INTRODUCTION

The AutoCAD BLOCK command feature is a powerful design/drafting tool. The BLOCK command enables a designer to create an object from one or more objects, save it under a user-specified name, and later place it back into the drawing. When block references are inserted in the drawing, they can be scaled up or down in both or either of the X and Y axes. They can also be rotated as they are inserted in the drawing. Block references can best be compared with their manual drafting counterpart, the template. Even though an inserted block reference can be created from more than one object, the block reference acts as a single unit when operated on by certain modify commands, like MOVE, COPY, ERASE, ROTATE, ARRAY, and MIRROR. You can export a block reference to become a drawing file outside the current drawing and create a symbol library from which block references are inserted into other drawings. Like the plastic template, block references greatly reduce repetitious work.

AutoCAD 2006 introduced the Dynamic Block feature (explained in this chapter), which uses parametric data technology to make the use of blocks much more powerful. After you have mastered the concepts for creating and using the BLOCK command, you can apply the power of the dynamic blocks to provide drawings of objects and parts that have similar geometry with more flexibility, ease, and accuracy.

The BLOCK command can save time because you don't have to draw the...