(Note: the version of AutoCAD I am using is AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 as AutoCAD. You may have different controls or toolbars if you are using a different version.)

AutoCAD, by AutoDesk, is the premier 2D drafting environment currently in use today. It is a very well-designed piece of software, and also very efficient. Without a doubt, an familiarity with AutoCAD is a great resume builder, and will allow anyone a better chance at getting a job anywhere in design. As far as learning how AutoCAD works, right here is the pace to start, learning the basics of drawing. After this hub, you can learn about dimensioning, GD&T, and creating 3D solids in AutoCAD by checking out my other hubs. I hope to have several more up soon, to help you with several other features of the program.

The lessons you will learn in this hub are very simple: How to use the basic drawing commands in AutoCAD. You will learn about the “Line,” “Circle,” “Arc,” and “Rectangle” commands.

1.       The Line Command

The Line command is located at Draw->Line (It’s the second from the top). It is also located on the Draw toolbar, which is usually located on the left side of the screen. It looks like a line (wow!) with a small circle on either end. Click on it, and click anywhere in the drawing space to start.

Once you have clicked, move your mouse away from the original point. As you do so, an automatic linear dimension and angular dimension pop up. These will help you decide where to place your line. Generally, lines are drawn at ninety degree angles from each other, so AutoCAD will automatically snap to these angles when you are close enough to them.

With your cursor pointed in the direction you wanted your line to go, type in the length of the line. If the angle is exactly what you want, then press enter. If not, push the tab key, and note that the angle dimension is now highlighted. You can now edit the angle of the line from horizontal. Type in the angle you want and press enter. The line should be precisely where you want it.

After you press enter, the line will be completed and AutoCAD will give you the option of making a second line, starting at the same place your first one ended. If you want to draw another line, simply repeat the directions above, assuming you have already clicked. If not, right click and you will get out of the Line command.

2.       The Circle Command

The Circle Command is located at Draw->Circle->[choose type]. The types include: [Center, Radius], [Center, Diameter], [2 points], [3 points], [Tan, Tan, Radius], and [Tan, Tan, Tan]. The circle command is also located on the same toolbar as the Line command, on the left. The shortcut button defaults to the [Center, Radius] type in the Draw menu. (The radius is the line drawn from the center of the circle to the edge. The diameter is the entire distance across.)

To draw a circle with the [Center, Radius] option, click in the drawing where you would like to start, and move your cursor away. A circle with a radius the size of the distance between your cursor and the starting point is created. To complete the circle, click anywhere, or enter a radius size and press enter.

The [Center, Diameter] option is exactly the same, except that you enter the diameter instead of the radius.

To draw a circle with the [2 points] option, click on any two points in your drawing, and AutoCAD will create the smallest circle possible between them.

The [3 points] option works the same way, but creates the only circle possible with three points selected.

The [Tan, Tan, Radius] will draw a circle tangent to (just touching) two points, and using a radius that you enter.

The [Tan, Tan, Tan] option will connect a circle to three points that you click on.

3.       The Arc Command

The Arc command is located at Draw->Arc-> [choose type]. The options for the type are too many to note, but they follow the same idea as the circle types above. The shortcut button on the left side of the screen is a 3-point arc by default.

Essentially, the three words in the name of the type tell you the points to click to create the arc. For instance, a [Start, Center, End] arc will draw a point that starts at your first click, has a center at your second lick, and ends at the third.

4.       The Rectangle Command

The Rectangle command is located at Draw->Rectangle, and also on the left toolbar. It is very simple to use, just as easy as the Line Command. Click for the first point, and the click for the second. Done! If you want exact distances, click for the first point, and then enter the dimension for the horizontal component, press tab, and enter the distance for the vertical component. Then press enter, and you have your rectangle.

These are the AutoCAD basics. They should be enough to get you to draw some basic drawings, and with enough experience, you can draw some more complex drawings as well. Enjoy!