AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018 Essentials

AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018 Essentials provides a full-color, task-based approach to mastering this powerful software. Straightforward, easy-to-follow instruction pairs with real-world, hands-on exercises to help you quickly get up to speed with core features and functions; screenshots illustrate tutorial steps to help you follow along, and each chapter concludes with a more open-ended project so you can dive in and explore a specific topic in-depth.

From 2D drawing and organization to 3D modeling, dimensioning, presenting, and more, this helpful guide walks you through everything you need to know to become productive with AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018. The companion website features downloadable starting and ending files for each exercise, so you can jump in at any point and compare your work to the pros, as well as additional tutorials to help you go as deep as you need to go.

Exercises walk you through the real-world process of drafting while teaching you critical skills along the way.

• Understand the AutoCAD interface and foundational concepts
• Master essential drawing and visualization tools
• Stay organized with layers, groups, and blocks
• Experiment with 3D modeling, add text and dimensions, and much more

AutoCAD is the industry-leading technical drawing software, and complete mastery is a vital skill for any design and drafting professional. AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018 Essentials is a smart, quick resource that will help you get up to speed with real-world practical instruction.

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Get ting Star ted 1

Sign In to Autodesk 360 on the Start Tab 1

Exercise 1.1: Configure Autodesk 360  1

Explore the AutoCAD 2018 for Windows User Interface  4

Exercise 1.2: Explore the Graphical User Interface   4

Exercise 1.3: Control the AutoCAD Ribbon   9

Set Drawing Units  13

Exercise 1.4: Set the AutoCAD Drawing Units  14

Chapter 2 Gaining Basic Drawing Skills 17

Navigate 2D Drawings  17

Exercise 2.1: Navigate a Drawing 17

Draw Lines and Rectangles  21

Exercise 2.2: Draw Lines  21

Exercise 2.3: Draw Rectangles 24

Cancel, Erase, and Undo  25

Exercise 2.4: Correct Mistakes 25

Use Coordinate Systems  27

Exercise 2.5: Use Absolute Coordinates  27

Exercise 2.6: Use Relative Coordinates 28

Exercise 2.7: Use Polar Coordinates 29

Draw Circles, Arcs, and Polygons 33

Exercise 2.8: Create Circles   33

Exercise 2.9: Create Arcs  36

Exercise 2.10: Draw Polygons  38

Use Fillet and Chamfer  40

Exercise 2.11: Join Nonparallel Lines  40

Exercise 2.12: Join Crossed Lines with Fillet  41

Chapter 3 Using Drawing Aids 43

Use Grid and Snap  43

Exercise 3.1: Draw with Grid and Snap 44t e n t s

Employ Ortho and Polar Tracking  47

Exercise 3.2: Draw with Ortho and Polar Tracking  47

Use PolarSnap  48

Exercise 3.3: Draw with PolarSnap 49

Select Running Object Snaps   51

Exercise 3.4: Draw with Running Object Snaps  51

Harness the From Snap 54

Exercise 3.5: Use the From Snap 54

Apply Object Snap Tracking  55

Exercise 3.6: Use Object Snap Tracking  55

Chapter 4 Editing Entities 59

Create Selection Sets 59

Exercise 4.1: Create a Selection Set at the Select Objects: Prompt  60

Exercise 4.2: Create a Selection Set Before Deciding on a Command   62

Use Move and Copy  66

Exercise 4.3: Move and Copy  66

Use Rotate and Scale 70

Exercise 4.4: Rotate and Scale 70

Work with Arrays  73

