Basic CAD 1 - Placing drawing entities with AutoCAD or IntelliCAD
(Basic CAD 1)

 This course requires an enrolment key

Tutor: Software tutor


Basic CAD 1

The course is part 2 in a four part series leading to CAD competency. It is suitable for students who wish to develop an in-depth understanding of CAD software and become professional design drafters. The series comprises the following courses:

  • QuickStart CAD >> (should have been completed)

  • Basic CAD 1 >>  (this course)

  • Basic CAD 2 >>  (follows this course)

  • Paper Space & Model Space (follows Basic CAD 2).

Basic CAD 1 extends your knowledge of AutoCAD (and IntelliCAD) software - tools used by professionals in many disciplines to create Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings. We focus on the many drawing tools found in your CAD software - accurately placing primitive elements such as lines, arcs, polylines, circles, text etc. into your drawings.

Click here to try out an instructional movie from the course. The file is 2.3Mb in size and shows the use of the circle command. In order to play the movie, you will need broadband Internet access an a sound card in your computer.

Click here to play a movie in which we demonstrate how to make a CAD version of your logo.

Both movies should give you a good appreciation of our methodology and ensure that your equipment works at an acceptable speed for our learning system.

Note that two more courses, Basic CAD 2 and Model Space & Paper Space follow this course. Basic CAD 2 focuses on the comand used to edit drawings and Model Space & paper Space focuses on commands and techniques needed to present of designs on paper. We emphasize the need to meet a drafting standrd. AS1100 is chosen as an example. Completing this series of courses should enable you to competently produce professional CAD drawings in your chosen discipline.

Syllabus for Basic CAD 1

 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.