Key details

AutoCAD 3D training course introducing the concepts behind 3D modelling in AutoCAD, and teaching everything you need to work in the 3D environment

You will learn how to:

• Create 3D models from 2D designs.
• Use solid modelling, surface modelling and mesh modelling techniques.
• Create full working drawings of your 3D models.
• Produce visualisations of models, incorporating lighting and materials.

Who should attend?

This course is ideal for users proficient in using AutoCAD for 2D drawing, who now want to take advantage of AutoCAD’s 3D modelling capabilities.

Upcoming course dates

Is the training industry-specific?

The techniques taught in this course are relevant to all industries. You’ll learn 3D modelling techniques relevant to all industries, including engineering and architecture. Our trainers draw on exercises from a variety of disciplines.

Accredited AutoCAD training

Armada is an Autodesk Authorised Training Centre (ATC), and our AutoCAD 3D training courses are accredited by Autodesk.

AutoCAD 3D training is hosted by Autodesk Certified Instructors, with vast experience of using the application professionally. For details, see Expert trainers.

How will I learn?

AutoCAD 3D training is hands-on and practical.

Our trainers teach the necessary theory then demonstrate techniques step-by-step. You then practice the techniques taught on a computer running AutoCAD.

There is plenty of time to ask questions, and you can take away all the files you create.

Training guide and certificate

AutoCAD 3D course delegates receive:

• A comprehensive AutoCAD 3D training guide, to refer to throughout the course, and to use as a refresher afterwards.
• An e-certificate confirming successful completion of an accredited AutoCAD 3D training course. This is emailed to delegates directly from Autodesk. Click here to see an example of the certificate you receive.

After course support

Following AutoCAD 3D training, delegates are entitled to 30 days’ email support from their AutoCAD trainer to help with any post-course issues. For further details, see Support. For further details, see Support.

Prerequisites

You should be familiar with the fundamentals of AutoCAD, i.e. have attended AutoCAD Essentials training or have equivalent knowledge through other means.

Ideally, you will be proficient in some or all of the techniques taught in our AutoCAD Intermediate course, but this isn’t essential.

AutoCAD version

Training is based primarily on AutoCAD 2020, running on Windows. It is relevant to all recent versions of AutoCAD, from 2010.

You must have access to full AutoCAD to be able to carry out the techniques taught in this course. AutoCAD LT does not support 3D modelling.

Please contact us if you’re going to be using AutoCAD for Mac.

Our guarantees to you

We want our course delegates to go away satisfied.

Our price guarantee is your assurance that you’re getting the best value for money.

Our training guarantee ensures that you learn the concepts and skills you need.

On-request AutoCAD training also available

As well as our scheduled courses, AutoCAD 3D training is also available on-request, i.e. one-to-one training or a ‘closed’ course for your group, hosted at one of our centres, or your venue.

On-request training can be tailored to take into account any existing knowledge you have, and the work you’re going to be doing in AutoCAD. Please contact us for a quote.

General information

Course times

9.30am–4.30pm.

Payment

Payment for AutoCAD training can be made bank transfer or card.

We accept purchase orders from UK-registered companies.

If you’re self-funding your training, you can pay in staged payments, interest-free, over 12 months.

For further details, see training course payment options.

Cancellations and transfers

If a booking on a scheduled AutoCAD 3D course is cancelled giving less than 10 working days’ notice, a cancellation fee is payable. View cancellation terms.

If a delegate requests a transfer to a different scheduled AutoCAD 3D course giving less than 10 working days’ notice, a transfer fee is payable. View transfer terms.

Terms and conditions

Training course bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.

Expert trainers

AutoCAD courses are hosted by:

• Andy Roe
• Carl Portman
• Lee Brown
• Martin McCann
• Peter Jones
• Philip Madeley
• Rod Cleasby
• Simon Oliver
• Stewart Cobb
• Wendy Sprakes

Andy Roe

Andy has worked in CAD for over 30 years in roles including Draughtsman, CAD System Manager, Project Manager and Design Engineer.

In recent years, Andy has focused on developing and delivering training courses. He is a long-established Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), and he focuses primarily on Autodesk applications including AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360, 3ds Max and Sketchbook. He also hosts courses in SolidWorks.

