SECTION C1 - Using the online Autocad FREE tutorials.

Using the Autocad online Tutorials

Read all of the text carefully. There are no unnecessary passages in this Autocad online training, so missed sections will cause gaps in the student's understanding. Furthermore, confusion can arise if sections are missed out. The tasks are set out in the order needed for tackling "live" 3D designs. Unfortunately it is not possible to use a short cut series of commands to turn a 2D design into a 3D design. Consequently, the fastest way to gain 3D results and understanding of the method is for the user to work through all sections of all the tasks, reading, understanding and FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS VERY CAREFULLY.

This 3D tutorial course is particularly relevant to Cad 3D methods used in a functional Drawing Office design environment where working drawings and practical 3D designs are prime considerations. It concentrates on the following:-

1. Creating Cad 3D models efficiently by not over or under modeling. (Efficient methods are used throughout the 3D tutorial course and are not highlighted specifically.)
2. Obtaining traditional orthographic projection drawings from 3D assembly and piece-part models.
3. organization of 3D methods. Model names, model splitting, layers and issue levels.

It is not a document for:-

1. Giving in depth knowledge about every command and its options. (There are many competent publications that cover commands and their options.)
2. Giving countless 3D design methods and suggesting each is reviewed by trainees before they decide the most appropriate way. There is only one general approach to using 3D design if its advantages are to be fully exploited.
3. Concentrating on the visually spectacular such as meshes and photo-realistic renderings. (Add on software is usually required for raw AutoCAD and Autocad LT to create photo-realistic renderings, but any AutoCAD / LT 3D Cad model can be used as the basis on which to apply the rendering package.) Over elaborate models take longer to create, sap computer power, and often don't convey any further design information than a simple version of the same part. Simple, processor efficient, adequately representative models are the most appropriate. Over modeling wastes the designers' time and effort.