What is Technical Drawing?
Aspiring engineers need to learn about Technical Drawing and also for professionals to upgrade their skills by taking technical drawing courses online. Technical drawings or Engineering drawings are diagrams that are used to correctly represent the shape, size, and geometry of a certain object.
They are drawn to scale manually with the help of certain drawing equipment or can be generated digitally with the help of certain advanced software like AutoCAD. Engineering Drawing is a core subject for the Mechanical, Civil, and Automobile Engineering branches of study.
There are mainly 5 distinct types of Technical Drawings. They are:
- Normal Diagrams
- 2D Orthogonal Projections
- 3D Isometric Drawings
- Exploded-View 3D Drawings and
- Complete working drawings
This article aims at introducing the readers to some of the highest-rated technical drawing training courses that are available online to help them pick a course that will be well-suited to their learning requirements.
Best Technical Drawing Courses Online
- Basic AutoCAD for Engineering Students [by Udemy]
- Engineering Drawing/Graphics: Hands-on Training [by Udemy]
- AutoCAD 2021: learn by drawing [by Udemy]
- Engineering Drawing: Simplified and Amplified [by Udemy]
- Engineering Drawing for Dummies: Learn Engineering Graphics [by Udemy]
- Engineering Drawing [by edX]
- Technical Drawing for Design and Drafting [by Autodesk]
- Top Free Technical Drawing Classes [by Udemy]
- An Introduction to Technical Drawing [by Alison]
- Technical Drawing Online [by Upskillist]
- Technical Drawing for Product Design – Online Short Course [by ual:]
These courses have been evaluated on the basis of the topics covered, certification provided or not, instructors’ background, and student reviews.
12 Best Technical Drawing Courses Free and Paid
1. Basic AutoCAD for Engineering Students [by Udemy]
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Enrolled | 1945 students |
| Created by | The Orion |
| Paid | Yes |
| Certification | Yes |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Duration | 3 hours of on-demand videos |
| Pros | This is one of the best-explained courses that are extremely easy to understand for beginners |
| Cons | The course is less informative (as it has been designed for beginners), and the volume of the course videos is a bit low. |
| Who is this course for? | Engineering Students and other AutoCAD beginners can opt for this course. |
About the Course:
This is a technical drawing class for beginners that will teach you to perform basic operations on AutoCAD to create orthographic and isometric drawings using the AutoCAD software. Through this course, you will also be taught to create your 2D drawings as well as 3D models using AutoCAD.
The course is moderately paced and explanations of terminologies have been provided in detail. Students will benefit from this course.
Prerequisites:
No prior experience with AutoCAD or Engineering Drawing is necessary to opt for this technical drawing training course. Students just need to be familiar with how to operate a ‘Windows OS computer.
What will you learn?
Through these technical drawing courses you will learn about:
- Students will learn to make simplified orthogonal and isometric drawings
- Creating your drawings, layouts, and professional designs using AutoCAD software
- Hands-on with Mechanical Drafting projects.
Review Pallavi T.
It was amazing course… In every lecture proper information tell by the instructors …fell happy after learning this course.
2. Engineering Drawing/Graphics: Hands-on Training [by Udemy]
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 stars | |
| Enrolled | 31,384 students | |
| Instructor | Easy Learning | |
| Paid | Yes | |
| Certification | Yes | |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee | |
| Duration | 10.5 hours of on-demand videos | |
| Pros | Content is very well explained (step-by-step) | |
| Cons | The course is a bit fast-paced. | |
| Who is this course for? | This course has been specifically designed for 1st year Engineering students who want to learn technical drawing online keeping their syllabus in mind. |
About the Course:
This is one of the best technical drawing courses online for 1st year Engineering and Polytechnic engineering students. The instructor uses actual drawing equipment and guides the learners step-by-step on how to approach 2D and 3D drawings.
Overall, it is an easy-to-understand technical drawing training course that beginners will benefit from.
Prerequisites:
Students need to be from a science or mathematics background with a good understanding of basic Geometry.
What will you learn?
Through this technical drawing class you will learn about:
- Being able to draw cross-sectional and top views of objects.
- The concept of solids resting in the first quadrant.
- Being able to draw the various curves using drawing instruments.
- Drawing the isometric view of a given orthographic projection
Review Sanjita J.
Everything is explained step by step which makes everything a lot simpler.
3. AutoCAD 2021: learn by drawing [by Udemy]
| Rating | 4.9 out of 5 stars | |
| Enrolled | 2890 students | |
| Instructor | Iman Kassab | |
| Paid | Yes | |
| Certification | Yes | |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee | |
| Duration | 2 hours of on-demand videos | |
| Pros | The course is detailed and covers some very interesting topics. | |
| Cons | Some of the course contents could have been explained in a better manner. | |
| Who is this course for? | Ideally, this course is for beginners who want to learn Technical drawing online in detail. It can also be taken up by Architects, AutoCAD drafters, interior designers, and Engineers to fill in any gaps in their knowledge. |
About the Course:
These technical drawing courses are for anyone who wants to learn beyond the basics of Technical Drawing. This course dives deep into some advanced topics of AutoCAD designing after covering the basics first.
