Introduction to AutoCAD

What is AutoCAD?AutoCAD, Initially released in late 1982 ,is a CAD software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting, developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. lets you design, visualize, and document your ideas clearly and efficiently.

What is CAD?CAD Computer-Aided Design; is the process of solving design problems with the aid of computers including computer generation and modification of graphic images on a video display, printing these images in as hard copy on a plotter or printer, analysis of design data, and electronic storage and retrieval of design information.Drafting (also known as Technical Drawing), is the art and practice of creating accurate representations of objects for technical, architectural, and engineering needs.

History of AutoCAD

History of AutoCAD

History of AutoCAD

History of AutoCAD

History of AutoCAD

History of AutoCAD

History of AutoCAD: AutoCAD 2000 Release 15(March 1999) Heads-up DesignTM means you focus on the design, not on the keyboard. AutoCAD 2000 provides new tools to help you make the most of your legacy design data, reducing the time you spend accessing and reworking similar designs. Other features simplify how you work, making AutoCAD more transparent and easier to use.

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2000i- Release 16 (July 2000) AutoCAD 2000i, the Internet edition of Autodesks flagship product, is the technology foundation for design solutions serving the building design, communications, government, utilities, land development, and manufacturing industries. New capabilities within AutoCAD 2000i improve communication and collaboration throughout the customers organizationdesign clients, suppliers, vendors, and other project team members. These capabilities include publishing design data on the Web, hosting online meetings, accessing design information from the worldwide design community, and dragging content from manufacturers websites and dropping it into drawings.

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2002- Release 17 (June 2001) - The foundation for collaborative design.AutoCAD 2002 supercharges your design process, unlocking the value of your design data at every step of the way. In fact, AutoCAD 2002 offer powerful design tools to enhance productivity and performance. New ways to help you connect and collaborate with your design teamand extend the reach of your design data. New tools to help you manage your corporate design standards. Evolved deployment and integration features and advanced license management tools to help you use your Autodesk software assets for a greater ROI.

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2004- Release 18 (March 2003) - Create with Speed. New and enhanced tools that accelerate the work process include Express Tools (which reduce the number of steps required to perform a task), new tool palettes, and an optimized DWG file format for faster file save and transmission times. Share with Ease. New and improved data exchange features include support of multisheet DWF (Design Web Format) files for securely exchanging drawings over the Internet with team members who need to view and plot, but not edit, DWG files Manage with Efficiency. Track, manage, and even loan software licenses with new software inventory tools

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2005 - Release 19(March 2004) - The Evolution of Design Technology As design evolves, so does design technology. The AutoCAD 2005 platform represents new heights of productivity, not just in terms of speed and power. But also in terms of more effective ways of managing the project information that is encapsulated in your final documentation. The New Standard in CAD Productivity A new standard in CAD productivity began with the AutoCAD 2004 platform, giving users measurable efficiency gains, like 52 percent smaller file sizes and up to 70 percent increased productivityFrom Single Drawings to Entire Sets of Related Drawings Design projects can require hundreds or even thousands of drawing files.

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2006Release 20 (March 2005) AutoCAD 2006 software is the worlds leading customizable and extendable CAD software for 2D drafting, detailing, design documentation, and basic 3D design. Continuously innovating for 20 releases, AutoCAD 2006 enhances productivity through usability improvements to everyday drafting and documentation tools, including: CreateBoost productivity with user interface improvements and efficiency enhancements to hatch creation and editing, dynamic blocks, dimensioning, and multiline text editing. Quickly create and modify data tables such as schedules and bills of materials using predefined table styles.

History of AutoCADManage Streamline the design process with efficient management of sheet sets and layers. Effectively manage your work environment with tool palettes that provide quick access to content, enhanced project standardization, and increased screen space. Share Simplify the collaboration process with the all-digital review, markup, revision, and transmission of designs with Autodesk DWF

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2007 Release 21 (March 2006) Design, visualize, and document your ideas clearly and efficiently with AutoCAD software. From conceptual design through drafting and detailing, AutoCAD 2007 enables you to explore ideas like never before. Create, edit, and develop design alternatives using realistic solids and surfaces in an updated design environment. Communicate your ideas with powerful sketch, shadow, and rendering tools, including intuitive walk-through animations. Then turn your concepts into a set of documents with the new section and flatten functionality.

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2008 Release 22 (March 2007) Make efficiency a daily part of the job with AutoCAD 2008 software. Meticulously refined with the drafter in mind, AutoCAD 2008 propels day-to-day drafting forward with features that increase speed and accuracy while saving time. Annotation scaling and layer properties per viewport minimize workarounds, while text and table enhancements and multiple leaders help deliver an unmatched level of aesthetic precision and professionalism. Always innovative, the existing AutoCAD tools for conceptual design and visualization work with a new toolset to deliver virtually instant productivity, making efficiency a daily part of the job.

History of AutoCADAutoCAD 2009 Release 23 (March 2008) AutoCAD 2009 boosts efficiency with customizable and extensible user interface enhancements that increase overall drafting productivity by decreasing the number of steps needed to reach a command.Newly designed, innovative features simplify working with layers and help make new users productive as quickly as possible.Easy-to-use navigation tools make finding your way around 3D models a snap. Move to new highs of productivity with AutoCAD software.

Advantages of AutoCADEasier creation and correction of working drawings.Easier visualization of drawings.Drawings can be stored and easily referenced for modification.Quick and convenient solution of computational design analysis problems.

Advantages of AutoCADSimulation and testing of designs.Increased accuracy and precision.Scalability of the drawings.Reusability of the part/s of the drawing.Sharing of work.Distributing work.

The AutoCAD Window

TermsDRAWING AREA is the space or paper of the AutoCAD window.

MENU BAR are those in the list in the top-most portion of the window that has pull-down menus.

TOOL BAR are icons that are representations of the commands. LAYER STATUS WINDOW indicates the current drawing layer.

STATUS LINE - indicates the current status of certain AutoCAD configurations.

More TermsCURSOR - tracks the mouse location on the drawing area and changes shape during certain operations.

COMMAND PROMPT LINE - displays command options and is also the area that receives your typed responses.

UCS ICON - indicates where you are in three dimensional space.

LAYOUT BUTTONS - move you to Layout or PAPER Space for printing layouts.