Understand how to use AutoCAD's radial array and rectangular array tools to construct complex drawings in a simple way. Learn to draw circles, lines, and use the tracking tool efficiently to create multiple copies of a burner design.
Key Insights
- The radial array tool in AutoCAD is used for creating multiple copies of an object around a center point. It's ideal for creating designs like burners which involve repetitive structures.
- AutoCAD's tracking tool is a powerful feature that allows you to draw circles at specific distances without knowing the absolute coordinates. It streamlines the process of creating precise geometric designs.
- The rectangular array tool is useful for replicating a completed design, such as a burner, multiple times in a grid layout, reducing the need for redundant work. It allows for adjustments in the number of copies and their spacing, making it a flexible tool for various design needs.
Note: These materials offer prospective students a preview of how our classes are structured. Students enrolled in this course will receive access to the full set of materials, including video lectures, project-based assignments, and instructor feedback.
In this video we will add the burners. We can see that the burners are constructed of a circle with four lines pointing to the middle of the circle in each burner.
To begin, let's draw one of these circles and we will use the radial array tool. So the first thing we want to do is draw the bottom left circle and we can see that this is a distance of 7 in and 6 up. I do not know the value of absolute coordinates, but I do know I can use tracking.
So I will go circle, T-R-A, Enter. My first tracking point will be here. I'll come over to the right, 7, Enter, and then up, 6, Enter.
We can see that the circles are an 8-inch diameter, so I will hit ENTER to stop tracking. D, Enter, and 8, Enter. You'll notice that I still have ortho on and that is great for drawing my line segments.
We can see that all of the lines are 2 inches typical. So I can go to line, Shift + Right-Click + Quadrants, and I will choose the quadrant at the bottom of this circle. I will drag my line straight up and again ortho is on, making sure that it is a straight line, and I can type 2, Enter.
Notice that the line doesn't look like anything happened and that's because I'm still drawing lines. So I need to hit ENTER again to say that I'm done. CTRL+S to save.
Now that we have one of the lines drawn, we can make a copy around the circle using radial array. You'll see the array tool here and that is the rectangular array. So I need to hit my drop-down and choose polar array.
Again, polar meaning angles, and in this case we're making a polar array to go around the circle. I will select my objects for my array, which is just the line, not the circle. And when I have just the line selected, I can hit ENTER to say that I'm done selecting objects.
And notice it says specify the center point of the array. Now this just so happens to also be the center point of our circle, but arrays do not have to be snapped at the center snap of an object. You can put the center point of an array on any location.
Shift + Right-Click + Center to choose the center point of our circle. And you will see that automatically we will go into the contextual tab, array creation, and that the number of items is automatically set to six. We do not need six items here.
We only need four. And notice when I change the number of items, it will automatically update the distance between. So I'll come up here and change this to four, Enter.
And when I move my mouse back down to look at the circle, I can see those items update. If I type a different number up here, let's say 10, and I keep my mouse on the ribbon, it does not automatically update the screen. I need to move my mouse back into the screen, and then I will see my update.
I'll change that back to four one more time, four, Enter. And that is all I need to do for this polar or radial array. I can close the array and CTRL+S to save.
Now this array, when I hover over it, is connected. And you can see when I select it, it opens up my array contextual dialog box. Arrays in AutoCAD, in newer versions of AutoCAD, are not exploded automatically.
However, in older versions of AutoCAD, your arrays might automatically explode. So just be careful. I'll hit escape to deselect.
And now we need to add the other copies here, here, and here. In order to do this, we can use the rectangular array tool. Although typically, this is a pretty small array.
You could use copy. But for the example, let's go to the drop-down and choose rectangular array. And in this case, I will pick the array, which has all four objects automatically selected, and the circle.
I can hit ENTER to lock in my selection. And you'll notice right away, we have way too many objects. That's okay.
Just like it autofilled six for our polar array, it has autofilled four columns and three rows. In this case, we only need two. Enter.
And two. Enter. And again, I'll move my mouse onto the screen so that I can see the numbers update.
If I check the handout, I see that our horizontal distance is not 1'0", but it is 1'4". Enter. And our vertical distance is only 11 inches.
So I will type 11, Enter. I'll move my mouse back down onto the screen, and I can see that our geometry is in the exact correct location.
I will close the array, Zoom Extents, and CTRL+S to save. In the next video, we will work on the bathroom sink.
