AutoCAD 2D drafting, 3D modelling, visualisation and a discipline-specific design project. Includes 2D scope.
What you will cover
AutoCAD 2D drafting
3D modelling
visualisation
a discipline-specific design project. Includes 2D scope
Topic list from the institute's programme record.
Certification
Certificate terms for this programme are confirmed by the institute at admission. Any ADIVAS course-completion certificate is an institute certificate; it is not a university degree, an externally accredited qualification or a vendor certification (such as AWS or Microsoft) unless the institute states so in writing.
Curriculum 0.1 · Draft: written for ADIVAS and awaiting academic review and approval. Topics and weeks may change before your batch starts.
Your skill trail
You move through 5 stations. Each week builds one skill you can show, not just a topic you have heard.
1
2D drafting foundations
Create accurate, layered 2D drawings from sketches.
Week 1 Interface, units and coordinates
Week 2 Drawing tools and object snaps
Week 3 Editing tools and layers
2
Annotation and orthographic thinking
Dimension drawings and move between 2D views and 3D forms.
Week 4 Text, hatches, blocks and dimensions
Week 5 Orthographic views and isometric thinking
3
3D modelling
Build and edit solids and surfaces from profiles.
Week 6 From profile to solid
Week 7 Solid editing and Boolean operations
Week 8 UCS, sweep, loft and composite models
4
Visualisation and output
Render models and produce scaled layouts.
Week 9 Materials, lights and rendering
Week 10 Layouts and plotting from 3D
5
Design project
Plan, build and present a discipline-based project.
Week 11 Design project: brief and build
Week 12 Design project: render, sheets and presentation
★
Small Building or Product Design Pack
Your project, reviewed by a trainer.
The ADIVAS mastery ladder: how each skill is recognised
Explored You have seen the idea and tried a first example.
Practising You can do it with hints and keep improving.
Proficient You complete the weekly practical task correctly on your own.
Proven You apply it in a project reviewed by your trainer.
Skill-level tracking is being added to the learner workspace. Your trainer already reviews weekly practical work.
What you will be able to do
Set up drawings with correct units, layers and object snaps and create accurate 2D geometry.
Annotate drawings with dimensions, text, hatches and blocks to a consistent standard.
Read and produce orthographic views (plan, front, side) and relate them to a 3D form.
Build 3D solids from 2D profiles using extrude, revolve, sweep, loft and Boolean operations.
Control the user coordinate system, views and visual styles to inspect and edit 3D models.
Apply materials, lights and cameras and produce a clear rendered image of a model.
Create layouts from a 3D model with scaled views and plot a correct PDF.
Deliver a small design project of a chosen discipline with drawings, a 3D model, a render and a short design note.
Who it suits
School Students in Classes 9-12 who like drawing, models and geometry and want to see how a drawing becomes a 3D object.
College Diploma and degree students in civil, mechanical, electrical or interior design who need 2D drawings and 3D models for projects.
Professional Site supervisors, fabricators, carpenters and design assistants who need to read, edit and present drawings and simple 3D models.
Prerequisites: Basic computer use. School geometry (lengths, angles, areas). No earlier CAD experience. Tools: AutoCAD (licensed or education edition in the lab), Free alternatives for concept practice: FreeCAD or Blender (command names differ), A PDF viewer, Graph paper and a scale ruler for hand sketches.
Weekly plan
2D drafting foundations Weeks 1–3
Week 1: Interface, units and coordinates
Theory
Workspace and model space
Units, limits and 1:1 drawing
Absolute, relative and polar input
Why accuracy matters in drafting
Lab
Set millimetre units and draw a gusset plate using relative and polar coordinates; check each length with the distance command.
Homework
Hand-sketch a door and write its coordinates, then draw it.
Deliverable
A saved plate drawing with a list of coordinates used.
Weekly checkpoint
Predict end points of coordinate entries; one timed shape.
You will be able to
Set up drawings with correct units, layers and object snaps and create accurate 2D geometry.
Week 2: Drawing tools and object snaps
Theory
Line, polyline, circle, arc, rectangle, polygon
Object snaps and polar tracking
Zoom, pan and selection methods
Drawing from a dimensioned sketch
Lab
Draw a machine bracket and a window frame from sketches without typing coordinates, using snaps and tracking.
