Draw tools, Object Snap and Dynamic Input - Introduction to AutoCAD 2011: 2D and 3D Design - page 53

The Ellipse tool

Ellipses can be regarded as what is seen when a circle is viewed from
directly in front of the circle and the circle rotated through an angle about
its horizontal diameter. Ellipses are measured in terms of two axes - a
major axis and a minor axis , the major axis being the diameter of the
circle and the minor axis being the height of the ellipse after the circle has
been rotated through an angle (Fig. 3.6).

major axis minor axis

Diameter

Circle rotated
through 60°

Ellipse as
seen from
direction of arrow

Circle as
seen from
a side

Circle as seen
from direction
of arrow

Fig. 3.6 An ellipse can be regarded as viewing a rotated circle

To call the Ellipse tool, click on its tool icon in the Home/Draw panel
( Fig. 3.7 ), click its name in the Draw drop-down menu or enter a or arc at
the command line.

First example - Ellipse ( Fig. 3.8 )

Left -click the Ellipse tool icon. The command line shows:

Command:_ellipse
Specify axis endpoint of elliptical arc or
[Center]: 30,190
Specify other endpoint of axis: 150,190
Specify distance to other axis or [Rotation] 25
Command:

Fig. 3.7 The Ellipse

tool icon fl yout in the
Home/Draw panel

Second example - Ellipse ( Fig. 3.8 )

In this second example, the coordinates of the centre of the ellipse (the
point where the two axes intersect) are entered , followed by entering
coordinates for the end of the major axis, followed by entering the units
for the end of the minor axis.

Command:right-click
ELLIPSE