New to Design and looking for direction

[bill4807]

Hello all,

I am looking for some direction on what king of training I should move forward in. With me being new and not knowing what the capabilities of CAD, unigraphics and/or catia etc..are.

Right now I work as an electrical fields service engineer, I work with automation, conveyors, robots, machines and Drawing electrical prints.

So I want to draw, simulate and design such things as conveyors and robot cells. I have seen animations on Catia Kinematics although I do not know what that even does. I just started working with Draftsite but that is just a free software. So if I were to want to move forward in this field should I just take a beginner catia V5 course and then go into..what?

Any expert advice would be much appreciated.
Thank You!
Bill

 

[Azrael]

Start with basic Catia to get the modelling basics and the feel for the system but then I believe you need to look into Delmia that is the manufacturing simulation brand... because I have learned (I'm no expert) that for robot cells and similar that you don't use Catia kinematics but rather Delmia device builder that later connects to a gannt chart for simulation, I've even seen HW PLC controller run a simulation in Delmia. As mentioned I'm no expert in Delmia so I can't give you any training advice but someone else might?

 

[bill4807]

Thank you for the information Azrael. I will have to look into Delmia. I am probably planning on starting with catia basics as you stated.

 

[rstupplebeen]

Bill,
I would take a step back and see what is typically used in your industry and geographic location by searching for jobs on monster or careerbuilder. All of the commercial CAD softwares are very capable and I believe you will be better served doing some homework first. I hope this helps.

Rob Stupplebeen

https://sites.google.com/site/robertkstupplebeen/

 

[jackk]

Bill, you haven't mentioned anything about your educational background. Do you have a degree in engineering?

 

[bill4807]

rStupplebeen,
What you have said is a good idea I will research the sourounding areas. I am in michigan so I know that the big 3 and maybe tier one companies may use solidworks and Catia but smaller companies that I know use Autocad I believe, I still want to research it though. I will check your link out as well.


jackk,
I have an electronics engineering technology degree, and I am continually taking manufacture training as far as robotics, CNC controllers and drive/plc integration coarses. As for an Accreditted engineering degree no. But I can always continue on and complete one if needed. Right now I do field service work and bench repair. I would like to cut that down a bit and do some drawings and development. The hard part is I have nobody that I work with that does engineering design to that level to somewhat shadow so I am trying to learn for myself. I have been using eplan an electrical schematic software to build control panels I think that may have similar attributes.

 

[jackk]

Bill, there's nothing wrong with a 2-year degree (I have two of them). I suggest taking some mechanical design classes at your local school to get the design background. Learning the CAD software can come later (or at school also)