Datamat AutoCAD® Courses

Other Datamat Educational Workshops:

AutoCAD Fundamentals (Level 1 - Four Days)

Learn how to create and edit professional looking 2D drawings with this comprehensive first course in the use of AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012. Even students with no previous CAD experience can progress quickly through this course which is arranged in a natural sequence that is easy to understand. Students immediately apply what they have learned from brief theory presentations in hands-on exercises using supplied drawing files. These exercises include step-by-step instructions along with clearly illustrated screen captures.

The first two days cover the indispensable core topics for working with AutoCAD. The teaching strategy is to start with a few basic tools that enable the student to create and edit a simple drawing and then continue to develop those tools. More advanced tools are introduced throughout the course. Not every command or option is covered, because the intent is to show the most essential tools and concepts.

The second two days continue with more sophisticated techniques that extend the student's mastery of the program. For example, the course goes beyond the basic skill of inserting a block to learn how to create blocks, and beyond the basic skill of using a template to understand the process of setting up a template.

Upon completion of this comprehensive AutoCAD 2012 Fundamentals course, the student will be able to create a basic 2D drawing using drawing and editing tools, organize drawing objects on layers, add text and basic dimensions, and prepare to plot.

Course Objectives: After completing this course, you will be able to:

Navigate the interface, open and close files, and use the Zoom commands to adjust the display of objects on the screen.
Describe units, function keys, and coordinate systems and create basic objects, using different data input techniques, object snaps, object snap tracking, polar tracking, and PolarSnap.
Select, modify, and adjust the properties of objects using object grips and the Move, Copy, Rotate, Mirror, and Array commands.
Create and manage layers and linetypes and obtain geometric information from objects in the drawing.
Modify objects by changing their size, shape, orientation, or geometric composition using Trim, Extend, Offset, Join, and other commands.
Create layouts, and create and manipulate viewports on the layouts.
Create and edit annotation objects using multiline and single line text.
Enhance the drawing's visual appearance with hatch patterns and gradient fills.
Create, edit, and manage dimensions and dimension styles.
Create blocks and reuse them in your drawings using the Insert command, DesignCenter, and tool palettes. Utilize the DesignCenter and tool palettes to insert and create other content in your drawings.
Create multiple segmented polyline objects, create the smooth curve objects of splines and ellipses, and add tables to your drawings.
Create and use page setups, and plot your designs from layouts and model space.
Use drawing templates to simplify the process of creating new drawings that contain all the required dimension styles, text styles, and layers that you would otherwise create manually, each time you created a new drawing.

Topics include:

Understanding the AutoCAD workspace and user interface
Using basic drawing, editing, and viewing tools
Organizing drawing objects on layers
Inserting reusable symbols (blocks)
Preparing a layout to be plotted
Adding text, hatching, and dimensions
Using more advanced editing and construction techniques
Adding parametric constraints to objects
Creating local and global blocks
Setting up layers, styles, and templates
Learning advanced plotting and publishing options

Prerequisites: It is recommended that you have a working knowledge of:

Basic design/drafting procedures and terminology
Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7

Cost: $995.

AutoCAD Advanced (Level 2 - Three Days)

AutoCAD Advanced is the second in the series of Datamat AutoCAD courses and is designed to teach AutoCAD® users about the software's more advanced functionality. While our initial course, AutoCAD Fundamentals, focuses on the basic tools to create a drawing and setup files, this course strives to make the student more proficient in his or her use of AutoCAD and introduces more advanced techniques.

Students should be comfortable with the basics of creating an AutoCAD drawing as taught in our AutoCAD Fundamentals course. Our teaching strategy is to demonstrate the versatility of AutoCAD by showing a range of options to achieve a particular result and to suggest where one option can be better than another under given circumstances. Students should practice the topics and concepts discussed in this class, and apply them in ways appropriate for their work.

Topics include:

Advanced text objects
Working with tables
Defining dynamic blocks and attributes
Outputting and publishing files for review
Collaboration and automation tools
Creating, publishing, and customizing sheet sets
Managing layers
CAD management and system setup
Enhancing productivity by customizing the AutoCAD interface
Using macros and custom routines

Prerequisites: It is recommended that you have a working knowledge of AutoCAD Fundamentals (or equivalent) and at least 80 hours of experience with AutoCAD.

