Learn AutoCAD with our Free Tutorials
Welcome to CADTutor
CADTutor provides the best free tutorials and articles for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and associated applications along with a friendly community forum. If you need to learn AutoCAD, or you want to be more productive, you're in the right place. See our tip of the day to start learning right now!
Free Tutorials and More…
The Tutorials section provides over 100 original tutorials for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and other design applications. Michael’s Corner is an archive of productivity articles that brings you the best AutoCAD tips and tricks. Our Forum is a lively community where AutoCAD users can ask questions and get answers. The Downloads area provides free AutoCAD blocks, free AutoLISP routines and free images.
Tutorials of the Moment
Recently viewed tutorials
-
AutoCAD to Photoshop
This tutorial demonstrates a number of workflows from quick and simple to high quality. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
The UCS Icon
All about the UCS icon. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
Scaling Images
How to scale images in AutoCAD. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
Using Images
A simple exercise to help you understand how images work in AutoCAD. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
Uploading Files with SmartFTP
This tutorial guides you through the process of uploading your website files to a web server using the SmartFTP client. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
ISO Paper Sizes
There has alwas been some confusion over the size of standard ISO drawing sheets with AutoCAD.The stated sizes in the plot dialogue box are not the true ISO sizes. This tutorial explains why and how to plot to scale from Model Space. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 5 minutes ago
CADTutor Tutorials
Our tutorials are comprehensive but straightforward introductions to AutoCAD and related software. They are designed to help beginners get to grips with design workflows as quickly as possible. There are over 100 to choose from, some text/image based and others in video format. Whatever stage you are at in your learning, you should find a tutorial to help.
Forum Latest
Currently Active Topics
Incremental Numbering Suite
by Lee Mac
299 replies
Last post: 3 hours ago
Current folder in file dialogs
by 3dwannab
1 reply
Last post: 4 hours ago
Offset one line multiple distances
by lilyachty
5 replies
Last post: 4 hours ago
increase/decrease attribute value
by lilyachty
0 replies
Last post: 8 hours ago
error: invalid argument type: point: nil
by Nikon
1 reply
Last post: 16 hours ago
Dimensions on item detail doesn't match the Material List
by AeJay
1 reply
Last post: 18 hours ago
This Week's Hot Topics
Is it possible to have a DCL without an OK and Cancel Button?
by rcb007
13 replies
Viewed: 422 times
RBL.lsp - Rename Blocks and Layers
by 3dwannab
5 replies
Viewed: 272 times
Offset one line multiple distances
by lilyachty
5 replies
Viewed: 187 times
How to delete slots in dxf?
by ajithkumar.t
4 replies
Viewed: 179 times
I can't save to the support folder.
by robierzo
4 replies
Viewed: 160 times
SOLVED: Need help with DCL, dynamic labels
by Aftertouch
3 replies
Viewed: 202 times
CADTutor Forums
Our forum is a vibrant community of experts and beginners. The main focus is helping beginners get to grips with AutoCAD and to help more advanced users become more productive. The AutoLISP forum is one of the busiest out there, providing expert advice for busy professionals.
AutoCAD Productivity
UCSICON Options
From: AutoCAD Productivity Articles #146
Originally published: June 2016
Every five years or so I address the UCS icon, so here's your next installment.
General Insights
There is a UCSICON command with these options:
Right-click on the UCS icon to display a shortcut menu with a Properties option where you can dress it up a bit.
When you are in the 2D Wireframe visual style, the UCS icon looks like a stick figure. In any other visual style, the icon is a bit more colorful and 3D looking.Horses can only breath through their nose. [Just checking to see if you're paying attention.]
Click on the UCS icon and you see a square grip at 0,0,0 and round grips at the ends of the axes.To disable the ability to select/click on the UCS icon, set the variable UCSSELECTMODE to <0>.
Note: There's an article on how to dimension 3D objects in Michael's Corner, January 2013. You will find more information on manipulating the UCS icon in that review, too.
See all the articles published in June 2016
Michael's Corner
Between 2003 and 2016, Michael Beall (and one or two guests) wrote almost 600 articles for CADTutor. The focus of these articles is AutoCAD productivity, and although some of them are now more than a few years old, most remain relevant to current versions of AutoCAD. The article above is just one example. Check out Michael's Corner for a full listing.
Image of the Week
-
18th – 24th November 2024
This week's image is by Andrew1979
Software used: 3D Studio Max 2008
-
Last Week's Image
Last week's image is by Brands
Software used: AutoCAD 2010
-
Two Weeks Ago
This image is by Cad64
Software used: AutoCAD 2008 and 3ds Max 8
-
Three Weeks Ago
This image is by yedan
Software used: Cinema4D
Gallery of Work
Over the years, our forum members have contributed hundreds of images, showcasing their amazing work. The images above are just a small selection that demonstrate the wide range of project types our community is involved with. Take a look at our gallery to see all the images published in the last 12 months.
Tip of the Day
Selection Preview Cycling
Making positive selections is much easier now that AutoCAD highlights (previews) objects as you mouse over them. However, it can still be difficult to select the right object when drawings become complicated with lots of overlapping objects. Fortunately, AutoCAD allows you to cycle through all the overlapping objects under the cursor.
All you need to do is hold down the Shift key and then repeatedly hit the Spacebar (Shift + Space). Each object under the cursor will be highlighted in turn and you can easily pick the one you want.
You can use a similar technique to cycle through sub-objects such as faces and edges on 3D Solids. To cycle through sub-objects, hold down the Control key and hit the Spacebar repeatedly (Ctrl + Space).
Missed a Tip?
Did you miss yesterday's tip? Maybe you forgot to drop by or maybe you don't visit over the weekend. If so, you can now see all the tips published during the past week. Also, if you have a tip you'd like to share with us, you can post it on our forum and if we like it, we'll publish it here.