Learn how to install doors and work on door swings in your architectural model using AutoCAD. The process involves using different tools and techniques like creating a polar array and using a start center end option for the door swings.
Key Insights
- The article demonstrates how to add doors to an architectural model in AutoCAD, with door sizes typically being 2'6", 2'4", and 3'0".
- It then instructs on creating door swings using the start center end option, and follows a counter-clockwise direction.
- Finally, the article illustrates how to create a polar array of the door, adjust the angle between the entities, and populate the doors in the model.
Note: These materials offer prospective students a preview of how our classes are structured. Students enrolled in this course will receive access to the full set of materials, including video lectures, project-based assignments, and instructor feedback.
We've gotten all of our windows in, and now it's time to install our doors. So let's go onto Layers and make A-DOOR our current layer. Now in AutoCAD 1 and 2, we made all of our doors independently.
We know that in this model, our door sizes are typically 2'6", 2'4", and 3'0", meaning 2'6", 2'4", and 3'0". So what I'm going to propose is that we create many doors here in the living room, perform a Polar Array around them, and then copy them into position. So my door will be a rectangle from an arbitrary point to a point at 1.5,2'4".
Enter to stop, Enter to repeat the command. Specify the first point, give it an arbitrary point at 1.5,2'6". Enter, Enter to repeat, arbitrary point at 1.5,3'. Enter.
Control+S to save. What I now want to do is start working on my door swings. I will use the Start, Center, End option. So I will choose Arc, select down here for Start, Center, End.
My object snap (OSNAP) is on, so my start point will be here on the top right. My center will be on the bottom right, and I swing my cursor to the left. I have Ortho and object snap (OSNAP) on, so I pick to the left.
Learn AutoCAD
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Authorized Autodesk training center
I have to go back and choose the icon, Start, Center, End. So here's my start, center's on the bottom right, end is here on the left. Go back to the icon, Start, Center, End, start up here, center on the bottom right, end over here on the left.
And remember, the Start, Center, End will be working in a counterclockwise direction. What I'd like to do now is begin working on a Polar Array of this door. So I'm going to begin by moving these entities out of the way, and I will choose a Polar Array.
So I'm going to go Array. Now you can see right here it wants to do either a polar, rectangular, or path array. So I'm going to choose Polar Array.
I read the prompt; it says select objects. I choose these entities, Enter to say I'm done. It's asking me where the center point is.
I'm going to choose a point right around here, over to the right and down a bit from the hinge point. And now the Array interface box appears. I'd like it to have four items, so I change this item right here to four.
By clicking four, when I click elsewhere to automatically adjust it, it will auto-adjust the angle between the four entities, giving me 90 degrees and filling a full 360 degrees. I want to turn off Associative, and I'm going to accept Rotate.
You can see there are my icons, and I will say Close Array. I'm now going to move these back a little bit. So move these lines from here to right about there.
Control+S to save. I'm going to move the next set of doors, my 2'6" doors. Move from here to here.
Go back into Array. You can see it remembers it's a Polar Array. Select the objects, do my crossing here, Enter to say I'm done.
Choose a base point right about here. Now you can see it wants to do six items. It always goes back to its default values, so I will give it a value of four right there.
If I just click elsewhere, it auto-adjusts the array. It did keep the Associative off. I will close the array, and then I will move these entities from here to right about there.
And once again, do a Polar Array, select these entities, Enter to say I'm done. Give it an arbitrary base point. Again, I have to reset it to have a value of four.
And I'm going to just click elsewhere to automatically adjust it. Close the array. Control+S to save.
Now to help me as I start populating these doors, what I'm going to do next is go to Single Line Text. I'm going to choose an arbitrary point right here. I will give it a height of six inches.
Specify rotation. I will accept the default value. And I will type in a value of 2'4", Enter.
2'6", Enter. 3'0", Enter. Control+S to save.
And I will now move the 2'4" value from here. Turn off running object snap (OSNAP) by pressing F3. Move the 2'6" from here to here.
Move the 3'0" from here to here. Control+S to save. And now I'm ready to begin actually using these doors in my model.
Try using the Polar Array command—it's an efficient method. I'll see you soon.
