Does anyone know know if there is autocad training designed specifically for pressure vessel detailing? I've searched the web, but couldn't find anything...
I'm not aware of anything.
I learned AutoCAD a number of years ago via a 32-hour course (4- 8 hour Saturday sessions) at the local junior college. The course assumed you already knew how and what to draft, so it was strictly on using the AutoCAD program.
If I remember right, they offered an Associates Degree in drafting also. That included the "how to use AutoCAD" aspects, but also involved separate classes in architectural drafting, machine drafting, etc. Probably, something along the lines of mechanical (as in, building mechanical) is as close as you're going to come.
I would guess a lot of the vessel drafting is going to vary depending on company standards. And I assume some of that is automated as well.
I don't know where you are located but in my area, I was informed that Porter and Chester (P&C), a privately owned institute in MA and CT will PROBABLY start having a piping design ACAD program. If you manage to graduate from such program and you are very good at it, then, you can apply for jobs at boilers and pressure vessel manufacturers. Check with P&C if they intend to provide such program.
To expand on the above statement, I was informed in the past that one individual who had P&C ACAD mechanical program did get a job at Alstom, a boiler manufacturer that had purchased Combustion Engineering, at doing ACAD work on utility power boilers. So in-house training by these manufacturers is the way to go. Don't flunk the drug test requirement and background check from these companies.
