College CAD courses

[Hitch]

Its high time I got my backside in gear and did a CAD course at college.

The bit i'm stuck on, is which would be more use to me....
I can draw a few shapes, make a few basic 3d models, use the keyboard commands etc.
Played around with Autocad and Draftsight, never Solidworks.

The sort of things I would likely need to draw would be-

Staircases
Handrails
Laser cut components
Sheet metal developments
Portal frames
Trolleys

Producing designs for customer approval, and also detailed drawings for fabrication.

Now, the courses available at the college I would more than likely attend are-

Autocad Fast Track
CAD 2D (level2)
CAD parametric modeling (levels 1/2/3)

The http://www.bridgwater.ac.uk/subject.php?sector=2&subject=135list of courses is here for further info.




I'm airing more towards the 2D level 2.... probably bypass the fasttrack....

Anyone here done similar courses?

 

[Welderpaul]

One to bear in mind, (And this will upset the 'why should i get CE accreditation' type..) from 2016 all of the draughting work for the construction industry main players needs to be done as Building Information Modelling compliant. Basically a huge model space that all project designers (and subbys that do design) plug their info into which finds any clashes/mismatches etc rather than each draughty beavering away on his own bit and the site lads finding clashes/problems, rather than in virtual space.

Brought in by the Government to try and streamline construction.

There's a few drawing programmes that will talk to BIM, but by far the main/best on is Tekla. We've done a couple of BIM jobs that i can send you the 3D models to get an idea....we've just done a 40T frame with it...magic, click on any component, gives part mark, size, specification, supplier info, and anthing else you want to store in it. Currently being used on Government projects (which one of ours was), but rolled out to all big projects over a certain value.

One to think about to future proof your training (Maybe not Sodders?). I can put you onto a fella who will tell you anything you need to know, if needs be.

Our draughty has a training academy for CAD, only one in the country so i'm told, they are Telford so probably too far for you, but he would give you whatever advise you need, FOC.

2D is very outdated stuff now.

 

[Hitch]

Makes sense.

It would be good to have a look at it, Will it open in Advance Steel/Autocad? Think you have my Email...

 

[Welderpaul]

There's a Tekla 'BIMsight' free download that i'll send you the link for as well as the files - lets you spin it round, pan etc. Freebee jobby.

I'll KNT it over in the morning.

 

[Hitch]

Ta

 

[Rocketman]

I have done my fair share of CAD courses over the years and one thing that sticks out is they quite often teach you stuff which TBH isn't the best way to do something.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I've been having a stab at cad work, with a tiny bit of success but I'm using designspark, which can be saved as a dwg or dfx but then you can't edit the drawing as its not licenced to do so, which I find a bit of a nuisance. I have downloaded draftsight and solid edge as well, which seem a bit more overwhelming to start with but I think I would probably do better long term with one or the other of them. Does anyone have an opinion on which one would be better? I'm doing flat components to be laser cut from 5mm plate, which should be fairly easy but eventually it would be nice to be able to put all the components together to see what it looks like and to give customers an idea.

 

[Hitch]

I have done my fair share of CAD courses over the years and one thing that sticks out is they quite often teach you stuff which TBH isn't the best way to do something.

You mean you find short cuts as you progress and use it more?

 

[Welderpaul]

I have done my fair share of CAD courses over the years and one thing that sticks out is they quite often teach you stuff which TBH isn't the best way to do something.

I think that's quite common for university/colleges in a lot of practical studies etc....i think they become slightly out of touch.
Get them drawings Karlos?

 

[Hitch]

Yeah, had a quick look, that Tekla viewer seems a good piece of kit.
The DWG opens in autocad,

Not sure Tekla is a beginners tool by the looks of it!

Is that ally job Tekla? All seems a bit 'busy'. I suppose it is on A3 or a screen.
The .dwg is that produced on Tekla?

 

[Welderpaul]

The ally job is in 2D AC. We have the A1's for that job kicking about in the shop and they look ok.

The 2 jobs i sent over today are done in Tekla - The DWG's will open in most programmes. SW, AC, Tekla etc

I'm lead to believe that Tekla is easier to pickup than AC.

 

[Hitch]

I see theres some drawing apprentiships going at the moment £2.68 an hour! Apprentice wages gone up since I was a lad

Thinking 2D Autocad is the way to start tbh.