AutoCAD interface, drawing tools, layers, dimensions, blocks, plotting and accurate 2D drawings.
What you will cover
AutoCAD interface
drawing tools
layers
dimensions
blocks
plotting
accurate 2D drawings
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 4 stations. Each week builds one skill you can show, not just a topic you have heard.
1
Setting up and drawing precisely
Work with units, coordinates and snaps so that every point is exact.
Week 1 Interface, units and coordinates
Week 2 Draw tools and object snaps
2
Editing and layers
Modify geometry efficiently and keep the drawing organised with layers.
Week 3 Modify tools
Week 4 Layers, colours and linetypes
3
Annotation and blocks
Add text, hatches, dimensions and reusable blocks that other people can read.
Week 5 Text, hatches and tables
Week 6 Dimensions and blocks
4
Plotting and a drawing set
Plot to scale and deliver a checked drawing set.
Week 7 Layouts, viewports and plotting
Week 8 Drawing set and review
★
Small Shop Plan and Fitting Drawing Set
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
Navigate the AutoCAD interface, set units and limits, and enter points with absolute, relative and polar coordinates.
Draw and edit geometry accurately using object snaps, polar tracking and the core draw and modify tools.
Organise a drawing with named layers, colours and linetypes that follow a simple office standard.
Add text, hatches and dimensions with suitable styles so that a drawing can be built from it.
Create and insert blocks, and use attributes and tables for repeated items and schedules.
Set up a layout with a viewport at a stated scale, a title block, and plot a correct PDF.
Check a drawing for errors against a dimension and layer checklist and correct it.
Complete a small dimensioned drawing set (plan, elevation or part views) from a sketch.
Who it suits
School Students in Classes 9-12 who enjoy technical drawing and geometry and want to see how drawings are made on a computer.
College Diploma and engineering students in civil, mechanical or electrical streams who need clean 2D drawings for assignments and projects.
Professional Site supervisors, fabricators, interior workers and draughting staff who need to read, edit and plot drawings accurately.
Prerequisites: Basic computer use (files, folders, keyboard and mouse). Comfort with measurements in millimetres and simple geometry. No earlier CAD experience. Tools: AutoCAD (a licensed or student/education edition provided by the lab), Free alternative for practice of concepts: LibreCAD or FreeCAD, noting that command names differ, A PDF viewer, A ruler and scale for checking printed output.
Weekly plan
Setting up and drawing precisely Weeks 1–2
Week 1: Interface, units and coordinates
Theory
Workspace, ribbon, command line, model space
Setting units (millimetres) and drawing limits
Absolute (x,y), relative (@dx,dy) and polar (@d<angle) input
Why the drawing is drawn at full size 1:1
Lab
Set millimetre units, draw a rectangle 120 x 80 using absolute coordinates, then redraw it with relative input and a closed polyline with polar input.
Homework
Draw a right-angled triangle with sides 30, 40 and 50 using only keyboard coordinates.
Deliverable
A saved file with three accurate shapes and a note of the coordinates used.
Weekly checkpoint
Convert a given sketch into a list of coordinate entries; predict the end point of @60<45.
You will be able to
Navigate the AutoCAD interface, set units and limits, and enter points with absolute, relative and polar coordinates.
Object snaps: endpoint, midpoint, centre, intersection, tangent
Polar tracking and ortho; direct distance entry
Zoom, pan and the dynamic input
Lab
Draw a metal bracket outline with two holes using endpoint, centre and tangent snaps, without typing any coordinates.
Homework
Draw a plan outline of your own classroom at 1:1 with door and window openings.
Deliverable
The bracket and classroom outline drawings.
Weekly checkpoint
Identify which snap to use for six given tasks; one timed drawing.
You will be able to
Draw and edit geometry accurately using object snaps, polar tracking and the core draw and modify tools.
Editing and layers Weeks 3–4
Week 3: Modify tools
Theory
Move, copy, rotate, scale, mirror
Trim, extend, offset, fillet, chamfer
Array, stretch, break, join
Selecting with window and crossing; grips
Lab
Using offset, trim and fillet, draw a four-room plan from a centre-line layout with 230 mm walls and door openings.
Homework
Create a flange with six bolt holes using polar array.
Deliverable
A wall plan and a flange part drawing.
Weekly checkpoint
Order the modify steps to turn a centre-line sketch into wall outlines; one editing task.
You will be able to
Draw and edit geometry accurately using object snaps, polar tracking and the core draw and modify tools.
