108 Section 1 Introduction to Drafting
drawing, Figure 4-11. Most CAD packages pro-
vide several standard text fonts to choose from.
Text generally can be stretched, compressed,
obliqued, or mirrored. Placement can be justified fi
left, right, or centered. Text can also be placed at
angles.
AutoCAD Example:
Command: mtext↵
Current text style: “Standard” Text height: 0.2500
Specify fi rst corner: 2,3↵
(or pick a point on screen)
Specify opposite corner or [Height/Justify/Line
spacing/Rotation/Style/Width]: 9,5↵
(or pick a
point on screen)
(enter the text in the text boundary that appears and
then pick the OK button)
Command:
Hatch
Hatching is a fundamental part of drafting.
In both mechanical and architectural drafting,
hatching is used in section views to show cut-
away parts and to represent specific materials, fi
Figure 4-12. Hatching is also used on pictorial
drawings to represent surface texture or other
features.
The
Hatch
command is used to hatch an area
of a drawing. Areas to be hatched are selected
with the pointing device and elements within the
boundary can be excluded, if desired. Most CAD
software includes several standard hatch patterns
for use with the command. Some programs also
provide other types of fill patterns, such as color fi
gradients. In addition, most CAD software allows
you to add more patterns and define your own. fi
AutoCAD Example:
Command: hatch↵
(In the
Hatch and Gradient
dialog box, select a
pattern. Then, select the
Add: Pick points
or
Add:
Select objects
button. When the dialog box is
temporarily hidden, select internal points or pick
objects to hatch. Then, press
[Enter]
to redisplay
the dialog box. Pick the
OK
button to apply the
hatch.)
Command:
Editing and Inquiry
Commands
Editing commands allow you to modify
drawings. Inquiry commands are designed to
list the database records for selected objects and
calculate distances, areas, and perimeters. Com-
mon editing and inquiry commands described
in this section include: Erase, Undo, Move, Copy,y
y
Mirror,
r r
Rotate, Fillet, Chamfer,
r r
Trim, Extend, Array,y
y
Scale, List, Distance, and Area.
Erase
The
Erase
command permanently removes
selected objects from the drawing. Many CAD
programs provide a “select” option in the com-
mand that allows you to select the objects to
erase. Also, some programs provide a “last”
option that erases the last object drawn.
Figure 4-10. A polygon can be circumscribed (left) or
inscribed (right).
Circumscribed About a Circle Inscribed Within a Circle
Figure 4-11. Text can be easily added to a drawing.
Figure 4-12. Hatch patterns can be used to represent
different materials in a section view.