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
-
Scaling Images
How to scale images in AutoCAD. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 1 minute ago
-
User Co-ordinate Systems
This tutorial describes what UCSs are, why we need them and how to use them. The correct use of UCSs with AutoCAD is the key to producing good 3D models and they can also help with 2D work. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 3 minutes ago
-
Loft Mapping
This tutorial follows on from the simple Loft tutorial in Options for Creating Objects and demonstrates how to map a material along a lofted object. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 9 minutes ago
-
North Point Exercise
An exercise sheet, covering a range of basic skills including object snaps. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 10 minutes ago
-
The Interface
This tutorial gives a brief explanation of the MAX interface items commonly used and introduces you to the important areas of the interface. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 10 minutes ago
-
Units and Scales
If you're asking yourself "what scale do I draw in?" or "what units should I use?", you need this tutorial. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 11 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
Aluminum composite panels parametric templates
by emosms
3 replies
Last post: 10 hours ago
LISP FOR STEEL PLATE FABRICATION
by CamDuy
1 reply
Last post: 17 hours ago
MESHSMOOTH: Controlling unwanted distortion when refining a 3D mesh
by indiancad
0 replies
Last post: 26 hours ago
INTERFERE: Telling overlaps apart from real assembly issues
by indiancad
0 replies
Last post: 26 hours ago
SOLIDEDIT: How do you handle a face that refuses to offset cleanly?
by indiancad
2 replies
Last post: 26 hours ago
Slide Library Select Slides to Extract
by Paul Li
0 replies
Last post: 28 hours ago
This Week's Hot Topics
Fillet Polylines Multiple
by SLW210
4 replies
Viewed: 277 times
Aluminum composite panels parametric templates
by emosms
3 replies
Viewed: 82 times
Generated ISO title block DXF: units, attributes and fonts when used in a template
by Margo App
2 replies
Viewed: 123 times
SOLIDEDIT: How do you handle a face that refuses to offset cleanly?
by indiancad
2 replies
Viewed: 100 times
LISP FOR STEEL PLATE FABRICATION
by CamDuy
1 reply
Viewed: 178 times
CAD Learning Game
by Luke P
1 reply
Viewed: 100 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
Use the INSERT Osnap on Blocks
From: AutoCAD Productivity Articles #134
Originally published: June 2014
In Michael's Corner February 2013 I covered the use of the Insert object snap for text. It also happens to be the Osnap you can use for Blocks.
When you need to snap to the insertion point of a block, I don't bother to set it as an Osnap since it's such a seldom-used feature. When the time comes, simply Shift + Right-click to display the Osnap shortcut menu, then click Insert or use the ‘INS’ keyboard shortcut.
See all the articles published in June 2014
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
-
19th – 25th October 2026
This week's image is by Oppie
Software used: AutoCAD 2011
-
Last Week's Image
Last week's image is by boofredlay
Software used: SketchUp and Twilight Render
-
Two Weeks Ago
This image is by mitchellrodhous
Software used: AutoCAD 2011
-
Three Weeks Ago
This image is by herdy1212
Software used: 3ds Max
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
Do you want to turn it into one? <Y>
When using PEDIT and selecting an object which is not a polyline you will get a message asking if you want to turn it into a polyline. This can be quite annoying if you're having to create closed polylines from a bunch of lines. To stop getting this message, type PEDITACCEPT and press Enter. Then type 1 and press Enter. This will automatically answer "yes" to the question in future.
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.