Week 4: Layers, colours and linetypes
Theory
Why layers exist: control, printing and editing
Naming: WALLS, DOORS, DIMS, TEXT, CENTRE, HIDDEN
Colours, linetypes, lineweights and linetype scale
Layer states: on/off, freeze, lock, plot
Lab
Create a layer set with a naming rule and move all objects of the wall plan to correct layers; fix an intentionally messy file where everything is on layer 0.
Homework
Write a one-page layer standard for a drawing type you may use.
Deliverable
The re-layered plan and a layer standard table.
Weekly checkpoint
Match layer names to objects; find three layer mistakes in a given screenshot.
You will be able to
Organise a drawing with named layers, colours and linetypes that follow a simple office standard.
Annotation and blocks Weeks 5–6
Week 5: Text, hatches and tables
Theory
Text styles and heights relative to plot scale
Single-line and multiline text
Hatch patterns and boundaries
Tables for schedules
Lab
Label rooms, add a hatch to the walls cut by a section and make a door and window schedule table.
Homework
Prepare a material legend using hatch swatches for four materials.
Deliverable
A labelled plan with a schedule and legend.
Weekly checkpoint
Calculate the text height needed to print 3 mm text at 1:50; one hatch task.
You will be able to
Add text, hatches and dimensions with suitable styles so that a drawing can be built from it.
Fully dimension the bracket and the plan using one dimension style, then create door and bolt blocks with insertion points and use them.
Homework
Dimension a given shaft drawing and list three dimensions you would question.
Deliverable
A dimensioned bracket and a plan using blocks.
Weekly checkpoint
Spot missing, duplicated and overlapping dimensions in a given drawing.
You will be able to
Add text, hatches and dimensions with suitable styles so that a drawing can be built from it. Create and insert blocks, and use attributes and tables for repeated items and schedules.
Plotting and a drawing set Weeks 7–8
Week 7: Layouts, viewports and plotting
Theory
Model space vs paper space
Page setup: sheet size, plotter, plot style
Viewport scale locking, title block
Plot to PDF and check scale with a known distance
Lab
Create an A3 layout with a title block and two viewports (plan 1:50 and detail 1:10), lock the scales and plot a PDF; measure a printed dimension against the scale.
Homework
Plot the bracket at 1:1 on A4 and verify a 50 mm length with a ruler.
Deliverable
A plotted PDF with correct scales and title block.
Weekly checkpoint
Compute the viewport scale for a given sheet and drawing; troubleshoot a PDF that prints too small.
You will be able to
Set up a layout with a viewport at a stated scale, a title block, and plot a correct PDF.
Week 8: Drawing set and review
Theory
Drawing checks: dimensions, layers, scale, title block
Reading a mark-up and correcting it
File naming, versions and purge/audit
Lab
From a given hand sketch of a small shop or room, produce a plan, one elevation or section, and a schedule; swap files with a peer who reviews them with a checklist.
Homework
Fix every comment from the peer review and list what you changed.
Deliverable
A dimensioned drawing set as DWG and PDF, with a signed checklist.
Weekly checkpoint
Practical submission assessed with the project rubric.
You will be able to
Check a drawing for errors against a dimension and layer checklist and correct it. Complete a small dimensioned drawing set (plan, elevation or part views) from a sketch.
Sample lessons
Week 1
Entering points with coordinates
Every point in a drawing is an x and y position. You can type absolute coordinates from the origin, relative coordinates from the last point, or polar input as a distance and angle. Draw at real size, 1:1, and decide the scale only when plotting. Relative and polar input are usually the fastest way to draw exact shapes because you think in lengths rather than positions on the page.
Input type
Example
Measured from
Use when
Absolute
50,30
Origin (0,0)
A known position
Relative
@100,0
Last point
Known lengths along x and y
Polar
@40<60
Last point
Known length and angle
Direct distance
Move cursor, type 75
Last point
Ortho or tracking on
Choose the coordinate type that matches what you know.
Step by step
Set units to millimetres with a precision of 0 or 1 decimal.
Start the LINE command and click or type the first point, for example 0,0.
Type the next point as relative coordinates, such as @120,0.
Continue with @0,80 and @-120,0, then type C to close.
Use polar input such as @50<60 for a slanted edge.
Check by listing the object and reading the length.
In real life
A fabricator receives a sketch of a gate frame 1200 by 900 mm. By entering the sides as relative coordinates he gets exact corners, and the cutting list can be read directly from the drawing.
Worked example
Problem. Draw a trapezium starting at 0,0 with base 100, right side 60 high at a right angle, top 70 long, closing back to the start. Give the coordinates to type.
Solution. Start at 0,0. Type @100,0 for the base. Type @0,60 for the right side. Type @-70,0 for the top. Then type C to close back to the start; the slanted side is created automatically and its length is the square root of 30 squared plus 60 squared, about 67 mm.
