Basic CAD Commands
CIRCLE Command
Creates a circle. The following prompts are displayed: Center Point Creates a circle based on a center point and a radius or diameter value. Radius Enter a value, or specify a point. For Example: Diameter Enter a value, or specify a second ...
MIRROR Command
Creates a mirrored copy of selected objects. You can create objects that represent half of a drawing, select them, and mirror them across a specified line to create the other half. By default, when you mirror a text object, the direction of the ...
WEDGE Command
Creates a 3D solid wedge. The direction of the taper is always in the positive X-Axis direction of the UCS. Entering a positive value draws the height along the positive Z-Axis of the current UCS. Entering a negative value draws the height along ...
LOFT Command
Creates a 3D solid or surface in the space between several cross sections. Creates a 3D solid or surface by specifying a series of cross sections. The cross sections define the shape of the resulting solid or surface. You must specify at least two ...
SNAP Command
Restricts cursor movement to specified intervals. The following prompts are displayed: Snap Spacing Activates Snap mode with the value you specify. On Activates Snap mode using the current settings of the snap grid. Off Turns off Snap mode but ...
DIVIDE Command
Creates evenly spaced point objects or blocks along the length or perimeter of an object. The following prompts are displayed: Select Objects to Divide Specifies a single geometric object such as a line, polyline, arc, circle, ellipse, or spline. ...
SPLINE Command
Using the SPLINE Command for the Construction Path in Solid Modeling Tools will result it to break into segments. Creates a smooth curve that passes through or near a set of fit points, or that is defined by the vertices in a control frame. SPLINE ...
REVCLOUD Command
Creates or modifies a revision cloud. You can create a new revision cloud by selecting two corner points or polygonal points, dragging your cursor, or you can convert an object such as a circle, polyline, spline, or an ellipse into a revision cloud. ...
EDGE Command
Changes the visibility of 3D face edges. This command only affects objects created using the 3DFACE command. The following prompts are displayed. Edge of 3D Face to Toggle Visibility Controls the visibility of the edges you select. If the edges ...
BREAK Command
Breaks the selected object between two points. You can create a gap between two specified points on an object, breaking it into two objects. If the points are off of an object, they are automatically projected on to the object. BREAK is often used ...
REVOLVE Command
Creates a 3D solid or surface by sweeping an object around an axis. Open profiles create surfaces and closed profiles can create either a solid or a surface. The Mode option controls whether a solid or a surface is created. When creating a surface, ...
OFFSET Command
Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves. You can offset an object at a specified distance or through a point. After you offset objects, you can trim and extend them as an efficient method to create drawings containing many ...
LENGTHEN Command
Changes the length of objects and the included angle of arcs. You can specify changes as a percentage, an increment, or as a final length or angle. LENGTHEN is an alternative to using TRIM or EXTEND. The following prompts are displayed: Object ...
JOIN Command
Joins the endpoints of linear and curved objects to create a single object. Combines a series of finite linear and open curved objects at their common endpoints to create a single 2D or 3D object. The type of object that results depends on the types ...
EXPLODE Command
Breaks a compound object into its component objects. Explodes a compound object when you want to modify its components separately. Objects that can be exploded include blocks, polylines, and regions, among others. The color, linetype, and ...
PRESSPULL Command
Dynamically modifies objects by extrusion and offset. Get visual feedback as you move the cursor after selecting a 2D object, an area formed by a closed boundary or a 3D solid face. The press or pull behavior responds to the type of object you ...
SUBTRACT Command
Creates as a new object by subtracting one overlapping region or 3D solid from another. With SUBTRACT, you can create a 3D solid by subtracting one set of existing 3D solids from another, overlapping set. You can create a 2D region object by ...
STRETCH Command
Stretches objects crossed by a selection window or polygon. Objects that are partially enclosed by a crossing window are stretched. Objects that are completely enclosed within the crossing window, or that are selected individually, are moved rather ...
EXTRUDE Command
Creates a 3D solid from an object that encloses an area, or a 3D surface from an object with open ends. Objects can be extruded orthogonally from the plane of the source object, in a specified direction, or along a selected path. You can also ...
TRIM Command
Trim objects to meet the edges of other objects. To trim objects, click TRIM or type TRIM in the command line and press Enter. Overview There are two modes that you can use to trim objects, Quick mode and Standard mode. Quick Mode: To trim ...
FILLET Command
Rounds the edges of two 2D objects. A round or fillet is an arc that is created tangent between two 2D objects. A fillet can be created between two objects of the same or different object types: 2D polylines, arcs, circles, ellipses, elliptical ...
EXTEND Command
Extend objects to meet the edges of other objects. To extend objects, click EXTEND or type EXTEND in the command line and press Enter. Overview There are two modes that you can use to extend objects, Quick mode and Standard mode. Quick Mode: To ...
CHAMFER Command
Bevels or chamfers the edges of two 2D objects or the adjacent faces of a 3D solid. A bevel or chamfer is an angle line that meets the endpoints of two straight 2D objects. The distance and angles that you specify are applied in the order that you ...
ALIGN Command
Aligns objects with other objects in 2D and 3D. Either one, two, or three pairs of source points and definition points can be specified to move, rotate, or tilt the selected objects, aligning them with points on another object. Specify either one, ...
Overview: Model Space, Paper Space, and Plotting
There are several benefits to switching between model space and paper space to perform specific tasks. Use model space for creating and editing your drawing. Use paper space for composing the printed sheets of your drawing. Understand the Layout ...
Overview: Model Space and Crosshairs
Model Space is where you will create your drawings. You interact with the Model Space by selecting objects or points with the crosshairs. The crosshairs will automatically activate anytime you are inside the Model Space. There are four types of ...
AutoCAD Keyboard Commands
Learning how to use AutoCAD keyboard commands can help you work faster and improve your efficiency. This article lists the abbreviated commands that can be used in AutoCAD (Toolbox). Toggle General Features Ctrl+G Toggle Grid Ctrl+E Cycle isometric ...
VIEWBASE Command
Creates a base view from model space or Autodesk Inventor models. This command is available only on 64-bit systems. A base view is the first view created in a drawing. All other views are derived from the base view. The base view includes all visible ...
Basic Operation Controls
Basic Operation Controls The Status Bar is located at the bottom right portion of the window. The settings contained in the Status Bar affect the way you draw and work within your drawings. The Status Bar is displayed as follows by default. Items ...
Basic Navigation Controls
Basic Navigation Controls You can quickly navigate around in a drawing using the mouse wheel and the mouse wheel button. By scrolling the mouse wheel up, you can zoom in on the drawing. By scrolling the mouse wheel down, you can zoom out in the ...
Basic 3D Commands
Basic 3D Commands EXTRUDE – The EXTRUDE (EXT) command will allow you to create a 3D solid object from a 2D object. PRESSPULL – The PRESSPULL (PRESS) command will allow you to create a 3D solid object from a 2D object or an island (area enclosed by ...
Basic 2D Commands
Basic 2D Commands To execute an AutoCAD command, type the command (or quick-key) in the command line. The command line is located at the bottom of the drawing area. Some commands require additional steps, or subcommands, the next step for the command ...