Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

by Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry
Released October 2022
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781801816465

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Book description

Learn 2D drawing and 3D modeling from scratch using AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 2023 and become a CAD professional

Key Features

  • Learn techniques for making, modifying, and managing AutoCAD 2D and 3D drawings
  • Understand how to use reusable and named objects like blocks, xRef, and layers
  • Scale, annotate, and print drawings from model space and layout

Book Description

AutoCAD is one of the most versatile software applications for architectural and engineering designs and the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. This hands-on 2nd edition guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, from a simple tour of the user interface to using advanced tools.

Starting with basic drawing shapes and functions, you'll get to grips with the fundamentals of CAD designs. You’ll then learn about effective drawing management using layers, dynamic blocks, and groups, and discover how to add annotations and plots like a professional. As you progress, the book will show you how to convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. You’ll also discover advanced features, such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs. Finally, you’ll focus on rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD.

By the end of this book, you’ll have developed a solid understanding of CAD principles and be able to work with AutoCAD software confidently to build impressive 2D and 3D creations.

What you will learn

  • Understand CAD fundamentals like functions, navigation, and components
  • Create complex 3D objects using primitive shapes and editing tools
  • Work with reusable objects like blocks and collaborate using xRef
  • Explore advanced features like external references and dynamic blocks
  • Discover surface and mesh modeling tools such as Fillet, Trim, and Extend
  • Use the paper space layout to create plots for 2D and 3D models
  • Convert your 2D drawings into 3D models

Who this book is for

This 3D modeling book is for design engineers, mechanical engineers, architects, and anyone working in construction, manufacturing, or similar fields. Whether you’re an absolute beginner, student, or professional looking to upgrade your engineering design skills, you’ll find this AutoCAD book useful. No prior knowledge of CAD or AutoCAD is necessary.

