Any CAD users here?

[unevolved]

I used CATIA for an internship, and I rather liked it. It's not quite as intuitive as Solidworks, but I could see it being even more productive if you had time to get up to speed on it. So many companies use Solidworks nowadays though, it's far too convenient.

[mechdonald]

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?

Definitely go with Inventor, IMO.
I used solidworks first and loved it, then moved to Inventor about 8 years ago. I missed all the cool features that Solidworks had that Inventor did not have.
About 3 years ago, I changed jobs to one where I was using Solidworks again - and hated it. Inventor had advanced to the point where it was functionally quite similar to Solidworks but much easier to use.

I design tooling and machines with Inventor so accuracy is not an issue.
Modelling parts is much easier in Inventor. I don't use all the cool little things in Inventor because I find they are geared more towards Product design rather than machine design. In machine and tool design, changes are made on the fly and need to be made very quickly. By keeping the modelling simple, there is much less chance of things "breaking".
I found out quickly that the methodology they teach you is not the best method. This applies for both SW and IV. Real world use is actually simpler. I can expand on this if you want me to.

[StatußQuoColonia]

SolidWorks 2012 at work, and Solid Edge at the university.

I work at a german filter manufacturer, involved to develop a new selfcleaning filter system for big diesel engines for ships, power plants etc.

[M44schnell]

Iv been doing AutoCad for 4 years and Inventor for 3 1/2 years, just graduated last quarter with my degree...........now just to find a job!!!!

[TwoJ's]

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?

I can't offer you any informed opinions on SW vs. Inventor as I have not used inventor before. But, I have a shit ton of time with SolidWorks, and in my current position I use Pro/E (Creo Parametric 2.0 since we upgraded about a month ago).

But, I'm curious why you narrowed it to Inventor and SW? Like I said, I've personally used SW and Pro/E (Creo) and I have found that Creo is much much better. It used to be that SolidWorks was much more intuitive/user friendly, but since Creo came along and replaced Pro/E Wildfire, PTC greatly improved the GUI to the point that I really don't think that SW holds much; if any, of an advantage there. In my eyes, Creo is a much more powerful and reliable program that will serve you better. I was given a proper modeling machine when I upgraded to Creo and I haven't had a single crash since (I deal with some assemblies that are very precise and have a ton of parts. If you're dealing with large assemblies, definitely don't go with SW... my last job we had nothing but trouble in SW dealing with large assemblies.

I do have to say though -- if you were to compare the file management of the basic SW vs. Creo, SW holds a large advantage there as far as simplicity goes. It takes a while to learn what you are doing in this respect with Creo. I deal with a bunch of parts that are very similar, so for example if I were to model a D-sub backshell, save a copy and edit the copied version, if you don't know what you're doing there will be a link between certain parts, features, drawings etc. and you can completely fuck yourself over if you don't go through the copying/saving of parts/assemblies/drawings properly... I was at work until midnight on the Friday before Christmas because one of the newer designers didn't know what he was doing and basically ruined 3 of 6 of my designs that I'd worked on for a week).

Oh and I almost forgot... if you plan to utilize the FEA portions of your 3D modeling software, don't even consider SolidWorks.

[TwoJ's]

And I almost forgot why I came here initially:

I don't have any screen shots of the models for these parts, but these are the first prototypes of a connector that I designed. This connector is designed to be used in place of the old school D-subminiature connectors. It has 50 positions and utilizes 22GA MIL crimp-load socket contacts (soldering d-subs is old tech in my eyes).

The backshell is designed so that you can take the insert out and go from 50 positions to something like 8 independently shielded twisted pairs so you can use this for ultra high frequency stuff like 10g ethernet or high definition video (or any high-speed data stuff really).

The integrated spring latches will be used in lieu of jack screws. I have already made a new rev to change the spring constant because the customer "couldn't hear a loud enough audible click when mating".

The other (smaller) side shown in the picture is a PCB mount for the 50 position version. I've also rev'd the insert for this shell as it was just too difficult to assemble efficiently. Not shown are the custom beryllium-copper 90° contacts for the PCB mount and the panel mount version. Panel mount doesn't need custom contacts, so it utilizes standard MIL plug contacts.

And this is just for prototyping... since this stuff goes on to aircraft, satellites, missiles etc, the customer will bitch and moan about grams of weight. So pretty much everything I design now must be injection moldable so we can make them out of "composite" material. This one will be made from ULTEM (polyetherimide) 2310 for the shells and 1000 for the latches. Everything aside from the inserts will be electroless nickel plated for EMI shielding/"hot-plug" contacting when mating.









The PCB mount tangs above are collapsed because this proto is AL which is much less resilient than ULTEM.

I'll see if I can remember to get screen caps of the models tomorrow to make it a little more relevant to this thread. I just thought it is kind of cool to see some actual parts that are made from the models I've made.

[kung fu jesus]

I am an industrial designer, been in the business for over 15 years.

