1.3.3 - Draw an Arc - Basic

To draw an Arc, you can specify varius combinations of points, center, endpoint, start point, radius, angle, chord length and direction values.
The arcs are drawn counterclockwise from the start point to the endpoint.

You can access the Arc command through the follow :

1. Keyboard : Type in arc and press ENTER
2. Cascading menus : Draw ►Arc ►and select 3-points (you have to be in "AutoCAD Classic" workspace).
3. Toolbar icon : Draw toolbar (icon) (you have to be in "AutoCAD Classic" workspace).
4. Ribbon  : Home tab ►Draw ►Arc► and select 3-point (Fig. 1.3.3.1)

To draw an Arc you will use now the Ribbon, to insert the Arc command.

On Ribbon ► Click Home tab ► Draw panel ► Click Arc icon (hover on) ►)

You will see the drop-down menu with the various methods to draw an Arc (Fig. 1.3.3.1), with combinations of points, center, radius, diameter, angle, chord length, and direction values.

- Draw an Arc by specifying Three Points.

From the drop-down menu of Arc select the 3-Point (hover on)► .

1. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify start point of arc or [ ENTER] : Using the mouse , select on your screen a point similar to point P1 (Fig.1.3.3.2), or for more accuracy type on the Command prompt: 15,25 to insert the coordinates of the first point P1, and define the first point of the arc.
2. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify second point of arc or [Center End] : Pick with your mouse the second point similar to P2 or for more accuracy on the Command prompt type : 2.5,2 to insert coordinates (X=2.5, Y=2) of the second point P2, and define the second point of the arc.
3. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify end point of arc : Pick with your mouse a point similar to  point P3 or for more accuracy on the Command prompt type : 2.8,5 to insert coordinates of the third point P3, and define the third point P3 of the arc.

If you are using the Arc command and right-click on the screen, you will get a drop-drawn menu with some tools to draw the arc.

Fig. 1.3.3.1 - Create an Arc using the Ribbon

- Draw an Arc by specifying a start point, a center point, and an end point.

1. Click Home tab ► Draw panel ► from the Arc drop-down menu (Fig.1.3.3.1) ► Select Start, Center, End icon (hover on)►
2. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify start point of arc or [ Center] : Using the mouse , select a point on your screen similar to point P1, or for more accuracy type on the Command prompt: 1.5,2.5 to insert the coordinates (X=1.5, Y=2.5) of the start point P1, and define the start point of the arc.
3. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify center point of arc or [ ] : Using the mouse, select a point on your screen similar to point P2 or for more accuracy on the Command prompt type : 40,45 to insert coordinates of the center P2, and define the center of the arc.
4. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify end point of arc or [Angle/chord Length] : Using the mouse, select a point on your screen similar to point P3 or for more accuracy on the Command prompt type : 7,5 to insert coordinates (X=7, Y=5) of the end point P3, and define the end point of the arc.

Fig.1.3.3.2 - Draw an Arc using Start point, Center and Endpoint

You created an Arc with Start point P1, Center P2 and End point P3 (Fig.1.3.3.2).

- Draw an Arc by specifying start point, center point, and angle.

You will create a circle with specified startr point (P1), center point (P2), and angle 135^o as shown in Fig. 1.3.3.3.

1. On Ribbon, click Home tab ► Draw panel ► from the Arc drop-down menu (Fig.1.1) ► Select Start, Center, Angle icon (hover on)►
2. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify start point of arc or [ Center] : Using the mouse , click near the point P1 on the screen , or for more accuracy type on the Command prompt: 1.5,2.5 to insert the coordinates(X=1.5, Y=2.5)  of the start point P1, and define the start point of the arc.
3. Command line prompt says: ARC Specify center point of arc: Pick with your mouse a point like P2 or for more accuracy on the Command prompt type : 4,4.5 to insert coordinates (X=4, Y=4.5) of the center P2, and define the center of the arc.
4. Command line prompt says: Specify Specify included angle: moving your mouse specify an angle or for more accuracy on the Command prompt type : 135 to insert angle of the arc, and define it (Fig.1.3.3.3).
   The end (P3) of the arc is defined by specifying an included arc that uses the center of the arc as the vertex.
   The resulting arc is always created counterclockwise from the start point.

Fig.1.3.3.3 - Draw an Arc using Start point, Center and Angle