Worth taking an AutoCAD course if i'm studying Engineering?

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

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29 Jun 2004
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Hi I’m in my second year of Mechanical Engineering MEng. My course teaches me the basics of AutoCAD but not the full whack because I was told by many professors and many people that an engineer does not need to know how to use the program, but needs to know how to do basic stuff on it and needs to know how to understand and translate the engineering drawing in real life.

They said having someone draw something up on AutoCAD is the job role of someone else and not engineers. I'm not too sure how true this is.

However, in London, I’ve seen a variety of 6 week short courses for £500 running through the summer when I have holidays.

I am very tempted by this as when I graduate I can say I am very proficient at using AutoCAD and have certificates to back this up.

Is there anything I should look for?
Is there an awarding body that awards qualifications to do with AutoCAD?
Will it increase my employment opportunities?
Shall I study other short courses to do with engineering such as MatLab?

Thanks
 
It can't be a drawback to know something you will use at work.

So, yes it will increase your employment opportunities, that alone is reasons enough.
 
I've been doing architecture for the last 6 years and have found learning autocad through my peers to be decent yet limited in scope tbh!

I would suggest it is possibly worthwhile to do so. In my profession however dependant on the job I end up with I could be working with ArchiCAD, Microstation and the like. If your profession is pretty much fixed to autocad then by all means take the course.

I have no idea about creditation etc that you would recieve but it would look good on your CV. I will possible consider taking a course myself over the summer to increase my job prospects further.
 
Im working on a big project for an Oil company, im a design engineer in title, but basically im a draughty who designs, i do my own CAD. The package engineers as they call it dont touch CAD with a barge pole (to be fair they cant even read a drawing properly, yet seem to think they can check them).

We do most of the grunt work in 3D (Solidworks) but the client requires the drawings in 2D Autocad format. I've not had a full course, i just picked it up over 4 or so years. As long as you are willing to learn and explore id say you dont need a full course, having experienced peers also help.

Autocad is still a standard for a lot of companies so it's worth trying atleast for your CVs sake.
 
I work in a building services engineering office (mechanical, electrical and environmental) and although most of the time its the technicians (apprentices) that do the CAD work, I would say you can't go wrong with a knowledge of CAD. The engineers in my office who know how to use CAD seem to be more effiecient at there job than those who dont, but of course this is just my observations.
 
favorite part of my job the cad bit ,sometimes the dxf files will be emailed but there usually faulty with offsets left on and broken gemetries ect but the first few hours of the night fly when im drawing up (using alphacam )
 
Definitely - but steer clear of 2008 though!

Bring back the days of 2006 I say!

It's definitely a good skill to have - although I would think that most of the stuff you'd be using would be based on Solidworks?

EDIT// Don't use the word Technician in my office - they go nuts! Drafty is the term they prefer!
 
"andy" said:
if you already know the basics then teaching yourself using online tutorials etc could be possible
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Actually thats a very good point! I started off as a CAD Technician doing an HNC and then moved on to my degree - but I learnt soo much more 'on the job' as opposed to the class room learning.

I did find, however, that in a classroom environment it's sometimes easier to ask really daft questions and get an answer!
 
AutoCAD is pointless.

If you want to get into CAD get a job after uni doing Catia, build up from that and in 2-3 years you can be contracting on £25-30ph
 
Simon said:
AutoCAD is pointless.

If you want to get into CAD get a job after uni doing Catia, build up from that and in 2-3 years you can be contracting on £25-30ph
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People pay the MechEng's to do thier own CAD? :eek:

Seems like a waste of time.
 
Can AutoCAD but never ever had to use it. Don't bother with it.

Picking up solidworks atm at my company.
 
I'm an Electronics/Mechanical Engineer and I'm training to become Civil Engineer and I've been using AutoCAD for about 17 years!... it never hurts to know what the numpties below you are doing!... it takes away the 'Whiteman Magic' aspect of it!!
 
DunK1 said:
He's studying Engineering. Doubt he'll be looking into a CAD orientated job.
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I did engineering at uni and I don't even do any engineering in my job.

There are plenty of engineers who work with CAD, how do you think F1 cars, planes and cars are designs? Pen and paper? Its not glamourised drawing and its certainly a good way into engineering. More interesting than process stuff !
 
I'd suggest getting a good book and learning to use it from that rather than spending on a course. If you still need to do the course then you'll still have a good reference book.
 
It really depends on what you are doing, I find that doing technical drawings (right size lettering etc) should be done by CAD operators but design work is done by calcs not by drawing.

I couldn't use CAD when I started work but now I am quite proficient in it.

Also to the CAD Designer, lets see some calcs for what you design and which standards they conform to, then I will tell you why we check the designs.

KaHn
 
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