Learn AutoCAD Basics: DAY 11

Here is an exciting one! We have just noticed we needed to add more ingredient to our experiment today, for some reasons.

Last DAY, we noticed the exercise we were working on made it too easy to escape the MIRROR command, today, we are coming with one which is meant to make it almost impossible to accomplish without making use of the MIRROR command.

Learning AutoCAD Basics

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

The two red lines are both axes of symmetry of the object.

Figure 4

Details about the object inside the ellipse.

Figure 5

Execution

The ELLIPSE command in AutoCAD

We will need to use the ELLIPSE command in this session.

To use the ELLIPSE command

1. Click on the ELLIPSE icon
2. Specify the center of the ellipse
3. Move the cursor in the direction of the first axis, type its value and press Enter
4. Type the value of the second axis and press Enter

The Polar tracking

For this experiment, we will make use of the POLAR TRACKING. Activating the following mode of the POLAR TRACKING will contribute to ease our task.

Creating the Ellipse

The ellipse is bent with an angle of 45 degrees.

1. Activate the ELLIPSE command
2. Specify the center of the Ellipse
3. Track 45 degrees
4. Type 70.5 and press ENTER
5. Type 52 and press ENTER

You should have the following.

After creating the ellipse all you need to do is find the center line of the ellipse, OFFSET the ellipse and the line with an OFFSET value of 15.5. The resulting image should look similar to the following.

Use the TRIM command to obtain the wanted object.

Creating the remaining piece

To create the cross, you need to:

Step 1

Create the following, you can find the length of the red line using the information given earlier.

Step 2

Create a mirrored copy of the current object, the line of symmetry should be a line with and inclination angle of 45 degrees starting from the left end of the drawing.

Step 3

Create a vertical line that will serve as the new line of symmetry. The new line must have an end common with the center of the newly create circle.

You don’t have to select the highlighted circle while you use the MIRROR command.

After obtaining the figure we have just obtained, you can use the same trick to get the other part of the image. And that will be it. Combining both structures should not be an issue.

List of all current sessions of Learn AutoCAD Basics in 21 DAYS

AutoCAD Basics	Description
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 1	Getting to know AutoCAD. You can start from downloading AutoCAD for free if you are either a student or an instructor. A link where you can download AutoCAD will be provided. Learn the basics and learn about the drawing area in AutoCAD. You will learn how to use the coordinate system to create objects in AutoCAD.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 2	Learn how to perfectly make use of the LINE command in AutoCAD, and acquire the mastery of this command. You will be able to challenge yourself with a couple of AutoCAD exercises, and you will be taught step by step how to solve them. Learn how to play with angles in AutoCAD.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 3	Learn how to create circles in AutoCAD using the CIRCLE command and master the UCS command. The UCS will help you place objects appropriately in the drawing window while working on projects. It is important at this point to have mastered the coordinate system, and this one will further make you sink the DAY 1 into your brain.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 4	You will have one more exercise that will help you practice with the UCS command. On top of that, you will be learning the FILLET command and will have the opportunity to perhaps work with the POLAR TRACKING Mode. In this session you will also be pushed to use the MIDPOINT feature of the Object Snap Setting
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 5	You will learn how to play with the POLYGON command in AutoCAD. Creating Circumscribed around a circle and inscribed in a circle polygons with different number of sides. You will also have another opportunity to practice the CIRCLE, the LINE command and the TRIM command in AutoCAD
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 6	You will learn how to use the ARRAY command to solve complex problems while working with AutoCAD. In this session, you will make heavy use of the CIRCLE command and the FILLET command, but you will have to do all this after getting the ARRAY command right.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 7	You will learn how to use the OFFSET command appropriately in AutoCAD. It is to be noted that previously earned knowledge will be crucially needed to be able to keep up moving forward in this series. That being said, you will need all you’ve learned earlier, not to mention the TRIM command that is an unavoidable command when working on a project in AutoCAD.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 8	Learn how to make use of the QUADRANT option of the Object Snap Settings. A complex image will be provided with this session, and you will have to use commands that you might find appropriate to solve different issues that will arise. A skeleton image will be provided to help you Analyze the exercise.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 9	Time to play harder with that UCS command You will also have to learn how to use the CHAMFER command with in this session. Although the exercise provided is very basic, it will allow better understanding of the UCS in AutoCAD. The Option Diameter of the CIRCLE command may be used as well if you would not like to use a calculator or your brain to calculate dimensions.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 10	Here a little bit of all we’ve learned earlier will be needed. An image is provided and you will be required to use a sense of analysis to be able to complete it. The other aim in this exercise is to push you use the MIRROR command in AutoCAD, but you can well avoid using it. You can decide to use the UCS command here if you like.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 11	In DAY 10, we gave you the choice to use the MIRROR command or not. This session will restrict that choice. The way information are provided here will force the use of the MIRROR command. You will also have to learn how to use the ELLIPSE command in AutoCAD and learn how to bend it with a given angle. You will also be shown how to use the POLAR tracking mode to work in AutoCAD.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 12	Here is one the most difficult session. You will learn how to use a trick to create an array around an ELLIPSE in AutoCAD. A complex image is provided and you are shown how you can proceed if you want to trick AutoCAD to construct an ELLIPSE ARRAY since there is no command doing this in AutoCAD yet. You will also be taught how to create a perfect star in AutoCAD.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 13	If you have learned how to proper use the Polar Tracking mode, this one will be a piece of cake. Nevertheless, it will help you make sure you have mastered it. You will be forced to use the Tan Tan Radius option of the CIRCLE command. The ROTATION command might also be useful to you if you want to avoid making use of the Polar Tracking Mode
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 14	Here is a session that will show you there is not only commands that do the job for you in AutoCAD. You will have to learn how to read a design and be able to easily replicate it using commands you will choose to make use of without being told or shown. The ROTATE command will be needed here.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 15	Bringing difficulties a step up to make you make use of Basic AutoCAD commands. In this Session, you are not taught what to do, but you are rather given an assignment that will make you use the command you have already made use of. A skeleton image will be provided to help you.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 16	Here is a place where you will be pushed to asses the knowledge you’ve earned in DAY 12. If you have not mastered what was shown in DAY 11, this one will not be an easy one to accomplish. You will have to know how to use the MIRROR command, and know how to manipulate lines to come out with happy with this relatively complex design.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 17	Here you will learn how to work on complex and bushy project. You need to be able to use the zooming and panning here to perform this one with success. There is nothing new to learn, but assessment to be done on what you have learned. The Tan Tan Radius option of the CIRCLE command will be highly needed in this session.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 18	Learn how to combine AutoCAD commands while working on a project. The project itself has nothing you have not made use of in previous sessions. Here is one more session that will bring challenges, and push you to use the OFFSET, CIRCLE and ROTATE commands.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 19	Here you will learn how to further work with the ROTATE command in AutoCAD. You are given a 2D representation of an elbow, and you will have to replicate the image given all its dimensions. This session is more about being able to choose a way to go for solving difficult 2D design issues in AutoCAD and choosing the most appropriate commands to solve those difficulties. Learn the basics of HATCHING in AutoCAD.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 20	Not a complex project, but a project with too many details. Here you will learn how to manage a project with many details. At this point you can start working with ANNOTATION and train yourself to Annotate using past exercises.
Learn AutoCAD basics DAY 21	All AutoCAD basics has practically been learned at this point. Here is a session where you will learn how to Annotate an object in AutoCAD. Learn the Basics using the DIMSTYLE command and learn how to use MTEXT command.