When you open TexaCAD, the screen is split into four clear working zones designed for fast, distraction-free drafting:

Getting comfortable moving around the drawing canvas is the first skill every draftsman needs:

1. Panning (Sliding the sheet around)

• Using your mouse: Click and hold down the Middle Mouse Button (the wheel), then drag your mouse. The entire sheet will slide smoothly under your cursor.
• Using the keyboard: Hold down the Spacebar, left-click and drag anywhere on the canvas.
• Command line: Type P and press Enter, then left-click and drag. Press Esc to exit pan mode.

2. Zooming (Magnifying or pulling back)

• Mouse wheel: Roll the mouse wheel forward to zoom in on your part. Roll it backward to zoom out. TexaCAD automatically centers the zoom right where your mouse cursor is pointing, so point at the detail you want to see before rolling.

3. Zoom Extents (Centering everything)

If you ever get lost in an empty part of the canvas, or your drawing disappears off-screen:

1. Double-click the Middle Mouse Wheel quickly.
2. Or type Z then press Enter, then type E and press Enter.
3. Or click the Zoom Extents button in the top toolbar.
4. TexaCAD immediately calculates the outer boundary of every line and shape you have drawn and fits the entire drawing neatly onto your screen with a clean border.

Precision is the difference between an amateur sketch and an engineering blueprint. In TexaCAD, you never have to guess where a point lands. You have three ways to tell the software exact coordinates:

Method 1: Direct Distance Entry (The Most Popular Way)

This is what engineers use 90% of the time:

1. Start drawing a line (type L and press Enter). Click anywhere for the start point.
2. Move your mouse in the direction you want the line to go (for example, point straight right).
3. Without clicking, simply type the exact length on your number keys (for example, type 100).
4. Press Enter.
5. TexaCAD places a line of exactly 100 mm in that direction.

Method 2: Relative Coordinates (@X, Y)

Use relative coordinates when you want to step a specific distance away from the last point you clicked:

• Format: @X_distance, Y_distance
• Example: Typing @50,25 tells TexaCAD: "from my last point, go 50 mm to the right and 25 mm up."
• Negative numbers go left or down: @-30,-15 means "30 mm left, 15 mm down."

Method 3: Absolute Coordinates (X, Y)

Measures directly from the global origin (0, 0), which is marked by the X and Y coordinate axis marker in the bottom left:

• Typing 0,0 puts your point dead center at the world origin.
• Typing 120,80 places the point exactly 120 mm along X and 80 mm along Y from origin.

By default, TexaCAD is set to Millimeters (mm), which is the universal standard for mechanical engineering, 3D printing, and machine fabrication.

How to Change Units:

1. Type UNITS or UN in the command line and press Enter.
2. Or simply click the unit badge in the bottom status bar (it displays mm by default).
3. Select your preferred unit:
   • Millimeters (mm): Machine parts, brackets, shafts, screws, 3D prints.
   • Centimeters (cm): Product design, consumer goods, furniture.
   • Meters (m): Structural layouts, site plans, civil engineering.
   • Inches (in): Imperial hardware, standard US fasteners, piping.
   • Feet (ft): Architectural floor plans, wood framing.

Along the bottom right of the screen are the assist toggles. Turning these on and off as you work makes drawing fast and foolproof:

1. ORTHO Mode (Shortcut: F8)

Forces your cursor to move strictly in straight horizontal and vertical directions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). Use this whenever you are drawing rectangular walls, square brackets, or straight shafts so your lines are never accidentally crooked by half a degree.

2. POLAR Tracking (Shortcut: F10)

When you need to draw at common angles (like 45°, 30°, or 60°), Polar Tracking shows a dotted colored ray that snaps into place whenever your cursor approaches those angles. You can set the angle step in the status bar dropdown (15°, 30°, 45°, 90°).

3. OSNAP - Object Snap (Shortcut: F3)

This is the most critical tool in any drafting software. When Osnap is ON, your mouse cursor automatically snaps to exact geometric points when you hover near them:

• Endpoint (Green Square): Snaps to the exact tip of a line or arc.
• Midpoint (Green Triangle): Snaps to the dead center of any line segment.
• Center (Green Circle): Snaps to the exact center of a circle or arc.
• Quadrant (Green Diamond): Snaps to the top, bottom, left, or right 90° points of a circle.
• Intersection (Green X): Snaps to where two lines cross each other.
• Perpendicular: Snaps to a 90-degree right angle against another line.

