Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!

[AeroNucDef]

Hi all,

This probably should be posted in a different thread.

I started a new job today at a small aerospace design company. I thought I would be using Solidworks or NX, but no, they've got me using Autocad 2000 (or tying to use). I feel that I've traveled back to the stone age. I spent most of the day trying to remember how to use the darn thing, I just stared at the screen for 8 hours straight dreaming of 3d CAD. I've had this really queasy feeling in my stomach all day long that I've made a bad decision in joining this company.
Not looking forward to my second day.

Anyone been in this situation.

Also can some please cheer me up.

 

[AnnaWood]

You didn't ask what cad software you would be using before you accepted the job?

I find that just as interesting as the company still using AutoCAD.

Cheers,



Anna Wood
SW2011 SP4, Windows 7 x64

http://www.renderbay.com

http://www.solidmuse.com

http://www.phxswug.com

 

[AeroNucDef]

Your right Anna. Unfortunately I presumed that I would be using a 3D program, since the company has seats in ProE, NX and Inventor.

 

[gwubs]

How would a company be running not 2 but 3 !!?? 3D CAD packages?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

gwubs,

Many design companies need multiple CAD systems to enable compatibility with their varied clients.

 

[ctopher]

The bright side, you got a job!
Learn what you can, then possibly transfer later.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[AnnaWood]

Ahhhh, likely just testing your skills first before moving you to the 3d cad. We still use AutoCAD on occasion for legacy work and to send dxf/dwg to some of our customers.

From your original post it sounded like all they used was AutoCAD.

I suspect you need to pay your dues first before going to the 3d cad. Do a bang up job with the 2d fundamentals and I bet you will get to move to other platforms in the future.

Cheers,


Anna Wood
SW2011 SP4, Windows 7 x64

http://www.renderbay.com

http://www.solidmuse.com

http://www.phxswug.com

 

[SnowCrash]

Once upon a time I was hired for contract work to do some nifty 3D cad in SWX. The company required tests in ACAD and Solidworks. It took me and the supervisor together to get the ACAD part done; the SWX was a breeze.
BTW, they eventually complained that I was too slow because I insisted all my sketches be fully restrained. The next guy in did it free form but every time he changed anything the sketches blew up.

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2011 SP 2.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

[SteveMartin]

At my first internship, the company used four CAD packages depending on department - Ideas, Pro-E, AutoCAD, and I think Unigraphics (don't remember the 4th for certain anymore). To this day I have no idea how they managed to put it all together at the end. This was all for internal work too, not per client.

I used to have a great feel for AutoCAD as well as SolidWorks... now I'm thinking of pulling it off my resume. I'm sure I *could* pick it back up, much less sure I'd want to do so.

 

[cowski]

Not just AutoCAD, but a version that came out at least 11 years ago!!!

 

[MikeHalloran]

All they've done to AutoCAD in 11 years is mess up the user interface so it's slower. The primitives are the same.

The nice part of AutoCAD is that stuff stays where you built it or moved it to.

... As opposed to SW that knocks everything down, then reassembles it randomly until you have applied just enough constraints to force a unique assembly, which may or may not be the particular unique assembly you actually wanted, so you get to add and remove constraints until SW does what you want.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Mike ... You must be using the "Drive-me-crazy" version.

You should have gone for the "I'm-already-crazy" version.

 

[ajack1]

I just find it amazing that during an interview for a design engineer neither the potential employer or employee raised the question about what the software package you would be using would be and what experience you had on that package.

Maybe we have now reached the stage where it is assumed if you can drive one CAD package you can drive any CAD package from day one, certainly not true in my experience.

 

[rollupswx]

....they eventually complained that I was too slow because I insisted all my sketches be fully restrained. The next guy in did it free form but every time he changed anything the sketches blew up.

Over the long haul I have seen zero, zip, nil evidence that users who fully constrain sketches are slower. In fact, in my experience the very best, the very fastest, robust model designers always fully constrain their sketches. (obviously any pro knows there are exceptions, but relatively rare)

On the other hand the GIGO I see comes from those who "think" they are faster by not constraining (fully defining, really) their work.

I would certainly not suggest to a beginner that they can ignore constraining their sketches.

 

[RawheadRex]

Sorry, I don't want to beat you down about the ACAD surprise that you've apparently encountered but this NEVER came up prior to your being offered this position? If so, it is a pretty glaring oversight.

On the other hand, I'm going to pat your back and say that I might have made the same mistake given that you're telling everyone that this is an "aerospace" company. Seriously, I don't think that I'd EVER expect such a sucker punch if our places were reversed either. I mean an "aerospace" company that runs ACAD2K? That's pretty messed up in my book.

I guess for right now you'll need to do what's necessary to keep the paycheck coming. Show up to work, do your best, and most importantly - get the hell out of there as soon as you're able to.

Good luck my friend!


Chris Gervais
Application Engineer
CSWP, CSWST

 

[Nella95]

Hey AutoCRAP has its uses...but maybe it's not the primary CAD program. (Let's hope.)

 

[KevinDeSmet]

I work at an automotive company, I get to use Catia V5, perhaps the most high-end CAD system around today and the most I get to do is a little clamp or holding fixture. I don't even get to design them, just finish off some details and then make some drawings.

I think to myself "what would Duke Nukem do?" ...and then do something else and try to restrain myself.

Certified SolidWorks Professional

 

[Cockroach]

I run AutoCAD 2010 Mechanical with my company, but also have SolidWorks 2011 for the advanced parametric modelling. In general the machine shops have a 2D print, but I love the flexability with detailing the piece. The attachment is a typical example of the detailing completed in AutoCAD.

Don't get me wrong, SolidWorks is the beauty, particularly advantagous with SmartCAM or other packages that can use the model to be read into the CNC machine. Looking at 3D models particularly with Motion Analysis is also of benefit.

I offer the customer flexability with both.

Kenneth J Hueston, PEng
Principal
Sturni-Hueston Engineering Inc
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

 

[aroundhere]

You really still need to know acad and sworks. There are still so many companies that have both and usually everyone wants it all right now, so you really dont have the time to go thru and convert everything to sworks. 2d acad dwgs will still be with us for a long time. There are just too many drawings out there is acad. Also, most companies arent going to spend the money to convert to solids. I try to at least create a model of the existing acad part to use in the new sworks design assy. Sometimes, everything is in acad and stays that way because of time contrants. I still use acad for alot of different things. Good luck

 

[hititfaster]

For what it's worth I still use both and a lot of our customers do as well. SW is a real luxury item for a lot of smaller companies!

I used to do a lot of with factory layouts in AutoCAD and although I dislike it these days, I can't imagine doing a complete factory layout in SW. They're just TOO big and for the most part, don't require the level of detail you'd have to go into in SW.

Much as I hate to say it, there are some instances where I'd love to be able to just throw down a few lines, offset some, crop some and copy out the bit of detail I want.