How much do you use CAD?

Kareir

Hey all,

so yeah, this forum is getting a little quiet, so i'll ask a question :P

I've been wondering this for a while, but how much do you full engineers (e.g. from the four year course, not technicians, although the techs. can answer too) use CAD in your day-to-day work? I like using AutoCad, and other design software, but do the full engineers use it? Where i worked for work exp. , the drawing was all done by the technician.

_Kar

BuachaillAbroad

Hi,

I've been in my job for nearly 2 years (graduated 2007) & haven't touched CAD at all. (Bit of CATIA but my job doesn't involve much computer stuff)

Even in college I never used CAD much.
I used it most in school & at home doing projects.

But...I think its a good skill to have as if you can understand how to use CAD then the step-up to say ProE, SolidWorks, CATIA etc. will be easier.

My advice is get confident with it & when you think you're ready, move onto something abit more advanced.
I hope that helps!

BuachaillAbroad

Turbulent Bill

Computer Aided Design is a pretty broad term, and it can mean different things to different people - physical design for mechs, schematic capture for elecs etc., basically any design work that's computer-assisted. I use SolidWorks almost daily for my work, and I'd commonly interface to electronic CAD packages etc.

In my experience, engineers in more specialised fields tend to do the CAD work themselves as the design information is often difficult to communicate (it's as quick to draw as to explain it to someone else). Where the CAD is more straightforward and common, or in bigger companies, it makes more sense for technicians to do it.

Darren1o1

I am a Mechanical Design engineer so... every 15 mins My work is pretty CAD intensive.

Offy

I am also a Mechanical Design Engineer and Id agree with Darren, I use it every day. I started using AutoCAD in 1990 and have used about a dozen packages over the years. As with Bill I also use electronic CAD packages and some electro-magnetic CAD packages. Its a great tool for designers, 3D modelling, FEA, PCB layout, etc. are daily tasks in my role.

godtabh

All engineers should know how to use cad.

I've a few grads who have never used it. That measn they've no concept of how a drawing is put together when giving instrucitons to the cad lads

Darren1o1

kearnsr wrote: »

All engineers should know how to use cad.

I've a few grads who have never used it. That measn they've no concept of how a drawing is put together when giving instrucitons to the cad lads

What field is that in? Seems like all mechs do per EI for accreditation. Seems odd not to atleast do some design class with 2D whatever the field...

godtabh

Civil

Darren1o1

kearnsr wrote: »

Civil

Seems odd, I thought civil would have covered some aspects. Is it an institution based thing or a discipline wide issue? Even with 3 Design/CAD classes I felt under prepared coming in. On another level it is also the people in questions fault for deficiencies. I look at my weaknesses for my industry and take courses and study to bring them up to par as much as possible. After all EI is all about encouraging CPD...

Iv just finished my exams in the university of Limerick, mechanical engineering. We never used AutoCAD although myself and some others were fortunate to learn how to us it on work placement. The only CAD we did in my 4 years was ProEngineer. Its a fairly decent with 3D stuff alright but I never heard of any1 using it in real life.

Darren1o1

Deleted User wrote: »

Iv just finished my exams in the university of Limerick, mechanical engineering. We never used AutoCAD although myself and some others were fortunate to learn how to us it on work placement. The only CAD we did in my 4 years was ProEngineer. Its a fairly decent with 3D stuff alright but I never heard of any1 using it in real life.

It is used quite heavily in automotive components. I worked with a company who used it. It tends to be a "premium" from what I have seen. It came up in conversation during our recent upgrade, it is far more expensive (albeit more functional) than our current systems (Inventer and AutoCad). Catia is more used for body work and Aero, where it seems solidworks is the biggest 3D tool out there these days. Forgive me if I am wrong but this is from my experience out there...

godtabh

Darren1o1 wrote: »

Seems odd, I thought civil would have covered some aspects. Is it an institution based thing or a discipline wide issue? Even with 3 Design/CAD classes I felt under prepared coming in. On another level it is also the people in questions fault for deficiencies. I look at my weaknesses for my industry and take courses and study to bring them up to par as much as possible. After all EI is all about encouraging CPD...

I did a small bit in college.

Alot of the graduates never have.

I've worked for 3 companies.

The first one I did alot of the CAD work. The next one was less but still some. My current company doesnt allow engineers to do cad and I only have a cad viewer (But doenst stop me from using CAD from time to time).

thewools

Its all Pro/Eng in my place here. I'm a Product Development Engineer for a big Irish/UK outfit.

Wouldnt use it everyday however - mainly only at the initial design stages of my projects and when modifications are required thereafter.

Still I love challenging myself when it comes to the CAD. Always something new to draw up or learn.

Turbulent Bill

kearnsr wrote: »

All engineers should know how to use cad.

I've a few grads who have never used it. That measn they've no concept of how a drawing is put together when giving instrucitons to the cad lads

It's a bit weird that Civils wouldn't know how to specify a drawing - did they even do manual drawing as part of their undergrad? Whatever about not knowing the specifics of a particular CAD package, they should be able to describe how to draw it on paper and leave the implemetation to the technician.

I'm always surprised how little emphasis is put on producing clear drawings showing the design intent, details etc. given their value and the information they hold. If you produced a report with some of the words missing, a random structure and no referencing it would be rightly dumped, but this still happens with a huge number of drawings.

mawk

never in work.

now and again in my own time. like to cad out projects before i buy parts

ruffmut

I am a toolmaker and use it every day. Mostly I use Inventor and Autodesk Mechanical. For machining on cnc machining centres I use MasterCam.