4. DYNAMIC INPUT (Shortcut: F12)

Puts floating boxes right beside your mouse pointer showing the current line length and angle as you move, so you don't even have to look down at the command line.

The Line tool creates basic straight line segments. Each segment you draw is an independent object.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Press L on your keyboard, then press Enter (or the Spacebar).
2. Left-click anywhere on the canvas to set the starting point.
3. Move your mouse towards the next point. If you want a straight horizontal line, turn on Ortho (press F8).
4. Type the length you want (e.g., 150) and press Enter.
5. The line segment is drawn, and your cursor is immediately ready to start the next connected segment.
6. Repeat this for as many segments as you need.
7. To finish: Press Enter or Esc.
8. To close a polygon: If you are drawing a closed shape (like a triangle or box) and are on the last side, type C and press Enter. TexaCAD will automatically draw a line straight back to the original start point and finish the command.
9. To undo a mistake: If you placed a point in the wrong spot while drawing, type U and press Enter. It will step back one vertex without cancelling your whole shape.

A lot of beginners ask: "Why do we need Polyline when we already have Line?"

The Difference Explained:

• Normal Lines: If you draw a 4-sided box using the Line command, you get 4 separate lines. If you click one side, only that single line gets selected. If you try to calculate the area or turn it into a 3D block, the software doesn't know it's a solid box.
• Polyline (PL): If you draw that same box using Polyline, all 4 sides are joined together as one single object. Clicking any part selects the entire shape. You can calculate its cross-sectional area with one click, offset the entire outline inward or outward, or extrude it into a 3D solid.

How to Draw a Polyline:

1. Type PL and press Enter.
2. Click the start point.
3. Click subsequent points or type distances just like you do with lines.
4. When you reach the last corner of an enclosed profile, type C and press Enter to make it a closed loop.

Circles in engineering drawings represent holes, cylindrical shafts, pins, and round bosses.

Method 1: Drawing by Radius (Default)

1. Type C and press Enter.
2. Click on the canvas where you want the center of the circle (use Osnap to center on another part).
3. Move your mouse out to size it visually, or simply type the radius on your keyboard (for example, type 20 for a 40 mm wide circle) and press Enter.

Method 2: Drawing by Diameter (Recommended for Holes)

Engineering drawings usually call out drill holes by their full diameter (e.g., Ø12 mm), not radius. You don't have to divide by 2 in your head:

1. Type C and press Enter.
2. Click the center point.
3. Type D and press Enter (this switches the tool to Diameter mode).
4. Type the exact hole size (e.g., 12) and press Enter.
5. TexaCAD creates an exact 12 mm diameter circle.

The 3-Point Arc is the easiest way to draw curved lines for rounded pipe bends, transitions, door clearance swings, and curved bracket edges.

How It Works:

1. Type A and press Enter.
2. Click Point 1: Where the curve begins.
3. Click Point 2: Any point along the crest of the curve (how high or wide the curve bulges).
4. Click Point 3: Where the curve ends.
5. TexaCAD calculates the exact circle that passes through those three points and draws the smooth arc.

The Rectangle command creates a 4-sided closed rectangular boundary with perfectly square 90-degree corners in just two clicks.

Method 1: By Exact Dimensions (@Width, Height)

1. Type REC and press Enter.
2. Click where you want the bottom-left corner of the box.
3. Type @Width,Height on your keyboard. For example, to make a plate 120 mm wide and 60 mm tall, type: @120,60
4. Press Enter. Your rectangle is created at exact dimensions.

Method 2: Visual Two-Corner Drag

1. Type REC and press Enter.
2. Click the first corner.
3. Move your cursor diagonally across and click the opposite corner.