Andy continues to undertake project work to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and practices. He specialises in modelling complex 3D designs from prototype to production, including the development of visuals and animations for a range of engineering projects.

Industries in which Andy has significant experience include aerospace, defence and automotive.

Carl Portman

Carl Portman has been an Autodesk-accredited instructor for 25 years, and a CAD consultant for 35 years. He lectures in 3D modelling at a local college (City and Guilds).

Carl’s background is in engineering. He has vast design experience in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace and medical. Projects that Carl has completed include designing complete car plants for Jaguar Land Rover.

Carl has expert knowledge of a wide range of 3D design applications. As well as AutoCAD, he hosts courses in Autodesk Alias, Fusion 360 and Inventor, and Dassault Systemes SolidWorks.

Until recently, Carl raced motorbikes. He knows Silverstone and Brands Hatch like the back of his hand, and he has the scars to prove it.

Lee Brown

Lee Brown is an Autodesk Certified Instructor with 25 years’ experience working as a Draughtsman and Electrical Design Engineer.

He has achieved numerous City and Guilds qualifications in subjects including AutoCAD 3D Design, Advanced AutoCAD System Management and Electrical Engineering.

Lee splits his time between training, and working as a Consultant. He specialises in the implementation, configuration of AutoCAD Electrical to company’s specific requirements. Industries in which Lee has implemented AutoCAD Electrical include Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Defence, Aerospace, and Building Services.

Lee has developed a range of courses for AutoCAD Electrical, and written the accompanying training guides.

He remains hands-on, carrying out regular Electrical System design and Control Panel design projects. Other tasks and project’s he’s undertaken include the administration of CAD databases, creation of drawing office standards, review of existing operating practices and workflows, and the management of a team of eight draughtsman.

Martin McCann

Martin McCann qualified as an Architect in 1986, and he holds a teaching certificate (further and adult education).

He is a long-established Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI), a capacity in which he has taught thousands of professionals, including Architects, Structural Engineers and Mechanical Engineers, for over 20 years.

Martin has been commissioned by Autodesk on multiple occasions to host sessions for them at locations including New York, Chicago, Moscow, Milan and Munich. He has trained Autodesk’s staff and many other Autodesk Certified Instructors, and has operated as a visiting Lecturer at the University of Northumbria and Cambridge School of Art.

Martin is the author of the McCann’s BIM Guides series of published Revit training manuals.

Peter Jones

Peter has over 25 years’ experience working with AutoCAD in a variety of roles that have included Draughtsman, Salesman, Consultant and Support.

These days, Peter concentrates on training. He is also a long-standing Autodesk Certified Instructor, and Armada’s longest-serving AutoCAD trainer, having first hosted courses for us in 2000. Feedback we receive from delegates who attend Peter’s courses is invariably excellent.

When explaining how AutoCAD’s features work, Peter places a great emphasis on explaining the additional benefits of faster and easier drafting techniques, drawing on his own drafting experiences.

Philip Madeley

Philip’s background is in Civil Engineering. He is a long-standing Autodesk-accredited instructor and consultant who focuses on AutoCAD and related GIS applications such as Civil 3D, AutoCAD Map 3D and InfraWorks.

Philip’s approach to training is practical. He loves to utilise his knowledge and experience to show delegates how they can make best use of the software on their own projects.

Away from training, Philip’s interests are photography, and watching rugby and cricket. He also does voluntary work, and describes himself as an all-round lover of life.

Rod Cleasby

Rod has over 20 years’ experience working in design, specialising in architecture, interior design and the production of rendered images and animations.

He has used AutoCAD in his professional work for 25 years, offering training in the application for a similar length of time. He is also an expert in many related tools and technologies, including 3ds Max, Photoshop and SketchUp.

Rod is a long-established Autodesk-Certified Instructor.

Away from training and visualisations, Rod is an accomplished artist and musician.

Simon Oliver

Simon studied Building and Civil Engineering and worked for a short while in a shop fitting drawing office. This gave him a good background for when he started to work with AutoCAD and Autodesk’s architectural add-on programs like AEC and AutoCAD Architecture.

