Explore the ease of creating complex geometrical symbols in AutoCAD with minimal redrawing, and the practicality of non-precise moves in certain design scenarios. Follow along as we create a three-way switch, using the existing geometry of another switch, and add text to it.
Key Insights
- Using AutoCAD, you can save time when creating similar geometrical symbols by using 'File, Save As' to create a copy of an existing symbol, and then modifying the copy. This was demonstrated by creating the three-way switch from an ordinary switch symbol.
- Text can be added to a symbol using Single Line Text from the Annotation panel. The properties of the text, such as its start point, height, and rotation angle, can be specified during creation.
- AutoCAD allows for 'imprecise' moves, which can be useful for moving objects like text that do not require specific positioning. This can be done using the Move tool for point-to-point moves, or by 'nudging' the object with the Control and arrow keys.
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In this video, we will create the three-way switch. Now, up until now, we have done File, New every time for each of our symbols.
In this case, the three-way switch and the switch use exactly the same geometry, except the three-way switch has a little bit of text. In this case, instead of redrawing this object from scratch, let's do a File, Save As, which saves a copy of our file into our file folder. Then we can edit our new copy to add our text.
Let's go File, Save As, and let's rename this 3-way-switch. I'll hit Save, and it will retain all of our information into this copy. Now, all we need to do is add our text.
In this case, we will use regular text, so I will come up to the Annotation panel, Find Text, and use the dropdown to find Single Line Text. Single Line Text is the old-school way of making text in AutoCAD, but it will work well for this symbol. If I check my command prompt, it says, Specify the Start Point.
I'm going to put the start point somewhere over here. Don't worry, we'll move this in a second. My height will be 1 over 8, Enter.
My rotation angle is 0, and that means regular text, reading left to right. And now I can type my text. This is just the letter 3, and I will hit ENTER, Enter, to say that I am done.
Now, this text object might be in a slightly wrong position. We know that we can use the Move tool to make very precise moves. We can also use the Move tool to make imprecise moves by doing a point-to-point move without specifying any specific geometry.
I'll make sure that my ortho is off, and I will go to Move, choose my text object, Enter to lock it in, and now I can click anywhere on the screen. I'll pick up here. Notice that the relationship of the letter 3 and this dashed orange line remain the same.
I do not need to specify any geometry to move this object. Instead, I can just look at the 3 and see where it goes, and the orange line connected to my cursor is creating that relationship. When I have it in roughly the right position, I can click to lock it in, but please remember, this does not create specific locations.
When we are working in CAD, it is of utmost importance to have precise and accurate drawings. But in this case, the location of the letter 3 does not matter, but if it was something like a floor plan dimensions for walls, doors, or windows, that is extremely important, and we should always use appropriate data entry for those projects. There's one other way to move geometry in a non-specific way, and that is to hit Escape to cancel all tools, select the geometry, and then using the Control key on your keyboard, hold it down, and hit the arrow keys.
With Control held down, and by hitting the arrow keys, it will nudge the geometry, in this case our text, around the screen. When you're done, simply let go of the keys and hit Escape. Nudging is great for text or annotation objects that do not have to be in very precise locations.
I will do a zoom extents, Control S to save, and in the next video, we will continue with our electrical symbols.
