Lecture Notes: Circle Command in CAD Software
Overview
- The circle command in CAD software provides multiple options for drawing circles.
- There are six different methods to draw a circle:
- Center and Radius
- Center and Diameter
- Two Points across the Diameter
- Three Points on the Circumference
- Tangent to Two Lines with a Given Radius
- Tangent to Three Lines or Arcs
Command Usage
- Alias for Circle Command:
C
- Default Option: Asks for the center point and then the radius.
Drawing Methods
1. Center Radius
- Default method: Specify center, then specify the radius.
2. Center Diameter
- Start with center point then type
D and enter to switch to diameter.
- Enter the desired diameter value.
3. Two-Point Circle
- Type
2P and hit Enter.
- Click on two points across the diameter of the circle.
- Specify any angle using two different points.
4. Three-Point Circle
- Type
3P and hit Enter.
- Click on three points that the circle will pass through.
5. Tangent-Tangent-Radius
- Type
T, T, R to enter tangent, tangent, radius mode.
- Select two tangent points and specify the radius.
6. Tangent-Tangent-Tangent
- Accessible only from the pull-down menu.
- Select three tangent circles or arcs.
- The software calculates the radius automatically.
Editing and Quick Properties
- Quick Properties: Displays circle attributes (radius, diameter, circumference, area) when hovering over.
- Common Mistakes:
- Confusing radius with diameter when entering values.
- Correct by selecting the circle and adjusting attributes in quick properties.
Tips for Best Practice
- Use quick properties to verify circle dimensions.
- Adjust attributes directly from the quick properties menu.
- Escape key (
Esc) is used to exit editing mode without repeating a command.
- Avoid using
Enter to exit, as it repeats the last command which could have undesirable effects (e.g., erase or undo).
These notes summarize the functionality and usage of the circle command in CAD software, providing guidance on selecting and editing circle parameters effectively.