Any CAD users here?

[Q5Quint]

I use autocad every day~ LT 2012 ~ we are a structural engineering firm so it is mostly foundations, beams, site plans etc for sick-nasty mansions and timber-frame stuff. 2d of course. Got to do a strawbale house last month and doing a earth bag house this month. We do full house plans and stuff as well~ glad I learned drafting in highschool ;-)

We do about zero 3d stuff- when we do I just toss it together in sketchup real quick so clients can get an idea about dimensions etc. We had some neat clients doing buildings with shipping containers and needed some photos for a marketing meeting thing. Normally we are all construction/permitting/codes based so the 3d doesn't really have a place.

I got into revit and 3d rendering room stuff a bit in school but they really only seem to apply to large architecture firms. Some of our smaller home designers around here use it but for actual plans autocad basic is the winner. I am glad I know how to do 3d stuff, and if I needed to design a part or render a room I could.... but it just isn't what we do day-to-day so you could easily find someone better at it.

[nando]

I'd love to post some screenshots of the model I'm working on now. But I'll wait until the project is done, construction won't be finished until 2015. our pilings are almost big enough to drive an E30 through. :p

Everything I do is in 3D. some of the older guys like to push back and make designers do things in 2D because they think it's faster (wrong!). I like to joke that if we have to do things in 2D they have to do their calculations in crayon..

[pandaboo911]

Solidworks user here

[MR E30 325is]

Autocad and Solidworks are in my toolbox.

I throughly enjoy using both of those programs.

[pfahls1]

ProE/Creo admin here. We have 128 seats of ProE/Creo and a few SolidWorks.

[z31maniac]

Well, if they would beat Amazon's salary offer by 15% I would seriously consider it. It isn't as well as I thought I'd be doing when I was going to school, but being over $100k/yr after profit sharing at 26 is pretty good. My current employer is a great company to work for, I really like the people I work with/for, it is a design engineer job which is what I've always wanted, and I have very good standing -- my designs are looked upon favorably by the big wig execs in the company.

But, I doubt that they will give me what I want. I'm only at $65k/yr right now, so I don't know if they'll give me close to a 50% raise. Also, I'm relatively young and single, so the travel that comes with the Amazon job is really attractive to me right now. If they do offer to meet my demands, it will be a really tough decision.

Make a decision yet?

You might be surprised. One of the software guys where I work has been getting the shaft, put in his two weeks, VP of Engineering and President of the company stepped in..........BAM double-promption, 40% raise.

[TwoJ's]

My start date wouldn't be until the 11th of Feb, so I am waiting to approach my engineering manager. I'll give him my three weeks notice so he has time to find a replacement for me if needed.

[TheTacoMan]

Google sketch up count?

Ive messed around on Cad and solid works but nothing serious.

[spike68]

Ive used plenty of cad softwares.

AutoCAD
Revit Architectire
Revit MEP
Invetor
Technical Sales International

Ive definitely enjoyed experiencing all the software i know. i am especially impressed with Technical Sales International. mainly for it potential to contribute greatly to the speed in which it takes to estimate a construction project.

I see many Solidworks users here. Thats definitely an area i really want to get into as ive heard nothing but good things about it.

[crm103]

I use SolidWorks daily. I am a designer for a power wheel chair company in Tucson. Got my AA about a year ago in Mechanical Drafting and design.





And something I started the other day for fun.

[slaterd]

Dang that's great work there.
I'm trying to find a new program to replace our AutoCAD 2012 system. It works great but it's more of an architectural program and I'm now in charge of getting the company I work for to be plunged into nothing but 3D modeling for both production, installation drawings, and also the advertisement for our website.
I've done some research and I'm debating between Inventor or SolidWorks. I'm in need of something that holds accuracy but is extremely flexible and malleable to allow some personalization. I think Soldiworks is one of the best but I've seen that Inventor is a lot more flexible with free form solids. Any opinions?

[ZekeTheSneak]

8 semesters in highschool, Autocad and rhinoceros. You guys have skills on me but I got stickers for days!

[LEANE30]

Petroleum infrastructure Acad everyday. Designer position. But anyone who primarily works cad with engineers knows the engineers get to make the decisions, but glad i don't have to make lists do calculations, or deal with clients.
I want to get into inventor, but I'd need a different employer and position in a rd or product design to get more creative, but most likely under the same glass ceiling.
All you cad folk happy with your earning potential? Industry wide i would think gas and medical would have the greatest pay scales, correct me if I'm wrong

[BimmerTim]

I just switched jobs and CAD software.

I have about 10,000 hours in Solidworks and am CSWP. I have about 1,000 hours in Pro/E Wildfire. And I just started a position using AutoDesk 2013. I'm actually going to a 40 hour training course in two weeks for inventor.

[TwoJ's]

Petroleum infrastructure Acad everyday. Designer positmakedecentmoneyion. But anyone who primarily works cad with engineers knows the engineers get to make the decisions, but glad i don't have to make lists do calculations, or deal with clients.
I want to get into inventor, but I'd need a different employer and position in a rd or product design to get more creative, but most likely under the same glass ceiling.
All you cad folk happy with your earning potential? Industry wide i would think gas and medical would have the greatest pay scales, correct me if I'm wrong

aerospace pays pretty well if you're with the right employer. our designers make decent money, but they are using CATIA.