Use the Polygon command to draw regular geometric shapes with equal sides, such as bolt heads (hexagons, 6 sides), stop signs (octagons, 8 sides), or equilateral triangles (3 sides).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Type POL and press Enter.
2. The command prompt asks: "Enter number of sides <4>:". Type the number of sides you want (for a hex bolt head, type 6) and press Enter.
3. Click on the canvas to set the Center Point of the polygon.
4. Choose between Inscribed or Circumscribed:
   • Inscribed (Type I): The polygon sits inside the reference circle. The radius you type measures from the center to the sharp corner points.
   • Circumscribed (Type C): The polygon sits outside the circle. The radius measures from the center to the flat sides. For an M10 bolt head that fits a 17 mm wrench, you circumscribe around half the wrench size (8.5 mm).
5. Type the radius value and press Enter.

An ellipse is an egg-shaped or oval curve defined by two axes: a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis.

Drawing an Ellipse:

1. Type EL and press Enter.
2. Click the center point of the ellipse.
3. Move your cursor to the right and type the half-width (major radius, e.g. 50) and press Enter.
4. Move your cursor up and type the half-height (minor radius, e.g. 25) and press Enter.

Isometric Circles (Isocircles):

When you are drawing in 3D Isometric mode (F5 Isodraft), round circular holes look like angled ovals. Do NOT draw a normal circle in isometric view—it will look flat and wrong. Instead, type ISOC (Isocircle), click the center, and type the radius. TexaCAD will automatically tilt the ellipse to match the exact 30-degree isometric plane you are on!

Drawings require technical notes, like "MATERIAL: AL 6061-T6" or "ALL ROUNDS R3 MM UNLESS NOTED".

How to Place Text:

1. Type T and press Enter (or click Text in the ribbon).
2. Click on the canvas where you want the text to appear.
3. A clean typing box pops up right on your screen.
4. Type your text notes. You can press Shift+Enter to create a new line.
5. Set the text height (14 mm is standard for titles, 5 to 7 mm for notes).
6. Press Enter to place the text onto your drawing.

To edit existing text: Just double-click on any text word on your canvas to open the editor back up.

The Move command shifts objects from one location to another. You should never guess or move objects blindly.

The Rule of Base Points:

The Base Point is your reference handle. If you want to snap the top-left corner of a plate onto a specific corner of a frame:

1. Select the plate you want to move.
2. Type M and press Enter.
3. Click on the top-left corner of the plate (with Osnap on, to snap cleanly to the endpoint). This is your base point.
4. Now move your mouse over to the frame. Click the exact corner point of the frame where you want that plate to land.
5. The plate moves into place with zero gap or error.

Unlike standard computer copy-paste (Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V), drafting Copy uses precise vector displacement and supports continuous multi-drop.

How Multi-Drop Works:

1. Select the part you want to copy (for example, a bolt hole).
2. Type CO or CP and press Enter.
3. Click the center of the hole as your Base Point.
4. Now click anywhere on your drawing to place a duplicate.
5. Notice the command does NOT quit! You can click a second spot, a third spot, a fourth spot—dropping copies at each click.
6. When you have placed all the copies you need, press Enter or Esc to stop.

Rotates objects around a stationary pivot point.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Select the objects you wish to turn.
2. Type RO and press Enter.
3. Click the Pivot Base Point. This is the hinge pin or center point that stays completely still while the rest of the object turns around it.
4. As you move your mouse, a live dashed ghost preview spins around the pivot point following your cursor.
5. Typing an angle: Simply type the angle in degrees (e.g., type 45 for forty-five degrees counter-clockwise, or -90 for ninety degrees clockwise) and press Enter.
6. The object rotates cleanly to that exact angle.

The Scale command changes the physical dimensions of selected geometry proportionally along both X and Y axes.

How Scale Factors Work:

• 2.0 = Doubles the size of the object (200%).
• 1.5 = Makes the object 50% larger (150%).
• 0.5 = Halves the size of the object (50%).
• 0.25 = Shrinks the object down to one quarter (25%).

How to Scale:

1. Select your geometry, type SC, and press Enter.
2. Click a stationary Base Anchor Point (the corner that will stay in place).
3. Type your scale factor (e.g. 0.5) and press Enter.

