BAHRIA UNIVERSITY KARACHI CAMPUS

Department of Electrical Engineering

AUTOCAD

LAB # 05
Object Snap, Hatching, Object Properties and Blocks
Objectives
 To know about object snaps
 Creating shaded and gradient areas in drawing
 Changing the object properties
 Creating different line types in AutoCAD
 Creating and Adding Blocks in drawing
 Hatching and Annotating Drawings

Object Snaps
In our last lab we have seen that calculating the exact points is pretty difficult and a little bit time
consuming. And in some cases we cannot calculate the exact point that we require. For example
if have drawn a circle and we want to make a line from its tangent, then to calculate the exact co-
ordinate at the tangent of the circle is very hectic process. And the margin of error is also very
high. So AutoCAD have a solution to this problem. AutoCAD has a featured command called
Object Snaps that is very useful in drawings. Using object snaps you don’t need to calculate the
points. You just need to mention the desired point, i.e.; midpoint; end point or centre point and
AutoCAD will select automatically the exact point. To use and configure object snaps type
<OS> in command line. A window similar to shown below will appear.

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You may select whichever points you want to 'snap' on an object. Here is a list of your options
followed by the command entry to invoke the needed Osnap.

Endpoint - snaps to either the beginning or the end of an object such as a line - END
Midpoint - snaps to the exact middle of a line or an arc - MID
Center - snaps to the center-point of a circle or arc - CEN
Quadrant - snaps to any of the four quadrants of a circle - QUA
Intersection - snaps to the point where two object cross - INT
Extension - Snaps to the phantom extension of an arc or line - EXT
Insertion - snaps to the insertion point of an object (such as a block or text) - INS
Perpendicular - will snap so that the result is perpendicular to line selected - PER
Tangent - snaps to create a line tangent to a circle or arc - TAN
Nearest - will find the closest point an object and snap to that point - NEA
Parallel -Snaps parallel to a specified line – PAR

Although it may seem tempting to turn all the Osnaps ON when drawing, you can have too much
of a good thing. For example, in shorter lines, Midpoint, Nearest and Perpendicular could all be
very close to each other, and you could select the wrong point so recommended Osanps are End
Point, Midpoint and Centre Point.

Some More Modifying Commands

Before we move further we must learn some more modifying commands. Here are some more
modifying commands that can be useful while editing or drawing objects.

Command Shortcut Icon Description

Explode x Breaks a compound object into its component objects
Scale sc Enlarge or reduce the size of an object
Join j Join similar objects to make an unbroken object
Break br Break the selected object between two points
Break br Break the selected object on a single point

Explode Command
The explode command is used to explodes a compound object, when you want to modify its
components separately. Objects that can be exploded include blocks, poly lines, and regions,
among others. The color, line type, and line weight of any exploded object might change. Other
results differ depending on the type of compound object you're exploding. The explode
command can be used in just two simple steps
1. Type explode in command line
2. Select the object you want to explode
3. Press enter

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Example
Let’s consider the example of a 6x4 rectangle. First we will draw a rectangle using rectangle
command and then we will explode it in 4 lines using explode command.
Command: rec
Specify base point: 0,0
Specify dimensions: @ 6,4
Command: explode
Select the object to explode:
Object exploded

(Before Exploding-Single Object) (After Exploding- Multiple Objects)

Scale Command
To scale an object, specify a base point and a scale factor. The base point acts as the center of the
scaling operation and remains stationary. A scale factor greater than 1 enlarges the object. A
scale factor between 0 and 1 shrinks the object. The base point you specify identifies the point
that remains in the same location as the selected objects change size. When you use the SCALE
command with annotative objects, the position or location of the object is scaled relative to the
base point of the scale operation, but the size of the object is not changed. Scale command can be
used in few simple steps.
1. Invoke scale command by typing scale or sc in command window.
2. Select the object you want to scale and press enter
3. Specify base point
4. Enter the scale factor

Example
Consider the example of a polygon below that is scaled to a scale factor of 0.5. That mean we are
reducing its size. Follow the steps.
 Draw a polygon with 5 sides and center of 0,0
 Select the circle type to inscribed circle
 The type sc in command window
 Select the polygon, press enter
 Use 0,0 as base point
 Enter scaling factor of 0.5
 You are done.

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Here are the results.

(Original Polygon) (Scaled Polygon)

Join Command
Join command merges two or more than two different identical objects to a single unbroken
object. We can join lines, plines, arcs, helix, splines etc. It is important that the objects we are
attempting to join must be in a same plane. Otherwise AutoCAD will give an error.

To use the join command, follow these simple steps.

1. Select the join command
2. Select source objects
3. Select the identical objects those are in the same plane
4. Press enter

Break Command
Break command is the opposite to join command. It is used to break a regular object in different
parts. There are two different options available in break command.
1. Break the selected object between two points
2. Break the selected object from a single point.

These two options can be selected by clicking on the respective icon in the break command as
shown in the table above.

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Use of break command is very simple. You need to just follow 2 or 3 steps.
1. Select the required break command
2. Select the object you want to break
3. Select the first point
4. Select the second point
If you are using break from single point then no need to select the second point.

(Break from a single point) (Break between two points)

Object Properties
When you draw something in AutoCAD you observe that every drawing has its own default
color or line type. But in many drawings you need to distinguish between drawings by color or
you need to change the line type to show different objects and positions in your drawing. For
example you need to show the hidden object or alternative position. So the properties of objects
in AutoCAD are flexible. They can be changed by user. In this example we will illustrate that
how different properties (color, line type, line weight etc) are changed.

