Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
(OP)
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.
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.






RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
Many design companies need multiple CAD systems to enable compatibility with their varied clients.
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
Learn what you can, then possibly transfer later.
Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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.
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
You should have gone for the "I'm-already-crazy" version.
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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.
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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.
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
I think to myself "what would Duke Nukem do?" ...and then do something else and try to restrain myself.
Certified SolidWorks Professional
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! 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
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
RE: Started new job today: Oh no! AutoCad!
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.