Basic CAD 1

This course is designed to build on the QuickStart CAD course. It is the second part of a four course series leading to CAD competency. Whereas the QuickStart course moved as rapidly as possible through the complete CAD process, without examining in any detail the use of individual CAD commands, this course provides an in-depth look at the majority of CAD tools in the AutoCAD/IntelliCAD environment. We focus on the commands used to place entities in the drawing - the DRAW commands.

The figure below shows one of the DRAW commands we cover - the use of the SPLINE command in IntelliCAD/AutoCAD.

Spline Fit

The aim is to ensure that by the end of the series of courses, participants can draft using IntelliCAD or AutoCAD software to the Australian Standard for technical drafting (AS1100). The links below enable you to sample some materials from the course

 

Movie Click here to play an instructional movie (2.3 mb) from the course. We show the use of the circle command. In order to play the movie, you will need broadband Internet access, a sound card in your computer and Windows Media Player. This player is installed by default in most Windows computers. An up to date copy can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft.com web site if required.

 

Movie Here is another movie in which we demonstrate how to make a CAD version of your logo.

Cost of courses

  • Online learning via broadband

The most popular option is to take a course as an online learning student. Our online broadband learning courses features rapid enrolment, many multi media instructional movies, online forums, multi-choice reviews, questionnaires, submission of assignments, email support etc. This is an enhanced learning experience at an affordable price. Click one of the broadband online learning sites above and click on the blue information button to sample a course. Visit www.softwaretutor.designcad.com.au and enrol now. The course cost is $AUD75.00 for >30 hours of high quality training.You can pay by PayPal which accepts direct deposit and credit cards and start immediately or send us an email requesting an enrolment. We will enrol you and post out an invoice. Payment can then be made by direct deposit. Our bank details will be on the invoice. We do offer reduced rates for students from the same organisation.

  • One-on-one training (Adelaide or Canberra - in our offices or yours).

We can provide face-to face training. Each course takes one day and costs $AUD550.00. We do require some information about what it is that you or your organisation hopes to achieve by training so that we can prepare appropriate materials in advance of the course.

Each participant in one-on-one full day courses is automatically enrolled at no extra cost in the broadband learning version of the matching course (at either softwaretutor.net or landscapetutor.net). This would normally cost an additional $75.00 per person. In this way, students get a double benefit - personal tuition and the ability to access any of the written instructional materials online, replay any of the demonstration movies, download sample files, log questions, take quizzes and submit assignments for review.

Printing materials

Workbook

Carbon NeutralWe continue our drive to reduce our carbon emissions by using digital delivery of course materials. If you do need to a paper print of part of the course notes (say to print the steps in an operation), we encourage you to print just the web page you are currently viewing rather than the whole module. This can usually be done through the preview option in the print facility of the browser you are using, and selecting print the current page. Another option is to press the Shift PrntSc key combination which puts a copy of what you are viewing onto the Windows clipboard. Then start your word processor Microsoft Word or WordPad (available in everyone's computer) and paste the clipboard contents into the page and print from Word or WordPad.

About our courses & methodology

Experience over many years has taught us that adults learn best by progressing through a course of study at their own pace and at times that suit them. Wherever possible, they like to learn by working on their own materials, rather than work through long unrelated practice exercises. Our courses are specifically designed so that this can occur. We introduce a topic, provide a movie showing you how to do the task with your software and then give detailed step-by-step instructions for you to follow.

Locations & times - face to face group training

Courses may be taken at our training facility in the University of Adealide Commerce Precinct at Thebarton in Adelaide, South Australia, in Canberra in your offices or in hired facilities. If a course is taken 'in-house' in our offices at Thebarton, it normally runs for a whole day with a break for lunch. Starting time is 9.15 am and finish time around 4.15 - 4.30 pm.We provide tea & coffee and a light lunch.

Credit card payment

We use PayPal, an organization which takes all credit cards using a secure Internet facility. PayPal is a partner within the eBay system. We have chosen PayPal because it is independent of us, allows us to hold money in trust until we have delivered the course. Paypal is now operational in Australia. We will provide a tax invoice on receipt of payment in addition to the PayPal receipt if requested.

