4 AutoCAD and Its Applications—Basics Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. objects and symbols you intend to create, and the appropriate use of standards. You may want processes to be automatic or to happen immediately, but if you hurry and do little or no planning, you may become frustrated and waste time while drawing. Take as much time as needed to develop drawing and project goals so that you can proceed with confi dence. During your early stages of AutoCAD training, consider creating a planning sheet, especially for your fi rst few assignments. A planning sheet should document the drawing session and all aspects of a drawing. A freehand sketch of the drawing is also a valuable element of the planning process. The drawing plan and sketch help you establish: • Drawing layout: area, number of views, and required free space • Drawing settings: units, drawing aids, layers, and styles • How and when to perform specifi c tasks • What objects and symbols to draw • The best use of AutoCAD and equipment • An even workload Reference Material www.g-wlearning.com/CAD/ Planning Sheet For a sample planning sheet, go to the companion website, select the Resources tab, and select Planning Sheet. Drawing Standards Most industries, schools, and companies establish standards. Drawing standards apply to most settings and procedures, including: • File storage, naming, and backup • Drawing template, or template, fi les • Units of measurement • Layout characteristics • Borders and title blocks • Symbols • Layers • Text, dimension, multileader, and table styles • Plot styles and plotting Company or school drawing standards should follow appropriate national industry standards whenever possible. Although standards vary in content, the most important aspect is that standards exist and are understood and used by all CADD personnel. When you follow drawing standards, your drawings are consistent, you become more productive, and the classroom or offi ce functions more effi ciently. This textbook presents mechanical drafting standards developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This textbook also references International Standards Organization (ISO) mechanical drafting standards and discipline-specifi c standards when appropriate, including the United States National CAD Standard® (NCS) and American Welding Society (AWS) standards. Reference Material www.g-wlearning.com/CAD/ Drawing Standards For more information about drawing standards, go to the companion website, select the Resources tab, and select Drawing Standards. standards: Guidelines that specify drawing requirements, appearance, techniques, operating procedures, and record-keeping methods. drawing template (template): A file that contains standard drawing settings and objects for use in new drawings.