Students who opt for this course will learn a lot of theoretical concepts and will also have to complete hands-on assignments which will give them a practical understanding of the course contents.
Prerequisites:
There are no mandatory pre-requirements for this technical drawing training course online.
What will you learn?
Through this technical drawing class you will learn about:
- Basic and advanced AutoCAD operations to create technical drawings, layouts, and designs.
- Up-to-date AutoCAD features (orders combined with tips).
Review Dimi T.
good course for someone who has already done the basic auto cad training, it is a good revision and some nice tips for faster skills, thanks!
4. Engineering Drawing: Simplified and Amplified [by Udemy]
| Rating | 3.5 out of 5 stars |
| Enrolled | 411 students |
| Instructor | BIZM Consulting Pvt. Ltd. |
| Paid | Yes |
| Certification | Yes |
| Return or refund policy | 30-Days Money Back Guarantee |
| Duration | 2 hours of on-demand videos |
| Pros | This technical drawing class introduces a broad array of topics |
| Cons | Too much content is explained in too little time. |
| Who is this course for? | This course is for Engineering students from branches like Mechanical and Civil Engineering who are in their 3rd or 4th years as well as for working professionals. |
About the Course:
This is one of the best technical drawing courses online that emphasize introducing the real-life application of Engineering Drawing beyond the theoretical concepts. The course is designed for self-paced learning using a 3D visualized and simulated environment which provides an immersive experience.
The course is structured into 2 parts. The first part covers some difficult topics and explains those well using practical examples while the second part focuses primarily on real-life industrial applications of Engineering Drawing.
This technical drawing training course helps students to learn by doing. This means, there are a lot of hands-on exercises included in the course so that the learners can get a better understanding of the practical applications of the drawings.
Prerequisites:
A primary understanding of Engineering Drawing is essential to take up this course.
What will you learn?
Through this technical drawing class you will learn about:
- Drawing Best Standards and Practices
- Orthographic Views, Sections of solids
- Development of Lateral Surfaces
- Introduction to BOM and NPD.
- Types of Drawings and their industrial uses and so on.
Review Ashwini
Excellent course with thoughtfully structured industry aligned knowledge of engineering drawing!!!
5. Engineering Drawing for Dummies: Learn Engineering Graphics [by Udemy]
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Enrolled | 9,332 students |
| Created by | DGTEL Classroom (Mirza H. Baig, Md. Khatib) |
| Paid | Yes |
| Certification | Yes |
| Return or refund policy | 30-Days Money Back Guarantee |
| Duration | 22 hours of on-demand videos |
| Pros | Perfect course guide for 1st Engineering students who wish to learn technical drawing online and excel in their exams at the same time. |
| Cons | Strictly syllabus-based content for engineering students. |
| Who is this course for? | This course has been specially curated for first-year Engineering students of all branches. Senior students from the Civil or Mechanical Engineering departments can also take this course to clear out fundamental concepts of ED. |
About the Course:
This is among the most highly rated, detailed, self-paced technical drawing courses for Engineering students which focuses on problem-solving rather than only providing instructions and information.
The instructor attempts every question himself and therefore the likelihood of students having doubts decreases drastically. This is a very good course for beginners who want to get a hang of Engineering Drawing to excel in their exams.
Prerequisites:
No previous knowledge of Engineering Drawing is necessary. Having access to a PC and certain drawing equipment (as specified by the course) is enough to opt for this course.
What will you learn?
Through this technical drawing class you will learn about:
- How to properly use Engineering Drawing equipment like drafters and pencils.
- Drawing top views, side views, and cross-sectional views of objects.
- Auxillary view or True Shape
- Being able to imagine 3D objects in HP and VP.
Review Hamza I.
Easy to understand. Instructor quick to respond to questions. Very detailed. Would take again for review in the future!
6. Technical Drawing for Design and Drafting [by Autodesk]
| Created by | Autodesk |
| Paid | Yes, you get these technical drawing courses free |
| Certification | Yes |
| Return or refund policy | None |
| Duration | 7 hours of self-paced videos |
| Pros | AutoCAD installation and operations are taught in a very comprehensive manner. |
| Cons | A little more interaction could be added to the course. If you watch the videos for a long period, it becomes monotonous. |
| Who is this course for? | This is a course for professionals who have worked in the drafting and design industry for some years and want to learn technical drawing online to adopt a few new skills in that domain. |
About the Course:
This professional course focuses on AutoCAD operations like creating templates and setting up a drawing file. You will learn to create drawing objects and then move on to create advanced objects. This course takes a practical approach and helps you to learn by doing.
Learners will practice using viewports, external references, and importing various file types and content into AutoCAD. It is one of the best technical drawing courses online to specialize in AutoCAD software.
Prerequisites:
Having the basic knowledge of technical drawing is important but not mandatory for this course.
What will you learn?
Through this technical drawing class you will learn about:
- Creating robust template files for efficiency and practical application.
- Creating and editing objects.
- Working efficiently with viewports.
- Being able to draw correctly with precise measurements using polar tracking, dynamic input, selection cycling, and constraints.
- Using external references and importing data into AutoCAD.