Cost: $895.

AutoCAD 3D Drawing & Modeling (Level 3 - Three Days)

More and more AutoCAD users are venturing out of their traditional and familiar two-dimensional world to explore the possibilities of 3D space. Thanks to many software enhancements in this area, 3D is an increasingly useful and widespread tool. However, the leap into three dimensions requires some changes in thinking and drawing habits.

The AutoCAD 3D Drawing and Modeling class introduces users who are proficient with AutoCAD's 2D commands to the concepts and methods of 3D modeling. The course provides a thorough grounding in 3D fundamentals and explores the main features of AutoCAD's advanced 3D workspace.

Course Objectives: After completing this course, you will be able to:

Represent a design by creating solid primitives, solid or surface models from cross-sectional geometry, or composite models from multiple solid models.
Complete a solid model design by adding the necessary features to detail, duplicate, and position 3D models.
Convert 2D objects to 3D objects.
Document a 3D design by creating 2D drawings for production and visualization.
Communicate your design ideas using visual styles, lights, model walk-through tools, and renderings.

Topics include:

3D viewing techniques
Working with simple and composite solids
Creating complex solids and surfaces
Modifying objects in 3D space
Editing solids
Creating sections, camera perspectives, and animations
Converting 3D objects
Setting up a rendering with materials and lights
Creating 2D drawings from 3D models
Working with the User Coordinate System

Prerequisites: This course is designed for the AutoCAD user who possesses introductory-level knowledge of AutoCAD or has been using AutoCAD for some time and understands the basics of working with AutoCAD. A minimum of 80 hours of work experience with the AutoCAD software is recommended. Terminology and instructions assume this level of experience when concepts, procedures, and exercises are discussed.

Cost: $895.

AutoCAD Update (One Day)

The AutoCAD 2012 Update for AutoCAD 2011 Users course introduces the new and enhanced features of AutoCAD 2012. Topics covered range from general improvements and command enhancements to new 3D modeling techniques and customization workflow. There are enhancements to many commands as well many new commands have been added.

Among the many changes in this new release are the general user interface components such as, Command Line, UCS, Ribbon, Multifunctional Grips, Object selections, Snapping, Quick Properties, External References, and Layers.
There are updates to commands such as Fillet, Chamfer, Join, Spline, Multileaders, 3D tools, and creation previews. Many new tools are introduced such as Nudge, Blend Curve, DWG Convert, 3D Offset Edge, Autodesk Exchange, and the Associative Array commands.

Some major new functionality includes the power to automatically generate intelligent documents based on 3D models with the new Drawing Views toolset. Another function to revolutionize online collaboration is the direct access to AutoCAD WS. Finally, searching for objects within your large database and libraries is improved with the new arrival of the Content Explorer.

Topics include:

Interface enhancements
Object selection and grouping
Multifunctional grips
Command enhancements including Fillet, Chamfer, Join, and Spline
New object moving functionality - Nudge
New object connection with continuity too - Blend Curve
Associative Arrays including Rectangular, Polar, and new Path
Style enhancements to External References, Multileaders, and Layers
UCS improvements
New 3D Model Import file type list
New 3D Offset Edge command
Various 3D command enhancements
New Automatic 3D Model Documentation toolset
New DWG conversion capabilities
Customization updates, including Migration, Resets, and File paths
New Autodesk Exchange
New direct access to AutoCAD WS
New Content Explorer

Prerequisites: This course is designed for the AutoCAD user who is familiar with AutoCAD 2011. Students who are not familiar with the existing features in this AutoCAD software could need additional background to get up to speed to attend this class. Many of the changes covered in this course are based on features that have been included in recent releases of AutoCAD such as Multifunctional Grips, Arrays, and 3D Tools. Students who are not familiar with the existing features in the software could require additional background to get up to speed in AutoCAD. Call Datamat for details.

Cost: $395.