I started in architecture and we weren't allowed to use CAD until our 3rd year. Drafting and drawing by hand certainly does stick with you.

I started using AutoCAD in '95 (?), but haven't used it since '97.

I regularly use SolidWorks, Rhino, 3D studio. I was also trained and used Alias and Form Z.

It's another tool to use, but it isn't my primary skill. As a consultant, I most often use Rhino and Keyshot. I still keep up on Solidworks and my clients will occasionally lend me one of their seats to use. I hace used it for a lot of rapid prototyping, product design and development over the years. It speeds up the process, but like any tool, it is only as good as the user or intended purpose.

As a career, I don't think I would focus on a CAD-only role. I have worked with Chinese and Indian CAD pros that will do it at industry standards for far less money and faster.

[TwoJ's]

I'd say 95% of today's jobs with "designer" as a title are basically CAD only. Designers don't get to make design decisions -- at least in the field that I'm in. And I think that a designer is a good job for someone who doesn't want to go get a four year degree... some of the really good ones at my company make good money for the amount of formal schooling they've had.

[CrusherCurtis]

^Whats good money and how much schooling?

[TwoJ's]

The one designer that I know pretty well here is non-exempt (hourly) making $28-30/hr. But she is quite good at what she does. For an entry level job, they probably start out around $20/hr. If I didn't have a degree, I wouldn't mind doing that job at all. If you're a designer with good knowledge of the shit that you are working on (rather than just being a good modeler/drafter and not having any mechanical inclination), that can take you a long way. Only problem is, without an engineering degree there is something of a ceiling that you will eventually hit.

Sure, you can make that much if you have a trade that you're good at (or you're in a union -- then you can suck shit at your job). But the work sucks and if it is hard labor, eventually your body isn't going to keep up with you.

[kung fu jesus]

Yes, "designer" seems to be a word thrown around without much thought today. In my career, with a four-year degree(BS/BA) CAD work is just a medium to work in. GOOD industrial designers have an interest in a lot of disciplines. Manufacturing, engineering, marketing, development, prototyping etc. It's the interdisciplinary ability that has been my fortunate base to build on. I have found to work with these disciplines, especially engineering, you have to have a very good understanding of the principles and a working knowledge of the execution to gain respect. I have been lucky to have designed product from concept to production in a few different industries.

Is this "design" role, I have a lot of say in decisions beyond my aesthetic purposes and use a wider knowledge to see the development from each department's viewpoint. CAD is now a common denominator for communicating across language and departmental barriers.

It is frustrating to have headhunters or recruiters disregard the roles of designers and contact me based on some keyword search that pops my resume up. A few times, I have removed the specific CAD packages I know just to eliminate these emails and phone calls.

[TwoJ's]

You are absolutely right. One reason I enjoy the career I have is because I was fascinated by and interested in all things mechanical before I even had an idea about getting a ME degree. Even my first two years in college I was a mathematics major and was planning on being a math/physics professor. I figured out that I could combine my affinity for math/physics/problem solving with my passion for machines and mechanisms.

One thing that boggles my mind is the fact that most of the people that were in the ME program with me didn't have the same appreciation or knowledge of mechanical systems... many of them couldn't tell you how to change the oil in a car. Some of them are very smart, but I wouldn't want them designing any system for me because they have no aptitude when it comes to the real world application of the theory they know so well.

That is why a lot of people don't have any respect for engineers -- many of them do stupid shit like design parts and/or systems that simply aren't realistic. Shit, some of them couldn't even grasp the concept of dimensioning a part properly. It is hard to teach someone to have that aptitude.

Interdisciplinary experience is very valuable. Right now I am heavily weighing the pros and cons of changing jobs. I am a design engineer right now for a company that makes aerospace electronic connectors and systems. I have the opportunity to be a quality engineer with a small design role with a company that makes server racks and the crazy mechanical systems that support them. It would be a career path altering move, but getting experience in a different sub-field is something that seems very valuable to me.

So I agree, the stigma that comes with job titles can muddle things up and give people a false sense of understanding of what it is that you are capable of. I worked as an "engineering tech" right out of school, and I know that people would assume that I just didn't have knowledge enough to be a design engineer. I had to bust my ass to prove myself enough to be considered for a design engineer job.

[IronFreak]

I use SDS2, Cad and Revit. I work for a structural steel fabricator.

[ForcedFirebird]

MasterCam since v8 (have up to X), SolidWorks 09, AutoCAD 10, g-code fluent.

4yrs CNC machining setup/programming, parts checking.

Self-taught, freelance since the CNC shop owner (close friend) passed away :(

[einstein57]

Little autocad 08 and recently started learning solidworks 2012. The tutorials are pretty helpful. Tried to get the hang of NX 8 but I can't get a cheap or free version to have enough seat time. I hear good things about google sketch up from other 3D printer guys but never fooled around with it. I just stick to solidworks so I can run simulations.