Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By : Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry
Book Image

Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2023 and AutoCAD LT 2023 - Second Edition

By: Jaiprakash Pandey, Yasser Shoukry

Overview of this book

AutoCAD is 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 2nd edition guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, from a simple tour of the user interface 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 plots like a professional. As you progress, the book will show you how to convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. You’ll also discover advanced features, such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs. Finally, you’ll focus on rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD. By the end of this 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 creations.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1: Introduction and 2D Drafting
6
Part 2: Customization, Collaboration, and Using Reusable Content
12
Part 3: 3D Modeling

The Stretch command

I saved this command for last as it is a little different from all the commands we have discussed so far. Using this command, you can stretch the drawing in any direction without changing the rest of the drawing. You can start this command from the Modify panel of the Home tab or you can also use its command alias, STRETCH:

Figure 3.75: The Stretch command in the Modify panel

I will explain this command using the drawing shown in the following figure. This drawing is made with a simple line and arc tool, but you can also make it with a polyline and it won’t affect the workflow in any way:

Figure 3.76: A sample drawing to be used for the Stretch command

Now, let’s consider a scenario where we want to increase the gap made by points D, E, F, and G. To make this kind of very specific change, you can use the Stretch command, as in the following example:

  1. Start the Stretch command and now the command...