The step-by-step, full-color AutoCAD 2018 guide with real-world practicality

AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018 Essentials provides a full-color, task-based approach to mastering this powerful software. Straightforward, easy-to-follow instruction pairs with real-world, hands-on exercises to help you quickly get up to speed with core features and functions; screenshots illustrate tutorial steps to help you follow along, and each chapter concludes with a more open-ended project so you can dive in and explore a specific topic in-depth.

From 2D drawing and organization to 3D modeling, dimensioning, presenting, and more, this helpful guide walks you through everything you need to know to become productive with AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018. The companion website features downloadable starting and ending files for each exercise, so you can jump in at any point and compare your work to the pros, as well as additional tutorials to help you go as deep as you need to go.

Exercises walk you through the real-world process of drafting while teaching you critical skills along the way.

* Understand the AutoCAD interface and foundational concepts

* Master essential drawing and visualization tools

* Stay organized with layers, groups, and blocks

* Experiment with 3D modeling, add text and dimensions, and much more

AutoCAD is the industry-leading technical drawing software, and complete mastery is a vital skill for any design and drafting professional. AutoCAD 2018 and AutoCAD LT 2018 Essentials is a smart, quick resource that will help you get up to speed with real-world practical instruction.

Learn AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Quickly and Easily

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Essentials provides a full-color, task-based approach to mastering this powerful software. Straightforward, easy-to-follow instruction pairs with real-world, hands-on exercises to help you quickly get up to speed with core features and functions, while screenshots illustrate tutorial steps to help you follow along. From 2D drawing and organization, to 3D modeling, dimensioning, presenting, and more, this helpful guide walks you through everything you need to know to become productive with AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

Learn these AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT essentialsand more:

• Using drawing aids
• Editing entities
• Shaping curves
• Controlling object visibility and appearance
• Hatching and gradients
• Working with blocks and Xrefs
• Working with layouts and annotative objects
• Printing and plotting

This striking Essentials book features:

• Chapter-opening learning objectives
• Step-by-step tutorials
• Full-color screenshots and illustrations
• Essentials and Beyondsummaries and additional suggested exercises
• Downloadable exercise files

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Get ting Star ted 1

Sign In to Autodesk 360 on the Start Tab 1

Exercise 1.1: Configure Autodesk 360 1

Explore the AutoCAD 2018 for Windows User Interface 4

Exercise 1.2: Explore the Graphical User Interface 4

Exercise 1.3: Control the AutoCAD Ribbon 9

Set Drawing Units 13

Exercise 1.4: Set the AutoCAD Drawing Units 14

Chapter 2 Gaining Basic Drawing Skills 17

Navigate 2D Drawings 17

Exercise 2.1: Navigate a Drawing 17

Draw Lines and Rectangles 21

Exercise 2.2: Draw Lines 21

Exercise 2.3: Draw Rectangles 24

Cancel, Erase, and Undo 25

Exercise 2.4: Correct Mistakes 25

Use Coordinate Systems 27

Exercise 2.5: Use Absolute Coordinates 27

Exercise 2.6: Use Relative Coordinates 28

Exercise 2.7: Use Polar Coordinates 29

Draw Circles, Arcs, and Polygons 33

Exercise 2.8: Create Circles 33

Exercise 2.9: Create Arcs 36

Exercise 2.10: Draw Polygons 38

Use Fillet and Chamfer 40

Exercise 2.11: Join Nonparallel Lines 40

Exercise 2.12: Join Crossed Lines with Fillet 41

Chapter 3 Using Drawing Aids 43

Use Grid and Snap 43

Exercise 3.1: Draw with Grid and Snap 44t e n t s

Employ Ortho and Polar Tracking 47

Exercise 3.2: Draw with Ortho and Polar Tracking 47

Use PolarSnap 48

Exercise 3.3: Draw with PolarSnap 49

Select Running Object Snaps 51

Exercise 3.4: Draw with Running Object Snaps 51

Harness the From Snap 54

Exercise 3.5: Use the From Snap 54

Apply Object Snap Tracking 55

Exercise 3.6: Use Object Snap Tracking 55

Chapter 4 Editing Entities 59

Create Selection Sets 59

Exercise 4.1: Create a Selection Set at the Select Objects: Prompt 60

Exercise 4.2: Create a Selection Set Before Deciding on a Command 62

Use Move and Copy 66

Exercise 4.3: Move and Copy 66

Use Rotate and Scale 70

Exercise 4.4: Rotate and Scale 70

Work with Arrays 73

Exercise 4.5: Create a Rectangular Array 74

Exercise 4.6: Create a Polar Array 75

Use Trim and Extend 77

Exercise 4.7: Trim and Measure 77

Use Lengthen and Stretch 78

Exercise 4.8: Lengthen and Stretch 79

Use Offset and Mirror 80

Exercise 4.9: Offset and Mirror 80

Edit with Grips 82

Exercise 4.10: Edit with Grips 83

Chapter 5 Shaping Curves 85

Draw and Edit Curved Polylines 85

Exercise 5.1: Draw and Edit Curved Polylines 85

Draw Ellipses 91

Exercise 5.2: Draw Ellipses 91

Shape Splines 93

Exercise 5.3: Work with Control Vertices 94

Exercise 5.4: Work with Fit Points 98

Blend Between Objects with Splines 101

Exercise 5.5: Blend Splines 102

Chapter 6 Controlling Object Visibility and Appearance 105

Change Object Properties 105

Exercise 6.1: Edit Object Properties 106

Set the Current Layer 109

Exercise 6.2: Choose the Current Layer 110

Alter the Layer Assignments of Objects 113

Exercise 6.3: Assign Layers 113

Control Layer Visibility 116

Exercise 6.4: Toggle Layer Status 116

Exercise 6.5: Isolate Layers 118

Exercise 6.6: Save Layer States 120

Apply Linetype 121

Exercise 6.7: Use Linetype 122

Assign Properties by Object or by Layer 125

Exercise 6.8: Assign Properties 125

Manage Layer Properties 126

Exercise 6.9: Control Layer Properties 126

Isolate Objects 128

Exercise 6.10: Isolate and Hide Individual Objects 128

Chapter 7...