How to start AutoCad
Click on the AutoCad icon. It will open a blank drawing file and a dialog box called ‘AutoCad Today’. Close the AutoCad Today’ and start working in the drawing file. In AutoCad, you do not have to specify the units of length. It works in relative units. Hence, you can draw with dimensions in any units (m, cm, mm, micron, inch etc.). Just make sure that all your dimensions have been consistently converted in that unit.

For drawing masks in AutoCad you only need to learn 2D sketching. You need not learn 3D modeling. On the left you will find a lot of drawing tools. All these tools can also be accessed from the command prompt. It is essential to use a combination of commands and tool-buttons to make your drawings fast. When you click on a button, the command associated with this button is shown in the command prompt. That’s how you can learn the commands. Command prompt is very important. Always keep an eye on the command prompt.

Most useful drawing tools
I have found the following tools to be the most useful. All these tools are located on the left hand side.
Construction line: These lines are used as reference line.
Polyline: Most of the linear features on your mask will be made with polyline. You can control the width of these lines and thus create features of different width. Width can be specified through the command prompt. Otherwise, the property box of any object can be opened by double-clicking on it.
Rectangle: Press the button and look at the command prompt for options.
Circle, arc: Press the button and look at the command prompt for options.
Region: In order to close a region created by separate lines. You must not leave any regions open on your mask otherwise your feature might get broken.
Hatch: Most of the times, you have fill the space inside a close region. Use ‘hatch’ command of the tool-button for options.
Text: To enter the text
Copy object: To create copies of an object. Look at the command prompt for options.
Mirror: To create the mirror image of an object
Offset: To create another closed region with an offset
Array: To copy an object in a 2-D rectangular array
Move: To move an object
Scale: To scale the units up or down
Trim: To trim a line
Fillet: To round the sharp corners

Download pdf Mask-drawing in AutoCad Tutorial