Engineering specialist Allen Jessup shares a trick to copy an object multiple times at set angles in AutoCAD.
"If you find it necessary to copy entities at a multiple of a set angle, select the object(s) to be copied, click on the grip that represents the base point (if none of the grips will be the basepoint, use the basepoint option). Right-click or press Enter to bring up the right-click menu, select the Rotate command, and use the Copy option (type the letter C on the Command line). You can enter the rotation angle, say 20°. A copy of the object(s) should be created. Hold down the Ctrl key and move the cursor clockwise or counter-clockwise. As you pass multiples of 20° the drag line should snap to those multiples. Click at each point you want a copy. You can create a copy at 20, 40, and 60 degrees, or skip some and do 20, 40, 80, 120, and so on.
"I'm working in Civil 3D 2012 but this should work in almost all versions of AutoCAD and verticals. I remember using it in R12 or 14 (release number 12, not 2012)."
Notes from Cadalyst tip reviewer Brian Benton: There are many ways to edit your geometry without using a command. Selecting the object or objects and picking a grip is how it starts. Right-clicking will also get you to many additional options — and don't forget the Command line. When you select an object or start a command, the Command line provides more tools to use that vary based upon the object type selected and the command that has started. Take a look at them you may find many hidden gems of efficiency. Don't forget your osnap tools such as polar snap, object snap tracking, and more. You can find many of those tools in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. |