Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD LT 2021

▶Book Description
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are one of the most versatile software applications for architectural and engineering designs and the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) platform for 2D drafting and 3D modeling. This hands-on guide will take you through everything you need to know to make the most out of this powerful tool, starting from a simple tour of the user interface through to using advanced tools.

Starting with basic drawing shapes and functions, you'll get to grips with the fundamentals of CAD designs. You'll then learn about effective drawing management using layers, dynamic blocks, and groups and discover how to add annotations and plot like professionals. The book delves into 3D modeling and helps you convert your 2D drawings into 3D models and shapes. As you progress, you'll cover advanced tools and features such as isometric drawings, drawing utilities for managing and recovering complex files, quantity surveying, and multidisciplinary drawing files using xRefs, and you'll learn how to implement them with the help of practical exercises at the end of each chapter. Finally, you'll get to grips with rendering and visualizing your designs in AutoCAD.

By the end of the book, you'll have developed a solid understanding of CAD principles and be able to work with AutoCAD software confidently to build impressive 2D and 3D drawings.

▶What You Will Learn
- Understand CAD fundamentals using AutoCAD's basic functions, navigation, and components
- Create complex 3d solid objects starting from the primitive shapes using the solid editing tools
- Working with reusable objects like Blocks and collaborating using xRef
- Explore some advanced features like external references and dynamic block
- Get to grips with surface and mesh modeling tools such as Fillet, Trim, and Extend
- Use the paper space layout in AutoCAD for creating professional plots for 2D and 3D models
- Convert your 2D drawings into 3D models

▶Key Features
- Explore the AutoCAD GUI, file format, and drawing tools to get started with CAD projects
- Learn to use drawing management tools for working efficiently on large projects
- Discover techniques for creating, modifying, and managing 3D models and converting 2D plans into 3D models

▶Who This Book Is For
The book is for design engineers, mechanical engineers, architects, and anyone working in construction, manufacturing, or similar fields. Whether you're an absolute beginner, student, or professional looking to upgrade your engineering design skills, you'll find this AutoCAD book useful. No prior knowledge of CAD or AutoCAD is necessary.

▶What this book covers
- Chapter 1, An Introduction to AutoCAD, teaches you about units, the user interface, and the basic navigation tools of AutoCAD.

- Chapter 2, Basic Drawing Tools, is where you will do your first set of drawings with basic drawing commands, such as Line, Circle, and Arc.

- Chapter 3, Learning about Modify Commands, is where you will learn how to modify basic geometries using tools such as fillet, trim, scale, and mirror.

- Chapter 4, Working with Arrays and Reusable Objects, goes into how to make patterns with arrays and symbols using blocks and attributes.

- Chapter 5, Managing Drawings with Layers and Properties, explores managing objects in your drawings using layers and changing properties such as color, linetype, and lineweight.

- Chapter 6, Working with Hatches, Text, and Dimensions, is all about adding annotations such as dimensions, text, and multileaders to your drawings.

- Chapter 7, Tables, Isometric and Parametric Drawings, delves into making your own tables in AutoCAD or using tables from Excel. Also, you will learn how to do parametric and isometric drawings.

- Chapter 8, Customization Tools, looks at making custom linetypes and hatches, as well as customizing the user interface of AutoCAD.

- Chapter 9, External References and Dynamic Blocks, details the use of external references in your drawing, as well as how to make and modify dynamic blocks.

- Chapter 10, Introduction to 3D Modeling, covers how to optimize the working environment in AutoCAD for 3D modeling.

- Chapter 11, Creating Primitive 3D Shapes, will teach you how to create simple primitive 3D shapes.

- Chapter 12, Conversion between 2D and 3D, aims to show you how to convert 2D shapes to 3D objects, and how to create shots and sections from 3D models.

- Chapter 13, Modifying 3D Objects, focuses on how to use conventional modification tools with 3D bodies as well as specialized 3D modification tools.

- Chapter 14, Surfaces and Mesh Modeling, dives into surface modeling and mesh modeling in AutoCAD.

- Chapter 15, Paper Space Layouts and Printing, shows how to prepare your drawings and print them in a professional way.

- Chapter 16, Rendering and Presentation, gives you an overview of how to set up a scene and produce high-quality renders for your 3D models.