Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD LT 2021

By : Yasser Shoukry, Jaiprakash Pandey
Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD LT 2021

By: Yasser Shoukry, Jaiprakash Pandey

Overview of this book

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are one of the most versatile software applications for architectural and engineering designs and the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. This hands-on guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, starting from a simple tour of the user interface through to using advanced tools. Starting with basic drawing shapes and functions, you'll get to grips with the fundamentals of CAD designs. You’ll then learn about effective drawing management using layers, dynamic blocks, and groups and discover how to add annotations and plot like professionals. The book delves into 3D modeling and helps you convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. As you progress, you’ll cover advanced tools and features such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs, and you'll learn how to implement them with the help of practical exercises at the end of each chapter. Finally, you’ll get to grips with rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD. By the end of the book, you’ll have developed a solid understanding of CAD principles and be able to work with AutoCAD software confidently to build impressive 2D and 3D drawings.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)

Using Object Snaps

Making precise drawings in AutoCAD is not possible without Object Snaps, also called OSNAPS. Object Snap is an option on the status bar with a bunch of control points. These control points are the geometric points, such as the endpoint, center, midpoint, intersection, and so on, which if activated become available for selection in the drawing.

The Object Snap status bar option looks like a box with a tiny box in the top left of it, as in the following screenshot:

Figure 3.1: The Object Snap status bar toggle

You can activate Object Snap by clicking on the icon once or by using its function key, F3. When active, the Object Snap icon looks blue and when deactivated, it looks gray, just like the other icons in the status bar.

When you click on the tiny arrow pointing downward next to the Object Snap icon, you will see a list of snap points that AutoCAD will recognize...