AutoCAD Training Blog

Get a Mayan Sun Stone before the world ends!

Lochlin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:26:18 +0000

Mayan Sun Stone

After recently reading the new Dan Brown book “The Lost Symbol” I was entrigued about the concept of December 21st 2012. Now, I do not believe the world will end but it is a fascinating read.

Well, just when it was on my mind who else should post about it but Shaan Hurley from Between the Lines.

I found his post (and drawing) such good fun I thought I would share it here. Make sure you go grab your free Mayan Sun Stone drawing before the world ends.

Have a great, and sunny, day.

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Google Earth Extension: Publish your models to Google Earth

Lochlin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:41:10 +0000

Hey all,

Found a great post on Daily AutoCAD pointing to the Autodesk Labs Google Earth extension.

This extension allows you to import a Google Earth image directly into AutoCAD which could save a lot of time and it also allows you to publish your 3D model to Google Earth. Now, this is truely cool in my opinion.

The extension also lets you perfrom a couple of other neat tricks like draping a Google Earth image onto your 3D mesh in AutoCAD and attaching time span information to your model.

If you think this extension is for you head over to the Autodesk Labs Google Earth Extension site.

Get a Mayan Sun Stone before the world ends!

How to Use the AutoCAD Ribbon Toolbar

Lochlin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:25:10 +0000

Since it’s introduction in AutoCAD 2009, the ribbon bar has taken a bit of getting used to for most people. Today, I have a video for you from Cadalyst author Lynn Allen. It walks you through the features of the ribbon and some things you might not know.

Hope you enjoy this one. I think it is a very useful video and I might post some more if you guys like it.

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Using the Extrude Command – Basics of 3D Modelling

Lochlin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:07:56 +0000

Watch it in Fullscreen HD for all its glory.

The extrude command in AutoCAD is one of my favorite commands. It allows you to take almost any shape and make it 3D in just a couple of clicks. Well, there are actually a couple of hidden attributes of the extrude command that come in handy. These are the taper and path commands. Check out the video to see them in use.

This tutorial will allow you to turn almost any shape imaginable into a 3D object extremely easily. This command is a must for any AutoCADder.

If you like this one you can also check out the original written tutorial at Daily AutoCAD – Using the Extrude Command or watch the Extrude Command video at YouTube.

Happy Cadding.

Polysolid Command from 2D – Basics of 3D Modelling

Lochlin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:00:15 +0000

Watch it in Fullscreen HD for all its glory.

Today, I have a video for you that follows on from the Polysolid Part I and Polysolid Part II videos. In this one we take an easily drawn 2D shape and convert it to a 3D polysolid using the polysolid command.

This tutorial should enable you to use 2D commands and make 3D objects, much like thickness and extrude.

You can also check out the original written tutorial at Daily AutoCAD – Polysolid Command or watch the Polysolid from 2D video at YouTube.

Have a great day.

Moving/Positioning Objects in 3D – Basics of 3D Modelling

Lochlin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:49:58 +0000

Watch it in Fullscreen for all its glory

This video is all about moving and positioning objects in a 3D space in AutoCAD. We also use the Union and Subtract command as well as an understanding of the UCS.

This 3D tutorial will allow to confidently move objects in 3D with accuracy and speed.

You can also check out the original written tutorial at Daily AutoCAD – Positioning Entities or watch the Moving/Positioning Objects in 3D video at YouTube.

UNION and SUBTRACT Command – Basics of AutoCAD 3D Modelling

Lochlin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:59:35 +0000

Watch it in Fullscreen for all its glory

Above is another video in the series I am doing with the guys at Daily AutoCAD.

This one is about using the subtract and union command in AutoCAD 3D. You can also check out the original written tutorial at Daily AutoCAD – Union and Subtract Command.

You can also view the Union and Subtract Command video at YouTube.

Enjoy!

Creating Primitive Solids – Basics of AutoCAD 3D Modelling

Lochlin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:44:31 +0000

Watch it in Fullscreen for all its glory

Above is the first video in a series I am doing for the guys at Daily AutoCAD.

This one is about creating solid primitives in AutoCAD 3D. You can also check out the original written tutorial at Daily AutoCAD – Creating Primitive Solids.

You can also view the Creating Solids in AutoCAD video at YouTube.

Enjoy!

Layers in AutoCAD: How Easy Life Has Gotten!

Lochlin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:25:27 +0000

AutoCAD wasn’t quite the first mechanical drawing program to separate drawings into layers, but it was one of the early adopters of this practice. Layers (and layering) are an incredibly powerful tool in AutoCAD (and in several other applications, like Photoshop and Illustrator).

Today, I am going to show you how to use layers to make your AutoCAD work flow easier to manage, easier to organize and more enjoyable!

First of all, the basic concept of layers is really simple. When you drag windows over each other in, well, Windows, you’re putting some windows “on top of” other windows. The same thing applies with AutoCAD, except that you have a lot more control over the layers, can make some of them transparent, and can move drawing elements from one layer to another.

One way to think of layers is as “a clear plastic sheet”. You can lift certain layers to view only other layers and specific materials. To manage layers we use the Layer Properties Manager button, which looks like a little icon of three sheets of paper stacked one atop the other.

Each layer has a color associated with it – this is the color the line segments will show when that object is selecte. You can also vary the line type, line weight and also lock, unlock or hide layers so that they’re out of the way. You can define if a layer is to be printed (you can make layers display that don’t print, or ones that print that don’t display.)

By default, AutoCAD puts your drawing elements on a layer called “0″, and sets this as the current layer (you can use the Layers palette to change which layer is “current”). You should immediately make a new layer, and assign it a name. When you’re doing a complex drawing, like say a set of building plans to build a boat, label each section and put them into separate layers. This allows you to turn layers on or off (make them visible or invisible) or even shuffle them, to see how things overlap or interact. This is an incredibly powerful tool…but it’s only as powerful as you make it.

Another trick you can do to make your layering experience more useful is that AutoCAD allows you to group layers together and make “sublayers”. If you’re doing drawings that have line segments and fills, consider putting the line segments on one layer and the fills on another. This allows you to select a sublayer, hit Ctrl A (select all) and change colors of the fills at once. Do this for all commonly grouped elements, and you’ll be able to adjust nearly anything in a blink of an eye. (Nothing in AutoCAD is as tedious as hand selecting a bunch of objects, tweaking them, finding you’ve missed one, and having to do it over, and over and over again.)

The third trick that layers let you do is to move objects between layers. This alone is a life saver. If you forget to assign something to a layer or choose the wrong layer it is a big help to be able to just move it to the desired layer.

Ok, that is the rundown on layers. I will be doing a video up on layers very soon so if there was anything you didn’t understand that should sort it out. Try searching for the video in the search bar.

Using the Polysolid and Revolve Command in AutoCAD Part II

Lochlin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:42:25 +0000

Part II of the Polysolid and Revolve Command Video.

This video covers the revolve command in AutoCAD and how to use the basics. The revolve command will literally change how you draw in 3D. It makes things much easier.

Watch it in Fullscreen for all its glory

You can grab Part I here.