CAD Dojo

The CAD Dojo uses repetition and scaffolding in a video-game inspired level system to drill students on common commands for drawing in AutoCAD.

CAD Dojo skips much of the UI and overall explanation of the CAD environment instead focusing on getting students quickly drawing.

Afterwards, they can use the internet or youtube tutorials to pick up the filler information as needed.

The CAD Dojo training is self-contained in a single .DXF. You can download it and start the "Trial of Boxes", then move on to the "10 Student Tribulations," picking up valuable CAD skills along the way in this “game-a-fied” take on CAD training.

CAD Dojo - YELLOW BELT

Yellow belt is the first CAD Dojo workshop. It teaches basic navigation in model space and the most commonly used commands in AutoCAD. In yellow belt, you will be manipulating a box with all these commands. You must walk before you can run!

Link to Yellow Belt File

The template file for CAD Dojo Yellow Belt is on thingiverse. Go there, download the .DXF file, and open it in AutoCAD (or CAD program of choice).

Here's a link to the .dxf file for yellow belt.

Or, navigate to thingiverse direct: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:536371

Speed Runs

Submit your speed run times for the "10 Student Tribulations". Go as fast as you can. Times are self-reported, but a sensei may ask to prove your skillz at any time!

Leader Board

1. Gio - 19:04

Online AutoCAD Web * Video Tutorials

Here is a very good youtube tutorial series by Brooke Godfrey. It takes a much more traditional approach to teaching AutoCAD (not like dojo, which focuses on getting right to the drawing) and goes into many areas of the interface and advanced-ish features that are ignored in the dojo. This video series will fill in many blank spots about the software and is similar to the approach taken in a highschool or college course on CAD.

And here's a good one for regular written instruction: http://www.computeraideddesignguide.com/20-days-of-2d-exercises-autocad-1/

CAD Aids / Cheat Sheets

All AutoCAD Commands List

Full list of AutoCAD commands here.

CAD Dojo - Basic Command List

AL - Align

CH - Chamfer

CI - Circle

CO - Copy

E - Erase

EXT - Extend

FI - Fillet

J - Join

MI - Mirror

M - Move

PL - Polyline

POL - Polygon

REC - Rectangle

RO - Rotate

SC - Scale

TEXT - Test Box

TR - Trim

X - eXplode

Z - Zoom

PRO - Properties (opens a properties panel)

Other Notable Settings/Stuff Needed for DOJO

ORTHO ON/OFF - button at bottom screen that locks 90 degree angels

SNAP ON/OFF - button at bottom of screen that turns on snaps

SNAP MENU - drop down on snap button that lets you set different snap points to active

DYNAMIC INPUT ON/OFF - turn this off if you don't want a bunch of junk on screen

OPTIONS -> SELECTION Tab -> "Lasso" checkbox - uncheck this, most annoying default ever

Mouse wheel rolling zooms in and out.

Mouse wheel hold makes it easy to pan.

Left click to pick. (selection box left to right for "inside box", right to left for "all touching box"

Right click for other stuff.