Homework
Draw a floor plan of a small room from your own measurements.
Deliverable
Bracket, frame and room drawings.
Weekly checkpoint
Choose the correct snap for six tasks.
You will be able to
Set up drawings with correct units, layers and object snaps and create accurate 2D geometry.
Create layers and build a two-room plan with walls offset from centre lines; fix a file with everything on layer 0.
Homework
Write a one-page layer standard for plans and for part drawings.
Deliverable
A layered two-room plan and layer standard.
Weekly checkpoint
Find layer mistakes in a given drawing.
You will be able to
Set up drawings with correct units, layers and object snaps and create accurate 2D geometry.
Annotation and orthographic thinking Weeks 4–5
Week 4: Text, hatches, blocks and dimensions
Theory
Text and dimension styles related to plot scale
Hatch patterns
Blocks and attributes
Linear, aligned, radius, diameter and angular dimensions
Lab
Dimension the plan and the bracket fully, hatch the cut walls and insert door and window blocks.
Homework
Mark up a given drawing for five dimension errors.
Deliverable
A dimensioned plan and bracket with a checklist.
Weekly checkpoint
Spot missing, duplicated and overlapping dimensions.
You will be able to
Annotate drawings with dimensions, text, hatches and blocks to a consistent standard.
Week 5: Orthographic views and isometric thinking
Theory
Plan, front and side views and projection
Matching views with an isometric sketch
Hidden lines and centre lines
Visualising depth from 2D
Lab
Draw three views of a stepped block and a bracket from an isometric sketch, aligning views with projection lines.
Homework
Sketch three views of a household object, then measure and draw them.
Deliverable
A three-view drawing of the block and the object.
Weekly checkpoint
Match three views with the correct pictorial drawing.
You will be able to
Read and produce orthographic views (plan, front, side) and relate them to a 3D form.
3D modelling Weeks 6–8
Week 6: From profile to solid
Theory
The 3D workspace and orbit
Closed profiles, regions and polylines
Extrude, presspull and revolve
Visual styles: wireframe, hidden, shaded
Lab
Extrude a plan into a building mass with wall thickness, and revolve a profile into a bottle or a pulley.
Homework
Model a table from a dimensioned sketch.
Deliverable
A building mass, a revolved part and a table model.
Weekly checkpoint
Choose the best 3D command for four shapes.
You will be able to
Build 3D solids from 2D profiles using extrude, revolve, sweep, loft and Boolean operations. Control the user coordinate system, views and visual styles to inspect and edit 3D models.
Week 7: Solid editing and Boolean operations
Theory
Union, subtract and intersect
Fillet and chamfer edges
Shell, slice and section
Checking volume and mass properties
Lab
Model the bracket as a 3D part with holes by subtracting cylinders; compute its volume and compare with a hand estimate.
Homework
Explain why order of subtraction matters in a solid with a pocket.
Deliverable
A 3D bracket model and a volume check.
Weekly checkpoint
Predict the result of union, subtract and intersect on two solids.
You will be able to
Build 3D solids from 2D profiles using extrude, revolve, sweep, loft and Boolean operations.
Week 8: UCS, sweep, loft and composite models
Theory
User coordinate system and why it matters
Sweep and loft along paths and sections
Assembling parts into a model
Naming and organising 3D layers
Lab
Build a staircase or a pipe route using UCS changes and sweep, and a tapered duct with loft.
Homework
Place a UCS on three faces of a part and describe what changes.
Deliverable
A staircase or pipe model with organised layers.
Weekly checkpoint
Identify the UCS needed to draw on an inclined face.
You will be able to
Control the user coordinate system, views and visual styles to inspect and edit 3D models. Build 3D solids from 2D profiles using extrude, revolve, sweep, loft and Boolean operations.
Visualisation and output Weeks 9–10
Week 9: Materials, lights and rendering
Theory
Materials and textures
Sun and artificial lights
Cameras and views
Render settings and honest presentation
Lab
Apply materials to the building mass and furniture, set a sun study for Madurai in the afternoon and render a view; compare two camera angles.
Homework
Critique your render: what would mislead a client?
Deliverable
Two rendered images and a critique.
