need to learn AutoCAD, then you're no dummy!
Introduction
Let's get something straight
upfront. You may have heard that AutoCAD is difficult,
complex,
or hard to learn and use. Well, it has been our observation that the
easier any software is to
learn and use, the sooner you bump up against the
software's limitations. Yes, AutoCAD is
complex, but
that's the secret to its success. Some claim that few people use more than 10
percent of AutoCAD's capabilities. Closer analysis reveals that pretty much
everyone uses
the same basic 5 percent. but everyone else uses a different 5
percent after that. The trick is
to find your 5 percent. the sweet spot
that suits your particular industry.
back in the last millennium, at a time when most people thought that personal
computers
weren't capable of industrial-strength tasks like CAD. (The acronym
stands for Computer-
Aided Drafting, Computer-Aided Design, or both,
depending on whom you talk to.) What's
equally amazing is the fact that many of
today's hotshot AutoCAD users weren't even born
when the program
first hit the street and the grizzled old-timers writing these words began
using it! It's almost as amazing that, 29 years and counting after its birth in
December of
19112, AutoCAD remains the king of the microcomputer CAD
hill by a tall margin, making it
one of the longest-lived PC programs ever, and
it will probably be a year older next year. It's
conceivable that the long-term
future of CAD may belong to special-purpose, 3D-based
software such as the
Autodesk Inventor and Revit programs. or to specialized market-
specific
variations built on top of AutoCAD. At any rate.
AutoCAD's .DWG file format is the
de facto standard, and so AutoCAD will be
where the CAD action is for the foreseeable
future.
AutoCAD has
grown more complex over the years, in part to keep
up with the increasing
complexity of the design and drafting processes that AutoCAD is
intended to serve. It's not enough just to draw nice-looking lines anymore. If
you want to play
CAD with the big boys and girls, you need to carefully
organize the objects you draw, their
properties, and the files in which they
reside. You need to coordinate your CAD work with
other people in your office
who will be working on or making use of the same drawings. You
need to be savvy
about shipping drawings around via the Internet. You may even need to be
a
little cognizant of working with AutoCAD in three
dimensions.
which hammer to pick up or which nail to bang on
first. With this book, you have an excellent
chance of creating a presentable.
usable, printable, and sharable drawing on your first (or at
least your second)
try without putting a T-square through your computer screen in frustration.
This book is not Drafting For Dummies, or Engineering For Dummies, or Crash-Testing For Dummies,
or anything similar. We cover the
basic principles of how to use AutoCAD to
create and edit the
objects (lines, circles, arcs, and so on) that make up
engineering, architectural, and similar technical
drawings. We do not cover
drafting standards and practices for any
particular industry or
profession. For example, we teach you how to create dashed lines, but don't tell you
specifically
how and when they should be used to indicate hidden edges in solid
objects.
Unlike many other For Dummies books, this one often does tell
you to consult the official
software documentation. AutoCAD is just too big and complicated for a single book to attempt
to describe it
completely.
about Autocad 2013 for dummies
AutoCAD is also too big and complicated for a book like this to cover every feature.
We don't
address advanced topics, like database connectivity, customization, or
programming, in the
interest of bringing you a book of a reasonable size — one
that you'll read rather than stick on
your shelf with those other 1,000-page
tomes! The ultimate book that covered everything to do
with AutoCAD would need a fork truck to move it.
Autodesk likes to keep its users (and us
authors!) guessing about new features in future releases
of the software. AutoCAD 2009 surprised users and authors alike
with a totally revamped user
interface, replacing the drop-down menus and toolbars
of previous versions with a Microsoft Office
2007-style Ribbon (happily,
Autodesk doesn't force its users to adopt the new look the way
Microsoft
does — there's still an "AutoCAD Classic" interface available). AutoCAD's interface gets
some
tweaking in each succeeding release, if for no other reason than to include new
functionality,
so even seasoned users will always find something that's a
little different. This book focuses on
AutoCAD 2013 and addresses its slightlyless-capable but
much-lower-priced sibling, AutoCAD LT 2013.
We do occasionally mention differences
with previous releases so that everyone has some context
and upgraders can more
readily understand the differences, and you are bound to encounter a few
of the
millions and millions of drawings out there that were created with older
methods. We also
mention the important differences between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT so you'll know what you — or
your
LT-using colleagues — are missing so far as this book is concerned; the major
difference is the
almost-total absence of 3D capabilities in AutoCAD LT.
