Geometry

Geometry
Creates basic geometric objects such as lines, circles and hatched areas.
Lines
 The line is the most basic and common object in auto cad drawings.
 To draw a line, click the line tool. Alternatively, you can type “LINE” or just “L”
in the command window, and then press enter or the space bar.
 Notice the prompt in the Command window for a point location.
 To specify the starting point for this line, you would type in the coordinates 0,0. It
is a good idea to locate one corner of your model at 0,0, which is called the origin
point. To locate additional points, you could specify additional X,Y coordinate
locations in the drawing area. After you specify the next point, the LINE
command automatically repeats itself, and it keeps prompting you for additional
points. Press Enter or the Spacebar to end the sequence.

Coordinates
 The user may specifically state the defining coordinate points using the
Command window or use the geometry of other objects to define the coordinate
points. The two main coordinate systems used by AutoCAD are the Cartesian
coordinate system (x,y) and the polar coordinate system (r,θ). Let’s review
both.
1. Cartesian coordinate system
The Cartesian coordinate system consists of three mutually perpendicular axes.
The axes are labeled the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis as shown in Figure . The
point where all the axes meet is called the origin. The origin is defined to be the zero
location (0,0,0). The location of any point in space can be identified by an x position,
a y position and a z position relative to the origin. Since this chapter only deals with
AutoCAD’s 2-D capabilities, a point in space will be defined by an x and y value.
The z value will always remain zero.

The Cartesian Coordinate System
To illustrate the use of Cartesian coordinates in AutoCAD, let’s look at the
sequence of commands used to draw the line shown in Figure . As shown, the line
lies in the x-y plane. It starts at the point x = 2 and y = 1. It ends at the point x = 6
and y = 3. This is the command sequence used to create this line in AutoCAD:
• Command: l or line
• LINE Specify first point: 2,1
• Specify next point or [Undo]: 6,3
• Specify next point or [Undo]: Press Enter to end the LINE command.
A Line Defined By Cartesian Coordinate Points
2. Polar Coordinates
The 2-D polar coordinate system consists of two mutually perpendicular axes.
The axes are labeled the x-axis and the y-axis as shown in Figure 2.8-3. The point
where the axes meet is called the origin. The origin is defined to be the zero location
(0,0). The location of any point in space can be identified by the radial coordinate r
and the angular coordinate θ. The radial coordinate is the shortest measured distance
between the origin and the point under consideration, and the angular coordinate θ is
the angle between the radial coordinate line and the x-axis.
The angular coordinate θ is measured positive counterclockwise starting at the
positive x-axis. Therefore, if a point lies on the positive x-axis, its angular coordinate
is zero. If a point lies on the y-axis, its angular coordinate is 90 degrees. The angular
coordinate directions are illustrated in Figure below.
Figure 2.8-3: The polar coordinate system
To illustrate the use of polar coordinates in AutoCAD, let’s look at the sequence
of
commands used to draw the line shown in Figure 2.8-4. As shown, the line lies in the
x-y
plane. It starts at the point r = 2.5 and θ = 60 degrees. It ends at the point r = 7 and
θ = 10 degrees. This is the command sequence used to create this line in AutoCAD:
• LINE Specify first point: 2.5<60
• Specify next point or [Undo]: 7<10
A line defined by polar coordinate points
3. Relative coordinates
Many times the start point of a line is unknown or the length and angle of the line
is known but not the coordinate for the end point. Therefore, AutoCAD allows you to
enter coordinate points that are relative to the last point entered and not relative to the
origin. It is like making the last point entered a temporary origin. The symbol @ is
placed before the coordinate point if it is to be relative to the last point entered.
To illustrate the use of relative coordinates, let’s look at the sequence of
commands used to draw the two lines shown in Figure 2.8-5. This is the command
sequence used to create these lines in AutoCAD:
Line 1
• LINE Specify first point: Using the mouse, select a point anywhere in
the drawing area.
• Specify next point or [Undo]: @4,2
Line 2
• LINE Specify first point: 2,1
• Specify next point or [Undo]: @5<25
Line Defined By Relative Coordinates

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 Notice the prompt in the Command window for a point location.

points. Press Enter or the Spacebar to end the sequence.

1. Cartesian coordinate system

The Cartesian coordinate system consists of three mutually perpendicular axes.

AutoCAD’s 2-D capabilities, a point in space will be defined by an x and y value.

The z value will always remain zero.

To illustrate the use of Cartesian coordinates in AutoCAD, let’s look at the

• LINE Specify first point: 2,1

• Specify next point or [Undo]: 6,3

The angular coordinate θ is measured positive counterclockwise starting at the

coordinate directions are illustrated in Figure below.

Figure 2.8-3: The polar coordinate system

• LINE Specify first point: 2.5<60

• Specify next point or [Undo]: 7<10

A line defined by polar coordinate points

To illustrate the use of relative coordinates, let’s look at the sequence of

sequence used to create these lines in AutoCAD:

the drawing area.

• Specify next point or [Undo]: @4,2

• LINE Specify first point: 2,1

• Specify next point or [Undo]: @5<25

Line Defined By Relative Coordinates

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