3. Highlight and press the left mouse button to select an Object Snap.
The following Object Snaps will be discussed in this Lesson:
Endpoint, Midpoint, Intersection, Center, Geometric Center, Quadrant, Tangent and Perpendicular. Refer to their descriptions on the next page.
The remaining Object Snaps will be discussed in future lessons.
Object Snap Definitions
Object Snap is used when AutoCAD prompts you to place an object. Object Snap allows you to place objects very accurately.
A step-by-step example of “How to use Object Snap” is shown on the next page.
| Snaps to the closest endpoint of a Line, Arc or polygon segment. Place the cursor on the object close to the end and the cursor will snap like a magnet to the end of the line. | |
| Snaps to the middle of a Line, Arc or Polygon segment. Place the cursor anywhere on the object and the cursor will snap like a magnet to the midpoint of the line. | |
| Snaps to the intersections of any two objects. Place the cursor directly on top of the intersection or select one object and then the other and Autocad will locate the intersection. | |
| Snaps to the center of an Arc, Circle or Donut. Place the cursor on the object, or at the approximate center location and the cursor will snap like a magnet to the center. | |
| Snaps to the centroid of any closed polylines and splines. Place the cursor anywhere on the object and the cursor will snap to the centroid of any closed polyline or spline. | |
| Snaps to a 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 or 9:00 o’clock location on a circle or ellipse. Place the cursor on the circle near the desired quadrant location and the cursor will snap to the closest quadrant. | |
| Calculates the tangent point of an Arc or Circle. Place the cursor on the object as near as possible to the expected tangent point. | |
| Snaps to a point perpendicular to the object selected. Place the cursor anywhere on the object then pull the cursor away from object and press the left mouse button. |
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You may also type the 3 bold letters shown rather than selecting from the menu. For example, type in CEN and then press <Enter> for the Center Snap. |
How to Use Object Snap
The following is an example of attaching a line segment to previously drawn vertical lines. The new line will start from the upper endpoint, to the midpoint, to the lower endpoint.
1. Turn off SnapMode, OrthoMode and Object Snap on the Status Bar. (Gray is off.)
2. Select the Line command.
3. Draw two vertical lines as shown below (they don’t have to be perfectly straight).
4. Select the Line command again.
5. Hold the <Shift> key down and press the right mouse button.
6. Select the Object Snap Endpoint from the Object Snap Menu.
7. Place the cursor close to the upper endpoint of the left-hand line.
The cursor should snap to the end of the line like a magnet.
A little square and an “Endpoint” tooltip are displayed.
8. Press the left mouse button to attach the new line to the upper endpoint of the previously drawn vertical line. (Do not end the Line command yet.)
9. Now hold the <Shift> key down and press the right mouse button and select the Midpoint Object Snap option.
10. Move the cursor to approximately the middle of the right-hand vertical line.
The cursor should snap to the midpoint of the line like a magnet.
A little triangle with a “Midpoint” tooltip are displayed.
11. Press the left mouse button to attach the new line to the midpoint of the previously drawn vertical line. (Do not end the Line command yet.)
12. Now hold the <Shift> key down and press the right mouse button and select the Object Snap Endpoint again.
13. Move the cursor close to the lower endpoint of the left-hand vertical line.
The cursor should snap to the end of the line like a magnet.
A little square and a “Endpoint” tooltip are displayed.
14. Press the left mouse button to attach the new line to the endpoint of the previously drawn vertical line.
15. Stop the Line command and disconnect by pressing <Enter>.
Selecting Object Snap is not difficult but AutoCAD has provided you with an additional method to increase your efficiency by allowing you to preset frequently used Object Snap options. This method is called Running Object Snap.
When Running Object Snap is active the cursor will automatically snap to any preset Object Snap locations thus eliminating the necessity of invoking the Object Snap Menu for each locations.
First you must set the running Object Snaps, and second, you must turn on the Running Object Snap option.
Setting Running Object Snap
1. Select the Running Object Snap dialog box using one of the following:
Keyboard = DS <Enter>
or
Status Bar = Left click on the Object Snap button down arrow and select Object Snap Settings.