Learn AutoCAD with our Free Tutorials
Welcome to CADTutor
CADTutor provides the best free tutorials and articles for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and associated applications along with a friendly community forum. If you need to learn AutoCAD, or you want to be more productive, you're in the right place. See our tip of the day to start learning right now!
Free Tutorials and More…
The Tutorials section provides over 100 original tutorials for AutoCAD, 3ds Max and other design applications. Michael’s Corner is an archive of productivity articles that brings you the best AutoCAD tips and tricks. Our Forum is a lively community where AutoCAD users can ask questions and get answers. The Downloads area provides free AutoCAD blocks, free AutoLISP routines and free images.
Tutorials of the Moment
Recently viewed tutorials
-
Stage 1: AutoCAD Drawing
In stage 1 on this project, surfaces are created from an accurate landform mesh made from 2D and 3D polylines using Quickscape surfacing routines. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 1 minute ago
-
Stage 10: Add Play Equipment, Vehicles and People
Finally, Quickscape Model Objects dialog is used to add play equipment, cars and vans and Quickscape Image Objects dialog is used to add people. This brings the scene to life and further adds to the sense of scale for the design. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 1 minute ago
-
Drawing Objects
Getting to grips with AutoCAD's basic drawing tools. This is an ideal start for the AutoCAD beginner. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 1 minute ago
-
Render Scene Dialog
The Render Scene dialog has many settings, only a number of which are commonly used. This tutorial uses the default Scanline Renderer as an introduction to the dialog and settings. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
Dimensioning
This tutorial describes the options and commands available for dimensioning drawings and how to use them. The correct use of AutoCADs dimension tools is the key to producing clear and concise measured drawings. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
-
Object Snap
A tutorial giving an overview of all the AutoCAD object snaps (osnaps) with some worked examples. The tutorial also covers the use of temporary tracking points and object snap tracking. Format: Text/Image
Last visited: 2 minutes ago
CADTutor Tutorials
Our tutorials are comprehensive but straightforward introductions to AutoCAD and related software. They are designed to help beginners get to grips with design workflows as quickly as possible. There are over 100 to choose from, some text/image based and others in video format. Whatever stage you are at in your learning, you should find a tutorial to help.
Forum Latest
Currently Active Topics
Testing DWG compatibility with different CAD applications
by indiancad
2 replies
Last post: 2 hours ago
Can CAD be an online battle platform? I decided to try it.
by VicoWang
3 replies
Last post: 2 hours ago
What are your best practices for working with large DWG files?
by indiancad
5 replies
Last post: 2 hours ago
Standard texts are hiding somehow can anyone please help??
by Vijay
2 replies
Last post: 7 hours ago
GitHub vs APPLOAD: Why is our global impact invisible?
by VicoWang
19 replies
Last post: 29 hours ago
LISP routine for the distribution of sprinklers and fire detectors in fire protection installations
by Javier Longa
12 replies
Last post: 33 hours ago
This Week's Hot Topics
GitHub vs APPLOAD: Why is our global impact invisible?
by VicoWang
19 replies
Viewed: 710 times
LISP routine for the distribution of sprinklers and fire detectors in fire protection installations
by Javier Longa
12 replies
Viewed: 758 times
What are your best practices for working with large DWG files?
by indiancad
5 replies
Viewed: 144 times
LISP: Find & Replace Without the Lag of AutoCAD's Default Command
by CamDuy
3 replies
Viewed: 555 times
Can CAD be an online battle platform? I decided to try it.
by VicoWang
3 replies
Viewed: 467 times
Testing DWG compatibility with different CAD applications
by indiancad
2 replies
Viewed: 116 times
CADTutor Forums
Our forum is a vibrant community of experts and beginners. The main focus is helping beginners get to grips with AutoCAD and to help more advanced users become more productive. The AutoLISP forum is one of the busiest out there, providing expert advice for busy professionals.
AutoCAD Productivity
UCSICON Options
From: AutoCAD Productivity Articles #146
Originally published: June 2016
Every five years or so I address the UCS icon, so here's your next installment.
General Insights
There is a UCSICON command with these options:

Right-click on the UCS icon to display a shortcut menu with a Properties option where you can dress it up a bit.

When you are in the 2D Wireframe visual style, the UCS icon looks like a stick figure. In any other visual style, the icon is a bit more colorful and 3D looking.Horses can only breath through their nose. [Just checking to see if you're paying attention.]
Click on the UCS icon and you see a square grip at 0,0,0 and round grips at the ends of the axes.To disable the ability to select/click on the UCS icon, set the variable UCSSELECTMODE to <0>.
Note: There's an article on how to dimension 3D objects in Michael's Corner, January 2013. You will find more information on manipulating the UCS icon in that review, too.
See all the articles published in June 2016
Michael's Corner
Between 2003 and 2016, Michael Beall (and one or two guests) wrote almost 600 articles for CADTutor. The focus of these articles is AutoCAD productivity, and although some of them are now more than a few years old, most remain relevant to current versions of AutoCAD. The article above is just one example. Check out Michael's Corner for a full listing.
Image of the Week
-
10th – 16th August 2026
This week's image is by papagyi
Software used: 3ds Max 9 and V-Ray
-
Last Week's Image
Last week's image is by boofredlay
Software used: SketchUp and V-Ray
-
Two Weeks Ago
This image is by Lazarus
Software used: AutoCAD 2009
-
Three Weeks Ago
This image is by BenGoble
Software used: 3ds Max
Gallery of Work
Over the years, our forum members have contributed hundreds of images, showcasing their amazing work. The images above are just a small selection that demonstrate the wide range of project types our community is involved with. Take a look at our gallery to see all the images published in the last 12 months.
Tip of the Day
Shift for fillet radius zero
Do you get fed up having to set your Fillet alternately to a radius value and then to 0 to get a right angle?
You don't have to! Just fillet your lines while holding down Shift and the current default fillet radius value will be ignored.
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.