Table of contents

  1. Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023
  2. Contributors
  3. About the authors
  4. About the reviewers
  5. Preface
    1. Who this book is for
    2. What this book covers
    3. To get the most out of this book
    4. Download the color images
    5. Conventions used
    6. Get in touch
    7. Download a free PDF copy of this book
  6. Part 1: Introduction and 2D Drafting
  7. Chapter 1: An Introduction to AutoCAD
    1. Technical requirements
    2. AutoCAD for Mac and AutoCAD LT
    3. Understanding the user interface
      1. The application button
      2. The quick access toolbar
      3. The info bar
      4. The ribbon area
      5. The file tabs
      6. The ViewCube and navigation bar
      7. The selection cursor
      8. The command line or palette
      9. The user coordinate system
      10. The layout tabs
      11. The status bar toggles
    4. Navigating in AutoCAD
      1. Selecting and panning
      2. Zooming in and out
      3. Making selections
    5. Setting units and limits
      1. Setting units
      2. Setting limits
      3. Saving settings as a template
      4. Saving a drawing file as DWG
    6. Summary
  8. Chapter 2: Basic Drawing Tools and Commands
    1. Understanding the coordinate system
      1. Cartesian coordinates
      2. Polar coordinates
    2. Using the Line command
      1. Making lines with direct distance entry
      2. Making lines using absolute coordinates
      3. Using polar coordinates
      4. Using relative coordinates
      5. Making a drawing without coordinate values
    3. Basic status bar modes
      1. Using Dynamic Input
      2. Using Ortho mode
      3. Using polar tracking
    4. Making a circle
      1. Center, radius, and diameter
      2. 2-Point and 3-Point
      3. Tan, Tan, Radius and Tan, Tan, Tan
    5. Making an arc
      1. Start, Center, End
      2. Start, End, Radius
      3. Center, Start, End
    6. Making a rectangle
      1. Making a rectangle using absolute coordinates
      2. Making a rectangle using relative coordinates
      3. Making a rectangle with Dynamic Input
    7. Making a polygon
      1. Inscribed and circumscribed polygons
      2. Making our first polygon
    8. Using the Move and Copy commands
    9. Using the Rotate command
      1. Simple Rotate
      2. Rotate with Reference
    10. Using the Fillet command
    11. Using the Trim command
    12. Using the Extend command
    13. Summary
  9. Chapter 3: Learning about Modify Commands
    1. Using Object Snaps
      1. The Endpoint and Midpoint snaps
      2. The Center snap
      3. The Geometric Center snap
      4. The Node snap
      5. The Quadrant snap
      6. The Intersection snap
      7. The Extension snap
      8. The Perpendicular snap
      9. The Tangent snap
      10. The Nearest snap
      11. The Parallel snap
    2. The Object Snap override
    3. Object Snap Tracking
    4. Making an ellipse
    5. The Construction Line command
    6. The Revision Cloud tool
      1. The Rectangular Revision Cloud tool
      2. The Polygonal Revision Cloud tool
      3. The Freehand Revision Cloud tool
    7. Working with regions
    8. Point and point style
    9. Working with Spline
      1. Spline fit
      2. Spline CV
    10. More Modify commands
      1. The Mirror command
      2. The Offset command
      3. The Scale command
      4. The Chamfer command
    11. The Join command
    12. The Explode command
    13. The Stretch command
    14. Summary
  10. Chapter 4: Working with Arrays and Reusable Objects
    1. Using advanced status bar modes
      1. Grid mode
      2. Snap mode
      3. Selection cycling
    2. Making Arrays
      1. The Rectangular Array
      2. The Polar Array
      3. The Path Array
    3. Working with blocks
      1. Making blocks
      2. Inserting blocks
      3. Modifying blocks
      4. Redefining blocks
    4. The Block Count feature
    5. Working with groups
      1. Creating groups
      2. Using groups
    6. Working with attributes
      1. Making attributes
      2. Understanding attribute modes
      3. Making invisible attributes
    7. Summary
  11. Part 2: Customization, Collaboration, and Using Reusable Content
  12. Chapter 5: Managing Drawings with Layers and Properties
    1. Managing object properties
      1. Adding a linetype
      2. Adding transparency
      3. Adding a lineweight
      4. Adding color
      5. Changing properties using the PROPERTIES palette
    2. Using Match Properties
      1. Modifying property types to match
    3. Using inquiry commands
      1. The Quick inquiry tool
      2. The Distance inquiry tool
      3. The Radius inquiry tool
      4. The Angle inquiry tool
      5. The Area inquiry tool
    4. Drawing management using layers
      1. Using the LAYER PROPERTIES MANAGER palette
      2. Using the quick access tools in the Layers panel
    5. Summary
  13. Chapter 6: Working with Hatches, Text, and Dimensions
    1. Filling an area with hatches
      1. Hatches with pick points
      2. Hatches with the Select option
      3. Hatch color
      4. Hatch transparency
      5. Hatch angle
      6. Set Origin
      7. Associative hatches
      8. Gap tolerance
    2. Creating color gradients
    3. Adding text to the drawing
      1. Creating a text style
      2. Adding Multiline text
      3. Adding single-line text
    4. Working with dimensions
      1. Making a dimension style
      2. Adding dimensions
      3. Understanding the Dimension tool
      4. The Continue dimension tool
      5. The Baseline dimension tool
      6. Modifying dimensions
      7. Using alternate units in dimensions
      8. Adding tolerances
    5. Working with multileaders
      1. Creating a multileader style
      2. Adding a multileader
    6. Summary
  14. Chapter 7: Tables and Isometric Drawings
    1. Working with AutoCAD tables
      1. Making a table in AutoCAD
      2. Specify window table option
      3. Modifying tables
      4. Making a sample table
