Discovering Autocad 2017

Discovering Autocad 2017

by Mark Dix, Paul Riley
Released October 2016
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780134506890

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Book description

This book presents a hands-on, activity-based approach to the use of AutoCAD as a drafting tool—complete with techniques, tips, shortcuts, and insights that improve efficiency. Topics and tasks are carefully grouped to lead students logically through the AutoCAD command set, with the level of difficulty increasing steadily as skills are acquired through experience and practice. Straightforward explanations focus on what is relevant to actual drawing procedures, and illustrations show exactly what to expect on the computer screen. This edition features updates for the latest release of AutoCAD, projects, and test questions for each chapter.

  • Lessons are broken down into tasks listed at the beginning of each section, introducing students to the AutoCAD commands using a structured, intuitive approach and helping students anticipate what information will be needed at each new phase of the learning process.
  • General Procedure boxes appear as new commands are introduced, providing a simple overview of basic command procedures in a step-by-step format.
  • Detailed graphics appear throughout the text, demonstrating what students should expect to see on their screens and encouraging self-paced study.
  • Drawing problems appear at the end of the chapter, helping students apply newly learned techniques immediately to realistic drawing situations. This includes drawing suggestions, timesaving tips, and explanations of how to use techniques in actual situations.
  • High-quality working drawings accompany end-of-chapter drawing problems, appearing in a large, clearly dimensioned format on each right-hand page. This includes mechanical, architectural, civil, and electrical drawings.