Simon became a CAD operator at one of the first Autodesk main dealers in the UK in the mid 1980’s. They sold AutoCAD software and provided drafting, training and support services to their clients. He progressed to carrying out sales demonstrations, training and support to the companies’ AutoCAD client base in a wide range of industry sectors.

Since 1992, Simon has concentrated on carrying out training and support services to AutoCAD users. He has achieved Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) status along with previously gained City and Guilds qualifications in training.

Stewart Cobb

Stewart began his working life as a junior draughtsman, and progressed through to Design Director leading a studio of designers working on both 2D and 3D projects.

He then worked for himself for over 25 years, completing around 100 design projects per year for a myriad of clients, including household names such as Vauxhall and McDonalds.

As well as AutoCAD, Stewart is an expert user of Revit, 3ds Max and AutoCAD Plant 3D. He also specialises in the production of photorealistic rendered images and visualisations.

More recently, Stewart has focused on training. He has been an Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI) since 2010. In between courses he continues to carry out project work to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and practices.

Outside of work, Stewart enjoys music (he runs the sound desk for a number of local bands), reading and playing with any new piece of technology he can lay his hands on!

Wendy Sprakes

Wendy Sprakes is an Autodesk Certified Instructor and a qualified teacher (QTS).

Wendy began her working life as a CAD operator, using Medusa, MicroStation and AutoCAD.

Working through the ranks of trainee draughtsman, graduating as a professional Mechanical Engineer, she worked in the Mechanical Handling industry on site and in the drawing office for ten years. She became a Project Engineer then moved into the CAE Industry, working as an engineer in the Fatigue Analysis software industry for clients such as Ford Motor Company and Jaguar Cars.

She then went on to qualify as a teacher, and has been hosting AutoCAD courses since 2000.

Away from training, Wendy is an accomplished jazz musician. Her music enjoys regular airplay on both regional and national stations including BBC and JazzFM.

Course content

Navigating the 3D space

• Changing workspaces
• Using the Viewcube
• Understanding the view controls and User Co-ordinate Systems (UCS)
• Using Dynamic UCS
• Using perspective and parallel views

Solid modelling

• Primitive creation
• Boolean construction – Union, Subtraction, Intersect and Interfere
• Creating Lofts, Sweeps and Revolves
• Solid models with the Presspull tool
• Solid model editing
• Sub objection selection and manipulation within a solid

Surface modelling

• Splines and their use in surface models
• Creating Lofts, Sweeps and Revolves
• Sub objection selection and manipulation within a surface
• An introduction to NURBS
• Conversion to a solid model

Mesh modelling

• Primitive creation
• Sub-object selection and manipulation within a mesh
• Smoothing and creasing a mesh model
• Conversion to a solid model

Model manipulation

• Moving, rotating and scaling using the Gizmo
• Using the Rotate3D tool

Drafting in the 3D environment

• Lines, Polylines and 3D Polylines

Viewing 3D models and the paper space environment

• Viewport creation
• Creating a section and using the clipping planes
• Using the base tool to create a detail drawing set
• Annotation

Printing

• Using visuals styles and hidden line removal
• Output to a 3D printer for fast prototyping

Rendering

• Camera settings
• Task and environmental lighting
• An introduction to materials
• Applying materials
• Render settings and output types

Discounts and bundles

To make your AutoCAD training as affordable as possible, we offer:

• A discounted AutoCAD training bundle.
• A range of training discounts on our scheduled (public) AutoCAD training courses.
• A price guarantee that you won’t get AutoCAD training for less.

AutoCAD training bundle

Book:

• AutoCAD Essentials (3 days)
• AutoCAD Intermediate (3 days)
• AutoCAD 3D (2 days)

for £990 + VAT, saving £395 + VAT. This means that you’re getting the AutoCAD 3D course free of charge.

The bundle price is applied automatically when you book these three courses.

Training discounts

Multiple places

If you book multiple course places, we can offer you:

• 10% discount if you book two places.
• 15% discount if you book three or four places.
• 20% discount if you book five or more places.

This can be for several people attending one course, one person attending several courses, or a combination.

Concessions

We offer a 10% discount on scheduled AutoCAD course places to:

• Students, teachers and lecturers.
• People who work for a registered charity.
• ISTC members.