Weekly checkpoint
Order the steps from model to render; critique a render.
You will be able to
Apply materials, lights and cameras and produce a clear rendered image of a model.
Week 10: Layouts and plotting from 3D
Theory
Model space and paper space
Creating plan, section and elevation views from a model
Viewport scale and visual styles
Plot to PDF and verify scale
Lab
Create an A3 layout with a plan viewport at 1:50, a section at 1:25 and a rendered 3D viewport; plot and measure a dimension.
Homework
Plot a part at 1:1 and check with a ruler.
Deliverable
A plotted PDF sheet with three views.
Weekly checkpoint
Compute viewport scales; fix a PDF printed at the wrong scale.
You will be able to
Create layouts from a 3D model with scaled views and plot a correct PDF. Annotate drawings with dimensions, text, hatches and blocks to a consistent standard.
Design project Weeks 11–12
Week 11: Design project: brief and build
Theory
Reading a client brief
Choosing discipline: civil, mechanical, electrical or interior
Planning drawings, 3D model and sheets
Design checks against the brief
Lab
Choose a project brief, produce the 2D drawings and start the 3D model; review with a peer using a checklist.
Homework
Fix peer comments and complete the 3D model.
Deliverable
2D drawings and an advanced 3D model.
Weekly checkpoint
Mid-project review.
You will be able to
Set up drawings with correct units, layers and object snaps and create accurate 2D geometry. Annotate drawings with dimensions, text, hatches and blocks to a consistent standard. Read and produce orthographic views (plan, front, side) and relate them to a 3D form. Build 3D solids from 2D profiles using extrude, revolve, sweep, loft and Boolean operations.
Week 12: Design project: render, sheets and presentation
Theory
Rendering for the audience
Sheet composition
Presenting design decisions and limits
Lab
Finish materials, render, layouts and the design note; present in five minutes and take questions.
Homework
Revise after the presentation and archive files with clear names.
Deliverable
A project folder: DWG, PDF sheets, render and a one-page design note.
Weekly checkpoint
Project viva with rubric.
You will be able to
Apply materials, lights and cameras and produce a clear rendered image of a model. Create layouts from a 3D model with scaled views and plot a correct PDF. Deliver a small design project of a chosen discipline with drawings, a 3D model, a render and a short design note.
Sample lessons
Week 5
From three views to a solid
A technical drawing shows an object in separate flat views: the plan from above, the front and the side. Each view shows two of the three dimensions, and views must agree: a feature seen in the front view must line up with the same feature in the plan. To model it in 3D you pick the view that shows the profile best, draw it as a closed shape and extrude it by the depth taken from another view.
View
Direction
Shows
Dimensions visible
Plan (top)
From above
Footprint and layout
Length and width
Front
From the front
Height and main shape
Length and height
Side
From the right
Depth and steps
Width and height
Each view shows two of the three dimensions.
Step by step
Identify the length, width and height from the three views.
Pick the view that shows the main outline most clearly.
Draw that outline as a closed polyline.
Extrude it by the depth read from another view.
Add holes or steps by subtracting solids.
Generate views from the 3D solid and compare them with the original drawing.
In real life
A carpenter gets a drawing of a stepped plinth. The plan shows its footprint, the front shows the step heights and the side shows the depth. Reading the three views together tells him how to cut and stack the pieces.
Worked example
Problem. A block is 60 mm long, 40 mm wide and 30 mm high with a 20 mm x 20 mm notch cut from one top corner, 15 mm deep. What is its volume?
Solution. Full block volume = 60 x 40 x 30 = 72,000 cubic mm. Notch volume = 20 x 20 x 15 = 6,000 cubic mm. The solid's volume is 72,000 - 6,000 = 66,000 cubic mm. In 3D, extrude the rectangle by 30, create a 20 x 20 x 15 box at the corner and subtract it, then check the volume with the mass-properties command.
Common mistakes
Drawing views that do not align, so the same feature has different positions.
Forgetting hidden features that appear as dashed lines.
Subtracting a box that does not extend beyond the face, leaving a thin skin.
Try it yourself
Sketch the three views of a book placed on a step and name each dimension.
Model a block with two through holes and report its volume.
Match four pictorial sketches with their three-view drawings.