Table of contents

  1. About This eBook
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Preface
    1. Get Active with Discovering AutoCAD® 2017
    2. Acknowledgments
    3. Features New to This Edition
    4. Download Instructor Resources from the Instructor Resource Center
  5. Contents
  6. New to AutoCAD 2017
  7. New to AutoCAD 2016
  8. Part One: Basic Two-Dimensional Entities
    1. Chapter 1. Lines and Essential Tools
      1. Introduction
      2. Creating a New Drawing
      3. Exploring the Drawing Window
      4. Interacting with the Drawing Window
      5. Exploring Command Entry Methods
      6. Drawing, Undoing, and Erasing Lines
      7. Saving and Opening Your Drawings
      8. Getting Started
      9. Chapter Summary
      10. Chapter Test Questions
      11. Chapter Drawing Projects
    2. Chapter 2. Circles and Drawing Aids
      1. Introduction
      2. Changing the Grid Setting
      3. Changing the Snap Setting
      4. Changing Units
      5. Drawing Circles by Specifying a Center Point and a Radius
      6. Drawing Circles by Specifying a Center Point and a Diameter
      7. Accessing AutoCAD Online Help Features
      8. Using the ERASE Command
      9. Using Single-Point Object Snap
      10. Using the RECTANG Command
      11. Customizing Your Workspace
      12. Plotting or Printing a Drawing
      13. Chapter Summary
      14. Chapter Test Questions
      15. Chapter Drawing Projects
    3. Chapter 3. Layers, Colors, and Linetypes
      1. Introduction
      2. Creating New Layers
      3. Assigning Colors to Layers
      4. Assigning Linetypes
      5. Assigning Lineweights
      6. Changing the Current Layer
      7. Changing Linetype Scale
      8. Editing Corners Using FILLET
      9. Editing Corners Using CHAMFER
      10. Zooming and Panning with the Scroll Wheel
      11. Using the ZOOM Command
      12. Entering Single-Line Text
      13. Chapter Summary
      14. Chapter Test Questions
      15. Chapter Drawing Projects
    4. Chapter 4. Templates, Copies, and Arrays
      1. Introduction
      2. Setting Limits
      3. Creating a Template
      4. Saving a Template Drawing
      5. Using the MOVE Command
      6. Using the COPY Command
      7. Using the ARRAY Command—Rectangular Arrays
      8. Creating Center Marks
      9. Changing Plot Settings
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Drawing Projects
    5. Chapter 5. Arcs and Polar Arrays
      1. Introduction
      2. Creating Polar Arrays
      3. Drawing Arcs
      4. Using the ROTATE Command
      5. Using Polar Tracking at Any Angle
      6. Creating Mirror Images of Objects on the Screen
      7. Creating Page Setups
      8. Chapter Summary
      9. Chapter Test Questions
      10. Chapter Drawing Projects
    6. Chapter 6. Object Snap
      1. Introduction
      2. Selecting Points with Object Snap (Single-Point Override)
      3. Selecting Points with Running Object Snap
      4. Object Snap Tracking
      5. Using the OFFSET Command (Creating Parallel Objects with OFFSET)
      6. Shortening Objects with the TRIM Command
      7. Extending Objects with the EXTEND Command
      8. Using STRETCH to Alter Objects Connected to Other Objects
      9. Creating Plot Layouts
      10. Chapter Summary
      11. Chapter Test Questions
      12. Chapter Drawing Projects
  9. Part Two: Text, Dimensions, and Other Complex Entities
    1. Chapter 7. Text
      1. Introduction
      2. Entering Single-Line Text with Justification Options
      3. Entering Text on an Angle and Text Using Character Codes
      4. Entering Multiline Text Using MTEXT
      5. Editing Text in Place with TEXTEDIT
      6. Modifying Text with the Quick Properties Palette
      7. Using the SPELL Command
      8. Changing Fonts and Styles
      9. Changing Properties with MATCHPROP
      10. Scaling Previously Drawn Entities
      11. Creating Tables and Fields
      12. Using AutoCAD Templates, Borders, and Title Blocks
      13. Chapter Summary
      14. Chapter Test Questions
      15. Chapter Drawing Projects
    2. Chapter 8. Dimensions
      1. Introduction
      2. Creating and Saving a Dimension Style
      3. Drawing Linear Dimensions
      4. Drawing Multiple Linear Dimensions Using QDIM
      5. Drawing Ordinate Dimensions
      6. Drawing Angular Dimensions
      7. Dimensioning Arcs and Circles
      8. Dimensioning with Multileaders
      9. Changing Dimension Text
      10. Using Associative Dimensions
      11. Using the HATCH Command
      12. Scaling Dimensions Between Paper Space and Model Space
      13. Chapter Summary
      14. Chapter Test Questions
      15. Chapter Drawing Projects
    3. Chapter 9. Polylines
      1. Introduction
      2. Drawing Polygons
      3. Drawing Donuts
      4. Using the FILL Command
      5. Drawing Straight Polyline Segments
      6. Drawing Polyline Arc Segments
      7. Editing Polylines with PEDIT
      8. Drawing Splines
      9. Creating Path Arrays
      10. Drawing Revision Clouds
      11. Drawing Points
      12. Using Constraint Parameters
      13. Using AutoConstrain and Inferred Constraints
      14. Chapter Summary
      15. Chapter Test Questions
      16. Chapter Drawing Projects
    4. Chapter 10. Blocks, Attributes, and External References
      1. Introduction
      2. Creating Groups
      3. Creating Blocks
      4. Inserting Blocks into the Current Drawing
      5. Creating Dynamic Blocks
      6. Adding Constraints to Dynamic Blocks
      7. Accessing Data in a Block Table
      8. Using the Windows Clipboard
      9. Inserting Blocks and External References into Other Drawings
      10. Using the AutoCAD DesignCenter
      11. Defining Attributes
      12. Working with External References
      13. Extracting Data from Attributes
      14. Creating Tool Palettes
      15. Exploding Blocks
      16. Chapter Summary
      17. Chapter Test Questions
      18. Chapter Drawing Projects
  10. Part Three: Isometric Drawing and Three-Dimensional Modeling
    1. Chapter 11. Isometric Drawing
      1. Introduction
      2. Using Isometric Snap
      3. Switching Isometric Planes
      4. Using COPY and Other Edit Commands
      5. Drawing Isometric Circles with ELLIPSE
      6. Drawing Text Aligned with Isometric Planes
      7. Drawing Ellipses in Orthographic Views
      8. Saving and Restoring Displays with VIEW
      9. Chapter Summary
      10. Chapter Test Questions
      11. Chapter Drawing Projects
    2. Chapter 12. 3D Modeling
      1. Introduction
      2. Creating and Viewing a 3D Wireframe Box
      3. Defining User Coordinate Systems
      4. Exploring the 3D Basics Workspace
      5. Creating Solid Boxes and Wedges
      6. Accessing Different Visual Styles
      7. Creating the Union of Two Solids
      8. Working with DUCS
      9. Creating Composite Solids with SUBTRACT
      10. Creating Chamfers and Fillets on Solid Objects
      11. Practicing 3D Gizmo Editing
      12. Rendering Solid Models
      13. The Render Window and Render Presets
      14. Creating Layouts with Multiple Views
      15. Chapter Summary
      16. Chapter Test Questions
      17. Rendering in the Cloud (optional)
      18. Chapter Drawing Projects
    3. Chapter 13. More Modeling Techniques and Commands
      1. Introduction
      2. Drawing Polysolids
      3. Drawing Cones
      4. Drawing Pyramids
      5. Drawing Torus
      6. Slicing and Sectioning Solids
      7. Adjust Section Plane with Grips
      8. Mesh Modeling
      9. Adjusting Viewpoints with 3DORBIT
      10. Creating 3D Solids from 2D Outlines
      11. Walking Through a 3D Landscape
      12. Creating an Animated Walk-Through
      13. Chapter Summary
      14. Chapter Test Questions
      15. Chapter Drawing Projects
  11. Appendix A. Drawing Projects
  12. Appendix B. Creating Customized Panels
    1. Creating a Customized Panel
    2. Creating Customized Tools
  13. Appendix C. Menus, Macros, and the CUI Dialog Box
    1. The CUI Dialog Box
    2. Characters Used in AutoCAD Macros
  14. Appendix D. Additional Tools for Collaboration
    1. CAD Standards
    2. Layer Translation
    3. Management of Named Objects
    4. Sheet Set Management
  15. Glossary
  16. Index

Product information

  • Title: Discovering Autocad 2017
  • Author(s): Mark Dix, Paul Riley
  • Release date: October 2016
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780134506890