Changing Properties and Line Types

Consider the following example. A circle of radius 2 is inside a 6x4 rectangle.

Now suppose that we want to show the circle with hidden lines and with green color and also we
want to show the boundary of rectangle with red color and with heavy visible line.
The solution is very simple. We just have to change the object properties.
First of all select the object you want to change the properties. For example select the rectangle
and go to properties palette in the menu bar of AutoCAD. From here you can change the color,
line weight and line type.
So let’s first change the object color.
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To change the color click on the “color” tab in properties window and choose the desired color.

Then to change line weight click on the “line weight” tab and select the desired weight of line.

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After above settings, deselect the rectangle and select the circle. We just want to change the line
type of the circle and its color. Change the color as mentioned above and to change the line type
click on the line type tab in properties window and click on “others” as shown below.

A new window will appear by clicking on others. From this window click on “load” to load
various line types available in AutoCAD directories. Select your required “line type” and press
OK. Your selected line type will appear in “line type manager” then again select the line type
from there and again press OK. These five steps are illustrated in the figure below.

If the changed line weight is not visible to then go to bottom of your AutoCAD screen and turn
ON the “Line weight” button.

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And finally our modified drawing will be looking like this one.

AutoCAD Blocks
An AutoCAD block is a pre-drawn image you can insert in your drawing to save time and make
your file size smaller. A block can be composed of objects drawn on several layers with various
colors, line types, and line weight properties. Although a block is always inserted on the current
layer, the block reference preserves information about the original layer, color, and line type
properties of the objects that are contained in the block. You can control whether objects in
a block retain their original properties or inherit their properties from the current layer, color, line
type, or line weight settings.

Creating and Inserting Blocks

You can use several methods to create blocks:
 Combine objects to create a block definition in your current drawing.
 Use the Block Editor contextual tab (when the ribbon is active) or Block Editor (when the
ribbon is not active) to add dynamic behavior to a block definition in your current
drawing.
 Create a drawing file and later insert it as a block in other drawings.
 Create a drawing file with several related block definitions to serve as a block library.
You can use PURGE to remove unused block definitions from a drawing.

(Creating and Inserting Blocks)

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To create a block select the objects you want to make a block and then click on the “Create”
button in the block palette, a window will appear type the block name in that window (you can
also select object from this window) and click on OK. Your block is ready to use.

(Creating Blocks)

To insert a block click on the “Insert” button in the block palette a window will appear, type the
block name you want to insert and press OK. Then choose the base point, on which you want to
insert that block.

(Inserting Blocks)
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Hatching- Creating Shaded Areas in Drawing
Sometimes in drawing you have to make different sections of drawing in order to show different
parts of your drawing or to show inner details of your component drawing. And then you have to
make some sort of distinction in those sections. In engineering drawing the technique used to
differentiate different sections is called “hatching”. Hatching is generally used to show areas of
sections. The simplest form of hatching is generally adequate for the purpose, and may be
continuous thin lines at a convenient angle, preferably 45°, to the principal outlines or lines of
symmetry of the sections. There are some conventions for hatching which are followed
internationally. Some preferred hatching angles are given below.

(Preferred Hatching Angles)

Here are some more rules for hatching.

1. Separate areas of a section of the same component shall be hatched in an identical
manner. The hatching of adjacent components shall be carried out with different
directions or spicing. In case of large areas, the hatching may be limited to a zone,
following the contour of the hatched area. (Figure a and b)
2. Where sections of the same part in parallel planes are shown side by side, the hatching
shall be identical, but may be off-set along the dividing line between the sections (Figure
c).
3. Hatching should be interrupted when it is not possible to place inscriptions outside the
hatched area. (Figure D).

(Hatching Conventions)
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Hatching in AutoCAD
To perform hatching in AutoCAD follow the simple steps those are listed below.

1. Type “Hatch” in command line and press enter. A window shown in figure will appear.
2. From this window click on select object/select boundary, and press enter after selecting
the object.
3. Then click on hatching pattern another window will appear.
4. From that window select the desired hatching pattern and press OK.
5. Then click on Preview button to view your result.
6. If the result is same to desired one then press Esc and press OK.

All these steps are illustrated in the figure below.

(Performing Hatching)

From the figure above note that you can fill the areas by using colors also, instead of simple
lines. For filling with colors, click on Gradient and then select the desired single or two color
gradient and gradient type and angle. And press OK. Then your defined boundary will be filled
with the gradient.

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Example
Consider the example of two rectangls, those are defining two sections in a drawing. We have
applied different hatching techniques on these sections to differentiate between them.

Annotations-Adding Dimensions in Drawing

Once we have completed the drawing then we can show different lengths,
radius or diameters in the drawing using annotation tools. Just click on the
annotation menu and pick the type of dimension you want to add. You can
add Linear, Aligned, Radius, Diameter, Angular and Arc length in your
drawing. If you are adding linear or aligned dimension then select the two
points between which you want to add dimensions and then select the
dimension location. If you are adding angular dimensions then select two
lines between which you want to measure angle and place the dimension.
But if you are annotating a circle or arc then just click on the circle or arc
and then place the diameter, radius or arc length dimension on the desired
point.

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 LAB EXERCISE

1) Draw the following drawing (Figure 5.1) in AutoCAD and show the hidden features
as well by using hidden lines.

(Figure 5.1)

2) Consider that a shape given below (Figure 5.2). Show at least two more alternative
positions of that wing. You need to cover the angle of 360o with 3 wings.

(Figure 5.2)

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3) Apply different Hatching schemes (you may use gradient for maximum of two
sections) on the drawing given below and also add dimensions to every side?

(Figure 5.3)

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