CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
(OP)
Our company has some draftsman that used to do the majority of our drawings when we were using Cadkey. Now that we are using Solid Edge and the drawings are so much easier to produce, quite often the mechanical engineers are doing their own drawings so that they don't have to go through the hassle of marking up drawings and re-submitting them to the draftsmen over and over again. My question is, how are other companies handling the leftover draftsman situation? Is your company training CAD operators who then attempt to do mechanical engineering, or are you, with CAD, giving mechanical engineers a useful tool to document their design work?






RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
- Steve
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
1) Engineers perform design calcs and drafters build/detail/maintain the models and drawings.
2) Engineers perform design calcs and basic layout models, drafters detail/maintain the models and drawings.
3) Engineers perform design calcs and build the entire master model, drafters only detail/maintain drawings and models.
4) Engineers perform design calcs and build the master model and detailed drawings, drafters only maintain drawings and models.
Engineers should be paid to perform real engineering, not wrestle detailed drawings and models. It also depends on the widgets you create and your current company culture. Since you just transitioned into a 3D CAD system you will quickly see who floats and who swims. It will take time to find a system that works for your company.
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
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RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
TTFN
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RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
Not to excuse laziness on the part of the cad operators, but this is no different than using board drafters. The approving engineer has always taken on that responsibility. It is up to him to review what the operators produce, and reject it until it is correct. Unfortunately, Design Checkers seem to have gone the way of the buggy whip, but this would have been part of their responsibility, and would have lessened the load that is now placed on the engineers.
Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - Robert Hunter
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
I'd add that our CAD guys are really, really, good.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
Doesn't quite fit with MadMango's hierarchies so I would consider this as a level/combination 5.
Regards,
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
Where I was previously had a drafting department and document control department. The detail designers (draftsman) took the general concept and engineering calcs from the engineer and had to make sure the parts where manufacturable (all fillets and radii) as well as fit together. The engineer had final approval of the drawings so they were responsible for the design, but they pretty much just handed it over the wall and signed the paper when done. The focus was to get the engineers to do all the modeling and let drafting create the final print and work with document control for the release process - thereby saving money because lower paid personnel do the mundane chores.
--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
- Steve
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
A lot of the CAD draftsman that I have worked with appear to be frustrated with the fact that they don't have a job title with the "engineer" word in it. However, I have also worked with a few CAD draftsman that are doing what they like to do, and their work shows it.
We also struggle with having draftsman who are really just illustrators, they wouldn't know how to go about adding tolerances to dimensions even if their life depended on it.
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
A good drafter/designer will understand:
-the need to maintain 'design intent' required by the engineer
-have a good understanding of manufacturing capabilities/limitations
-can "talk shop" with the guys on the shop floor/in the field
-don't want the title engineer
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
Most places I have worked at used your method 1. The responsible engineer(s) would outline the requirements and let you loose. They kept an eye on progress on a daily (or at least a couple times a week) basis, to answer any questions and ensure that their design intent was being carried out. They often have working knowledge of the CAD software, and verify the models also.
As a designer, I considered it one of the best jobs available. Plenty of opportunity to show your talents and grow, and an engineer to fall back on if the problems grew beyond your capability. You look good - he looks good and visa versa.
I wouldn't be happy as a designer working somewhere that used any of the other 3 methods, too limiting.
Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - Robert Hunter
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
RE: CAD Operator versus Mechanical Engineer
--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro