AutoCAD

XXXXXXAutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting. It is developed and sold by Autodesk, Inc. First released in December 1982, AutoCAD was one of the first CAD programs to run on personal computers.

Today, there are many CAD software packages on the market, the two applications we will use to learn CAD are AutoCAD LT & DraftSight. These are excellent and professional software packages, Draftsight is offered for free by Dassault Systems, the same provider of our 3d CAD software SolidWorks.

Download DraftSight for free here. Be sure to check with your parents before downloading and installing DraftSight. After you have parent approval, click on the download button, you will be taken to another screen and asked to accept the End User License agreement. Place a check in the box, then click on the green button that corresponds to your operating system. When it has finished downloading, navigate to the file and double click to run it. Follow the installation directions and you are done!  Congratulations, you are on your way to an exciting career in engineering.

CAD Unit snap-shot:

• Lessons - powerpoint with a worksheet - done for homework
• Resource videos - watch and practice building block skills
• Assignment - follow along and create a technical design - guided practice
• Lesson quiz - multiple choice/fill in the blank information from lessons
• Drawing quiz - use skills acquired to create a technical design - on your own