Moving and Copying Objects

One of the real benefits of using a CAD program is increasing your design and drawing productivity. Using the MOVE and COPY commands are a big part of that productivity. In AutoCAD, objects only have to be drawn once and then they can be used over and over again even if they are in a different drawing or at a different size or orientation. If an object has to be drawn that is similar to one that was previously drawn, simply copy it and change it. Using these principles in the your day-to-day work will noticeably increase your productivity.

AutoCAD Command: MOVE

The MOVE command is used to move drawing objects from one location to another on the current drawing.

Shortcut: M

AutoCAD Command: COPY

The COPY command is used to copy existing drawing objects in the current drawing.

Shortcut: CO

 

 

AutoCAD Command: COPYCLIP

The COPYCLIP command is used to copy drawing objects from the current drawing onto the clipboard.

Shortcut: CTRL+C

AutoCAD Command: PASTECLIP

The PASTECLIP command is used to paste drawing objects from the clipboard into the current drawing.

Shortcut: CTRL+V

AutoCAD Command: COPYBASE

The COPYBASE command is used to copy drawing objects in the current drawing onto the clipboard with a known basepoint.

Shortcut: CTRL+SHIFT+C

WORKALONG: Moving and Copying Objects

Step 1

Start a new drawing using the template: 2D Layout English.

Step 2

Save and name the drawing: AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-1.

Step 3

On layer: Object, draw the rectangle shown in the figure. (Figure Step 3)

Step 4

On layer: Object, draw a circle and the inscribed hexagon as shown in the figure. Draw it anywhere outside of the rectangle. (Figure Step 4A and 4B)

Step 5 IMPORTANT STEP

Unless otherwise instructed, when starting each lab exercise, while working on workalongs and lab exercises in the AutoCAD 2D book, ensure that all items on the Status bar are disabled. (Figure Step 5)

Command:

Step 7

Using the OFFSET command, offset the top line of the rectangle 1 inch down. Change the layer of the line you just created to layer: Construction. (Figure Step 7)

Step 8

Using the OFFSET command, offset the top construction line 8 times at a distance of 1 inch as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 8)

Step 9

Using the OFFSET command, offset the left line of the rectangle 1.5 inches to the right. Change the layer of the line you just created to layer: Construction. (Figure Step 9)

Step 10

Enter the COPY command, as shown below, to copy the circle and hexagon 4 times. (Figure Step 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D)

Command: COPY

Select objects:

Specify opposite corner: 7 found

(Use a window to select the objects)

Select objects:

Current settings: Copy mode = Multiple

Specify base point or [Displacement/mOde] <Displacement>:

or <use first point as displacement>: (int)

(Snap to the intersection of the lines for the base point)

Specify second point or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: (int)

Specify second point or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: (int)

Specify second point or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: (int)

Specify second point or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>: (int)

(Snap to the intersection of the construction lines)

Command:

Step 11

Enter the COPY command, as shown below, to copy all circles and hexagons 4 inches in the positive X direction. (Figure Step 11A and 11B)

Command: COPY

Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 35 found

Select objects:

Current settings: Copy mode = Multiple

Specify base point or [Displacement/mOde] <Displacement>: 0,0

(The base point)

Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: @4,0

(The second point is set 4 inches in the positive X direction.)

Specify second point or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>:

Command:

Step 12

Enter the MOVE command, as shown below, to move all the circles and hexagons 0.5 inches in the positive X direction. (Figure Step 12A and 12B)

Command: MOVE

Select objects:

Specify opposite corner: 70 found

(Use a window to select the objects.)

Select objects:

Specify base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>: 0,0

Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: @0.5,0

Command:

Step 13

Freeze layer: Construction. (Figure Step 13)

Step 14

Enter the COPY command, as shown below, to copy all objects. (Figure Step 14A, 14B, and 14C)

Command: COPY

Select objects:

Specify opposite corner: 74 found

(Select all objects using a crossing window.)

Select objects:

Current settings: Copy mode = Multiple

Specify base point or [Displacement/mOde] <Displacement>:

(end)

(Snap to the end of the line.)

Specify second point: (end)

(Snap to the other end of the line.)

Command:

Step 15

Delete the line in the center by picking it and pressing the Delete key. (Figure Step 15)

Step 16

Using what you just learned, copy all of the objects down to match the figure. (Figure Step 16)

Step 17

Delete the lines that were duplicated.

Step 18

Save and close the drawing.

