Understanding the Boundary Command in AutoCAD
The Boundary command in AutoCAD is a powerful tool used to create polylines or regions that define specific areas within your drawings. This command is particularly useful for various applications such as hatch creation, defining project extents, and organizing drawing space.
What is the Boundary Command?
The Boundary command allows users to create closed boundaries based on existing objects in a drawing. By selecting interior points or utilizing surrounding objects, you can generate polylines or regions that closely match the desired shape or area. These boundaries can be essential for tasks like applying fills, setting up construction limits, or preparing for plotting.
How to Access the Boundary Command
To utilize the Boundary command in AutoCAD, follow these easy steps:
- Launch the Command: Navigate to the Home tab in the top ribbon and look for the Draw panel. Here, locate and click on the Boundary option.
- Open Boundary Creation Dialog: Once activated, the Boundary Creation dialog box will appear, allowing you to specify your preferences for creating boundaries.
Creating Boundaries
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Select Object Type: Within the Boundary Creation dialog, you can select either ‘Polyline’ or ‘Region’ from the Object Type dropdown menu based on your needs. Polylines are useful for outlines, while regions can encapsulate filled areas.
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Set Boundary Options: You can control the Boundary Set options, which may include settings for Island Detection. If enabled, this feature allows you to create boundaries while ignoring interior shapes (islands) that are enclosed by the selection.
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Pick Points: Click on the ‘Pick Points’ button to start selecting the interior locations of the areas for which you want to create boundaries.
- Specify Interior Points: Click within the closed space of the area you want to define, then press Enter to generate the boundary.
Utilizing Boundary and Region Commands
The Boundary command can also work in conjunction with Region commands for more complex designs:
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Switch to Region Creation: If you wish to define areas as regions (allowing for more advanced operations), repeat the steps to access the Boundary Creation dialog, but this time select ‘Region’ as the Object Type.
- Identify Regions in Your Drawing: Use the ‘Pick Points’ option to specify points inside the closed areas you want defined as regions. After selecting your points, hit Enter. The command will transform the areas into regions that you can manipulate further.
Finding and Fixing Open Boundaries
If you’re faced with open boundaries in your drawings, you can easily resolve this:
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Invoke PEDIT Command: Start the PEDIT command, then select the ‘Multiple’ option to allow editing of multiple objects simultaneously.
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Join Objects: Choose the objects you wish to join. The command will prompt you to enter a fuzz distance which should be larger than the gaps between the objects to effectively close the boundaries.
- Specify Jointype: Utilize the Jointype suboption to determine how the gaps will be closed, ensuring the continuity of the objects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of shapes can I create using the Boundary command in AutoCAD?
You can create boundaries that resemble closed shapes such as geometric figures, circles, arcs, and other combinations of objects, as long as they form a closed loop.
2. How can I check if a boundary is valid in AutoCAD?
To verify the validity of a boundary, you can use the HATCH command and attempt to hatch the area. If the hatch fills correctly, the boundary is defined adequately.
3. Can the Boundary command help with printing layouts in AutoCAD?
Yes, the Boundary command is useful for defining drawing extents, which can help when setting up prints and plots, ensuring that only the desired area is included in the output.