Exercise 4.5: Create a Rectangular Array 74

Exercise 4.6: Create a Polar Array 75

Use Trim and Extend 77

Exercise 4.7: Trim and Measure  77

Use Lengthen and Stretch  78

Exercise 4.8: Lengthen and Stretch 79

Use Offset and Mirror 80

Exercise 4.9: Offset and Mirror 80

Edit with Grips  82

Exercise 4.10: Edit with Grips  83

Chapter 5 Shaping Curves 85

Draw and Edit Curved Polylines  85

Exercise 5.1: Draw and Edit Curved Polylines  85

Draw Ellipses 91

Exercise 5.2: Draw Ellipses   91

Shape Splines 93

Exercise 5.3: Work with Control Vertices 94

Exercise 5.4: Work with Fit Points 98

Blend Between Objects with Splines 101

Exercise 5.5: Blend Splines  102

Chapter 6 Controlling Object Visibility and Appearance 105

Change Object Properties  105

Exercise 6.1: Edit Object Properties  106

Set the Current Layer  109

Exercise 6.2: Choose the Current Layer 110

Alter the Layer Assignments of Objects 113

Exercise 6.3: Assign Layers  113

Control Layer Visibility  116

Exercise 6.4: Toggle Layer Status 116

Exercise 6.5: Isolate Layers  118

Exercise 6.6: Save Layer States  120

Apply Linetype  121

Exercise 6.7: Use Linetype   122

Assign Properties by Object or by Layer 125

Exercise 6.8: Assign Properties  125

Manage Layer Properties  126

Exercise 6.9: Control Layer Properties  126

Isolate Objects  128

Exercise 6.10: Isolate and Hide Individual Objects  128

Chapter 7 Organizing Objects 131

Define Blocks  131

Exercise 7.1: Draw a Chair and Define It as a Block 132

Exercise 7.2: Draw a Door and Define It as a Block  135

Insert Blocks  137

Exercise 7.3: Use Blocks  137

Edit Blocks  141

Exercise 7.4: Edit Block Definitions  142

Exercise 7.5: Assign Floating Properties   143

Exercise 7.6: Nest Blocks  145

Exercise 7.7: Explode Blocks  147t e n t s

Redefine Blocks  148

Exercise 7.8: Redefine Block Definitions   148

Work with Groups  151

Exercise 7.9: Create Groups  151

Chapter 8 Hatching and Gradients 155

Specify Hatch Areas 155

Exercise 8.1: Pick Points to Determine Boundaries 155

Exercise 8.2: Select Objects to Define Boundaries  159

Associate Hatches with Boundaries 161

Exercise 8.3: Associate Boundaries  161

Hatch with Patterns 163

Exercise 8.4: Specify Properties 164

Exercise 8.5: Separate Hatch Areas  165

Hatch with Gradients  168

Exercise 8.6: Create Gradients  168

Chapter 9 Working with Blocks and Xrefs 171

Work with Global Blocks  171

Exercise 9.1: Write a Local Block Definition to a File  171

Exercise 9.2: Insert a Drawing as a Local Block   175

Exercise 9.3: Redefine Local Blocks with Global Blocks  177

Access Content Globally  179

Exercise 9.4: Access Global Content  179

Store Content on Tool Palettes  180

Exercise 9.5: Add to the Tool Palettes 180

Reference External Drawings and Images 183

Exercise 9.6: Use Xrefs  183

Chapter 10 Creating and Editing Text 189

Style Text  189

Exercise 10.1: Create Text Styles 189

Write Lines of Text  191

Exercise 10.2: Create Text to Fit 191

Exercise 10.3: Justify Text   193

Exercise 10.4: Transform and Create Text  194

Write and Format Paragraphs Using MTEXT  197

Exercise 10.5: Write and Format with MTEXT   197t

Edit Text   200

Exercise 10.6: Edit Content and Properties  201

Exercise 10.7: Work with Columns 202

Recognize and Combine Text  203

Exercise 10.8: Import, Recognize, and Combine Text from PDF  204

Chapter 11 Dimensioning 209

Style Dimensions  209

Exercise 11.1: Create Dimension Styles 210

Add Dimensions  215

Exercise 11.2: Use Inquiry Commands  215