Week 10
Layouts: showing a 3D model on a scaled sheet
A 3D model lives in model space at full size. A layout is the printable sheet. You place viewports on the sheet, each with its own view direction, visual style and scale. A plan viewport may be at 1:50 in a hidden-line style, a section at 1:25 and a 3D rendered view with no fixed scale. Locking viewports prevents accidental changes, and a measurement on the plotted sheet confirms the scale.
Title block and notes
Plan viewport 1:50
Section viewport 1:25
Rendered 3D viewport
3D model in model space (full size)
The sheet shows views of one full-size model.
Step by step
Open a layout and set the page size and plotter.
Insert a title block on the layout.
Add a top-view viewport and set scale and visual style.
Add a section or elevation viewport and set its scale.
Add a 3D viewport with a rendered or shaded style.
Lock all viewports, plot to PDF and check one dimension with a ruler.
In real life
A client wants to see how a small shop interior will look and also needs the carpenter to build from it. One sheet carries the rendered view for the client and the scaled plan for the carpenter.
Worked example
Problem. A 7200 mm wide plan must fit in a 360 mm wide viewport. Which standard scale do you pick and how wide will it print?
Solution. 7200 / 360 = 20, so the scale must be 1:20 or smaller. The next standard scale is 1:25, which prints 7200 / 25 = 288 mm wide. At 1:50 it would print 144 mm. Choose 1:25 for the best use of space.
Common mistakes
Using the same visual style for every viewport, so the plan is unreadable.
Leaving viewports unlocked and zooming them by mistake.
Stating a scale in the title block that does not match the viewport.
Try it yourself
Choose a viewport scale for a 4500 mm and for a 12000 mm wide drawing on A3.
Create a layout with three viewports of different scales and label each.
Plot a 90 mm line at 1:3 and check it prints 30 mm.
Try the questions
The same skills are asked at three levels: School (Classes 6–12), College and Professional. Switch the level and the language (English or Tamil), and say how sure you are before you check: knowing what you are unsure about is part of learning.
Classes 6–12: everyday examples, no prior knowledge. Practice only. Nothing here is graded or saved.
Question 1 / 4 · Read orthographic views
You look at a house from directly above. Which view of the house are you seeing?
Projects
Small Building or Product Design Pack
Choose a small design: a 1 BHK house plan with elevations, a workshop bench with fittings, a simple machine bracket assembly or a shop interior. Produce dimensioned 2D drawings, a 3D model, a rendered image and an A3 sheet at the correct scale, with a one-page note on your design decisions.
Tasks
Write a short brief with size, use and constraints, and sketch it by hand.
Create the layered 2D drawings with full dimensions.
Build the 3D model from the 2D geometry and check its volume or area.
Apply materials and lighting and produce a clear render.
Create an A3 layout with scaled views and plot a PDF; verify one printed dimension.
Sample input
Room 3600 x 3000 mm, walls 230 mm, door 900 mm, window 1200 mm, ceiling height 3000 mm.
Expected output
A PDF whose 3600 mm room length measures 72 mm at 1:50, with consistent layers, a render and a design note.
How it is assessed
Criterion
Weight
Accuracy and dimensioning of 2D drawings
25%
3D model correctness and organisation
25%
Render quality and honesty
15%
Layout, scale and plot
20%
Design note and reflection
15%
Stretch challenge: Produce a second design option and compare materials or area in a table.
How you are assessed
Each week: five short questions (views, commands and measurements, with one diagram or table question) and one timed drawing or modelling task checked against a dimension and layer checklist.
Practical work. Learners submit DWG files and plotted PDFs. The trainer measures key dimensions, checks the 3D model volume against hand calculations and verifies the plotted scale with a ruler.
What trainers look for
Weight
Accuracy of 2D geometry and dimensions
25%
3D model correctness
25%
Organisation: layers, naming, structure
15%
Visualisation and presentation
15%
Layout, scale and plot
20%
Where this can lead
Prepares you for junior drafting and 3D modelling support roles in civil, mechanical, electrical and interior settings.
Prepares you to read and edit drawings and present simple 3D models to clients.
Provides a base for deeper CAD, BIM or product-design study.
These describe skills you will build. ADIVAS does not guarantee jobs, placement or salary.
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