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Lesson 2-01 – Basic Drawing Commands

🧱 AutoCAD Lesson Plan: Basic Drawing Commands

📚 Course Level: Beginner (Level 2)

⏱️ Recommended Duration: 60–90 minutes

🎯 Delivery Type: Self-study or instructor-led

📘 Prerequisite: Familiarity with the AutoCAD interface and navigation (Lesson 1.2)

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

  • Understand and execute fundamental drawing commands in AutoCAD.
  • Create basic geometric shapes using precision tools.
  • Use command line inputs effectively.
  • Draw using direct distance entry and coordinate input.

🧩 Topics Covered

CommandPurpose
LINEDraw straight line segments
CIRCLECreate circles based on center & radius/diameter
RECTANGLEDraw rectangles using opposite corners
POLYGONDraw regular polygons by number of sides
ARCCreate curved arcs using various methods
ELLIPSECreate ellipses and elliptical arcs
POINTCreate single coordinate-based points

📖 Lesson Breakdown

🔹 1. Introduction to Drawing Tools (10 min)

  • Overview of the Draw panel on the Ribbon.
  • Benefits of precision input and snapping.

Instructor Note (if live): Demonstrate tool location in the Ribbon > Home tab > Draw panel.

AutoCAD Drawing Icons on Tab

🔹 2. Drawing with LINE (15 min)

  • How to start the LINE command (LINE or L)
  • Drawing with absolute and relative coordinates
  • Drawing with direct distance input (using polar tracking)

Practice:

  • Draw a square using 4 connected lines
  • Try both mouse click and coordinate input

🔹 3. Drawing with CIRCLE (10 min)

  • CIRCLE command options: center + radius, center + diameter, 2/3 points

Practice:

  • Create a circle with a radius of 5 units
  • Create a circle using two endpoints

🔹 4. Using RECTANGLE (10 min)

  • Using opposite corners to define shape
  • Modifying width and corner fillets (optional advanced note)

Practice:

  • Draw a rectangle that’s 20 x 10 units

🔹 5. Drawing with POLYGON (10 min)

  • Choosing number of sides
  • Inscribed vs circumscribed options
  • Defining by center and radius

Practice:

  • Draw a 6-sided hexagon inscribed in a circle with a 5-unit radius

🔹 6. Creating Arcs (ARC) (10 min)

  • Start–Center–End method
  • 3-Point Arc
  • Direction of drawing and its effects

Practice:

  • Draw a simple 3-point arc from left to right

🔹 7. Using ELLIPSE and POINT (5 min)

  • Ellipse by axis + end
  • Single point creation (good for construction lines or alignment)

Practice:

  • Draw a horizontal ellipse (major axis 10, minor 5)

🛠️ Hands-On Exercise

Objective: Create a simple mechanical-style part sketch using all learned commands.

Drawing Description:

  • A rectangle 50 x 30 units
  • A circle centered inside the rectangle, radius 10
  • A 6-sided polygon in the upper-right corner
  • A 3-point arc on the bottom edge
  • Two points marked for reference

🧠 Self-Check Quiz (Optional)

  1. What command draws a circle using a center and radius?
  2. How do you draw a regular 8-sided shape?
  3. What’s the difference between inscribed and circumscribed polygons?
  4. How do you access the command line version of RECTANGLE?
  5. What’s a quick way to draw a line exactly 10 units long?

📂 Deliverables

  • Save your final drawing as basic_shapes_practice.dwg
  • Upload or submit as required by course

✅ Completion Checklist

✔ Used each basic drawing command at least once
✔ Practiced inputting precise measurements
✔ Completed and saved the hands-on exercise
✔ Answered self-check questions