The AutoCAD Resource

CADTutor delivers the best free tutorials and articles for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and associated applications along with a friendly AutoCAD forum and an AutoCAD FAQ. If you need to learn AutoCAD, you're in the right place. Visit the AutoCAD tutorials page for more information or see our tip of the day to start learning right now!

Free Tutorials and More

The Tutorials section provides over 80 original tutorials for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and other design applications such as Photoshop and Bryce. Michael’s Corner is a monthly article that brings you the best up-to-date AutoCAD tips and tricks. The CADTutor Forum is a lively bulletin board where AutoCAD users can ask questions and get answers. The Download area provides free AutoCAD blocks, free AutoLISP routines and free digital images.

Site News

Michael’s Corner - November 2009

Very Thankful

Another month, another Corner. This is the season for celebrations and for giving thanks for the year behind us. We've had Halloween and Bonfire Night and we have Thanksgiving on the horizon. And I am sure there are lots of similar year-end celebrations around the world that I am not aware of. 2009 may be coming to an end but our learning never stops. Some of you may be lucky enough to be going to Autodesk University 2009 in Las Vegas. If you are there, be sure to say "hello" to Michael Beall and let him know that you're a CADTutor visitor and hopefully a regular reader of his monthly Corner.

Those of you who can't be in Las Vegas (1st to 3rd December) and let's face it, that's most of us, will have to make do with Michael's November Corner. It may not be a substitute for being part of a great learning experience (and vacation!) but it will keep you on that learning path where every trick learned pays you back dividends.

In this month's Corner, Michael looks at the Quick Access Toolbar and demonstrates how to add your favourite commands to it and how to change it with your workspace - very cool and a good way to overcome some of those Ribbon niggles. In other articles, Michael shows you how to avoid the giant Mtext editor (doesn't that drive you mad?) and how to edit dimensions with grips. All in all, a fully rounded corner.

Video Tutorials - 14th August 2009

We've added a new Video Tutorials section to CADTutor! Some of our users have asked for video tutorials in addition to the text-based tutorials already on the site. Check them out and let us know what you think. Also, for those of you who prefer to watch your online video at YouTube, why not visit the CADTutor YouTube channel?

Currently Active Threads

This Week’s Hot Threads

Tip of the Day

Quick Extrusions with Presspull

As of AutoCAD 2007, there's no need to draw closed shapes before extruding. The Presspull tool will find any enclosed area (just like BHATCH) and extrude it.

Any objects can be used as boundaries; lines, circles, splines, they all work. This makes building 3D solid models much quicker than before.

Today's tip is by David Watson

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.