AutoCAD Drawing & Modify Tools: Spline, Arrays & Properties Guide (Updated July 2026)

AutoCAD Drawing & Modify Tools: Spline, Arrays & Properties Guide (Updated July 2026) (Updated July 2026)

India's manufacturing sector added ₹71,343 crore in investments and 62,405 jobs through the AURIC industrial corridor alone in 2025 — and every one of those manufacturing companies needs CAD drafters who can handle smooth curves, repeated geometry, and accurate annotations. The AutoCAD Spline, Array, and Properties tools covered in this session are the exact tools that separate a 3-week beginner from someone companies will pay ₹3–4 LPA to on day one. This guide follows the actual classroom session: from drawing smooth freeform curves with SPL, to generating 34 copies of a component in one Array command, to changing colour and linetype for any object via Properties.

AutoCAD Spline (SPL): Drawing Smooth Curves for Engineering Applications

Type SPL and press Enter to start the Spline command. Click each control point to define the curve's shape — AutoCAD smoothly connects them. The more control points you add, the more complex the curve. Press Enter when you're done defining points. Splines are essential in wiring harness routing diagrams, pipe runs in MEP drawings, and any scenario where a smooth organic line is needed. What most people don't realise: you can convert a spline to a polyline with SPLINEDIT > Convert to Polyline if you need to edit it with grip tools. To delete a spline, just select and press Delete — it won't disturb surrounding geometry.

AutoCAD Text Command: Adding and Editing Labels in Your Drawing

The TEXT command (shortcut: TEXT or DT) places single-line labels. Type TEXT, specify a start point, enter height (use 2.5–3 mm for most drawings), enter rotation angle (0 for horizontal), then type your label text. Press Enter to start a new line below, or press Escape to exit. Double-click any existing text to edit inline. To change a label's standard or style, right-click > Properties > Text Style. For paragraph-style text with columns and formatting, use MTEXT — it opens a rich-text editor. Here's the thing: use TEXT for dimension notes and part names, MTEXT for general notes and title block content where wrapping or bold/italic is needed.

Rectangular Array in AutoCAD: Rows, Columns and Levels Explained

Type ARRAYRECT (or choose Rectangular from the Array dropdown) to create a matrix of copies. Select your object, press Enter, and a window opens. Set Columns (horizontal count) and Rows (vertical count) — for example, 5 columns × 4 rows gives 20 copies. Adjust column spacing (distance between each copy's baseline) and row spacing. The Level setting adds 3D floor layers — for 2D work keep levels at 1. Tick Associative in the panel to link all copies: resizing one updates all. Click Close Array when satisfied. Trust me — Rectangular Array saves hours when you're drafting bolt hole patterns, window grids, or structural column layouts.

AutoCAD Array Types — Quick Comparison

Array Type	Command	Best Use	Key Setting
Rectangular	ARRAYRECT	Bolt patterns, window grids	Rows, Columns, Spacing
Path	ARRAYPATH	Cable trays, handrail spindles	Path curve, item count
Polar	ARRAYPOLAR	Gear teeth, flange bolt holes	Centre point, fill angle
Spline	SPL	Wiring, pipe routes, freeform	Control points, Convert to PL

Path Array and Polar Array: Advanced Copy Patterns in AutoCAD

Path Array (ARRAYPATH) copies objects along any line, arc, polyline, or spline. Select your base object, press Enter, then select the path. AutoCAD distributes copies evenly along the path length. You can adjust item count or spacing. The Tangent option aligns each copy to the direction of the path at that point — key for cable tray layouts that turn corners. Polar Array (ARRAYPOLAR) distributes copies around a centre point. Select the object, press Enter, pick the centre point, and specify item count and fill angle (360° for a complete ring, 180° for a semicircle). Both array types default to Associative — change the spacing after creation by selecting the array and editing grip handles.

AutoCAD Object Properties: Changing Colour, Linetype and Lineweight

Select any object and open Properties (shortcut: PR, or press Ctrl+1). The Properties panel shows: Layer, Color, Linetype, Linetype Scale, Lineweight, and for text objects — Text Style, Height, Rotation. To change colour: click Color > select from ACI palette or enter a True Color hex. To change linetype: click Linetype > select from loaded types; if your type isn't listed, use Linetype Manager (LINETYPE command) to Load it first. To change lineweight: click Lineweight > pick from the list (0.13 to 2.11 mm). Lineweights only display on screen if Display Lineweight is on (LW command to toggle). The good news is you can multi-select objects of different types and change shared properties all at once.

AutoCAD Career Paths in Maharashtra: Who Hires and What They Pay

AutoCAD-skilled drafters and design engineers are in constant demand in Pune's industrial belt. Tata Tech (Hinjewadi), Bajaj Auto (Akurdi, 164+ openings), Bharat Forge (Mundhwa), and KPIT Technologies all hire AutoCAD operators at ₹2.0–4.0 LPA for freshers. In Sambhajinagar, Skoda VW Shendra (Plot A-1/1) and Bajaj Waluj (Plot G-137) are active hirers. For Sangli students, Kupwad MIDC's 250+ SMMMA industries regularly post AutoCAD draughtsman roles at ₹1.8–3.5 LPA. With 2 years' experience and 3D CAD addition (CATIA or SolidWorks), the package jumps to ₹4–7 LPA across Maharashtra.

Under Maharashtra's CMKVY scheme, students completing MSME-certified AutoCAD and CAD/CAM programs may claim ₹6,000–₹10,000 as skill training support. ABC Trainings is MSME and ISO 9001:2015 certified — ask at the Wagholi, Hadapsar, or Sangli centre for CMKVY registration guidance.

FAQs

What is the SPL command in AutoCAD and when should I use it?

SPL is the shortcut for the Spline command. Use it when you need a smooth, curved line that passes through multiple control points — common in wiring harness layouts, pipe routing, and industrial design sketches. Type SPL, click your control points, and press Enter to finish.

How do I create a Rectangular Array in AutoCAD?

Type ARRAYRECT and press Enter. Select the object to copy, press Enter, then set the number of Columns and Rows in the Array panel. Adjust the spacing between copies by entering values in the Column and Row Spacing fields. Click Close Array to confirm.

What is the difference between Path Array and Polar Array in AutoCAD?

Path Array copies objects along a selected path (line, arc, or curve) — ideal for cable trays and handrail spindles. Polar Array distributes objects in a circular pattern around a centre point — ideal for gear teeth and flange bolt holes. Both are accessed from the Array dropdown or by typing ARRAYPATH / ARRAYPOLAR.

How do I change an object's colour and linetype in AutoCAD?

Select the object(s) and open Properties by pressing Ctrl+1 or typing PR. In the Properties panel, click Color to change the colour and Linetype to change the line style. For linetype options not listed, use the LINETYPE command to load additional types from the acad.lin library.