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This QuickStart CAD course
provides an introduction to the use of IntelliCAD and
AutoCAD software to produce CAD (Computer Aided
Design) drawings. CAD is widely used in the building and
construction industry and the course provides an overview of the CAD process - from
sketch design to finished drawing and stays at the 'big
picture' level. We do not go into
excessive detail about the way individual CAD commands are used in this
course, but still provide
you with enough
instruction to
enable you to produce simple drawings in your discipline.
No prior knowledge is assumed, other than the ability to operate a
computer.
The course is suitable as a first step for those who are contemplating making a career out
of drafting 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
which is required to learn to use CAD software. Please realize that CAD software and the projects in which it is
used to describe design work, are inherently complex. QuickStart
CAD is also suited for those who need to manage projects which
involve the use of Computer Aided Design.
We
thought that you might like to see
CAD in action and so have
made a short movie which will play on your computer screen and show CAD
at work. Click on the link below to download the file. You do not have to
do anything while the movie plays; just watch the screen and listen to
the commentary. There is no need to move or operate
your
mouse while the movie plays.
The movie will play inside Windows Movie player.
To hear the
sound which accompanies the movie, make sure that you have your speakers connected and turned on.
If you have a computer with Windows 98 or earlier operating system, you
may need to visit www.microsoft.com
and download an updated version of the player.
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If you do have broadband
access, click
here to
download a movie showing
CAD in action. We look at a number of CAD drawings from
different disciplines: landscape, landscape architecture,
mechanical engineering, electrical schematics, instrument
loop drawings, civil road design drawings and 3D
representations of traffic control devices. We use many
similar movies to teach you how to create CAD drawings.
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Before enrolling you need:
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To have
played the movie 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).
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An
understanding of basic computer operation,
including being able to create, save and locate
files.
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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.
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You need a copy of
CAD software - IntelliCAD, AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT loaded onto your computer.
Although we prefer that you have some software
which can save files, many students have
successfully learnt by downloading and installing
a (free)
trial copy of IntelliCAD from the Internet.
Please visit
http://www.siacad.com to do this. This software can be use to learn CAD. The file is large (some 17 Mb
in size), so allow some time for the download.
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Check out
our white paper on
CAD training.
Here is a brief overview of the course content. We
estimate that you have 40-50 hours of work in front of you.
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Preliminaries |
CAD and the operating
system. Installing CAD software.
Tuning and maintaining your CAD workstation. Setting
screen resolution.
Selecting the correct pointing device. Codes for CAD software. Creating
the correct environment for CAD - making a folder structure &
filing system suitable for CAD work. Copying some sample files. Starting your CAD program. |
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The
CAD process
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A detailed look at
some discipline specific CAD drawings. Drafting on paper vs.
using CAD software? Some advice for learning. Real world units;
handling scale in CAD drawings. AutoLISP and speed automating CAD. The
importance of understanding that AutoCAD/IntelliCAD are command driven. What
are the advantages of a 'command driven' CAD program? Setting up AutoCAD and
adjusting preferences. Creating an intelligent desktop shortcut,
setting drawing preferences. 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.
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Viewing
Drawings
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Controlling your view of a CAD
drawing. The use of ZOOM, PAN, HIDE, VPOINT,
REGEN and REDRAW commands. 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. The TILEMODE command.
Building a list of shortcuts for individual commands.
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Precise
Geometry
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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.
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.
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Using
Blocks
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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Building the model |
Creating an accurate model
(the design) ready for the subsequent insertion of title block
drawing at an appropriate scale. We create an accurate 2D model
of a table and a drawing of a rectangular house block with a
building and landscaping located on it. |
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Dimensioning
and drawing settings |
We apply some simple
horizontal and vertical dimensions to an accurately drawn 2D
model, explaining the use some of the various DIM commands. Some
discussion of
dimension styles is provided together with the role of the dimension toolbar. |
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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
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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!
We would prefer that you have a
'live' copy of AutoCAD or IntelliCAD on you computer so that you can
complete practice exercises. We would also hope that you send examples of your work to us
for comment. However if you do not own a copy of CAD
software, you can download a free copy of IntelliCAD from
http://www.siacad.com. This version
is fully functional, but will not allow you to save your drawings. We
can supply a version of IntelliCAD on CD-ROM and include it in our pack
if you specify this at the time of ordering.
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.
Don't forget
that this course provides an overview only. You
cannot expect to become a professional CAD
drafter at the end of it! We offer other courses
which bring you to that standard - courses which
articulate with this one.
We offer three different pricing models covering
the same material:
1.
Online learning via broadband - fast Internet connection required.
The most popular option is to take a course by online
learning at
http://www.softwaretutor.net. The cost is $AUD250.00 for >30
hours of high quality training. These broadband leaning courses feature rapid enrolment,
multi media materials, online forums, multi choice reviews, questionnaires,
submission of assignments etc. This is an enhanced learning experience at an
affordable price. Click
here to visit our
broadband online
learning site and click on the blue information button to sample a
course.
2. CD-ROM based distance learning
The majority of courses are available via
our CD-ROM based
distance learning program at
a cost of $AUD280.00. We post a personalized CD-ROM containing
the complete course which runs in your web browser without the
need for an Internet connection. The whole course can be
completed at home or at work at your own pace.
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As part of our continuing drive to reduce our
carbon emissions by using digital delivery, a discount of $30 is
offered if you elect not to receive a printed workbook with your
CD-ROM [The course can be read as many times as you like from
your CD-ROM]. |
There is an additional charge of $30.00 if access to the broadband learning
version of the course is also required. Many students take this
option and use it when it is convenient to make an Internet connection as
the broadband learning version of the course contains various
forums, quizzes and the opportunity to submit questions.
When ordering (by
email to info@designcad.com.au), please be specific about
which option you wish to take.
3. group or one-on-one courses (Adelaide or Canberra - in our offices or
yours).
Each course takes one day and
costs $AUD750.00.
As part of our continuing drive to
reduce our
carbon emissions by using digital delivery, each participant in our group or one-on-one courses is
automatically enrolled at no extra cost in the broadband
learning version of this course. This would normally cost an
additional $250.00.
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.
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Again, as part of our continuing drive to reduce our
carbon emissions, because you have access to the broadband
learning site at no extra cost, you can view the online workbook
at any time. This enables us to avoid printing a hard copy of
the manual and lets always view an up-to-date copy. |
We usually work group or one-on-one, but can take up to 3 students in our
training room. ** Please note that we only run groups if all students come
from the same organization.**
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 and is now
operational in Australia. We will provide a tax invoice on
receipt of payment.
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 practice exercises. Our courses are specifically designed so that this can
occur- we introduce a topic, provide a movie which shows you how to do
it and then give detailed step-by-step instructions for you to follow.
Courses may be taken at Thebarton in Adelaide, South Australia, in
Canberra in hired facilities, or by distance learning or
broadband learning.
If a course is taken 'in-house' 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.
When taken in-house, An Introduction
to Computer Aided Design (QuickStart CAD) 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!
It is
important to realize that CAD software can be operated at different
levels. We offer additional courses if you want to reach highly
professional drafting standards. Click
here for
the link to the syllabus for the course which naturally follows this
one.
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