Print this page Minimal AutoCAD 2011
Thomas Mason, PE
Course Outline
The course starts with an overview to convince you of the value of investing your time in learning a new skill. The basic concept of the course is that it is EASY to make line drawings with AutoCAD™.
The next section introduces and demonstrates basic drawing and editing commands. Fewer than 50 commands permit you to translate your ideas to paper (and .pdf).
The last section addresses what to do when the commands don’t work. Usually, someone else has adjusted one of the hidden variables to make his work easier – and your work impossible. There many more than 30 of these hidden variables.
The course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student will:
- Be able to use AutoCAD™ to draw a map;
- Be able to use AutoCAD™ to print his map as a .pdf file;
- Be able to draw a guard shack plan, showing walls, windows, the door, counters, shelves and dimensions;
- Be able to draw an installation detail for a simple piece of equipment, with call-outs;
- Be able to draw and electrical one-line diagram, with call-outs;
- Be able to draw an HVAC system plan diagram to use for the Sequence of Operation;
- Be able to revise an electrical site plan to move the incoming utility service;
- Be able to revise the title blocks on a drawing set;
- Know how to use about 50 primitive AutoCAD™ commands for drawing and editing;
- Be able to use the editing commands to make enhance lines, objects and text for presentation;
- Understand the principles of model space, paper space, layers and blocks;
- Know four ways to make a table in AutoCAD™;
- Know how to do precision sizing and alignment;
- Know how to recover from .dwg file setups that make work very difficult; and
- Know three classes external reference sources for quick solution to AutoCAD™ problems.
Intended Audience
There are three target audiences for this course - neophyte designers, illustrators and emergency-editors. Neophyte designers are persons who just got a job requiring AutoCAD™ skills, but did not take that course. We will provide necessary skills to get the first job done without asking anyone for help.
AutoCAD™ makes very attractive line drawings and maps. If someone has purchased the software, you have a powerful tool available, that is functional with only 30 commands.
Project managers frequently encounter required drawing changes after the design and drafting staff have gone home. The minimal drawing and editing tools from this course help get the drawing set out on time. It is crisis moments like this when help on the hidden variables is essential.
Benefit to Attendees
AutoCAD™ is useful and fun! You will study the material and go through the exercises to get an immediate job skill. But, along the way, you will realize that practical applications of geometry are personally satisfying. It is rewarding to know what the result should look like but try two ways that don’t work before it does look right.
Course Introduction
Buildings are constructed from specifications, drawings and narration. This course addresses drawings for construction. We will learn to draw lines, curves and text and to edit them so they look the way we want them to look.
Course Content
In this lesson, you are required to download and study the following course content in PDF:
AutoCAD Drawing Commands (free bonus)
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
This course looked at some of the graphic products which can be created using AutoCAD™, a minimal set of commands to make these images and a long list of hidden problems that arise just when it starts looking easy.
Related Links and References
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
http://www.autocadcentral.com/Tutorials/Lesson%202/lesson2.htm
http://www.learncadfast.com/resources/line.php
http://www.ncsu.edu/project/graphicscourse/gc/acadtut/acadtut2000/line1.html
http://www.dailyautocad.com/2010/06/using-line-command.html
http://www.stanford.edu/group/CIFE/ce222/Lab/acadtut.html
http://www.74mph.com/faq/FAQ00065.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_lIUVyzHmM
http://www.vtc.com/products/AutodeskAutoCAD2011forArchitects/DraftingTools/93470
http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/commands.html
http://www.auto-cad-tutorial.com/line-command.html
http://opencourseware.kfupm.edu.sa/colleges/ces/ce/ce213/files%5C2-Lectures_AUTOCAD_DRAWING_COMMANDS.pdf
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?id=17470430&siteID=123112&ch=ON&src=OMSE&mktvar001=353359&mktvar002=353359 -
http://usa.autodesk.com/autocad/trial/ - 30-day free trial of ACAD 2012
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
