What Is Object Snap in AutoCAD?

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In AutoCAD, object snap is a powerful feature that allows you to precisely locate points on objects. It helps you create accurate drawings by snapping to specific points or geometric objects in your drawing. This article will explain what object snap is and how it can enhance your workflow in AutoCAD.

What Is Object Snap?

Object snap, often abbreviated as OSNAP, is a feature in AutoCAD that enables you to snap to specific points on objects while creating or modifying your drawings. It provides an efficient way to accurately reference and interact with elements in your drawing.

With object snap, you can easily locate and pick points such as endpoints, midpoints, intersections, centers, and more. This precise snapping capability saves time and ensures the accuracy of your designs.

Types of Object Snap

AutoCAD offers various types of object snaps that cater to different needs. Let’s explore some commonly used object snaps:

  • Endpoint (END): Snaps to the endpoint of a line or arc.
  • Midpoint (MID): Snaps to the midpoint of a line or arc.
  • Center (CEN): Snaps to the center point of a circle or arc.
  • Intersection (INT): Snaps to the intersection point between two objects.
  • Perpendicular (PER): Snaps to a point perpendicular to an object at the specified distance.
  • Tangent (TAN): Snaps tangentially to circles and arcs.

You can enable/disable these object snaps according to your requirements. By default, AutoCAD has a set of commonly used object snaps turned on, but you can customize them in the Object Snap tab of the Drafting Settings dialog box.

Using Object Snap

Object snap is easy to use and can significantly improve your workflow. Here’s how to utilize this feature:

Enabling Object Snap

To enable object snap, you have two options:

  • Method 1: Click on the Object Snap button on the status bar. The button will turn blue when object snap is enabled.
  • Method 2: Press the F3 key on your keyboard. The status bar will display “OSNAP: On” when successfully enabled.

Snapping to Objects

To snap to specific points or objects, follow these steps:

  1. Select a drawing tool: Choose a tool such as Line, Circle, or Rectangle from the AutoCAD toolbar.
  2. Mention the object snap type: Specify which object snap type you want to use from the status bar or press the corresponding function key. For example, press “END” for Endpoint.
  3. Create your drawing: Start drawing by clicking on an appropriate point in your drawing area. AutoCAD will automatically find and snap to the nearest applicable point or object based on your specified object snap type.
  4. Continue snapping: As you create or modify your drawing, AutoCAD will continue snapping to relevant points based on your selected object snap types until you disable it or change the object snaps.

Note that with each click, AutoCAD remembers the last object snap used, making it convenient to continue snapping without specifying the object snap type repeatedly.

Conclusion

Object snap is an essential feature in AutoCAD that enhances precision and productivity in your drawings. By utilizing various object snap types, you can quickly locate and reference important points on objects, resulting in accurate and professional designs. Experiment with different object snaps to find the ones that best suit your drawing needs and save valuable time during your drafting process.