This book does not cover the
discipline-specific features in AutoCAD-based products such as
AutoCAD Architecture
or AutoCAD Mechanical (except for some general discussion in Chapter 1),
but most of the information in this book applies to the general-purpose AutoCAD features in the
AutoCAD-based versions of those programs as well.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 www.wiley.com Copyright © 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, (317) 572-3447, fax (317) 572-4355, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Autodesk and AutoCAD are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the U.S.A. and certain other countries. Certain content, including trial software, provided courtesy Autodesk, Inc., © 2007. All rights reserved. LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Library of Congress Control Number: 2007926005 ISBN: 978-0-470-09763-2 Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents at a Glance Introduction.................................................................................1 Part I: Introducing AutoCAD .........................................................5 Chapter 1: AutoCAD and the User Interface .............................................................................................7 Chapter 2: Working with Drawing Files ...................................................................................................25 Chapter 3: Customizing Your Work Environment ..................................................................................43 Part II: Going from 2D to 3D.......................................................59 Chapter 4: Transitioning from 2D to 3D...................................................................................................61 Chapter 5: Viewing a 3D Model.................................................................................................................79 Chapter 6: Taking the Plunge into 3D ....................................................................................................107 Chapter 7: Additional Exercises: Making the Transition.....................................................................133 Part III: 3D Modeling — Solid Modeling ....................................139 Chapter 8: Modeling with Solids.............................................................................................................141 Chapter 9: Modifying and Analyzing Solids ..........................................................................................163 Chapter 10: Creating Section and Auxiliary Views from Models........................................................185 Chapter 11: Additional Exercises: Modeling with Solids.....................................................................197 Part IV: 3D Modeling — Surfaces..............................................205 Chapter 12: Modeling with Surfaces ......................................................................................................207 Chapter 13: Complex Surface Modeling ................................................................................................223 Chapter 14: Modifying Surfaces..............................................................................................................235 Chapter 15: Additional Exercises: Modeling with Surfaces ................................................................245 Part V: Visualizing the Design ...................................................255 Chapter 16: Lighting.................................................................................................................................257 Chapter 17: Materials...............................................................................................................................273 Chapter 18: Rendering and Animating...................................................................................................287 Chapter 19: Additional Exercises: Visualizing the Design...................................................................299 Part VI: Model Interchange .......................................................305 Chapter 20: Plotting to a Hardcopy or an Electronic File....................................................................307 Chapter 21: Importing and Exporting 3D Models.................................................................................321 Part VII: The Part of Tens..........................................................329 Chapter 22: More than Ten New Features in AutoCAD 2008...............................................................331 Chapter 23: More than Ten Software and Professional Design Resources .......................................341 Appendix A: Glossary................................................................345 Appendix B: About the DVD ......................................................347 Index.......................................................................................351 download: 
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 www.wiley.com Copyright © 2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, (317) 572-3447, fax (317) 572-4355, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Library of Congress Control Number: 2008925782 ISBN: 978-0-470-24378-7 Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents at a Glance Introduction .................................................................1 Book I: AutoCAD Basics ..............................................11 Chapter 1: One-on-One Time with AutoCAD.................................................................13 Chapter 2: Drawing on and in AutoCAD ........................................................................31 Chapter 3: Navigating the AutoCAD Interface ..............................................................37 Chapter 4: All about Files ................................................................................................65 Chapter 5: Basic Tools .....................................................................................................85 Chapter 6: Setting Up Drawings......................................................................................97 Chapter 7: Precision Tools ............................................................................................125 Book II: 2D Drafting .................................................155 Chapter 1: Drawing Objects ..........................................................................................157 Chapter 2: Modifying Objects .......................................................................................185 Chapter 3: Managing Views...........................................................................................215 Book III: Annotating Drawings ..................................235 Chapter 1: Text: When Pictures Just Won't Do ...........................................................237 Chapter 2: Dimensioning ...............................................................................................267 Chapter 3: Hatching Your Drawings.............................................................................303 Chapter 4: Scaling Mt. Annotation ...............................................................................313 Book IV: LT Differences.............................................321 Chapter 1: The LT Difference ........................................................................................323 Chapter 2: Extending AutoCAD LT................................................................................331 Chapter 3: Mixed Environments...................................................................................339 Book V: 3D Modeling ................................................347 Chapter 1: Introducing the Third Dimension..............................................................349 Chapter 2: Using the 3D Environment .........................................................................357 Chapter 3: Viewing in 3D ...............................................................................................369 Chapter 4: Moving from 2D to 3D .................................................................................381 Chapter 5: Working with Solids ....................................................................................393 Chapter 6: Rendering: Lights, Camera, AutoCAD! ......................................................403 Book VI: Advanced Drafting ......................................415 Chapter 1: Playing with Blocks .....................................................................................417 Chapter 2: Dynamic Blocks ...........................................................................................433 Chapter 3: External References ....................................................................................449 Chapter 4: Organizing Your Drawings..........................................................................479 download: