Electrical 1
This course provides an introduction to the use of IntelliCAD, AutoCAD or DraftSight software to produce CAD (Computer Aided Design) drawings involving the production of electrical schematics. CAD is widely used in the building, construction and process control industries, and this first course in the series provides an overview of the CAD process - from design ideas sketch map to finished drawing. It stays at the 'big picture' level. We do not go into excessive detail about the way individual CAD commands are used to create schematics, but still provide you with enough instruction to enable you to produce simple drawings. The emphasis is on electrical schematics, but CAD drawings in other disciplines is also discussed.
The figure below shows typical electrical schematic drawings in the AutoCAD environment. By taking this course, you will learn to produce drawings of this type.
AutoCAD LT (instrument loop drawing)
AutoCAD 2009 (electrical schematic)
Click here to play a movie showing how AutoCAD and IntelliCAD can be set up to work with a set of electrical symbols. The movie is aimed at drafters in a particular company, but we hope that you see the value of you learning to work this way.
Note
Efficient drafting electrical schematics is heaviliy dependent on access to a set of symbols and on configuring your computer system properly. Here is a link to some information on the use of a block library for drafting electrical schematics.
Cost of courses
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Online learning via broadband
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One-on-one training (Adelaide or Canberra - in our offices or yours).
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.
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge of CAD is assumed, other than the ability to efficiently use a computer. Potential students may benefit from a quick look at our Basic Computer Skills course - http://www.designcad.com.au/sta prior to enrolling.
The course is suitable as a first step for those who are contemplating making a career out of drafting electricla schematics and want to get a feel for CAD. It is in our view, important to do this before committing to a major block of time learning to use CAD software which is inherently complex. The course is also suited for those who need to manage projects which involve the use of Computer Aided Design in electrical engineering projects.
The syllabus
Module |
Description |
|
Preliminaries |
Operating systems and CAD workstations - Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP and XP Pro. Setting screen resolution. The value of using dual monitors in your CAD computer. Selecting the correct pointing device mice and digitizers. Creating the correct environment for CAD by configuring your CAD software. Setting the time interval for automatic backup. Installing CAD software. Protecting the unlock codes for your CAD software. Tuning and maintaining your CAD workstation. Making a suitable folder structure & filing system for CAD drawings. Starting a dialogue with your on-line CAD tutor. Starting your CAD program. Placing some simple entities such as lines and arc entities into the drawing editor. Dealing with 'pesky' entity grips. |
|
The CAD process |
A detailed look at some CAD drawings from the electrical discipline. Again emphasizing the importance of a grid. Comparing AutoCAD to IntelliCAD. Drafting on paper vs. drafting using CAD software? Some advice on how to learn CAD software. How to handle scale in CAD drawings. An example of the use of the AutoLISP programming language to speed the drafting process - automating CAD. Some comments of data extraction and generating bills of materials. The importance of the command area and recognizing that unlike the Office suite of applications, AutoCAD and IntelliCAD are command driven programs. The advantages of a 'command driven' CAD program? Setting up AutoCAD and IntelliCAD and adjusting the preferences. Creating an 'intelligent' desktop shortcut to start the program. |
|
CAD Interface |
A detailed look at the CAD interface, including title bar, standard and formatting toolbars, the command area, the status line etc. Learning to float and dock toolbars. The ZOOM command. Layer control. The text screen window. Saving files. File formats. Learning the underlying command sequence in IntelliCAD/AutoCAD, selecting commands. Creating your own logo. 3D visualization techniques. |
|
Viewing Drawings |
Controlling your view of a CAD drawing. The use of ZOOM, PAN, HIDE, VPOINT, REGEN and REDRAW commands. Picking commands from toolbar icons - the ZOOM Extents sequence. Getting help in IntelliCAD and AutoCAD. The importance of recognizing the underlying sequence in all AutoCAD/IntelliCAD commands. The value of a proper printed manual. Moving between Paper space and model space. The importance of the UCSICON command. The TILEMODE command. Building a list of shortcuts for individual commands. |
