Discover the step-by-step process of creating an electrical switch drawing using AutoCAD geometry instead of text. Learn how to utilize the Ellipse tool, construction geometry and other features to create an accurate representation of an electrical switch.
Key Insights
- The article provides a detailed guide to create an electrical switch symbol using AutoCAD. The process involves using the Ellipse tool to create a flattened oval shape that forms the top and bottom halves of the 'S'-shaped symbol.
- Construction geometry is used to create the accurate 'S' shape from the two ellipses. The article explains how to use the Trim tool to cut the ellipses and create the desired shape.
- Throughout the creation process, constant saving and checking of work is emphasized to ensure accuracy and preserve work progress. The article also hints at the next steps, which involve using this created file to create a three-way switch.
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In this video, we will draw the electrical switch. Let's go to File, New.
Use our template, then go to File, Save. Name this file Switch.
Now, let's hit Save. Let's create our layer, E-SIMS.
Set the color to 61, then press ENTER. Let's make this our active layer.
This switch resembles the letter S with a vertical line, similar to a dollar sign. However, we will use AutoCAD geometry for this drawing, not text.
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We’ll use the Ellipse tool along with some construction geometry.
To begin, let's draw our vertical line. This is the same line we used for our half-hot outlet. I'll go to the Line tool.
Start at 0,0, press ENTER, then go to 0,0.5, press ENTER. Press ENTER again to confirm I'm done.
Now, Zoom Extents.
The Ellipse tool is located in the Draw panel. We'll use the Center option, not the other two.
The Center option creates an ellipse, similar to how we create a circle, but it asks for two radius points.
The radius points will be in the X and Y directions to create a flattened oval shape using the Ellipse tool.
Now, let’s choose Ellipse Center.
In this case, I want to draw it at the midpoint of the line. We know it’s at 0,0.25, but here, I’ll Shift-Right-Click, select Midpoint, and choose the midpoint.
Now, I’ll choose my radius.
Now it asks for the endpoint of the axis, but here we’re specifying the horizontal and vertical axes.
To visualize this, I’ll turn on Ortho and move to the right by 1/8. Press ENTER.
Now, we can easily visualize how tall our ellipse will be since Ortho is on.
The distance to the other axis is half of 1/8, which is 1/16. Press ENTER.
This creates a flattened ellipse.
Now we see that there’s an ellipse for both the top and bottom halves of the S.
In this case, we’ll use Move and then Copy to create two objects.
First, we need to move from the midpoint to this intersection point.
Let’s do that. Move the ellipse, press ENTER to confirm I’m done selecting objects.
I’ll Shift-Right-Click on the midpoint of the line and move to the Shift-Right-Click intersection.
Notice that we are moving the ellipse, but it leaves a ghosted, grayed line behind until we finish our workflow.
I can click the intersection, and now the ellipse has moved up exactly 1/16 of an inch.
Now we can copy the ellipse. Select the ellipse, press ENTER to lock it in, and this time I’ll go from the Shift-Right-Click quadrant at the top of the ellipse to the Shift-Right-Click quadrant at the bottom.
Press ENTER to confirm I’m done and don’t need to make any more copies.
We could have used midpoint and intersection again for that workflow, or we could have used the distance of 1/8, which is the full height of the ellipse.
But remember, it’s up to you to find what you’re most comfortable with.
Now, let’s create some construction geometry to form an S-shape from these two ellipses.
To do this, I’ll cut the ellipses using the Trim tool.
I want to trim these ellipses about halfway from the line to their furthest point.
This means offsetting my original line by 1/16 to create construction geometry.
I’ll go to the Offset tool, check my command prompt, it says Specify Distance, enter 1/16, press ENTER, and offset this line to the left, click to lock it in, then offset again to the right and click to lock it in.
Press ENTER to confirm I’m done.
Now the shape we want is somewhere in there.
To find that shape, it might be easier to focus on what we want to remove.
We know that this section here will be removed, and this section here as well.
Let’s go to our Trim tool and click on this section to remove it, then this section to remove it.
Now we can almost see our S-shape. Before I end the tool, I’ll click on this section and this section.
Press ENTER to lock it in.
Now, our two vertical lines of construction geometry are no longer necessary, so we can select them, hit the Delete key, and press Control+S to save.
In the next video, we’ll use this file to create the three-way switch.
