AutoCad For MEP Drafting

Learn how to install and use AutoCAD, a user-friendly drafting tool from Autodesk, for HVAC, plumbing, firefighting, electrical, and building service drafting on Windows and Mac.

Explore what is what on the AutoCAD screen for MEP drafting, including the application menu, start drawing, templates (dwg and dwt), and units settings.

Learn AutoCAD's user interface basics, including tabs, ribbon, panels, and the quick access toolbar, and how to switch to menus and navigate the drawing window and view controls.

Master the AutoCAD coordinate system, including x, y, z, origin, and quadrant conventions, understand the angle measurement system, then draw lines with absolute, relative, polar, and direct distance methods.

Master the AutoCAD line command using absolute and relative coordinate methods, plus polar and direct distance options, to draw horizontal, vertical, and incline lines.

Explore polar and direct distance methods for AutoCAD drafting, enabling quick horizontal, vertical, and inclined line construction while understanding coordinate systems and relative, absolute, and polar workflows.

Explore how polyline differs from line, with polyline forming a continuous single object and lines remaining separate elements, and learn how offsets, explode, and width settings enhance drafting.

Learn to draw circles in AutoCAD for MEP drafting using the circle command with radius and diameter options, two-point and three-point methods, and tangent circle techniques.

Learn to draw ellipses in AutoCAD for MEP drafting by using center-point or endpoint methods, specify major axis diameter and minor axis radius, and explore ellipse arc and isometric drawing.

Learn to use the polygon command to draw hexagons and other polygons, choosing inscribed or circumscribed radii and using the edge option for a known side length.

Demonstrate using the point command to place reference points on screen, customize point style and size with the p type command, and connect points with polylines or polygons.

Master smooth polylines for flexible duct sketches and revision clouds to mark changes in AutoCAD, using spl for smooth polyline and rev cloud options like arc length and object mode.

Explore selection methods for AutoCAD drafting, mastering cross window and cross polygon selections, fence selection, all and remove options, and off-screen selection to power the modify command.

Master the modify command's move option to relocate or duplicate objects by base point or distance. Use feet and inches (artificial format) and coordinate input with object snap points.

Master mirror, scale, block creation, and explode techniques to accelerate symmetrical drafting, reuse complex components as blocks, and edit blocks without affecting others.

Explore stretching lines with precise selection, break points and break by distance, and joining aligned and misaligned geometry using grip points and blend curve in AutoCAD for MEP drafting.

Master fillet and chamfer in AutoCAD for MEP drafting, setting radii and applying to lines, rectangles, and polylines. Learn multiple and polyline options, trim choices, and distance controls.

Master the AutoCAD lengthen tool and reverse polyline workflows for MEP drafting, using delta, percentage, total, and dynamic length adjustments, plus polyline reverse with width settings.

Master trim and extend in AutoCAD for MEP drafting by using single and double enter methods, cutting edges, fences, and edge options to trim or extend lines accurately.

Learn to create rectangular and polar arrays in AutoCAD for MEP drafting, adjusting rows, columns, distances from the starting point, and rotation to arrange furniture and fixtures.

Divide lines, rectangles, and curves into equal segments with the div command, revealing points and control over p type visibility; measure distances with me and align for precise placement.

Explore AutoCAD for MEP drafting inquiry commands to measure distances, areas, radii, angles, and coordinates; learn to apply these to duct, pipe, and wall lengths, spaces, and volumes.

Learn to control the AutoCAD view with zoom commands using z and options like all, window, previous, extend, dynamic, scale, and object, plus pan with the middle mouse button.

Master isometric drawing in AutoCAD for MEP piping, plumbing, and firefighting, creating 3d-like views in 2d plans for installation and design.

Learn AutoCAD for mep drafting: use the center line and center mark tools with dynamic updates, and adjust color, line type, weight, and transparency with lt and lights.

Select an object to view and edit properties, color, line type, line type scale, and layer, via property window or quick properties, and use quick cal or CL type for calculations.

Explore how to apply dimensioning in AutoCAD for walls, ducts, pipes, and sprinklers, using linear and align dimensions, angular, arc length, radius, diameter, jogs, ordinates, and single-click shortcuts.

Learn how to use the dim command in AutoCAD for MEP drafting, including dimension styles, selecting points, and switching between linear, align, angular, diameter, radius, and arc length.

Learn to customize dimension styles in AutoCAD for MEP drafting by adjusting color, text height, extension lines, arrow size, and unit options via the dimension style manager.

Master creating single line and multiline text in AutoCAD, controlling height, rotation, justification, fonts, and editing behavior. Learn to add notes, symbols, prefixes, suffixes, and degree symbols across MEP drawings.

Learn to use layers in AutoCAD for MEP drafting to organize diffusers, ducts, piping, sprinkler, and fixtures with color and properties, switch off for view or print, and extract counts.

Learn to create and delete AutoCAD layers, manage color, line type, line weight, and transparency, control plotting, and use on/off, freeze, and lock, plus the layer state manager.