This post is not on Chinese philosophy, but how to create the well known Yin-Yang symbol in AutoCAD in six simple steps. I had some extra energy today and put this together quickly. The exercise shows how easy it can be using simple AutoCAD command methods to create cool geometry. This would be a good simple exercise for students and those just learning AutoCAD.

I will be working from the 2D Drafting & Annotation Workspace. I am providing screen capture images for the steps, a video to view what I did, and the DWG file to view the steps.

1. Create a circle using the AutoCAD CIRCLE command or selecting it from the Ribbon Home Tab (see green arrow). I am creating a 6” diameter circle.
   
   
   (best practices tip) Setup some initial layers to keep your geometry on separate layers. I created layers for the outer circle, inner circles, black hatch and white hatch.
   
2. Now that I have the outer circle of 6” diameter created, I will create two half sized circles inside it using the Object Snaps QUA and CEN.
   Create the first one using the Circle 2Point method and select the OSNAP (Shift+right mouse button) QUAdrant as the first point then CENter for the center of the big circle for the second point. This results in a 3” diameter circle.
   
3. Now to create the second inner circle we will simply use the MIRROR command and mirror about the center of the large circle.
   
4. Now we will create two more circles for the inner hatch areas of the symbol. We will accomplish this by using the OFFSET command. We will set the Offset distance to 1.5” which is half that of the inner 3” circle, which is half the outer 6” circle. :-). Now do this offset on both the inner circles.
   
5. Now the Yin-Yang Symbol will take a more recognizable shape. We will use the TRIM command to trim portions of the inner circles and using other portions as the cutting edges.
   
   
   Now you should have the following shape
   
6. Now lets hatch the areas and we will be complete with this quick & hopefully fun exercise. You will notice after selecting the HATCH command option you get the new Hatch Creation ribbon.
   
   This new Hatch Creation ribbon makes it really easy visually preview what the hatched region will look like before committing to the hatch operation.
   
   Select Hatch and then use a Solid white for areas 1 and then the Hatch command again but this time select black (color 250) for areas 2.
   
   
   Now you should be done with a finished Yin-Yang symbol.
   

Here is the completed AutoCAD DWG file containing the stepped progress.
Download YinYang.DWG

Here is a quick video without audio going through the steps: Yinyangex

AutoCAD is not a raster editing or photo editing program constructing things from semi accurate pixels, but a seriously accurate to 16 places from the decimal vector based ( 3 dimensional x,y,z coordinates) drawing program used in the design and detailing/drafting of construction documents of more items for industries than I could mention in a 100,000 page book.

If you don't have AutoCAD you can download a free fully functional 30 day trial from http://www.autodesk.com/autocad. You can also do this same geometry exercise in the new AutoCAD Freestyle designed and priced for those not needing the full power of AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT but needing the accuracy and some of the drawing tools even my mom could use.

Most all my screen captures have been made for 12 years now using Techsmith’s Snagit program which is available on both the Windows PC and Mac platforms. In honor of my 12+ years of Snagit use, Techsmith’s Chief Evangelist Betsy Weber has graciously given me 12 licenses of the new Snagit release 10 to give away to my blog readers and Twitter followers ( I am @mrcadman) . I am just coming up with a clever way to give them away to those that follow this blog or my Twitter and am open to suggestions on creative and fun ways.

Cheers,
Shaan

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