR
pick lines to be mirrored either
individually or enter W and construct
a window around them.
pick a point on the mirror line (use
Osnap END for accuracy)
pick a second point on the mirror line
(again
use Osnap)
Press  to complete.
alternatively you can use toolbar
MODIFY and then MIRROR
or the pull down menu---
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AutoCAD 2009
DIMENSIONS
Dimensions show the measurements of objects, the distance or angles
between objects. Dimensions can be horizontal, vertical, aligned,
rotated, ordinate, baseline or continued.
With AutoCAD 2009 go to Annotation menu (On the Home menu)
To create a linear dimension, (linear means either horizontal or
vertical)
From the Dimension menu, choose LINEAR.
Select one end of the end of the line which you are dimensioning to
specify the first extension line origin (use object snap to help you),
then select the other end of the line (again use object snap).
Using your mouse, specify a location for the horizontal dimension.
You may have to tell the computer what dimension size you want, this
can involve a little fiddling to get the correct size.
Using your mouse go to the FORMAT menu,
left click on dimension style,
left click modify
Click a tab at the top and adjust
Exercise
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AutoCAD 2009
Draw the following diagram, dimension it, call it “Exercise 1” and save
it in your personal folder.
Now draw the attached drawing (using the above commands) and save as “Exercise2”
in your personal folder.
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AutoCAD 2009
LAYERS and LINETYPES
Used when drawing house for example, the electrician does not want
to see the plumbing so the plumbing can be done on a different layer
and then turned off.
LAYERS
Your drawing may consist of many components. By creating layers
you can group together various objects. For example, you can put
objects, text, dimensions etc, on separate layers. This allows you to
draw with different colours and to switch on/off different parts of your
drawing if you have drawn them in different layers.
To create layers
From the Toolbar
choose Layer Properties or choose from
the Format menu, choose Layers.
Click new and give this new layer a name.
Assigning Colours and Linetypes to Layers.
With AutoCAD LT you can assign a specific linetype and colour to
each layer.
tend to assign
red to centre
blue to hidden
green to dimensions
magenta to object
black to border
black to text
cyan to sections
Don’t use yellow because it is impossible to see on paper.
Loading Linetypes
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AutoCAD 2009
For most drawings you will need a continuous line, centre line and
hidden line.
Any hidden detail on an object is drawn using a hidden line.
Centre lines are used to indicate the centre of a circle, shaft etc.
When you begin a new drawing, only the continuously linetype is
loaded to save file space and loading time. You must load any other
linetypes before you can use them.
To load linetypes,
From the Toolbar choose Layer Properties or
from the Format menu, choose LAYER
Then click the linetype (continuous)
Click load
Select Centre, Hidden and Dash-dot linetypes.
Then choose OK to close and OK to close.
Making a Layer Current.
Once you’ve assigned a colour to a linetype to each layer, you
need to make a specific layer current. When a layer is current,
everything you draw appears on that layer.
To make a layer current
Click on a layer to make the green arrow appear.
Alternatively use the object properties Toolbar to locate a layer.
To Turn Off a layer
--To turn off a layer, click the smiling face which becomes an
unsmiling face. (the layer is NOT erased and can be turned on again)
Try and avoid turning off a current layer.
TEXT
After you complete a drawing you can add text or annotations. You can
enter a single line or multiple lines of text and see the text on the
screen as you enter it. A variety of text fonts are available, Standard
being the default style.
To create lines of text,
1- From the draw menu, choose Text. Then choose Line Text.
2- Specify the point where you want the text. This is the start point for
the placement of the text.
3- Press  to accept the default for the text height. (Or specify height)
4- Press  to accept a 0 rotation angle. (Or specify angle)
5- On the command line enter your required text. Pressing Return
starts a new line.
6- Press   to complete the text.
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AutoCAD 2009
MOVE
(One of the most used commands)
You can move objects relative to other objects without changing their
orientation or size. By using co-ordinates you can move objects with
precision.
To Move an object.
1- From the Toolbar
or from the modify
menu, choose Move.
2- Select the object to move.
3- Specify a base point for the move. (any point on the screen)
4- Specify the point of displacement. (using co-ordinates or the mouse)
Command line equivalent;
M
COPY
You can copy single or multiple objects within the current drawing.
To Copy an object.
1- From the modify menu, choose Duplicate.
2- Select the objects to copy and press 
3- Specify a base point.
4- Specify the second point of displacement.
Command line equivalent;
CP
From the Toolbar choose
ROTATING
Useful in determining whether an object may fit better at a different
orientation.
To Rotate an object
1- From the modify menu, choose Rotate.
2- Select the object to rotate.
3- Specify the base for the rotation.
4- Specify the angle of rotation.(using your mouse or entering an
angle)
Command line equivalent;
RO
From the Toolbar choose
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AutoCAD 2009
SCALE
With scaling you can make an object larger or smaller, but you cannot
alter its proportions.
To scale an object,
1- From the modify menu, choose scale
2- select the object to scale.
3- specify the base point.
4- enter a scale factor

