Tag: 3D Art

How to Draw in AutoCAD

By: Lottie Bynum

AutoCAD is a software for 3D modeling and “drawing” in a sense. People use the software for engineering and professional purposes, however I use it for school and to make fun items to 3D print. To work with AutoCAD there are a few commands to know:

  • “L” enter – starts the line command to draw straight or diagonal lines
  • “C” enter – creates circle
  • “Extrude” enter – extrude command to make a drawing 3D
  • “Join” enter – to join lines together to make one line or shape
  • “Region” enter – creates a region to be able to extrude a shape
  • “Tr” enter – starts the trim command to trim pieces of lines that intersect
  • “Sub” enter – starts the subtract command to remove parts of an extruded feature
  • “M” enter – starts the love command

To start a drawing click new in the application. After, draw whatever shape you want. For example if someone wanted to draw a cup they would have to draw a circle base and two more circles to be the sides. Then they would region all three circles so they would be extrudable. After regioning, they would extrude one of the circles  as the bottom of the cup and the other two as the walls/ sides of the cup. The circles will extrude into a large cylinder up, to hollow them out to make them sides start the subtract command (“sub” enter) and select the outer circle/cylinder first which saves that one and press enter and click the inner circle/cylinder to remove it. Then you have your walls. Move the walls to the bottom of the cup with the move command (“M” enter) and select the centerpoint of the circle and snap it to the centerpoint of the base of the cup. There is a cup! Similarly, to make a box, start the line command (“L” enter) draw a rectangle, use the join command (“Join” enter) and then the region command (“Reg” enter) and extrude it (“Extrude” enter) and copy the steps of how to make the base and hollow out the walls with rectangles instead of circle like the cup example for the walls. Then you have a box! Drawing in AutoCAD has many steps to get used to but worth the effort.