|
Precise Geometry |
Experimenting with some of the more esoteric drawing commands in AutoCAD and IntelliCAD. Compound lines with the POLYLINE command, the SPLINE command, the RAY command, the ELLIPSE command, the POLYGON command, the POINT command. The ERASE command. Setting up a 400mm GRID. Building a design for a courtyard by snapping to grid points to demonstrated that drawing with precision can be a simple process. The COPY command - using the multiple option. Using some simple editing commands - ERASE, TRIM, EXTEND. Using CAD to create a very simple design - we will take a design for a rose garden as a simple example. The CIRCLE and OFFSET commands. Using the entity snap functions - calling the Endpoint, Centre, PERpendicular, Quadrant options from the command line. The value of setting up and using a template drawing. Using the DISTANCE command. The RECTANGLE command. The ROTATE command. The DTEXT command with a hand lettered font. Creating a title block sheet drawing using Cartesian coordinates. We emphasize the importance of working to a defined drafting standard using AS1100 - Australian Standard 1100 for technical drafting - as an example. Setting LIMITS, using the SNAP and GRID commands. Creating a block library and saving drawings sheets to it. |
|
Using Blocks |
Creating and inserting a logo and schedule in a block library. Using block library symbols, inserting blocks into a drawing sheet. Using object/entity snaps. |
|
Layers and Colours |
Using the LAYER command. Creating new layers, assigning layer colours and linetypes. Accurate geometry by length, angle, OFFSET, FILLET and TRIM. Placing entities on layers, inserting a north indicator, controlling colour BYLAYER and by colour entity. Blocks, layers and colour. |
|
Manipulating Text |
Placing text. Using drawing aids to align text. Using the STYLE command. Style names and fonts. The DTEXT, TEXT and MTEXT commands. Controlling text justification, text height, inserting text in title blocks, single line text, paragraph text, using grid and snap. |
|
Plotting |
The PRINT command. Inserting a drawing sheet around your design. Controlling pen weights in drawings - using the Rotring system. Setting colours, adjusting pens and line thickness. Previewing plots, plot configuration parameter files. Using paper space and model space. |
Why learn CAD?
In many different disciplines, the advent of CAD has radically changed the way professionals work. Most project managers now expect that any drawings describing design work will be created using some type of CAD software. They also assume that the work will be delivered in both printed and electronic format. In most professions, design work on paper drawings alone is no longer acceptable.
This change in attitude has major implications for many of us. If you are working, or intend to work, in the Architecture, Engineering or Construction industry, you need to be able to produce CAD drawings if required.
In no way do we suggest that designing with pencil and paper be outlawed. In many cases, 'doodling' on butter paper gets the creative thoughts flowing. But for detailed construction drawings, nothing beats CAD!
Software required for CAD
We would prefer that you have a 'live' copy of AutoCAD, IntelliCAD or DraftSight (free CAD software) on your computer in order to send examples of your work to us.
Our learning system
Our system has been thoroughly tested and used to train many CAD drafters; you will certainly learn to 'CAD' in your discipline, be it mechanical, architectural, instrumentation, chemical engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, interior design etc. We are confident of this, because we have developed a unique method of teaching in which we provide detailed instruction then play 'on screen' movies to illustrate the concept and finally encourage you to follow a detailed step by step set of instructions to complete the very same exercise. This provides an effective way of illustrating CAD concepts.
Prerequisites:
- An understanding of basic computer operation, including being able to create, save and locate files.
- Although we assume no prior knowledge of CAD, we presume that you have had some experience with hand drafting or have learned to read technical drawings for your discipline.
- You need a copy of CAD software - IntelliCAD, AutoCAD or Draftsight loaded onto your computer.
If you would like to know where this particular course fits in terms of a 'proper' professional CAD learning program, click here.
Course duration:
When taken in-house, Electrical CAD 1 normally runs over a full day session.
When taken by online learning, 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!