Mechanical Design Tools
Mechanical Design Tools
(OP)
I am curious. What are you people using to do mechanical design? Primarily, I want to know how many people are using 2D CAD. I know some architects still use drafting boards. Please confine this to mechanical design.
I may have to move this to Surveymonkey.
SolidWorks 2007.
I may have to move this to Surveymonkey.
SolidWorks 2007.
JHG





RE: Mechanical Design Tools
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Engineering is the art of modelling materials we do not wholly understand, into shapes we cannot precisely analyse so as to withstand forces we cannot properly assess, in such a way that the public has no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance.
-A R Dykes
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
I do not know of anyone still using 2D in the automotive world.
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Ted
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
"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 these Forums?
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Dan
www.eltronresearch.com
Dan's Blog
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
2D cad is still useful for hydraulic schematics.
Makes me go cold thinking about 2D mechanical design.
Adrian
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
bare AutoCAD,
Rhinoceros,
... whatever's available.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services
www.infotechpr.net
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Alibre Design
NX
--Scott
http://wertel.eng.pro
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - Robert Hunter
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
I've never done a full hand drawing, just a few amendments including on silk media.
At uni I used 'Auto-sketch' for our limited drawing labs, they moved to AutodCad the following year (which sucked for anyone in my year needing drawings for their final year design projects etc.).
As soon as I started working it was straight onto 3D with Solid Edge and Pro E. What limited 2D stuff I've done has been in the 2D environment of Solid Edge.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Started on Paper in 1978
Progressed through various Autocad versions
Started with Solid Edge 7 in 2000
still using Solid Edge today with ST2
Had a sabatical year (2006) with Solidworks and ProE
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
That was pretty much the last time I saw 2D cad for mechanical design, for new projects, although in 1996 the car company I now work for was still transitioning from a home grown 2D system to Ideas.
I've just done a course in Inventor, it seems entirely usable, although the 3d sweep tool and other 3d tools seem a bit idiosyncratic.
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Inventor 2011
Some other Autodesk applications, too
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Stephen Seymour, PE
Seymour Engineering & Consulting Group
www.seymourecg.com
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Alibre
I used to run Solidworks up to 2007 then gave up because it cost too much.
B.E.
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
We have a number of parts in our lineup that are drafted as efficiently or moreso in 2D than 3D. 3D systems require more careful management of the multiple data files and more skilled/specialized users. This makes our 2D system still quite compelling.
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
One is the the aforementioned 2D drafting as it is very easy to run variations on a theme. One particular project was a mechanical seal that operated on an 8" and 20" diameter shaft at 600°F at 1 rpm. I probably went through 50 iterations before the light went on.
Another very simple tool I used is the outline feature of a word processor. This can impart some order to your thoughts and you can promote and demote ideas easily. If you have to lay the project down it makes it very easy to come back an pick it up where you left off.
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Bruce aka Tunalover
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Started on the board in the early 80's. Played with AutoCad briefly. Our first CAD system was Computervision Designer-M running CADDS-4, then 4X. Migrated to Pro/E from there and didn't look back.
But, although I've been using Pro/E for more years than I care to remember, a quadrille pad and #2 pencil suit the bill perfectly fine for the quick concept sketch or recording ideas.
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Photocopying is a bit of a challenge.
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
3-cheers for the technologically impaired! Up-side is that you're not dependent on the grid!!
Ed
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
Auto Cad V10 through V12(since 1990)
Cadkey (since 1995)
AutoCad Lite & Microsoft Office(since 1997)
Process Engineering no 3D required but would be helpfull
MfgEngGear
RE: Mechanical Design Tools
In my history:
A mix of hand-drafting and CadKey in both high school and first year of college (3 semesters total)
SolidWorks/Cosmos for aerodynamic class in 3rd year
ProE course fourth year
SolidWorks for internship and first 2 jobs after graduation (~2 years)
AutoCad at current employer for the last 3 years.
-- MechEng2005