- Using the Design Center in an efficient and practical workflow
7. Engineering Drawing [by edX]
| Instructor | Ling Tian |
| Paid | No (optional paid upgrade available) |
| Certification | No (available in paid version) |
| Return or refund policy | None |
| Duration | 16 weeks (self-paced) |
| Pros | This technical drawing training has simplified course content that is perfect for beginners who are just starting with the basics of technical drawing. |
| Cons | The upgraded version of this technical drawing class with access to unlimited resources and a sharable certificate is extremely costly in comparison to other similar paid courses. Also, the course is not available in English. |
| Who is this course for? | This course is for beginner engineers who want to learn the basics of Engineering Drawing. |
About the Course:
This introductory course consists of two parts. The first part is focused on introducing the theories of projection and its real-life application to drawings. The second part provides students with a hands-on experience of creating various mechanical drawings.
The course content is very well elaborated using real-life examples. It is among the finest technical drawing courses for students.
Prerequisites:
There are no basic skills required to opt for this online course. Anyone willing to learn Technical drawing from the beginning can take up this course online.
What will you learn?
Through this technical drawing class you will learn about:
- Developing your CAD skills (2D and 3D)
- Typical assemblies’ analysis and representation.
- Axonometric drawing and freehand drawing.
- Typical parts analysis and representation.
Bonus Technical Drawing Training Courses Online
1. Top Technical Drawing courses free + paid [by Udemy]
– Udemy is a very popular educational platform that has the finest online courses. This platform is extremely user-friendly and has several filters (like Beginner to Advanced level filters, Domain Filters, Rating Filters, Language Filters, Price Filters, and so on).
Udemy is associated with top instructors around the globe and provides prestigious Technical drawing certifications upon the completion of each course. It comprises the best courses to learn Technical drawing online. One of Udemy’s featured courses is:
Manufacturing drawings creation of automotive cabin lifting
This is an advanced course based on Manufacturing Drawing and Design Learning. It is a short course with 43 minutes of on-demand video and has been created by Reema K.
There are no prerequisites to take this course as everything will be taught from scratch but the knowledge of ‘CATIA tools’ would be an added advantage.
This technical drawing class will not only teach you to create manufacturing drawings of automotive material handling systems but will also teach you to develop your 3D Models by taking help from the practice materials attached to the course. It is a paid course that comes with a prestigious certification.
2. An Introduction to Technical Drawing [by Alison]
– Alison is one of the most distinguished ed-tech platforms that has a very friendly user interface. It is hands-down one of the best platforms to learn technical drawing online.
The Alison app is also available for download on android and iOS mobiles. You can explore different types of courses and certifications, sign up, become an affiliate, discover careers, and much more on this platform.
This particular technical drawing class on the Alison platform has been published by NPTEL and is an introductory, beginner’s level course on Technical Drawing. It is a 5-star rated course with a duration of 1.5 to 3 hours.
Alison also offers all technical drawing courses free of cost. However, the certificate needs to be purchased. On the completion of the course, you will learn to:
- List and state the purpose of the instruments used in technical drawing.
- Correctly identify special issues of dimensions and define them.
- Describe tolerances and create basic Engineering drawings (ED) keeping the standards of ED in mind.
3. Technical Drawing Training [by Upskillist]
– Upskillist is a reputed educational platform that is known for its excellent learning paths and course modules. This course by Upskillist is a course that can be taken up by beginners and professionals alike.
Beginners can use it to learn Technical Drawing online from the beginning while professionals can use it to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. This self-paced course provides practical training in software like AutoCAD and SketchUp.
You can try the technical drawing courses free of cost on this educational platform and also get certified on its successful completion.
Through this technical drawing class you will learn about:
- The basics of 2D AutoCAD and navigating the CAD interface smoothly.
- The foundational CAD commands.
- Drawing setup and creation
- Drawing presentation skills and professional practice.
4. Technical Drawing for Product Design – Online Short Course [by ual:]
– This platform has courses on various subjects and ‘Technical Drawing’ is one of them. This particular course by UAL is a live, online course that will go on for about 4 weeks.
The course is a bit expensive as compared to other similar courses available online, but it is very highly rated and provides a very prestigious certification and doubt-clearing sessions. This technical drawing training, by the famous instructor, Rock Galpin will take you through everything you need to understand about Product Designing.
In this course you will learn exclusively about:
- Basics of Orthographic drawings in 3rd angle projections
- Part drawing and Dimensioning
- Drawing templates
- Practical application of your drawings.
Conclusion
Listed in this article are some of the best technical drawing courses available online. All important details that you might require to choose the appropriate class have been provided in this article in a comprehensive manner.
However, if you wish to know more about these online courses through reviews provided by the people you can do so by clicking on the annexed link of the website.
For example, Engineering Drawing/Graphics: Hands-on Training [by Udemy] is an excellent course for 1st year engineering students appearing for semester exams whereas other courses like AutoCAD 2021: learn by drawing [by Udemy] take a more practical approach and can be taken up by beginners and professionals alike.
We understand searching for the best technical drawing courses can be exhausting and we hope this article makes the process easier for you!