Exercise 11.3: Add Dimension Objects  218

Exercise 11.4: Add and Style Multileaders  222

Edit Dimensions  223

Exercise 11.5: Alter Dimension Objects 223

Chapter 12 Keeping In Control with Constraints 227

Work with Geometric Constraints 227

Exercise 12.1: Use Geometric Constraints  227

Apply Dimensional Constraints  230

Exercise 12.2: Create Dimensional Constraints   231

Constrain Objects Simultaneously with Geometry and Dimensions 234

Exercise 12.3: Use Simultaneous Constraints  234

Make Parametric Changes to Constrained Objects   236

Exercise 12.4: Alter Constraint Parameters  237

Chapter 13 Working with Layouts and Annotative Objects 239

Create Annotative Styles and Objects 239

Exercise 13.1: Work with Annotative Text  240

Exercise 13.2: Work with Annotative Dimensions 243

Create Layouts  245

Exercise 13.3: Configure Layouts 245

Adjust Floating Viewports 248

Exercise 13.4: Work on Layout1 249

Exercise 13.5: Work on Layout2 252

Override Layer Properties in Layout Viewports  254

Exercise 13.6: Override Layer Properties   255

Draw on Layouts  256

Exercise 13.7: Lay Out Geometry 256on t e n t s

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Get ting Star ted 1

Sign In to Autodesk 360 on the Start Tab 1

Exercise 1.1: Configure Autodesk 360  1

Explore the AutoCAD 2018 for Windows User Interface  4

Exercise 1.2: Explore the Graphical User Interface   4

Exercise 1.3: Control the AutoCAD Ribbon   9

Set Drawing Units  13

Exercise 1.4: Set the AutoCAD Drawing Units  14

Chapter 2 Gaining Basic Drawing Skills 17

Navigate 2D Drawings  17

Exercise 2.1: Navigate a Drawing 17

Draw Lines and Rectangles  21

Exercise 2.2: Draw Lines  21

Exercise 2.3: Draw Rectangles 24

Cancel, Erase, and Undo  25

Exercise 2.4: Correct Mistakes 25

Use Coordinate Systems  27

Exercise 2.5: Use Absolute Coordinates  27

Exercise 2.6: Use Relative Coordinates 28

Exercise 2.7: Use Polar Coordinates 29

Draw Circles, Arcs, and Polygons 33

Exercise 2.8: Create Circles   33

Exercise 2.9: Create Arcs  36

Exercise 2.10: Draw Polygons  38

Use Fillet and Chamfer  40

Exercise 2.11: Join Nonparallel Lines  40

Exercise 2.12: Join Crossed Lines with Fillet  41

Chapter 3 Using Drawing Aids 43

Use Grid and Snap  43

Exercise 3.1: Draw with Grid and Snap 44t e n t s

Employ Ortho and Polar Tracking  47

Exercise 3.2: Draw with Ortho and Polar Tracking  47

Use PolarSnap  48

Exercise 3.3: Draw with PolarSnap 49

Select Running Object Snaps   51

Exercise 3.4: Draw with Running Object Snaps  51

Harness the From Snap 54

Exercise 3.5: Use the From Snap 54

Apply Object Snap Tracking  55

Exercise 3.6: Use Object Snap Tracking  55

Chapter 4 Editing Entities 59

Create Selection Sets 59

Exercise 4.1: Create a Selection Set at the Select Objects: Prompt  60

Exercise 4.2: Create a Selection Set Before Deciding on a Command   62

Use Move and Copy  66

Exercise 4.3: Move and Copy  66

Use Rotate and Scale 70

Exercise 4.4: Rotate and Scale 70

Work with Arrays  73

Exercise 4.5: Create a Rectangular Array 74

Exercise 4.6: Create a Polar Array 75

Use Trim and Extend 77

Exercise 4.7: Trim and Measure  77

Use Lengthen and Stretch  78

Exercise 4.8: Lengthen and Stretch 79

Use Offset and Mirror 80

Exercise 4.9: Offset and Mirror 80

Edit with Grips  82

Exercise 4.10: Edit with Grips  83

Chapter 5 Shaping Curves 85

Draw and Edit Curved Polylines  85

Exercise 5.1: Draw and Edit Curved Polylines  85

Draw Ellipses 91

Exercise 5.2: Draw Ellipses   91

Shape Splines 93

Exercise 5.3: Work with Control Vertices 94

