AutoCAD for Novice Users (Live Online)

Overview

AutoCAD is one of our most popular course series. Green status indicators beside dates on the right indicate that sessions have met minimum enrollment requirements and are running. Sessions for this course typically fill several weeks in advance. Even when a date shows green status confirming the session is running, availability may be limited if the session is at full capacity. We recommend registering at least three to four weeks ahead to secure your preferred date and avoid disappointment.

Overview:

This comprehensive 5-day AutoCAD for Novice Users course is designed for individuals new to AutoCAD software who have little or no background in CAD, drafting, or architectural design. The extended course duration provides ample opportunity for hands-on practice and review sessions, enabling participants to develop the foundational skills and conceptual understanding necessary to transition from novice to competent AutoCAD user within one intensive week.

The course objective is to enable students to create basic 2D drawings using AutoCAD. Content focuses on essential core topics necessary for competent software use. The instructional approach introduces a few fundamental tools that enable simple drawing creation and editing, then progressively develops those capabilities. More advanced tools are introduced throughout the course as students build competency. Rather than attempting comprehensive command coverage, this course emphasizes the most important tools and concepts required for effective AutoCAD proficiency.

Prerequisites:

No prior CAD, drafting, or architectural design experience is required for this course. Students do require a working knowledge of the Windows operating system. Individuals with prior CAD, drafting, or architectural experience may prefer the 3-day version of this course instead.

Software and Hardware Requirements:

The AutoCAD for Novice Users course accommodates AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT software running on Windows operating systems. This course is not designed for AutoCAD for Mac or Mac hardware.

Course Content:

Getting Started with AutoCAD

Begin with AutoCAD fundamentals, including starting the software, exploring the user interface, understanding commands and their invocation, working within the Cartesian coordinate system, opening existing drawing files, viewing and navigating drawings, and saving your work.

Starting the Software and Initial Setup
User Interface Navigation
Using Commands and Invoking Functions
Cartesian Coordinate System
Opening Existing Drawing Files
Viewing and Navigation Tools
Saving Your Work

Basic Drawing and Editing Commands

Master fundamental drawing and editing operations. Learn to draw lines, erase objects, draw vertical and horizontal lines, draw rectangles, draw circles, undo and redo actions to manage your work.

Drawing Lines and Segments
Erasing Objects
Drawing Vertical and Horizontal Lines
Drawing Rectangles
Drawing Circles
Undo and Redo Operations

Creating Simple Drawings

Apply basic drawing commands to create complete drawings. Practical projects develop your ability to combine multiple drawing operations into coherent designs and simple geometric shapes.

Creating Simple Complete Drawings
Creating Simple Geometric Shapes

Drawing Precision in AutoCAD

Develop precise drawing techniques using coordinate entry and object snap features. Topics include running object snaps, object snap overrides, polar tracking at specific angles, object snap tracking, and optional snap and grid drawing methods for constraint-based placement.

Using Running Object Snaps
Object Snap Overrides
Polar Tracking at Angles
Object Snap Tracking
Snap and Grid Drawing Methods

Making Changes in Your Drawing

Learn to modify and transform drawing objects efficiently. Master selecting objects for editing, moving objects to new locations, copying objects, rotating objects, scaling objects to different sizes, mirroring objects for symmetry, and using grips for direct manipulation.

Selecting Objects for Editing
Moving Objects
Copying Objects
Rotating Objects
Scaling Objects
Mirroring Objects
Direct Manipulation Using Grips

Making Your Drawings More Precise

Apply your skills to practical projects across multiple design domains. Work on schematic projects, including electronics diagrams, architectural projects, including landscape designs, and mechanical projects exploring polar tracking and complex shapes like surge protectors and satellites.

Schematic Project: Electronics Diagram
Architectural Project: Landscape
Mechanical Project: Using Polar and Tracking
Mechanical Project: Surge Protector
Mechanical Project: Satellite

Organizing Your Drawing with Layers

Use layers to organize and control drawing elements effectively. Learn to create new drawings with templates, understand layer concepts and organization, manage layer states and visibility, and change object layer assignments.

Creating New Drawings with Templates
Layer Concepts and Organization
Layer States and Visibility Control
Changing Object Layer Assignments

Advanced Object Types

Expand your drawing vocabulary with additional object types. Learn to draw arcs, polylines, and edit them, draw polygons, and draw ellipses for curved shapes.

Drawing Arcs
Drawing and Editing Polylines
Drawing Polygons
Drawing Ellipses

Analyzing Model and Object Properties

Understand object properties and measurement capabilities. Learn to work with object properties and measure objects to verify dimensions and distances.

Working with Object Properties
Measuring Objects and Distances

Drawing Organization and Information

Apply drawing organization skills to complete projects across disciplines. Create architectural, mechanical, and civil engineering projects using layers, properties, and measurements.

Architectural Project
Mechanical Project
Civil Project

Advanced Editing Commands

Use advanced editing operations for complex modifications. Learn to trim and extend objects, stretch objects, create fillets and chamfers for rounded corners, offset objects, and create arrays of objects.

Trimming and Extending Objects
Stretching Objects
Creating Fillets and Chamfers
Offsetting Objects
Creating Arrays of Objects

Inserting Blocks

Use blocks for efficient reuse of drawing content. Learn block concepts, work with dynamic blocks, insert blocks, use tool palettes for block insertion, and use DesignCenter for managing blocks.

Block Concepts and Benefits
Working with Dynamic Blocks
Inserting Blocks
Using Tool Palettes
Using DesignCenter

Creating More Complex Objects

Develop complex drawings combining blocks and advanced editing. Mechanical projects include plates, gaskets, and rocker arms. Architectural projects include floor plans. Civil projects include parking lots.

Mechanical Project 1: Plate
Mechanical Project 2: Gasket
Mechanical Project 3: Plate
Mechanical Project 4: Rocker Arm
Architectural Project 1: Floor Plan
Architectural Project 2: Floor Plan
Civil Project: Parking Lot

Setting Up a Layout

Prepare drawings for printing using layouts. Learn to work in layouts, create layouts, create layout viewports, and follow layout guidelines.

Working in Layouts
Creating Layouts
Creating Layout Viewports
Layout Guidelines and Best Practices

Printing Your Drawing

Output your drawings effectively. Topics include printing concepts, printing from layouts, and print and plot settings configuration.

Printing Concepts
Printing from Layouts
Print and Plot Settings

Preparing to Print

Complete projects and prepare them for final output. Work on mechanical and architectural projects ensuring they are ready for professional printing.

Mechanical Project
Architectural Project

Annotations and Labeling

Add text and information to drawings for clarity and documentation. Learn to work with annotations, add text to drawings, modify and format multiline text, add notes with leader lines, and create tables.

Working with Annotations
Adding Text to Drawings
Modifying Multiline Text
Formatting Multiline Text
Adding Notes with Leader Lines
Creating Tables
Modifying Tables

Hatching

Use hatching patterns to indicate materials and fill areas. Learn to apply hatching and edit hatches after placement.

Applying Hatching Patterns
Editing Hatches

Adding Dimensions

Dimension drawings to communicate design intent and specifications. Topics include dimensioning concepts, adding linear dimensions, adding radial and angular dimensions, and editing dimensions after creation.

Dimensioning Concepts
Adding Linear Dimensions
Adding Radial and Angular Dimensions
Editing Dimensions

Annotating Your Drawing

Complete annotated drawings across multiple disciplines, ready for documentation and production. Work on mechanical, architectural, and civil projects with full annotation and dimensioning.