AutoCAD 2D I Module 8

Layers

PREPARED BY

IAT Curriculum Unit

February 2011

© Institute of Applied Technology, 2011

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 2

Auto CAD Self-paced Learning Modules

AutoCAD 2D

Layers

Learning Outcomes: When you have completed the module, you will be able to:

1. Describe AutoCAD’s layering system and apply the LAYER command

to create toggle on/off, thaw/freeze, lock/unlock, select color, and set the current layer for the active drawing.

Module 8

AutoCAD Geomerty Lesson

Points and Lines A Point is defined as a single XY coordinate. It does not have width, height or depth. A Line is the shortest distance between two XY locations. Lines can be Horizontal, Vertical or Inclined. Lines that are the same distance apart are called Parallel lines. Perpendicular lines are at right angles to each other or 90 degrees apart.

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 3

Layers AutoCAD’s layering system is one of the most important features to the AutoCAD Operator. Layers allow you to organize, segregate, control the visibility and manage plotting of drawing. Think of layering as being able to draw on transparent overlays with each overlay containing relevant or grouped objects, see Figure 3-1. When all of the overlays are stacked together, see Figure 3-2, you can see and work with all of them. At any time during the drawing process, you can turn off, freeze, or lock layers. This allows you to control the drawing and plotting process of the drawing. There is no limit to the number of layers you can create in each AutoCAD drawing. As you create them, you can give them a name or allow AutoCAD automatically name them. You can also assign a color, llinetype, lineweight, and plot style to each one. In this module we will only be discussing naming and assigning the color. In addition to the items just mentioned, you can also control the visibility of each layer for toggling layers off and on or freezing/thawing them. You can also lock or unlock a layer to prevent them being edited. AutoCAD’s Special Layers AutoCAD has a special layer named 0 (the number zero). Each new drawing created in AutoCAD will automatically contain this layer. It cannot be deleted or renamed. Layer 0 will be discussed further in future modules. The current layer The current layer is the layer that AutoCAD will place all newly created objects. One layer must be current at all times. The current layer can be turned off but never frozen. You can change the current layer at any time.

Figure 3-1

Layers Seen as Overlay

Figure 3-2 Stacked Layers

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 4

ByLayer AutoCAD assigns the color, linetype, and lineweight properties to objects either ByLayer or ByObject. We will keep things simple to start with so we will work ByLayer in all lab exercises unless you are instructed differently. An easy way to check to see if you are working ByLayer is to look at the Properties toolbar as shown in Figure 3-3. The three left boxes should always display the word ByLayer as shown in Figure 3-3. Simply, ByLayer means that when an object is inserted into the drawing or an existing object is regenerate. It looks in the drawing’s data base to see what color, linetype and lineweight it should display. If it is set to ByLayer, it will then check what layer it is located on and displays the color, linetype and lineweight assigned to that layer. Most companies require their drawings to be drawn using the layering scheme.

Figure 3-3 Properties Tool Bar showing all set to ByLayer

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 5

AutoCAD Command: LAYER The LAYER command is used to open the Layer Property Manager dialogue box. Command Line Syntax: Command: LAYER or Command: LA Layer Symbols On/Off: Toggles the layer on or off. In other words, visible or not visible. Freeze/Thaw: Toggles the layer to be frozen or thawed. A frozen Layer is not visible and does not regenerate. A thawed layer is visible and will regenerate.

Lock/Unlock: Toggles the layer locked or unlocked. Objects on a locked layer are visible but cannot be edited or deleted.

On/Off: Sets the color for the layer. All objects placed on The layer with the property ByLayer, will be colored with the color assigned to the layer.

2004-2006

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 6

AutoCAD User “Must Know” No. 3-1

AutoCAD has a special layer named 0 (the number zero). Each new drawing created in AutoCAD will automatically contain layer 0. it cannot be deleted or renamed. It has other special attributes as you will see in future modules.

AutoCAD User “Must Know” No. 3-2

The current layer is the layer that any newly inserted object will reside on. It is important to always be aware of what the current layer is before inserting objects.

Using the LAYER Command in 2005-2006 Command: LAYER Step 1 – Open the Layer Properties Manager dialogue box. Notice layer 0 (zero). It is automatically create all new drawings and cannot be deleted or renamed. The other layers are part of template drawing. Ignore them for now. The current Layer is 0.

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 7

Step 2 – Click the New Layer button and AutoCAD

will create new layer. It will automatically name the layer Layer1.

Step 3 – Rename the layer to Object.

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 8

Step 4 – To set the color for the

layer, click the color name. In this example, white.

This will open the Select Color dialogue box. Select the color by clicking it or enter the name or color number. In this example, red. Note: AutoCAD refers to white and black are the same color. If you have white screen color, white will appear black and if you have a black screen color, white will display white. Step 5 – To set the current layer,

highlight the layer you want to set and then click the Set Current icon. In this example, Object.

The green check mark icon will display under Status indicating the current layer. Step 6 – Set the display state of each layer

by clicking the applicable icon. The icons will toggle as you click them. In this example, layer 0 is Locked, layer Key is Off and layer Titleblock is Frozen.

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 9

Instruction:

1. Setup the layers using the Layering Scheme above. 2. Draw the object shown below. 3. Check your drawing with the key. Correct any errors. 4. Turn layer Key off. 5. Save the drawing in the folder: CAD Courses/AutoCAD2D/Lab Exercises

Lab Exercise 3-1 Time Allotted: 30 min.

Drawing Specifications Name Template Units Text Style Font AutoCAD 2D Lab 05-1 Module Template A Inches N/A N/A

Note: Color, Linetype and Lineweight are all ‘ByLayer’ unless otherwise instructed.

Layering Scheme

Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight

All Lines Object Red Contiuous N/A

ATM1020- AutoCAD 2D-I

Module 8: Layers 10

Instruction:

1. Setup the layers using the Layering Scheme avove. 2. Draw the object shown below. 3. Check your drawing with the key. Correct any errors. 4. Turn layer Key off. 5. Save the drawing in the folder: CAD Courses/AutoCAD2D/Lab Exercises

Lab Exercise 3-2 Time Allotted: 30 min.

Drawing Specifications Name Template Units Text Style Font AutoCAD 2D Lab 05-2 Module Template A4 Millimeters N/A N/A

Note: Color, Linetype and Lineweight are all ‘ByLayer’ unless otherwise instructed.

Layering Scheme

Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight

All Lines Object Red Continuous Defult