• AutoCAD

Arcs in AutoCAD

Arcs, stars, horseshoes--learn the myriad ways to draw an arc so you know what suits your needs the best.


00:03

In AutoCAD, you can create arcs in several ways.

00:07

From the Home ribbon, Draw panel, expand the Arc drop-down to access the variety of methods available to create an arc.

00:15

By default, the 3-Point method is selected.

00:18

You can choose from the other methods by specifying various combinations of center, endpoint, start point, radius, angle,

00:25

chord length, and direction values.

00:28

Note that the Continue method is the only one that does not specify three points and instead,

00:34

an arc is created tangent to the last line or arc drawn.

00:39

Once you specify an option from the Arc drop-down, it will become the default selected option for the arc command.

00:47

From the menu, select Start, Center, Angle.

00:51

Notice the Arc command displays the Start, Center, Angle option.

00:56

Now, select 3 Point from the Arc menu.

00:60

The command prompts you to specify a start point for the arc.

01:05

Click once in the drawing area to specify the first point.

01:10

Click a second time to specify the second point.

01:14

Finally, specify the end point of the arc.

01:18

Begin the Arc 3 Point command again.

01:22

Notice that the dynamic input tooltip prompt ends with the word “or” and a small down arrow.

01:29

On your keyboard, press the Down Arrow key.

01:33

An option to select a Center point displays.

01:36

Select this option, and then pick in the drawing area to specify a center point for a new arc.

01:43

Next, specify the start point of the arc.

01:48

Before specifying the end point, press the Down Arrow again.

01:52

Notice you can now choose to complete the arc based on angle or chord length.

01:58

Click chord Length.

01:60

The length of the chord of the arc determines the included angle.

02:03

Click a point to create the arc.

02:06

Arcs are one of the most frequently used geometry in AutoCAD drawings for creating curves.

02:11

With so many options available for arc creation, you can choose the best method that suits your workflows.

Video transcript

00:03

In AutoCAD, you can create arcs in several ways.

00:07

From the Home ribbon, Draw panel, expand the Arc drop-down to access the variety of methods available to create an arc.

00:15

By default, the 3-Point method is selected.

00:18

You can choose from the other methods by specifying various combinations of center, endpoint, start point, radius, angle,

00:25

chord length, and direction values.

00:28

Note that the Continue method is the only one that does not specify three points and instead,

00:34

an arc is created tangent to the last line or arc drawn.

00:39

Once you specify an option from the Arc drop-down, it will become the default selected option for the arc command.

00:47

From the menu, select Start, Center, Angle.

00:51

Notice the Arc command displays the Start, Center, Angle option.

00:56

Now, select 3 Point from the Arc menu.

00:60

The command prompts you to specify a start point for the arc.

01:05

Click once in the drawing area to specify the first point.

01:10

Click a second time to specify the second point.

01:14

Finally, specify the end point of the arc.

01:18

Begin the Arc 3 Point command again.

01:22

Notice that the dynamic input tooltip prompt ends with the word “or” and a small down arrow.

01:29

On your keyboard, press the Down Arrow key.

01:33

An option to select a Center point displays.

01:36

Select this option, and then pick in the drawing area to specify a center point for a new arc.

01:43

Next, specify the start point of the arc.

01:48

Before specifying the end point, press the Down Arrow again.

01:52

Notice you can now choose to complete the arc based on angle or chord length.

01:58

Click chord Length.

01:60

The length of the chord of the arc determines the included angle.

02:03

Click a point to create the arc.

02:06

Arcs are one of the most frequently used geometry in AutoCAD drawings for creating curves.

02:11

With so many options available for arc creation, you can choose the best method that suits your workflows.

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