Common mistakes
Typing absolute coordinates when relative ones were intended, so shapes jump across the screen.
Forgetting the @ sign so the next point is measured from the origin.
Scaling the drawing to 1:50 while drawing instead of drawing at full size.
Try it yourself
Draw a 100 by 60 rectangle starting at 20,20 using only absolute coordinates.
Draw a regular hexagon of 40 mm side using polar input @40<0, @40<60 and so on.
Draw an L-shaped plate and verify its overall length using the distance command.
Week 7
Plotting to scale from a layout
Model space holds the full-size drawing. A layout is the sheet of paper. You place a viewport on the sheet, set its scale, and lock it so that it cannot change by accident. Text and dimensions are made so that they print at the correct height at that scale. A scale check, measuring a known dimension on the printed sheet, is the final proof that the plot is correct.
1Draw 1:1 in model space
2Set layout and sheet size
3Add viewport and scale
4Lock viewport
5Plot PDF
6Check scale with a ruler
Drawing is always 1:1; scale belongs to the layout.
Step by step
Open a layout and set the page setup to A3, the PDF plotter and a plot style.
Insert a title block on the layout, not in model space.
Create a viewport and set its scale, such as 1:50.
Lock the viewport and freeze unwanted layers in it if needed.
Plot to PDF and open it at 100 percent.
Measure a known dimension to confirm the scale.
In real life
A contractor needs a plan printed so that his supervisor can scale from it. A viewport at 1:50 means a 6000 mm wall prints as 120 mm, and the supervisor can verify it with a ruler.
Worked example
Problem. A building plan is 12000 mm long. What viewport scale fits it on a 420 mm wide A3 sheet with about 380 mm usable width, and how long will it print?
Solution. Try 1:50. 12000 divided by 50 is 240 mm, which fits in 380 mm. Try 1:25. 12000 divided by 25 is 480 mm, which does not fit. So use 1:50 and the wall prints 240 mm long.
Common mistakes
Leaving the viewport unlocked and changing the scale with the mouse wheel.
Plotting from model space with Fit to paper, giving an unknown scale.
Using dimension text height 2.5 at 1:1 and then wondering why it prints tiny at 1:100.
Try it yourself
Compute the viewport scales needed to fit a 7500 mm and a 18000 mm drawing on A3.
Plot a 100 mm line at 1:2 and verify it prints as 50 mm.
Add two viewports of different scales to one sheet and label each scale.
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 · Understand coordinates
On graph paper, a point is at x = 4 and y = 3. How is the point written?
Projects
Small Shop Plan and Fitting Drawing Set
A tailoring shop in Madurai measures 5.4 m by 3.6 m. Produce a small drawing set: floor plan with counter, trial room, shelves, door and window; a front elevation; a door and furniture schedule; all dimensioned, layered and plotted to scale on one sheet.
Tasks
Set millimetre units and draw the room outline from the measured sketch.
Create layers for walls, doors, furniture, dimensions and text and place all objects correctly.
Create blocks for door, counter and chair and insert them.
Dimension the plan so that a carpenter could build from it and add a schedule table.
Create an A3 layout at 1:50 with a title block and plot a PDF.
Sample input
Room 5400 x 3600, wall 230, door 900 on the south wall, window 1500 on the east wall, counter 2400 x 600.
Expected output
A PDF whose printed 100 mm dimension measures 2 mm at 1:50, with layered DWG and a schedule.
How it is assessed
Criterion
Weight
Accuracy of geometry and dimensions
30%
Layers, blocks and organisation
25%
Annotation and schedule clarity
20%
Layout, scale and plot
25%
Stretch challenge: Add a second option with a different counter position and compare areas in a table.
How you are assessed
Each week: five short questions (coordinate, command and drawing-reading items, with one diagram or table item) and one timed drawing task checked against a dimension and layer checklist.
Practical work. Learners submit their own DWG and plotted PDF each week. The trainer measures key dimensions, inspects layers and checks the plotted scale with a ruler.
What trainers look for
Weight
Accuracy of dimensions and geometry
30%
Layer organisation and standards
20%
Annotation and dimension style
20%
Layout, scale and plot correctness
20%
Review and correction habit
10%
Where this can lead
Prepares you for junior draughting and drawing-support work in civil, mechanical, electrical and interior settings.
Prepares you to read, edit and plot drawings supplied by engineers or architects.
Provides a base for 3D modelling and discipline-specific CAD study.
These describe skills you will build. ADIVAS does not guarantee jobs, placement or salary.
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