Most mechanical parts (brackets, engine pistons, aircraft wings, bottles) are symmetrical. Experienced draftsmen never draw both sides from scratch. You draw one half, then use Mirror to reflect the other half in two seconds.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Select the half you drew.
2. Type MI and press Enter.
3. Click the First Point of your symmetry centerline.
4. Move your cursor along the centerline. A dashed axis line and a live mirrored ghost reflection appear on screen.
5. Click the Second Point on that centerline.
6. TexaCAD creates the mirrored second half on the canvas.

The Offset tool creates an exact duplicate of any line, circle, or rectangle at an exact perpendicular distance D.

How to Use Offset:

1. Type O and press Enter.
2. TexaCAD asks for distance (the current distance is shown, e.g. 10 mm). Type whatever wall thickness you need (e.g. 5) and press Enter.
3. Click on the line, circle, or rectangle you want to offset.
4. Now click on the side where you want the copy:
   • For a circle: clicking outside makes a larger concentric circle; clicking inside makes a smaller concentric hole.
   • For a line: clicking above places the parallel line above; clicking below places it below.
5. The offset line is created immediately, and the command stays active so you can click another line right away!

When drafting, lines frequently overlap or shoot past where they are supposed to end. The Trim command cuts away unwanted overhangs cleanly at the exact intersection point.

How to Trim:

1. Type TR and press Enter.
2. Hover over the part of the line you want to erase.
3. Left-click on that segment. TexaCAD checks every intersecting line, arc, and box crossing it, and snips out that specific piece cleanly.

Trimming Wires Inside a Block:

If you draw a line that passes straight through a rectangle or electrical block, you often want to delete the segment inside the box while keeping the wire on both sides. In TexaCAD, simply click the line segment that lies inside the box. TexaCAD removes the middle piece and leaves the two outside ends as clean, trimmed wires.

The Extend command is the opposite of Trim: it takes a line that falls short of another object and lengthens it forward along its exact angle until it meets the boundary line.

How to Extend:

1. Type EX and press Enter.
2. Click near the end of the line you want to lengthen.
3. The line immediately shoots forward until it touches the first boundary in its path.
4. Shift Key Trick: Hold down Shift while clicking any line to Trim it instead!

Sharp internal corners on machined parts cause stress concentrations and crack under load. The Fillet tool rounds sharp 90-degree corners with a tangent circular arc.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Type F and press Enter. The current radius is reported (e.g., R15 mm).
2. To change the radius, type R or type the number directly (e.g., type 20) and press Enter.
3. Click the First Line of the corner.
4. Click the Second Line of the corner.
5. TexaCAD automatically calculates the tangent circle, places the smooth curved arc between the lines, and trims the sharp pointed corner away!

A Chamfer cuts off a sharp corner with a flat, straight angled bevel (often used on bolt holes to deburr them and guide pins in easily).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Type CHA and press Enter.
2. To adjust the setback distance, type D or type the number (e.g., 10) and press Enter.
3. Click the first line of the corner.
4. Click the second line.
5. TexaCAD bevels the corner with a clean 45-degree angled line segment.

Explode (Shortcut: X):

Breaks compound objects apart:

• If you select a Rectangle and type X + Enter, the rectangle turns into 4 separate lines that you can edit, trim, or delete individually.
• If you explode a Hardware Block (like a bolt or gear), it breaks down into its individual lines and circles.

Join (Shortcut: J):

The exact opposite of Explode:

1. Select multiple individual line segments whose ends touch each other.
2. Type J and press Enter.
3. TexaCAD welds them into a single continuous Polyline.

Polar Array (Radial Circular Patterns):

Used for bolt patterns on pipe flanges, car wheel lug holes, and gear teeth:

1. Draw one hole circle.
2. Type ARRAYPOLAR (or click Polar Array in ribbon).
3. Select the hole circle and click the center of the big flange.
4. Enter how many holes you want (e.g., 6).
5. TexaCAD evenly spaces 6 identical holes in a circle around that center point!

Rectangular Array (Grid Patterns):

Used for perforated sheets, heat sink fins, and matrix layouts:

1. Type ARRAYRECT and select your shape.
2. Specify the number of rows (e.g. 4) and columns (e.g. 6) and spacing between them.
3. TexaCAD creates the entire grid pattern instantly.

