AutoCAD is a powerful software tool used by architects, engineers, and designers to create precise and professional drawings. One common element you may need to include in your drawings is a switch symbol. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating a switch symbol in AutoCAD.
Step 1: Understanding the Switch Symbol
Before we begin creating the switch symbol, let’s take a moment to understand what it looks like. A typical switch symbol consists of a circle with a line coming out from the top.
This line is typically bent at a right angle and has a small gap at the end. The circle represents the physical button of the switch, while the line represents its electrical connection.
Step 2: Creating the Circle
To start creating our switch symbol, we will first draw the circle. In AutoCAD, you can use the CIRCLE command to draw circles of any size.
Simply type ‘CIRCLE’ in the command line and specify the center point and radius of your circle. For example:
CIRCLE <center point> <radius>
Once you have drawn your circle, you can use AutoCAD’s HATCH command to fill it with color if desired.
Step 3: Adding the Line
Next, we will add the line coming out from the top of our circle. To do this, use AutoCAD’s LINES command. Type ‘LINE’ in the command line and specify two points to define the start and end points of your line.
If you want to create a right angle bend in your line, you can use AutoCAD’s FILLET command. This command allows you to round the corners of your lines. Simply type ‘FILLET’ in the command line, specify the radius of the fillet, and select the two lines you want to connect with a right angle bend.
Step 4: Adding the Gap
Now that we have our line in place, we can add the small gap at its end. To do this, we will use AutoCAD’s BREAK command.
Type ‘BREAK’ in the command line and select the line you want to break. Specify the location where you want to create a gap by clicking on it.
Step 5: Grouping and Saving as a Block
To make it easier to use our switch symbol in future drawings, we can group all its components together and save them as a block. To do this, select all the elements of your switch symbol using AutoCAD’s GROUP or PICKADD command.
PICKADD enables you to select multiple objects without de-selecting any previously selected objects.
Once selected, type ‘BLOCK’ in the command line and follow the prompts to create a block from your selected components. Give your block a name and specify an insertion point if necessary.
Congratulations!
You have successfully created a switch symbol in AutoCAD! Now you can easily insert it into your drawings whenever needed by simply inserting your saved block using AutoCAD’s BLOCK or INSERT commands.
Note:
- If you want to modify your switch symbol later on, simply edit your saved block and the changes will be reflected in all instances of the block in your drawings.
- Experiment with different line styles, colors, and hatches to customize your switch symbol to suit your needs.
Happy designing!