Exercise 5.4: Work with Fit Points 98

Blend Between Objects with Splines 101

Exercise 5.5: Blend Splines  102

Chapter 6 Controlling Object Visibility and Appearance 105

Change Object Properties  105

Exercise 6.1: Edit Object Properties  106

Set the Current Layer  109

Exercise 6.2: Choose the Current Layer 110

Alter the Layer Assignments of Objects 113

Exercise 6.3: Assign Layers  113

Control Layer Visibility  116

Exercise 6.4: Toggle Layer Status 116

Exercise 6.5: Isolate Layers  118

Exercise 6.6: Save Layer States  120

Apply Linetype  121

Exercise 6.7: Use Linetype   122

Assign Properties by Object or by Layer 125

Exercise 6.8: Assign Properties  125

Manage Layer Properties  126

Exercise 6.9: Control Layer Properties  126

Isolate Objects  128

Exercise 6.10: Isolate and Hide Individual Objects  128

Chapter 7 Organizing Objects 131

Define Blocks  131

Exercise 7.1: Draw a Chair and Define It as a Block 132

Exercise 7.2: Draw a Door and Define It as a Block  135

Insert Blocks  137

Exercise 7.3: Use Blocks  137

Edit Blocks  141

Exercise 7.4: Edit Block Definitions  142

Exercise 7.5: Assign Floating Properties   143

Exercise 7.6: Nest Blocks  145

Exercise 7.7: Explode Blocks  147t e n t s

Redefine Blocks  148

Exercise 7.8: Redefine Block Definitions   148

Work with Groups  151

Exercise 7.9: Create Groups  151

Chapter 8 Hatching and Gradients 155

Specify Hatch Areas 155

Exercise 8.1: Pick Points to Determine Boundaries 155

Exercise 8.2: Select Objects to Define Boundaries  159

Associate Hatches with Boundaries 161

Exercise 8.3: Associate Boundaries  161

Hatch with Patterns 163

Exercise 8.4: Specify Properties 164

Exercise 8.5: Separate Hatch Areas  165

Hatch with Gradients  168

Exercise 8.6: Create Gradients  168

Chapter 9 Working with Blocks and Xrefs 171

Work with Global Blocks  171

Exercise 9.1: Write a Local Block Definition to a File  171

Exercise 9.2: Insert a Drawing as a Local Block   175

Exercise 9.3: Redefine Local Blocks with Global Blocks  177

Access Content Globally  179

Exercise 9.4: Access Global Content  179

Store Content on Tool Palettes  180

Exercise 9.5: Add to the Tool Palettes 180

Reference External Drawings and Images 183

Exercise 9.6: Use Xrefs  183

Chapter 10 Creating and Editing Text 189

Style Text  189

Exercise 10.1: Create Text Styles 189

Write Lines of Text  191

Exercise 10.2: Create Text to Fit 191

Exercise 10.3: Justify Text   193

Exercise 10.4: Transform and Create Text  194

Write and Format Paragraphs Using MTEXT  197

Exercise 10.5: Write and Format with MTEXT   197t

Edit Text   200

Exercise 10.6: Edit Content and Properties  201

Exercise 10.7: Work with Columns 202

Recognize and Combine Text  203

Exercise 10.8: Import, Recognize, and Combine Text from PDF  204

Chapter 11 Dimensioning 209

Style Dimensions  209

Exercise 11.1: Create Dimension Styles 210

Add Dimensions  215

Exercise 11.2: Use Inquiry Commands  215

Exercise 11.3: Add Dimension Objects  218

Exercise 11.4: Add and Style Multileaders  222

Edit Dimensions  223

Exercise 11.5: Alter Dimension Objects 223

Chapter 12 Keeping In Control with Constraints 227

Work with Geometric Constraints 227

Exercise 12.1: Use Geometric Constraints  227

Apply Dimensional Constraints  230

Exercise 12.2: Create Dimensional Constraints   231

Constrain Objects Simultaneously with Geometry and Dimensions 234

Exercise 12.3: Use Simultaneous Constraints  234

Make Parametric Changes to Constrained Objects   236