Dimensions tell the machinist exactly how large to make the part.

How to Place a Linear Dimension:

1. Type DLI and press Enter (or click Linear Dim in the ribbon).
2. Click the first corner of the feature you want to measure (use Endpoint snap).
3. Click the second corner.
4. Move your cursor outwards: you will see two thin extension witness lines and the dimension text following your mouse.
5. Click where you want the dimension line to sit. TexaCAD writes the exact millimeter measurement (e.g. 120.00 mm).

If you use a normal Linear Dimension on a slanted line, it will only measure either the flat horizontal width or the vertical height. To measure the true angled length of the slope:

1. Type DAL and press Enter.
2. Click the top point of the slope, then the bottom point.
3. Drag the dimension line outwards parallel to the angle. The dimension line tilts to match the exact slope of the part.

Radius (Shortcut: DRA):

Used for rounding arcs and fillets. Type DRA, click on any arc or rounded corner, and drag your cursor outwards. TexaCAD places a leader arrow pointing directly to the curve and writes R15.00 mm.

Diameter (Shortcut: DDI):

Used for drilled holes. Type DDI, click on any circular hole, and pull the leader arrow out. TexaCAD writes the diameter symbol: Ø25.00 mm.

Angular Dimension (DAN):

Measures the corner angle between two non-parallel lines in degrees:

1. Type DAN and press Enter.
2. Click the first angled line.
3. Click the second angled line.
4. Move your cursor into the gap between them to position the curved dimension arc. TexaCAD displays the exact angle (e.g. 45.0°).

Leaders (LEAD):

An arrow that points to a specific surface or hole with a custom note (e.g., "M8 TAP x 20 DEEP" or "CHAMFER 2x45°"). Type LEAD, click where the arrowhead should touch the part, drag the shoulder line out, and type your note.

In mechanical manufacturing, no two parts can be machined to the exact same atom. Tolerances specify the allowable deviation from nominal size:

The Three Fundamental Fit Classes:

• Clearance Fit (e.g. H7/g6): The hole is always slightly larger than the shaft. The shaft can spin or slide freely with lubrication (used for motor shafts, pulleys, sliding sleeves).
• Transition Fit (e.g. H7/k6): The hole and shaft are almost identical in size. Assembly requires a light mallet tap (used for precision location dowel pins and gear keys).
• Interference / Press Fit (e.g. H7/p6): The shaft is physically larger than the hole. Assembly requires a hydraulic press or heating the outer hub. Once joined, friction locks them solidly without keys or bolts.

When you cut a mechanical part in half (a Section View), cross-hatching fills the solid metal walls with 45-degree diagonal lines while leaving empty internal cavities, oil passages, and bores clean white.

Hatching Rules:

• Adjacent assembled components (like a bolt inside a housing) must have their hatch lines angled in opposite directions (e.g. 45° for the housing, 135° for the sleeve) so you can tell where one part stops and the next begins.
• Shafts, bolts, pins, and ball bearings are never section-hatched along their length.

Engineering drawings often include an Isometric pictorial view in the corner so people can visualize what the 3D part looks like in real life.

How ISODRAFT Works:

1. Click the ISODRAFT button in the bottom status bar (or type ISODRAFT).
2. Notice the crosshair on your screen tilts to a 30-degree diamond shape!
3. Press the F5 key on your keyboard. Each press cycles between the three faces of a 3D cube:
   • Isoplane Top: For drawing the top surfaces (axes at 30° and 150°).
   • Isoplane Right: For drawing the right vertical side (axes at 30° and 90°).
   • Isoplane Left: For drawing the left vertical side (axes at 90° and 150°).
4. Turn on Ortho (F8) and start drawing lines—every line will naturally snap to 30-degree axonometric angles!

TexaCAD includes a real-time 3D extrusion preview engine. When you draw a 2D floor plate or mechanical cross-section:

1. Click the 3D Solid Extrusion button in the View ribbon.
2. TexaCAD casts depth vectors along the Z-axis for all closed boundaries.
3. Your flat drawing instantly springs up into a shaded 3D volumetric model with realistic lighting and wireframe edges.

