Overview
This lecture covers additional AutoCAD status bar settings and drawing/modify tools, focusing on OSNAP, snap tracking, HATCH, TRIM, and MIRROR functions.
Status Bar Settings
- Grid mode, snap mode, ortho mode, and polar tracking are located on the status bar.
- OSNAP (Object Snap) allows your cursor to snap to specific 2D reference points like endpoints, midpoints, and centers.
- Auto Snap (O-Track in older versions) helps track and align to selected points.
- Use the OSNAP drop-down to enable options such as endpoint, midpoint, center, geometric center, intersection, extension, perpendicular, and tangent.
- Snap tracking shows a green dashed line to help align with selected points while drawing.
Drawing with OSNAP and Snap Tracking
- To draw a tangent line on a circle, enable OSNAP and snap tracking to capture the center and tangent points.
- Turning off snap tracking removes alignment guides, making precise drawing more difficult.
- To find a rectangle's geometric center, enable the geometric center OSNAP option for easier alignment and reference.
- Ortho mode restricts drawing lines to vertical or horizontal directions; turning it off allows freehand drawing.
Modify Tools: HATCH, TRIM, and MIRROR
- The HATCH tool fills a closed area with a color or pattern.
- Use TRIM to cut unnecessary lines or parts inside a closed area for cleaner designs.
- To trim, select the trim tool, pick the boundary, and cut the unwanted lines.
- After trimming, use HATCH to fill specific areas with desired colors.
- The MIRROR tool creates a mirrored copy of selected objects using a defined mirror line.
- Select objects, then choose two points on the mirror line (helped by OSNAP) to place the mirrored image.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Grid Mode — Displays a grid background to help with alignment.
- Snap Mode — Restricts cursor movement to preset intervals.
- Ortho Mode — Restricts drawing lines to horizontal or vertical.
- OSNAP (Object Snap) — Snaps the cursor to exact geometric points on objects.
- Snap Tracking — Provides temporary alignment guides when drawing.
- HATCH — Fills closed areas with patterns or colors.
- TRIM — Removes parts of objects at specified cutting edges.
- MIRROR — Creates a flipped copy of selected objects over a mirror line.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice using OSNAP, snap tracking, HATCH, TRIM, and MIRROR in your AutoCAD assignments.
- Review all material from previous weeks.
- Prepare for the first midterm exam.