From the Toolbar choose
FILLET
Filleting connects two intersecting objects with a smooth arc of a
specified radius. If both objects being filleted are on the same layer,
then the fillet line is created on that layer. Otherwise, the fillet line is
created on the current layer.
Setting the fillet radius.
This is the radius of the arc that connects the filleted objects. By
default the fillet radius is set to 0.5 or the last radius that you set.
Changing the fillet radius affects subsequent fillets but not existing
ones.
To set Fillet radius.
1- From the modify menu, choose Fillet.
2- Type in “R” (radius)
3- Type in a value for the radius.


You have now set the fillet radius.
To Fillet two line segments.
1- From the modify menu, choose fillet.
2- Select the first line.(using your mouse)
3- Select the second line.(using your mouse)
Command line equivalent;
FILLET
From the Toolbar choose
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AutoCAD 2009
CHAMFER
Chamfering connects two non-parallel objects with a bevelled line.
If the intersection point is outside the limits and LIMCHECK is turned
on, AutoCAD LT rejects the chamfering.
To chamfer two non-parallel lines
First you have to set the required chamfer distances,
1- From the modify menu, choose chamfer.
2- enter d, (distances)

3- enter the first chamfer distance

4- enter the second chamfer distance(usually the same as the first) 
5- Press  to re-enter the chamfer command
6- select the lines for chamfering (using mouse)
HATCH----sectioning
Hatching an area fills it with a pattern of lines. In engineering drawing
this is usually used to indicate a cross section(i.e. a shaft cut in half) on
a drawing and the pattern is made up of parallel lines drawn at 45 to
the horizontal.
To Hatch an area.
1- From the draw menu, choose Hatch.(using your mouse)
2- In the Boundary Hatch dialog box under Boundary, choose pick
points.
3- Specify a point on your drawing inside each area you want to hatch
and press . This point is known as the internal point.
4- Under Pattern Type, verify that the sample pattern is the pattern you
want to use. If not select another under Pattern Properties.
5- Preview how the hatch pattern will look like by choosing Preview
Hatch. Choose Continue when you have finished previewing.
6- In the Boundary Hatch dialog box, make adjustments, if necessary.
7- In the Boundary Hatch dialog box, choose Apply to create the
hatch.
Command line equivalent;
BHATCH.
To ensure that Hatching is in a different colour, set up a new layer that
you will use for hatching. Call this layer HATCH.
If you happen to have different hatched areas beside one another, the
hatch lines should be at 90degrees to each other.
AutoCAD LT does have a library of stored hatch patterns, pick one under
patterns to suit your requirements.
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AutoCAD 2009
ARRAY
The Array command allows multiple copies of an object to be made in
either rows and columns(Rectangular) or around in a circle(Polar)
To create a Polar Array.
1- From the modify menu, choose Array. Then choose Polar.
2- Select the object and press 
3- Specify the centre point if the Array.(use object snap to select the
circle or centre point)
4- Type in the number of items in the array, including the original
object.
5- Type in the angle the array is to fill, from 0 to 360. The default
setting is 360.
6- Press  to rotate the objects as they are arrayed.
To create Rectangular Arrays.
1- From the modify menu, choose Array. Then choose Rectangular.
2- Select the object.(using mouse)
3- Enter the number of rows

4- Enter the number of columns

5- Enter the distance between the rows (adding a plus sign (+) or a
minus sign (-) determines direction)

6- Enter the distance between the columns (adding a plus/minus sign
determines direction)

Command line equivalent;
ARRAY
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AutoCAD 2009
TO PRINT
To set the plot area.
In the Plot Configuration dialog box, under Additional
Parameters, you can select 5 different ways to plot your
drawing- Display, Extents, Limits, View and Window.
Click Window and drag a window around object, then click
OK.
Once the plotting area is established, you can set the plotting
scale, as well as the plot rotation and origin. Although you have
drawn the objects to full size, you can plot the drawing either to
as specific scale or to fit the paper size.
To set the plotting scale.
If your drawing will fit on an A4 sheet of paper (printer size),
you can thus plot your drawing to full size.
In the Plot Configuration dialog box, under Scale, Rotation and
Origin, enter a values under “Plotted inches = Drawing Units”
that equal each other, for example; 1 = 1 or 297 = 297. (thus a
line 297mm long on your screen will be plotted 297mm long on
paper)
To preview a plot
You can save time by previewing a the plot before it is printed.
In the Plot Configuration dialog box under Plot Preview, select
Full.
Then choose Preview. The drawing is now displayed as it will
be plotted.
Choose End Preview to close.
To send the drawing to the printer.
In the Plot Configuration dialog box, choose OK
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