You never have to waste 20 minutes drawing a standard hex bolt from scratch. TexaCAD includes an ISO-compliant engineering block catalog.

How to Insert a Bolt:

1. Open the left sidebar and click the Block Catalog tab (or type B).
2. Under Fasteners, click M8 Hex Bolt or M12 Socket Head Screw.
3. Click on your canvas where you want to place the fastener.
4. The bolt is placed with exact head flats, shank diameter, washer face, and centerlines compliant with ISO 4014.

The standard parts library includes:

• Ball Bearings (608ZZ & 6204): Standard radial roller bearings with outer race, inner race, rolling ball elements, and pitch diameter centerlines.
• AGMA Spur Gears (24 Teeth, Module 4): Accurate involute gear teeth with pitch circle (Ø96 mm), root circle, tip circle, and 25 mm shaft bore with keyway.
• Structural Steel (HEB 200 I-Beam): European standard wide-flange structural beam with cross-hatching and neutral bending axis.

Think of layers like transparent plastic sheets stacked on top of each other. You draw the actual part outline on one sheet, the dimensions on another, and the centerlines on a third.

Standard Engineering Layers:

• Hide Layer (Eye Icon): Makes all lines on that layer invisible without deleting them. Great for hiding crowded dimensions while you edit geometry.
• Lock Layer (Lock Icon): Prevents any objects on that layer from being moved, edited, or accidentally deleted with the Erase key.

In universities and technical institutes, students frequently copy another student's CAD drawing, change the title block name, and submit it as their own work. In ordinary CAD software, teachers cannot easily prove who drew the lines.

In TexaCAD, That Is Impossible:

TexaCAD records a silent mathematical signature on every single line you draw. It notes the author username, the timestamp, and the exact keystroke method used to make it. If someone opens another student's file and copies their drawing geometry:

1. TexaCAD immediately recognizes that the lines originated under a different user account.
2. The lines are branded in the internal database with a permanent COPIED handle ID.
3. If the student attempts to modify the copied lines, the system flags the file as Tampered Lineage.
4. When the professor opens the file in Professor Audit Mode, any copied geometry glows in bright warning red, displaying the original student's name and exact date of creation.

You never need to open the Windows calculator while drafting in TexaCAD. You can type math formulas directly into the command dissipator:

• Type CAL 125/4 and press Enter $ ightarrow$ TexaCAD outputs 31.25.
• Type CAL 50 + 25*cos(PI/4) $ ightarrow$ TexaCAD outputs the exact diagonal offset.
• You can even type math while using a drawing tool: when prompted for a distance, type 150/2 and press Enter to draw a 75 mm line!

Universal engineering collaboration relies on DXF (Drawing Exchange Format). TexaCAD outputs standard ASCII DXF Release 12 (AC1009), which is the single most widely compatible vector file format in the world.

How to Export a DXF:

1. Click the Export DXF icon in the top toolbar (or type DXFOUT).
2. Choose where to save the .dxf file on your computer.
3. The exported file can be opened in any CNC router software, laser cutter controller, 3D CAD program, or CAM toolpath generator without error.

When you are ready to submit your engineering drawing or hand it to a machinist on the workshop floor:

1. Press Ctrl+P or click Plot in the top toolbar.
2. Select your paper size (e.g. ISO A3: 420 × 297 mm or ISO A4: 297 × 210 mm).
3. Choose Monochrome (black lines on white paper) or Full Color.
4. Click Save PDF to save a crisp vector PDF file directly to your disk.

Print this master lookup table or keep it open while drafting in TexaCAD:

Project Objective:

In this project, you will draft a standard DN 100 Class 150 Pipe Flange with an outer diameter of 220 mm, a bore hole of 115 mm, and 6 bolt holes of Ø18 mm evenly distributed on a 180 mm Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD).