Exercise 12.4: Alter Constraint Parameters  237

Chapter 13 Working with Layouts and Annotative Objects 239

Create Annotative Styles and Objects 239

Exercise 13.1: Work with Annotative Text  240

Exercise 13.2: Work with Annotative Dimensions 243

Create Layouts  245

Exercise 13.3: Configure Layouts 245

Adjust Floating Viewports 248

Exercise 13.4: Work on Layout1 249

Exercise 13.5: Work on Layout2 252

Override Layer Properties in Layout Viewports  254

Exercise 13.6: Override Layer Properties   255

Draw on Layouts  256

Exercise 13.7: Lay Out Geometry 256on t e n t s

Chapter 14 Printing and Plot ting 261

Configure Output Devices  261

Exercise 14.1: Set Up a System Printer  262

Exercise 14.2: Set Up an AutoCAD Plotter  262

Create Plot Style Tables  265

Exercise 14.3: Create a Named Plot Style Table  265

Use Plot Style Tables  267

Exercise 14.4: Configure New Drawings for Named Plot Style Tables  267

Exercise 14.5: Assign Plot Styles by Layer or by Object  270

Plot in Model Space 273

Exercise 14.6: Plot from Model Space 273

Plot Layouts in Paper Space   277

Exercise 14.7: Plot from Paper Space 277

Export to an Electronic Format 280

Exercise 14.8: Export to DWF 281

Exercise 14.9: Export to PDF 282

Exercise 14.10: Share Design Views 284

Chapter 15 Working with Data 287

Geolocate Projects  287

Exercise 15.1: Geolocate a Drawing  288

Import SketchUp Models  292

Exercise 15.2: Import a SketchUp Model   292

Define Attributes and Blocks   293

Exercise 15.3: Define Attributes and a Block  294

Insert Attributed Blocks  298

Exercise 15.4: Insert Block References with Attributes  298

Edit Table Styles and Create Tables 300

Exercise 15.5: Alter a Table Style and Make a Table  300

Use Fields in Table Cells  305

Exercise 15.6: Create Fields  305

Edit Table Data  308

Exercise 15.7: Alter Table Data  308

Chapter 16 Navigating 3D Models 317

Use Visual Styles  317

Exercise 16.1: Explore Visual Styles  318

Work with Tiled Viewports  322

Exercise 16.2: Tile Viewports 322

Navigate with the ViewCube   324

Exercise 16.3: Use the ViewCube to Navigate  324

Orbit in 3D  326

Exercise 16.4: Orbit  326

Use Cameras 328

Exercise 16.5: Utilize Virtual Cameras  328

Navigate with SteeringWheels  331

Exercise 16.6: Use SteeringWheels to Navigate  331

Save Views 334

Exercise 16.7: Save Views  334

Chapter 17 Modeling in 3D 337

Create Surface Models  337

Exercise 17.1: Make Planar Surfaces  338

Exercise 17.2: Revolve a 2D Profile to Create a 3D Model  339

Exercise 17.3: Sweep Out 3D Geometry 340

Exercise 17.4: Extrude 2D Geometry into 3D   342

Edit Surface Models  344

Exercise 17.5: Trim Surfaces with Other Surfaces 344

Exercise 17.6: Project Edges on Surfaces  345

Exercise 17.7: Trim Surfaces with Edges  348

Create Solid Models 350

Exercise 17.8: Extrude Solid Objects 350

Exercise 17.9: Loft Solid Objects 354

Edit Solid Models  356

Exercise 17.10: Perform Boolean Operations  356

Exercise 17.11: Edit Solids   359

Smooth Mesh Models  363

Exercise 17.12: Create, Edit, and Smooth Mesh  363

Live-Section Models 365

Exercise 17.13: Create and Edit a Section Plane   365

Chapter 18 Presenting and Documenting 3D Design 369

Assign Materials  370

Exercise 18.1: Apply Materials  370t e n t s

Place and Adjust Lights  376

Exercise 18.2: Add Artificial Lights  376

Exercise 18.3: Simulate Natural Light  382

Create Renderings 383

Exercise 18.4: Make Realistic Renderings in the Cloud 383

Document Models with Drawings  387

Exercise 18.5: Document Models 387

Appendix A Making Isometric Drawings 393