Please call us if you qualify for a discount. Evidence of your status that entitles you to a discount may be requested.

Terms and exclusions

Only one of the above discounts can be applied to any booking.

The above discounts are not available for training bundles or on-request course bookings (one-to-one training or a course for your group).

Price guarantee

When you book training with Armada, we want you to be certain that you’re not paying over-the-odds. So, if you book a place on any scheduled (public) course and then find the same course at a lower price elsewhere, we will match that price.

To qualify for the price match:

• The course you find must be comparable. By this we mean it must:
  • Cover the same subject.
  • Be the same duration or longer.
  • Hold the same accreditations as our course, i.e. it must be provided by an Autodesk Authorised Training Centre (ATC).
  • Be in the same region, i.e. within 50 miles of our centre.

• The lower price must be advertised on the other company’s website.

To claim a price match, just call any time before attending your course and tell us where you saw the price.

Certification exams

When you attend AutoCAD training at Armada, you’re not assessed. Our courses have been developed to teach you skills you can use in the real world, not pass an exam. Separately, and in addition to our training, you have the option of taking a certification exam that leads to an industry-recognised credential in AutoCAD.

There are two levels of AutoCAD certification which are suitable for users at different stages in their careers: Autodesk Certified User and Autodesk Certified Professional.

Successful candidates receive:

• A personalised e-certificate (PDF) from Autodesk confirming their AutoCAD-certified status.
• An official Autodesk-Certified badge that you can use to market your skills, e.g. on your business cards, in your email signature, on your website, etc.
• The option of appearing in Autodesk’s publicly-accessible database of certified AutoCAD users.

Autodesk Certified User (ACU) exam in AutoCAD

Entry level exam covering the fundamental concepts and procedures in AutoCAD, as well as specific skills that are appropriate for ensuring a base level of proficiency in AutoCAD.

• Qualification: Autodesk Certified User in AutoCAD.
• Cost of exam: £100 + VAT per candidate.
• Length of exam: 75 minutes.
• Recommended preparation: Attend AutoCAD Essentials training, and have approximately 50 hours’ experience using the application.
• Further details: download exam guide.

Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) exam in AutoCAD

Covers a broad range of skills and requires you to perform more complex tasks and design challenges in AutoCAD.

• Qualification: Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD.
• Cost of exam: £150 + VAT per candidate.
• Length of exam: 2 hours.
• Recommended preparation: Attend AutoCAD Intermediate training, and have 400+ hours’ experience using the application.
• Further details: download exam guide.

Practice test

If you book an ACU or ACP exam with us, a practice test is available. The test reflects the questions you’re likely to be asked in your exam; you can take this test online from home.

The test has two modes:

• Testing mode, which replicates your exam.
• Training mode, which provides step-by-step help on questions.

The practice test fee is £45 + VAT.

The practice test can be retaken up to 100 times in a one-year period.

When can I take my exam?

You can take your exam in one of our regular exam sessions.

2019/2020 exam dates: 25 Oct, 13 Dec, 31 Jan, 27 Mar, 22 May, 24 Jul, 25 Sep, 27 Nov.

Start time: ACU exams: 10am. ACP exams: 2pm.

You can take both an ACU exam and an ACP exam on the same day.

Location

Exam sessions are hosted at our Saxon Business Park, Bromsgrove centre.

Further details about Autodesk certification can be found at:

• Our Autodesk certification exams page.
• https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Autodesk.
• https://www.autodesk.com/training-and-certification/overview.

Complementary services

We offer a range of services to support your CAD work.

Bureau service

If you have a peak workload, or require assistance with a specific project, our highly experienced CAD designers can carry out project work for you. We offer CAD design services on an hourly or daily rate, or we can provide a fixed-price quote for your project.

We offer a full range of CAD design services, from 2D drafting to conceptual 3D modelling and engineering design.

Support services

Our experts can assist you with your CAD work, boosting your productivity. We can:

• Configure AutoCAD, customising the CAD workspace for your specific requirements.
• Create standards, templates, symbols, styles, etc., tailored to your CAD work.
• Advise on workflow to streamline lengthy and tedious tasks.

Support is available at our centres, or on-site at your venue.