Drafting, long ago 5

[Sparweb]

A series of vintage photos, maybe nostalgic for some, maybe not all:

Life before AutoCAD

No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
STF

 

[ctopher]

I started with all of those tools shown in Jr High School, then professionally 1984.

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks '17
ctophers home
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[osweeks]

I started my studies and career during the board to computer transition. Only 2 of my college courses used Autocad. Both on IBM 8088 green screen computers and all work was done directly on 5 1/4" floppy disks.
First job was approx 50/50 hand drawings to Autocad on brand new 286 computers and everything backed up daily on 3 1/4 floppies. The computers were so amazing and super fast, there were 2 in the office and we fought over who used them - LOL.
And I learned tons from working closely with the experienced senior guys, lots of questions and hands on, trips to the plant floor, project site, etc..
Now everything is never leave your desk, full 3D models, auto dimension, networked computers, large dual monitors, video conferences, full time internet backups offsite, Google your questions, download models of purchase items, etc, etc. I'm the senior guy now and rarely ever get any questions asked of me by the newbies or interns. The internet is the experienced guy and way of life anymore - your connected or basically don't exist.
But now if there are problems everything comes to a screaming stop. Just today our internet was out for about a hour right after lunch - entire office was at a standstill.
Hand drawing did force everyone to be more thoughtful and through in their designs. After you have to redraw a few D size Mylar prints you learn to slow down and check/recheck.
I still have all my templates, eraser shields, cartridge ink pens and mechanical pencil sets - been in storage for years now though. I do miss the hand drawing, I really enjoyed it, but love the computer work too. I could go back to board drafting if I had to but it would be a step re-learning curve at first. Younger guys would be totally lost.

The only true constant is change after all. Excited to see what innovations will bring in the rest of my career.

Scott
Mechanical Design Engineer,
Autocad, NX, Pro/E, Solidworks, PDM, SolidEdge

 

[Sparweb]

For those interested in old phrases, the man on the left "has his ducks in a row", so to speak.
And of course they are working on "loft drawings" of the aircraft. Because the room they're in is called a...

I learned drafting on paper at school, but when I graduated and started working all my employers were using computers already. My ability to draw by hand was still very valuable as I could accurately sketch what I was seeing in the aircraft as I examined the work to be done, then take it back to the office and draw by computer the new design needed.


No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
STF

 

[CheckerHater]

I guess I qualify as "old guy" by now, but I still think manual drafting should be pre-requisite for CAD.
Just to get the feeling and better understanding where the things are coming from.
:-(

"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future

 

[3DDave]

A few years back a newbie was given some 2D CAD drawings and need to make some changes. It was interesting to teach him how view projections worked to create a side view from a top and front view. It didn't help that the originals were 1st angle and the output was to be 3rd; he'd never been shown how projection worked.

 

[milkshakelake]

A senior drafter used to say, "Everyone, a**holes and elbows!"

 

[BUGGAR]

Hand lettering two 24x36 sheets of General Notes on 1000H Clearprint. And missing a complete sentence.
Cigarette burns mistaken for field weld symbols and steel arriving on site, unfinished.
Computers? We argued over who got to use the Curta.
Green drafting triangles dropped onto green carpet.

 

[Belanger]

Also notice that the gentlemen wore ties back then!

 

[ctopher]

I always wore clip-on ties so when I had to go into the shop, then back, it was easier and quicker to take on/off.

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks '17
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