WORKALONG: Using the COPYCLIP, PASTECLIP and COPYBASE Commands

Step 1

Start a NEW drawing using the template: 2D Layout English. Save and name the drawing: AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-2.

Step 2

Using the OPEN command, open the drawing: AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-1. (Figure Step 2)

Step 3

If necessary, enter the FILETAB command to enable the display of the drawing file tabs on top of the Graphic window. You should see two tabs, one for each open drawing. Ensure that the drawing named: AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-1 is the current drawing as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 3)

Step 4

Without entering a command, use a window and select the objects as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 4)

Step 5

Enter the COPYBASE command using the Pull-down menu or by entering in the command as shown below. Enter 0,0 for the base point. (Figure Step 5).

Command: COPYBASE 

Specify base point: 0,0

150 found

Command:

Step 6

Click the tab to set the current drawing to: AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-2. (Figure Step 6)

Step 7

Enter the PASTECLIP command using the Pull-down menu or by entering the command as shown below. Enter 0,0 for the insertion point. (Figure Step 7).

Command: PASTECLIP

Specify insertion point: 0,0

Command:

Step 8

Enter the ZOOM Extents command.

Step 9

Enter the COPYCLIP command and select all objects using a crossing window. (Figure Step 9A, 9B, and 9C)

Step 10

Enter the PASTECLIP command and when prompted for the Insertion point, select anywhere on the drawing. Match the location the best you can as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 10A, and 10B)

Step 11

Using what you learned earlier in this module, move the objects on the right and snap the bottom left corner to the bottom right corner of the original objects. (Figure Step 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D)

Step 12

Delete the lines that were duplicated. (Figure step 12)

Step 13

Save and close the drawing.

Geometry Lesson: Tangency – Part 2

When an arc must be constructed that has one end tangent to a line and other end going through a point, you cannot use the FILLET command. A fillet MUST be tangent at both ends. It must be drawn as an arc as follows:

Step 1

This is the arc to be drawn. (Figure Step 1)

Step 2

Draw the construction lines. (Figure Step 2)

Step 3

Offset the line which is tangent to the arc at a distance of 1.5 units.1.5 is the radius of the arc being inserted. Draw a circle with the radius of 1.5 units with its center at the point where the arc ends. (Figure Step 3)

Step 4

Draw the circle with a radius of 1.5. Its center is the intersection of the offset line and the circle. (Figure Step 4)

Step 5

Trim the circle you drew in Step 4 and turn layer Construction off. (Figure Step 5)

AutoCAD book Standards: Filling in the Titleblock

When filling in the titleblock in the workalongs and lab exercises in the AutoCAD 2D book, use the following standards:

1. Set Titleblock as the current text style.
2. Set layer Titleblock Text as the current layer.
3. Use a text height that matches the area being filling. You can pick a text height to use that looks pleasing to your eye. See the figures below for approximate text heights.
4. Center the text by eye. It helps to use middle justified. Use the MOVE and ORTHO commands to make the job easier.
5. Fill in the bottom row with your actual name, the actual date, scale, drawing number, and sheet number.
6. The format of the date is: Month-Day-Year, MM-DD-YYYY For example: 01-20-2014 (For January 20, 2014)

WORKALONG: Construction Techniques

Step 1

Start a new drawing using the template: 2D Layout English.

Step 2

Save and name the drawing: AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-3.

Step 3

Set layer: Construction as the current layer. Using the dimensioned drawing as a reference, draw the lines and circle to match the figure. (Figure Step 3A and 3B)

Step 4

Change the layer of the object lines and the circle to layer: Object. (Figure Step 4)

Step 5

Draw a circle snapping its center location to the center of the circle and snap to the end of the line to specify the radius. Trim the circle. (Figure Step 5A and 5B)

Step 6

Offset the line, 1.5 inches, on the right side. Change the layer of the line to layer: Construction. On layer: Construction, draw a circle with a 1.5 radius and snap its center to the end of the line as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 6A, 6B, and 6C)

Step 7

On layer: Object, draw a circle by snapping its center to the intersection of the construction circle and offset line. Show AutoCAD the radius, of 1.5, by snapping to the end of the line. (Figure Step 7A and 7B)

Step 8

Trim the circle first. Delete one line and trim the other line. (Figure Step 8)

Step 9

Offset the line on the top 0.35 inches. Change the layer of the line to layer: Construction. On layer: Construction, draw a circle with a 0.35 inch radius. Snap its center to the end of the line as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 9A and 9B)