When you have finished this course

Please remember to build on your knowledge of Illustrator after you complete this course. We strongly recommend that Illustrator be used quite intensively after these early stages of learning. You will lose a lot if you let new-found skills ‘wither on the vine’. Practice is the key to learning sophisticated software. The key to success is to complete your first real project as soon as possible.

Philosophy

Here is a link to background material on the philosophy behind our course design.

Prerequisites

An understanding of the CAD process using either AutoCAD or IntelliCAD. We would expect that you have completed our QuickStart CAD course prior to commencing this particular course or have a reasonable understanding of the CAD process.

Before enrolling you need to have played one of the movies above. this will reassure us that our learning system will work on your computer. (Even if you enrol for group or one-on-one training, you still get access to online materials).

Tip A copy of suitable CAD software - IntelliCAD, AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT on your computer. You can download a 15 day version of IntelliCAD Pro from CMS IntelliCAD.

The syllabus

 Module

   Description

Preliminaries

Using Windows Explorer or Your Computer to make some project folders and sub folders ready for managing projects. Copying sample files from an exercises folder. Tuning your computer for CAD software. Installing IntelliCAD/AutoCAD. Adjusting the CAD environment for smooth working. Setting a default (prototype) drawing suitable for you work. Locating prototype drawings in various versions of AutoCAD. Adjusting limits, snap, linetype, dimensioning styles in the prototype drawing. Setting some important variables using the UNITS command. Copying iso3098b.shx font files so that lettering meets AS1100 standard.

Drawing Full Size

Modelling the real world - the importance of recognising that when you create a CAD drawing, you are drawing full size. Using various enquiry commands to reveal information 'hidden' in the drawing database.

The drawing interface

Revisiting the drawing interface. Using toolbars, drop down menus. Customizing the pull down menu area, adding a new menu with cascading menus. Managing multiple drawings. Examining various toolbar items. Using the Property Painter. Importing raster images, tracing over scanned images. Creating a company logo using primitive elements. Using keyboard shortcuts and function keys. Building an A1 sheet incorporating a company logo to AS1100 standard. 

Entity Snaps

Placing entities in drawings using software aids. Using the OSNAP command with its various options - the Mid, Int, Node, Per, End, Qua, Cen entity snap options. Using handles and grips to edit entities.

Manipulating Selection Sets

Understanding selection sets. Picking entities. Experimenting with various methods of creating selection sets. The wp, oc, f, po, and all options of the SELECT command. Selecting and operating on groups of entities according to their properties.

Draw 1

Reviewing the basic system for entering commands. Transparent commands. Surveying the available methods of point data entry - Cartesian coordinates, polar coordinates, relative polar coordinates, 3D coordinates, cylindrical coordinates. The DRAWORDER command. Surveyor's units.

A close examination of the commands used to place drawing primitives in a drawing. LINE, PLINE, ARC, CIRCLE, SPLINE, ELLIPSE, POINT, RECTANGLE, POLYGON, DONUT, PLANE (TRACE), ELLIPTICAL ARC,  FREEHAND (SKETCH),  DONUT etc.

Draw 2

Using tracking in AutoCAD. Surveyor's units, The DLINE command, using ORTHO, loading a linetype file, setting LINETYPE, linetype scales - LTSCALE, HATCHing areas, using the BHATCH command, hatch pattern files. XLINES and RAYS.

Viewing Drawings

Improving your knowledge of the view group of commands. Creating named views when working in large drawings. Controlling your view of a CAD drawing using various options available under the ZOOM, PAN, HIDE, VPOINT, REGEN and REDRAW commands. The importance of the UCSICON, the UCS and DVIEW commands. Using DVIEW and the Twist options to rotate and align 2D drawing. The use of Paper Space and Model Space. Using stored views to advantage in laying out presentation drawings. Loading and manipulating external references. Importing and exporting DXF files. Some comments about 3D coordinates and the Z direction. SHADE, HIDE and RENDERING. The ZOOM options - n, nX, nXp etc. Accurate scaling in floating viewports. The visibility of linetypes on layers.

When taken in-house, Basic CAD 1 normally runs over a full day session. When taken externally, experience has shown us that students take significantly longer to complete the course, primarily because they are able to break up their learning into small 'chunks' as time permits. AutoCAD and IntelliCAD are large programs - please allow plenty of time to work through our materials. We would estimate that you have 40-50 hours of work in front of you!