Step-by-Step Blueprint Walkthrough:

1. Set Up Workspace: Make sure your units are set to Millimeters. Press F8 to turn on Ortho mode, and press F3 to enable Osnap.
2. Draw the Outer Flange Body:
   • Type C and press Enter. Click anywhere for center point (0, 0).
   • Type D (Diameter mode), type 220, and press Enter.
3. Draw the Center Bore Hole:
   • Type C and press Enter. Snap to the center of the outer circle.
   • Type D, type 115, and press Enter.
4. Draw the Pitch Circle (PCD):
   • Switch active layer to Centerlines (orange).
   • Type C and press Enter, snap to center, type D, type 180, and press Enter.
5. Draw Centerline Cross:
   • Draw a horizontal centerline from (-125, 0) to (125, 0).
   • Draw a vertical centerline from (0, -125) to (0, 125).
6. Draw the First Bolt Hole:
   • Switch active layer back to 0_Default (blue).
   • Type C and press Enter. Snap to the top quadrant of the PCD circle at coordinate (0, 90).
   • Type D, type 18, and press Enter.
7. Array the 6 Bolt Holes (Polar Array):
   • Select the 18 mm bolt hole circle.
   • Type ARRAYPOLAR and press Enter.
   • Click the dead center of the flange (0, 0) as the pivot axis.
   • Type 6 for number of items and press Enter. All 6 holes instantly populate at exact 60-degree increments around the flange!
8. Add Engineering Dimensions:
   • Switch to Dimensions layer.
   • Use DDI to call out the Ø220 mm outer diameter and Ø115 mm bore.
   • Use LEAD to add a note: "6 HOLES Ø18 EQUI-SPACED ON 180 PCD".

Project Objective:

Draft a stepped gearbox shaft with three distinct turned diameters: a 30 mm bearing seat (length 40 mm), a 45 mm main drive gear section (length 80 mm), and a 25 mm threaded output stub (length 35 mm).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Draw the Horizontal Centerline: Type L, switch to Centerlines layer, and draw a horizontal line 200 mm long.
2. Draw the Shaft Steps Using Upper Profile:
   • Step 1 (Bearing Seat): @40,15 (half of 30 mm diameter).
   • Step 2 (Gear Shoulder): @0,7.5 up to reach 22.5 mm radius, then @80,0 horizontally.
   • Step 3 (Output Stub): @0,-10 down to reach 12.5 mm radius, then @35,0 horizontally, then down to centerline.
3. Mirror the Profile: Select the top stepped outline, type MI (Mirror), click the start of the centerline, click the end of the centerline. The bottom half is mirrored instantly!
4. Add Shoulder Fillets:
   • Sharp corners on stepped shafts cause fatigue fractures. Type F and press Enter.
   • Type R 3 to set a 3 mm radius fillet.
   • Click the vertical shoulder face and the horizontal shaft body. TexaCAD rounds the transition smoothly.
5. Add Lead-in Chamfers: Type CHA, type D 2, and click the outer shaft tips to add 2 mm assembly chamfers.

Project Objective:

Construct an L-bracket (150 mm base × 180 mm upright × 12 mm steel plate thickness) reinforced by a 10 mm triangular stiffener gusset and four oblong mounting slots.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Draw Outer Profile: Type PL (Polyline). Click origin, draw 150 mm right, draw 12 mm up, draw 138 mm left, draw 168 mm up, draw 12 mm left, draw 180 mm down to close.
2. Draw the Triangular Gusset: Type PL. Start at coordinate (20, 12) on the base plate, draw diagonal line up to (12, 160) on the upright plate, draw down to the inside corner, and close.
3. Add Slotted Mounting Holes:
   • A slot is drawn with two Ø14 mm circles placed 20 mm apart.
   • Draw two parallel tangent lines connecting the circles.
   • Type TR (Trim) and click the inside arc of each circle to hollow out the slot cleanly into an oblong track!

Project Objective:

In this exercise, you will draw a complete 3D isometric representation of a stepped machine support block (100 mm long × 60 mm wide × 50 mm tall) featuring a 25 mm step cutout and a vertical Ø20 mm through-bore hole on the top face.