Appendix B Autodesk™ AutoCAD™ 2018 Certif ication 399

Index 403

Configure Output Devices  261

Exercise 14.1: Set Up a System Printer  262

Exercise 14.2: Set Up an AutoCAD Plotter  262

Create Plot Style Tables  265

Exercise 14.3: Create a Named Plot Style Table  265

Use Plot Style Tables  267

Exercise 14.4: Configure New Drawings for Named Plot Style Tables  267

Exercise 14.5: Assign Plot Styles by Layer or by Object  270

Plot in Model Space 273

Exercise 14.6: Plot from Model Space 273

Plot Layouts in Paper Space   277

Exercise 14.7: Plot from Paper Space 277

Export to an Electronic Format 280

Exercise 14.8: Export to DWF 281

Exercise 14.9: Export to PDF 282

Exercise 14.10: Share Design Views 284

Chapter 15 Working with Data 287

Geolocate Projects  287

Exercise 15.1: Geolocate a Drawing  288

Import SketchUp Models  292

Exercise 15.2: Import a SketchUp Model   292

Define Attributes and Blocks   293

Exercise 15.3: Define Attributes and a Block  294

Insert Attributed Blocks  298

Exercise 15.4: Insert Block References with Attributes  298

Edit Table Styles and Create Tables 300

Exercise 15.5: Alter a Table Style and Make a Table  300

Use Fields in Table Cells  305

Exercise 15.6: Create Fields  305

Edit Table Data  308

Exercise 15.7: Alter Table Data  308

Chapter 16 Navigating 3D Models 317

Use Visual Styles  317

Exercise 16.1: Explore Visual Styles  318

Work with Tiled Viewports  322

Exercise 16.2: Tile Viewports 322

Navigate with the ViewCube   324

Exercise 16.3: Use the ViewCube to Navigate  324

Orbit in 3D  326

Exercise 16.4: Orbit  326

Use Cameras 328

Exercise 16.5: Utilize Virtual Cameras  328

Navigate with SteeringWheels  331

Exercise 16.6: Use SteeringWheels to Navigate  331

Save Views 334

Exercise 16.7: Save Views  334

Chapter 17 Modeling in 3D 337

Create Surface Models  337

Exercise 17.1: Make Planar Surfaces  338

Exercise 17.2: Revolve a 2D Profile to Create a 3D Model  339

Exercise 17.3: Sweep Out 3D Geometry 340

Exercise 17.4: Extrude 2D Geometry into 3D   342

Edit Surface Models  344

Exercise 17.5: Trim Surfaces with Other Surfaces 344

Exercise 17.6: Project Edges on Surfaces  345

Exercise 17.7: Trim Surfaces with Edges  348

Create Solid Models 350

Exercise 17.8: Extrude Solid Objects 350

Exercise 17.9: Loft Solid Objects 354

Edit Solid Models  356

Exercise 17.10: Perform Boolean Operations  356

Exercise 17.11: Edit Solids   359

Smooth Mesh Models  363

Exercise 17.12: Create, Edit, and Smooth Mesh  363

Live-Section Models 365

Exercise 17.13: Create and Edit a Section Plane   365

Chapter 18 Presenting and Documenting 3D Design 369

Assign Materials  370

Exercise 18.1: Apply Materials  370t e n t s

Place and Adjust Lights  376

Exercise 18.2: Add Artificial Lights  376

Exercise 18.3: Simulate Natural Light  382

Create Renderings 383

Exercise 18.4: Make Realistic Renderings in the Cloud 383

Document Models with Drawings  387

Exercise 18.5: Document Models 387

Appendix A Making Isometric Drawings 393

Appendix B Autodesk™ AutoCAD™ 2018 Certif ication 399

Index 403

About the Author

Scott Onstott is a consultant, former university professor, author, and independent video producer with more than 19 years of experience teaching and writing about design visualization software. He is the author of the six previous editions of AutoCADandAutoCAD LT Essentials, Photoshop CS6 Essentials, Enhancing Architectural Drawings and Models with Photoshop, and five other software training books published by Sybex.