AutoCAD is a 2-D and 3-D computer-aided drafting software application used in architecture, construction, and

manufacturing to assist in the preparation of blueprints and other engineering plans. Professionals who use AutoCAD
are often referred to as drafters.
AutoCAD drafters use 2-D and 3-D computer-aided drafting software applications to prepare blueprints and plans
for architecture, construction, and manufacturing projects. As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May
2015, drafters in general earned a median annual salary of $52,720.

AutoCAD can be defined as the use of computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, optimization of a design. In this, we
can create both 2D and 3D drawings used in construction and manufacturing. It was developed by John Walker in the year 1982 with
the help of AUTODESK and maintain it successfully. It is most commonly used for creating and modifying 2D & 3D designs for
professional drafting with detail measurement information about the conceptual design and layout of product, also available in 14
different languages with respect to location. Users can customize the CAD software with available add-on apps as per project
requirements. User specialized tool setting can be done to view and design product in wireframe and surface modeling. Widely
preferred in the industries of mechanical, telecom, civil, architectural engineering. It stands on demand to students and industries
because of its requirements.

What do you use AutoCAD for?

Uses of AutoCAD helps to create blueprints for engine valves and engine spare parts for manufacturing
with accurate measurement. The designed blueprint will be carried with the job for its complete stages
of start to delivery in between production teams, quality team and machine handling teams review the
design in case of any issues of understanding and continue machining with the reference of blueprint
drafters can be done in two types wiring diagram and surface model diagram for use in the
manufacturing, assembling, and repairing of Parts. It’s also used for tracking the number of orders
completed in a required time span.

Disadvantages of using AutoCAD

AutoCad software is not so much suited for 3D as it has fewer options, It can not be used in the complex
designs, If you are into the heavy assembly work don’t rely on this software, It can not be used in
Complex Programming, A large amount of memory and speed is required, Training and equipment are
very costly.
AutoCad software has expansive start-up costs (the hardware, the software, and training), It can be very
expensive, so, the initial costs are high, There are free software packages though, The people need to be
trained on how to use the software that also adds to the costs, and it requires a PC.
AutoCad software needs the time & the cost of implementing the system, It needs time & cost of
training the people to use it, so, It is very expensive in training, It needs the time & the cost of migrating
legacy drawings into AutoCAD format.
AutoCad software consumes large amounts of the computer processing power, It requires high-quality
computer hardware that can be costly, It requires the advanced manufacturing devices which are very
expensive, It is not easy for first-time users to learn the software, In addition to the cost of training
personnel.

Advantages of using AutoCAD

AutoCAD software saves a huge time, saving time is equal to earn more income by more output, It is a
simple enough software with the real user friendly interface, It is easy to grasp and it can provide you
the basic exposure, It is very beneficial in designing 3D, It reduces the time for the new designs, and the
products can be created more quickly.
AutoCad software is helpful, It has a large set of parts and features that you can choose for your designs,
It offers powerful and quick dimensions, You can use the simplified tools, you can generate the
dimensions to control and expand only the important variables for manufacturing easily.
AutoCad software comes with specific drafting tools for generating standards Industry based geometric
dimensions, surface texture symbols, the mechanical symbols and the weld symbols, and AutoCAD firm
can increase their productivity manifold.
AutoCad software automatically redraws the geometry to illustrate the dashes and the hidden lines of
parts which are blocked by the other parts in the mechanical design, It enables you to produce very
accurate designs, and drawings can be created in 2D or 3D and rotated.
AutoCad software offers a professional look, It has flexibility in design changes, It has auto specification
check feature, It has reduced design timescape, It offers easy reuse of the designs, The costly mistakes in
the design or the production can be avoided, and you can modify the existing ideas that save the time.
AutoCad software reduced the manufacturing time, The documentation can be printed in various forms
for multiple users, It presents ease of the document reproduction and cloning, and it offers the
visualization of the complex technical elements.
AutoCad software offers the quality of the designs, It presents the clarity of the documentation, It is
easier to apply the new ideas, It can be more accurate than hand-drawn designs, It reduces the human
error, You can save and edit the ideas, and it makes it easier and cheaper to modify your design.

Shortcut Keys Specific to Drawings

Shortcut Keys Effect

Page Up Switch to previous page

Page Down Switch to next page

Ctrl+Page Up Switch to previous layer

Ctrl+Page Down Switch to next layer

Moves the selected object in the direction of

Arrow Key
the arrow key.

Moves the page view in the direction of the

Ctrl+Arrow Key
arrow key.

Ctrl-click while dragging an object. Note: this shortcut

key works only when the Copy when moving option in Creates a copy of the dragged object when
Tools - Options - LibreOffice Draw - General is mouse button is released.
enabled (it is enabled by default).
Ctrl+Enter with keyboard focus (F6) on a drawing Inserts a drawing object of default size into
object icon on Tools bar the center of the current view.

Opens the context menu for the selected

Shift+F10
object.

F2 Enters text mode.

Enter Enters text mode if a text object is selected.

Enters text mode if a text object is selected.

If there are no text objects or if you have
Ctrl+Enter
cycled through all of the text objects on the
page, a new page is inserted.

Press the Alt key and drag with the mouse to

Alt draw or resize an object from the center of
the object outward.

Selects the object behind the currently

Alt+ click on an object
selected object.

Selects the object in front of the currently

Alt+Shift+click an object
selected object.

Adds or removes object to or from the

Shift key while selecting an object
selection.

The movement of the selected object is

Shift+ drag while moving an object
constrained by multiples of 45 degrees.

Constrains the size to keep the object's

Shift+drag while creating or resizing an object
aspect ratio.

Tab
Cycles through the objects on the page in
 the order in which they were created.

Cycles through the objects on the page in

Shift+Tab the reverse-order in which they were
created.

Esc Exits current mode.

Navigating with the Keyboard in Slide Sorter

Shortcut Keys Effect

Home/End Set the focus to the first/last slide.

Left/Right arrow keys or Page Up/Down Set the focus to the next/previous slide.

Enter Change to Normal Mode with the active slide.