      5. Adding data to a sample table
      6. Exporting tables in Excel format
      7. Importing an Excel table into AutoCAD
      8. Working with the table style manager
    2. Working with data links
    3. Understanding fields
    4. Making isometric drawings
      1. Preparing a workspace for isometric drawing
      2. Making the drawing
    5. Summary
  15. Chapter 8: Customization Tools
    1. Making custom linetypes
      1. Making a simple linetype using the Make Linetype Express tool
      2. Making complex linetypes using Express tools
      3. Making linetypes using code
    2. Making custom Hatches patterns
    3. Customizing the user interface
      1. Making a custom panel
      2. Making user interface changes
    4. Using Design Center
      1. Inserting blocks from Design Center
      2. Inserting named objects from other drawings
    5. Using tool palettes
      1. Inserting blocks from a tool palette
      2. Adding custom blocks to tool palettes
    6. Working with complex polylines and splines
      1. Complex polylines
      2. Editing polylines
      3. Complex splines
    7. Summary
  16. Chapter 9: External References and Dynamic Blocks
    1. Working with External References
      1. Inserting XRefs
      2. The Attach External Reference window’s options
      3. The External Reference tab
      4. The EXTERNAL REFERENCES palette
      5. Using eTransmit for XRefs
    2. Working with dynamic blocks
      1. Making a dynamic block using parameters and actions
    3. Cleaning and fixing drawing issues
      1. Using PURGE to clean drawings
      2. Using OVERKILL to clean drawings
      3. Using the AUDIT command
      4. Using the RECOVER command
    4. Summary
  17. Part 3: 3D Modeling
  18. Chapter 10: Introduction to 3D Modeling
    1. Technical requirements
    2. 3D modeling workspaces
      1. Introduction to workspaces
      2. Exploring the 3D Basics workspace
      3. Exploring the 3D Modeling workspace
    3. Navigation and switching views
      1. Basic navigation
      2. The ViewCube
      3. Preset views
      4. Creating a custom-named view
    4. Adjusting visual styles
      1. Preset visual styles
      2. Adjusting visual style settings
    5. Configuring multiple viewports
    6. Exploring UCS
      1. The appearance of the UCS icon
      2. Rotating the UCS
      3. Translating the UCS
      4. Aligning the UCS with objects
      5. Creating a UCS by specifying points
      6. Saving the modified UCS
      7. Dynamic UCS functions
    7. Summary
  19. Chapter 11: Creating Primitive 3D Shapes
    1. Creating boxes
      1. Center option for Box
      2. Cube option for Box
    2. Creating cylinders
      1. 3P and 2P cylinder options
      2. Ttr cylinder option
      3. Elliptical option
    3. Creating cones
    4. Creating spheres
    5. Creating pyramids
    6. Creating wedges
      1. Center option of a wedge
    7. Creating a torus
    8. Creating a polysolid
    9. Summary
  20. Chapter 12: Conversion between 2D and 3D
    1. Using the Extrude command
    2. Using the Revolve command
    3. Using the Sweep command
    4. Using the Loft command
    5. Using the Presspull command
    6. Using the Flatshot command
    7. Using the Section Plane tool
    8. Summary
  21. Chapter 13: Modifying 3D Objects
    1. Exploring basic modify commands
      1. Using 2D modify commands with 3D objects
      2. Using the 3D Gizmo tool
    2. Using Boolean operations
      1. Using the union command
      2. Using the subtract command
      3. Using the intersect command
    3. Working with solid editing commands
      1. Using the separate command
      2. Using the shell command
      3. Using the slice command
      4. Using the Thicken command
    4. Working with face editing commands
      1. Using the taper faces command
      2. Using the extrude faces command
      3. Using the offset faces command
    5. Working with edge editing commands
      1. Using the FILLETEDGE command
      2. Using the chamfer edge command
    6. Summary
  22. Chapter 14: Paper Space Layouts and Printing
    1. Understanding the paper space
      1. Introduction to paper space
      2. Exploring the layout tab
      3. Setting up the paper space tabs
    2. Creating viewports and title blocks
      1. Creating rectangular viewports
      2. Adjusting the viewport settings
      3. Creating orthographic and isometric views for a three-dimensional model
      4. Creating viewports with general shapes
      5. Creating a title block
      6. Examples of creating and setting layout tabs and viewports
    3. Understanding the printing process
      1. Starting the print command
      2. Choosing what to print
      3. Using plot styles
      4. Examples of using the Plot Style Table Editor
    4. Summary
  23. Chapter 15: Rendering and Presentation
    1. Setting the lighting of a scene
      1. Lighting intensity units
      2. Creating a Point light source
      3. Creating a Spotlight source
      4. Creating a Distant light source
      5. Weblight source
      6. Sun lighting
    2. Displaying shadows
    3. Applying and viewing materials
      1. Setting the visual style to display materials
      2. Exploring the Materials Browser
      3. Applying materials to objects
      4. Material mapping
      5. Using custom materials/texture maps
    4. Creating cameras
      1. Creating a new camera
      2. Modifying cameras using grab points
    5. Rendering scenes
      1. Setting the render quality
      2. Setting the rendered image resolution
      3. Rendering
    6. Importing and exporting 3D files
    7. Summary
  24. Index
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  25. Other Books You May Enjoy
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Product information

  • Title: Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition
  • Author(s): Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry
  • Release date: October 2022
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781801816465