Junior engineer lesson

[Mandrill22]

We have a junior engineer on our team. I would like him to watch a beginners guide to drafting standards. We are using ISO, which is new to me. I could use a video about ISO. I'm used to ASME. None of the videos have been comprehensive.

 

[mkcski]

From my experience, taking heads in videos are not a good place to start. You have to learn how to read before you can write. So I would recommend an intro class to start to learn how to read GDT. After the class, access to a GDT mentor would get interpretation (reading) questions answered. Then an advanced class to dig deeper into understanding how to write - application of - the controls can be introduced. As with anything practice makes perfect. Peer review is also good for confidence. Just my two cents.

Certified Sr. GD&T Professional

 

[CheckerHater]

I like the idea of training "junior engineer" with videos. Whatever happened to reading?

"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future

 

[ewh]

While understanding GD&T is very important, so are the basics of drafting, from view projection to dimension placement. Too many engineers consider themselves to be good drafters because they made good grades in a CAD class or three. There is much more to drafting than being able to use a CAD program. While it isn't as popular a method as it used to be I find the best way to learn is to suffer repeated corrections from an experienced checker. An engineer may be able to get all of the pertinent info down in a drawing but miss the objective of making the info clear, concise, and capable of only one interpretation.

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

 

[mkcski]

ewh:

I TOTALLY agree. Drawing "lines" is easy. We have another approach: our green-horn engineers spend a year in the shop - we mfg large hydro-electric machinery. They get to appreciate who the audience is and what information is being read - and what is missing too. QA is also on the list. This gives a better foundation for our designs and cost of mfg.

Certified Sr. GD&T Professional

 

[Hallec]

I work with "experts" in drafting who have been doing it their "entire career" and routinely place section views on the wrong side of the cut lines, don't include center lines, write "REF" and "TYP" next to all sorts of dims, place multiple 90° angles on sheet metal bends, and include notes like "IMPLIED 90° ANGLES ARE BASIC" -- Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean... I would suggest you skip the videos, hand him a copy of the actual spec and have him/her get to reading.

I'm not a vegetarian because I dislike meat... I'm a vegetarian because I HATE PLANTS!!

 

[mkcski]

Mandrill22:

Are we answering your training question and providing any clarification to an approach for the junior engineer?
We also have shop skills apprenticeship programs (machining, welding, die makers, machine maintenance)in our area that are open to the public (for a fee) that teach print reading. This might be something to consider.

Certified Sr. GD&T Professional

 

[chez311]

Mandrill22,

If video learning is desired, there are several online courses which include extensive video and textual information (I won't endorse any here but a google search will yield many results) - but of course these come at a cost, which come in a variety of price ranges (some quite affordable) depending on the company/package you go with. With some small effort in probing on youtube/google for free information will yield a surprising volume of content but as you noted not usually comprehensive and mostly ASME focused.

Many of these courses also offer either scheduled group seminars on a regular basis or work with individual companies to create programs/courses available on-site. This of course will come at an increased cost.

 

[mkcski]

Mandrill22,

Video training has many advantages (scheduling, travel, etc.). But the interaction between the student and instructor in a class room environment must be recognized. I have done both and have learned more in the class room. Just my opinion.

Certified Sr. GD&T Professional

 

[chez311]

But the interaction between the student and instructor in a class room environment must be recognized. I have done both and have learned more in the class room

I mostly agree with this - however most (if not all) the online training classes will have instructor email hotlines where questions can be asked/answered in a comprehensive and timely fashion. It will not be a perfect substitute for face to face conversations in a classroom setting but will at least provide a more complete learning experience - as mkcski noted earlier, the student/mentor relationship is important the ability to ask questions and have them answered by an expert (other than google - ha!) is critical.