Step-by-Step Blueprint Walkthrough:

1. Turn On Isometric Drafting Mode:
   • Click ISODRAFT in the bottom status bar (or type ISODRAFT).
   • Press F8 to turn on Ortho Mode. Notice your lines now automatically lock to 30°, 90°, and 150°.
2. Draft the Front-Left Vertical Face (Isoplane Left):
   • Press F5 until the status bar says ISOPLANE LEFT (axes at 90° and 150°).
   • Type L, click start point, draw 100 mm along 150°, draw 50 mm vertically up (90°), draw 40 mm back along 330°, draw 25 mm down, draw 60 mm back along 330°, and draw down to close.
3. Cast Depth Across the Block (Isoplane Top & Right):
   • Press F5 to switch to ISOPLANE TOP (axes at 30° and 150°).
   • From each corner of the front face, draw 60 mm long lines along the 30° axis.
   • Connect the rear ends with parallel 150° lines to complete the solid stepped envelope.
4. Draw the Vertical Bore Hole (Isocircle):
   • Make sure you are on ISOPLANE TOP (the hole is on the horizontal top face).
   • Find the center of the top step by drawing a temporary construction diagonal.
   • Type ISOC (Isocircle) and press Enter.
   • Click the center point. Type 10 for radius (for a 20 mm hole) and press Enter.
   • TexaCAD generates a mathematically correct 30-degree tilted isometric ellipse!

Project Objective:

Construct a clean IEEE/IEC standard inverting amplifier circuit diagram complete with an operational amplifier symbol, feedback loop resistor, input resistor, and signal ground connections.

Step-by-Step Blueprint Walkthrough:

1. Insert the Op-Amp Symbol:
   • Open the left sidebar, click Block Catalog, select Electrical, and click OPAMP_SYMBOL.
   • Click near the center of your sheet (0, 0) to drop the triangle amplifier with inverting (-) and non-inverting (+) inputs and output port.
2. Draw Input and Ground Traces:
   • Type L, snap to the non-inverting (+) port, draw a line straight down 30 mm, and draw three horizontal ground strokes.
   • From the inverting (-) port, draw a horizontal wire left 60 mm.
3. Add Feedback Resistor Loop:
   • Draw a vertical wire going up 40 mm from the inverting input.
   • Draw horizontally right across the top of the op-amp, then down into the output lead.
4. Trimming Crossed Jumper Wires:
   • When signal traces cross over power rails without making electrical contact, use Trim (TR) to cut an 8 mm gap in the jumper line, or insert a bridge arc.

Project Objective:

Draft a scaled single-office layout: room dimensions 5000 mm × 4000 mm, exterior wall thickness 200 mm, interior partition 100 mm, a standard 900 mm clearance door swing, and a 1200 mm double-glazed window.

Step-by-Step Blueprint Walkthrough:

1. Draw the Exterior Room Envelope:
   • Type REC and press Enter. Click first corner, then type @5000,4000 and press Enter.
2. Create 200 mm Wall Thickness with Offset:
   • Type O (Offset) and press Enter. Type 200 for wall thickness.
   • Click the room rectangle, then click outside the box. TexaCAD offsets an exact parallel outer wall perimeter!
3. Cut Door Opening in the Wall:
   • Locate the door position 300 mm away from the interior corner.
   • Draw two parallel tick lines 900 mm apart across the wall gap.
   • Type TR (Trim) and click the wall lines between the ticks to cut the wall opening completely open!
4. Insert Architectural Door Swing:
   • Open Block Catalog » Architectural » DOOR_SWING_90.
   • Drop the door block right at the jamb hinge. The block includes the 900 mm door leaf and the 90-degree clearance swing arc.

Every draftsman runs into little hiccups while drafting. Here is the fast emergency handbook to solve the 20 most frequent issues instantly:

Why TexaCAD Was Created:

Modern engineering education and industrial drafting faced two massive problems:

1. Bloated, Sluggish Legacy Software: Existing CAD programs take gigabytes of disk space, require constant internet connectivity, force students into complex cloud accounts, and lag on standard school laptops.
2. Unchecked Homework Plagiarism: In universities, students routinely swap files, rename title blocks, and pass off someone else's CAD work as their own. Instructors had zero forensic tools to verify genuine authorship.

Atharva designed TexaCAD to solve both problems in a single, lightweight, blazing-fast desktop application: an offline vector drafting engine with institutional-grade cryptographic attribution that runs instantly on any PC.