Step 10

On layer: Object, draw a circle by snapping its center to the intersection of the construction circle and construction line. Show AutoCAD the radius, of 0.35, by snapping to the end of the line as shown in the figure. (Figure Step 10)

Step 11

Delete one line and trim the other line. Trim the circle that you drew in Step 10. (Figure Step 11)

Step 12

Your drawing should match the figure. (Figure Step 12)

Step 13

Using what you just learned, draw the arcs on the opposite sides. (Figure Step 13)

Step 14

Turn layer: Construction off. Your completed object should match the figure. (Figure Step 14)

Step 15

Enable layout: Module Layout A. (Figure Step 15)

Step 16

On layer: Viewport, use the MVIEW command and create a viewport as shown in the figure. Switch to Model space and enter the ZOOM Extents command. (Figure Step 16)

Step 17

With paper space as working space, open the Properties window. Select the viewport and set the Standard scale to 1:2 and lock its display. (Figure Step 17)

Step 18

Turn layer: Viewport off. (Figure Step 18)

Step 19

Set layer: Titleblock Text as the current layer and set the current text style: Titleblock. Zoom in on the titleblock. (Figure Step 19)

Step 20

With the Paper space the current space, enter the DTEXT command and insert the drawing title text at a height of 0.25 using middle justified. Select a location by eye. It does not have to be placed exactly as you will be moving it later. (Figure Step 20)

Step 21

Using the MOVE command, move the text locating it by eye to center it horizontally and vertically. (Figure Step 21)

Step 22

Enter the DTEXT command enter the text TEXT at a height of 0.14. Center it by eye using the MOVE command. (Figure Step 22)

Step 23

Use the COPY command and Ortho mode, copy the text to the next two locations. Disable Ortho mode and copy the text into the two locations on the right and center the text by eye. (Figure Step 23)

Step 24

Use the text editor to edit the text. (Figure Step 24)

Step 25

If required, change the text height to match the standards under “AutoCAD book Standards: Filling in the Titleblock”. (Figure Step 25)

Step 26

Your completed drawing should the figure. (Figure Step 26)

Step 27

Save and close the drawing.

Key Principles

Lab Exercise 20-1

Time allowed: 60 minutes.

Step 1

On layer Object, draw the object shown in the figure. (Figure Step 1A. 1B, and 1C)

Step 2

Draw all construction objects on layer: Construction.

Step 3

Set the insertion units and insert the key. Check the drawing for accuracy.

Step 4

Turn layer: Key off and freeze layer: Construction.

Step 5

Copy all of the objects 7 units in the X direction to complete the drawing. (Figure Step 5)

Lab Exercise 20-2

Time allowed: 45 minutes.

Step 1

On layer Object, draw the object shown in the figure. (Figure Step 1A, 1B, and 1C)

Step 2

Draw all construction objects on layer: Construction.

Step 3

Set the insertion units and insert the key. Check the drawing for accuracy.

Step 4

Turn layer: Key off and freeze layer: Construction.

Hint 1

Construct the object in Detail A using the following 6 steps. (Figure Hint 1)

Hint 2

There are four locations on the object that you must use the Geometry Lesson on Tangency. Figure Hint 2A and 2B shows you the three steps to draw two of them. (Figure Hint 2A and 2B)

Lab Exercise 20-3

Time allowed: 30 minutes.

Step 1

Start a new drawing using the information above. Save and name the drawing: AutoCAD 2D Lab 20-3.

Step 2

Open drawing: AutoCAD 2D Lab 20-2. There should now be two drawings open.

Step 3

Using the COPYBASE and PASTECLIP commands, copy all of the objects from drawing Lab 20-2 into drawing Lab 20-3. Use the basepoint 0,0.

Step 4

Close drawing: AutoCAD 2D Lab 20-2.

Step 5

Edit the drawing: AutoCAD 2D Lab 20-3 to match the figure. Use the MOVE and COPY commands wherever possible. (Figure Step 5A and 5B)

Step 6

Enable layout: Module Layout A3. On layer Viewport, use the MVIEW command and create a viewport as shown in the figure. Set the scale of the viewport to 1:1 and lock the display. (Figure Step 6)

Step 7

Using the standards under “AutoCAD book Standards: Filling in the Titleblock”. (Figure Step 7)

Step 8

Turn layer: Viewport off. (Figure Step 8)