Help With Interview Testing 2

[sourcec0d3]

Hi all,
I wanted to say hello to everyone first! I am new to the NX forum but not so new to the eng-tips.com forum. Everyone here has been really helpful with answering my questions in the past or at least getting me to think on the right path to solving a problem I ran into and been really helpful and once again I am hoping the group here may be able to help me out!
We are interviewing/hiring someone for a CAD position here for NX. My supervisor is still unsure of if he wants an experienced person or someone a little less experienced and I wanted to show him the difference between the two in testing times.
If you all can and wouldn't mind if you could send me models that you would consider at least moderately difficult to complete I would appreciate it. If you wanted to chime in maybe you as an experienced NX user could attach yours and let me know approximately how long it took you to complete the model, and what you might rate it on a difficulty scale of 1 to 10. If you want to leave the history that's fine however step files will work just as good too as this will be for a test and the history will have to be removed anyhow.
If you are unable to do this maybe someone could point me to a site where I could download a model or possibly find a drawing of something that I could draw and time myself. Unfortunately I'm away from the office for a few days and won't be able to do that until I return which will be after the interviews have already started.
Thank you all very much for your help I do appreciate it very much!

 

[aluminum2]

it doesn't take a lot of skill to make a large variety of parts. The skill comes with the method on which they are created. There is also way more to NX than just creating a solid model.

 

[sourcec0d3]

Hey aluminum2,
So I was kind of seeking parts that would take more than an average skill to complete. If someone takes a week long NX crash training course and comes to take a test if I ask them to complete the moderately challenging part then more than likely they will not be able to. If they can than the part wouldn't be challenging enough.
Does that make more sense? We're first seeking out skilled NX users for interview. In about 3 to 4 weeks we will be seeking out the less skilled users that will be willing to train. Then we'll make the decision on which way to go.
When you said there's more to NX than just creating solid models what is it that you meant? Because pretty much I thought that is exactly all it does unless I'm not following you...
Thank you for responding!

 

[capnhook]

Why don't you-all just start out with an infinite amount of monkeys, banging about NX on an infinite amount of computers.....I heard that one's been tried before.

Seriously, if you are talking about exactly ONE position at your company, what compelling reason would you have to hire the inexperienced person?

Proud Member of the Reality-Based Community..

[green]To the Toolmaker, your nice little cartoon drawing of your glass looks cool, but your solid model sucks. Do you want me to fix it, or are you going to take all week to get it back to me so I can get some work done?[/green]

 

[ewh]

When you said there's more to NX than just creating solid models...

That depends on how you use the software. There's the "hack 'n whack" method which is quick and where anything goes, to more involved methods which may or may not include arrangements, linked fully constrained sketches and complex surfacing, depending on how you intend to use the model. Just creating drawings or models for CNC does not require the same skill set as more intricate use of the software would.

“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[sourcec0d3]

capnhook-It's more than just one position. Right now we need at least one or two right away, experienced possibly and over the next few weeks(2 or 3) that numbers going to grow. We are going to have to test or else this will fail. Do you count on groups of monkeys to create your solid models?

ewh-I get the fact that there is skill involved in the creation of a solid model almost an art I would consider it.

I thought posting this here that a few people would enjoy a chance to challenge someone to create a part that they've made that was possibly challenging when they created it, or figure it might be challenging to another person. If you don't want to help then just don't reply seriously don't waste your time or mine. If you want to post an attachment than I would appreciate it very much still!
Thanks

 

[capnhook]

I believe you misinterpreted my post, source0d3. I was being serious. Some of the solid models I have received in my career seem to have been attempted by monkeys.

You speak of a need in two or three weeks. How are you expecting the inexperienced user to gain the experienced user's solid modeling knowledge in that short a time?

Proud Member of the Reality-Based Community..

[green]To the Toolmaker, your nice little cartoon drawing of your glass looks cool, but your solid model sucks. Do you want me to fix it, or are you going to take all week to get it back to me so I can get some work done?[/green]

 

[multicaduser]

Can you give us an idea of what type of modeling is going to be needed? Modeling for plastic injection molded parts is different than mechanical bolted assemblies, etc. Are these going to be family type parts where there is one basic part with many different variations? Knowledge of the subject/field also has a great deal of influence on modeling. Models that are easily modified are one of the biggest requirements that I personally have. I doubt there is a "set" of modeling tests that would fit the requirements of every industry.

 

[sourcec0d3]

capnhook-oh I'm sorry I got the fact about you using monkeys as a reference to inexperienced people creating your models, and was curious if your place of employment actually uses a method where you hire a lot of inexperienced people to hammer a job out. With the experience I've witnessed in the past employing that method usually ends in disastrous results so we avoid this method and are attempting to not over hire and to keep our people on-board for the long term (permanently). However we will need a good percentage of experienced new hires to be able to get the job moving, and we will probably end up dedicating at least one or two of our current experienced team members to guide the more inexperienced hires in the right direction.
I want to show the supervisor that an experienced user can make our product with minimal error in the methodology. I also want to try comparing those test results to the more inexperienced users test results to see where they stand and try to estimate where they're at and where they could be best used. The problem with using our own as I'm sure with most is the confidentiality issues, as well as the fact that the users here are used to the methodolgy they use on the current products, and wanted to see and possibly try a few outside models if anyone is willing to show them.
Depending on what decision is made the inexperienced user(s) would not be expected to learn it all in such a short period of time. They would be given different tasks from the more experienced members of the team to spread the work load out.
Hopefully that sort of sums it up. I apologize for the sort of vagueness of the first post I'm just looking for a few challenging models to recreate for testing reasons. Right now all of our users are really super busy and taking somethign from scratch and then testing and timing it ourselves first is what we will have to do I'm just trying to take the first huge step out of it to save time. Is this making any sense? I'm typing this all out kind of erratically so I apologize if my request is kind of not making sense.
Thank you!

 

[sourcec0d3]

Multicaduser-more along the lines of freeform surfacing. Assemblies aren't used much nor are parameter driven parts. For all intensive purposes plastic injection molded would probably work perfectly. Thank you!

 

[aluminum2]

I should have mentioned that if you do a google search you can find a sample solidworks professional test. The tests can be done in UG NX as well. The test I saw some years back was about making a solid model and then quickly and effectively make changes to it. To me anybody who calls themselves proficient should be able to pass it.

 

[CAD2015]

Can you send us the link to that specifical test site?
Thanks!

MZ7DYJ

 

[CAD2015]

aluminum2,

Can you send us the link to that specifical test site?
Thanks!

MZ7DYJ

 

[JohnRBaker]

aluminum2, is this what you're talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGjbVwf-BIc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6UtOKHheUE

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[sourcec0d3]

I've found example test parts on the internet to fit the bill. As it turns out casted and injection molded parts seemed to fit the bill the best for the type of test we were trying to conduct because they can be complex and have some freeform to them too(the examples I had did). Just figured I'd post a follow up in case anyone searched this and found it in the future.
We've hired 2 senior designers and one designer straight out of school. 3 to 5 more in the next 10 days!

 

[Toost]

Maybe late in the thread but anyhow,
Siemens has a NX designer certification that might be of use.
I have heard of at least one company that forced consultants to take the test to see if they was up to speed in NX or needed training. That company then had the policy that if the consultant needed training, the consultant would not get full payment until he could prove that his knowledge of NX was sufficient.

http://training.industrysoftware.automation.siemens.com/certification/index.cfm

Regards,
Tomas