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Post by aquaduct on Dec 30, 2006 11:54:59 GMT -5
Hey folks,
My wife is looking at new jobs and schooling possibilities.
She's kind of interested in CAD and drafting stuff. She's concerned, though, that it might be a young person's gig and not real open to a more experienced person just entering the field.
Any thoughts from those in the know?
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Post by iamjohnne on Dec 30, 2006 11:56:55 GMT -5
I have a friend who is my age(mid fifties). She is a picture framer and uses a cad system daily.
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Post by majorminor on Dec 30, 2006 13:15:44 GMT -5
The only age issue I could imagine would be eyeballs staring at a PC screen full of fine lines etc.
We do a fair bit autocad stuff for door and millwork manufacturing and something similar to program the CNC, but we don't have enough work to warrant a full time person so we have a few people that are experienced enough with it to do basic drawings but actually have a different job description.
Recognizing that niche I've been approached just in the last year by freelance CAD guys working out of their home who sell blocks of time to businesses needing CAD stuff done. Company A gets me for 4 hours on Tuesday etc. The two guys that approached me were getting 40 hours a week billed at $50hr pretty regularly. Just assuming here, but with overhead being a PC, a laptop, and the software...so for >5K they were self employed and doing well. I also ran in to a couple a few years back who live on the top of this mountain 30 miles north of here on solar power, cistern water, and a satellite feed doing nothing but outsourced CAD work for income.
For most people, though, the value of someone versed in CAD is that they have, or quickly learn, a core understanding of your product. If you have to completely draw something so that they can just draw it prettier it defeats the purpose.
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Post by knobtwister on Dec 30, 2006 13:19:30 GMT -5
I say go for it. It's certainly not physically demanding. She might want to pick which industry she would like to work in and customize her training toward that. For example there's not much need for 3D skills in an electrical design company but plenty for a manufacturing company.
Don
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Post by Aesthetic_Ascetic on Dec 30, 2006 13:19:38 GMT -5
I also ran in to a couple a few years back who live on the top of this mountain 30 miles north of here on solar power, cistern water, and a satellite feed doing nothing but outsourced CAD work for income. What a great way to live one's life... can I do the same with hardware design? I'm jealous... |
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Post by dradtke on Dec 30, 2006 16:44:35 GMT -5
Speaking as a 50-something CAD guy who has had to interview other CAD guys, I'll support what mm said about product knowledge. I can make autocad sit up and dance, but if you drop me into a different industry I might not be much good.
That said, it beats working.
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Post by roylundelius on Dec 30, 2006 18:13:21 GMT -5
Thought CAD gave way to Master cam and Surf cam, or are these just updated versions of CAD Key?
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Post by billhammond on Dec 30, 2006 18:15:15 GMT -5
I am not proud of my cad background, and would not recommend it to anyone.
Monogamy, like, totally rocks.
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Post by Aesthetic_Ascetic on Dec 30, 2006 18:30:41 GMT -5
Who's the guy who plays in CADGAD? Really liked the "unexpected" low C... I think it was Chris Proctor...
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Post by billhammond on Dec 30, 2006 18:36:34 GMT -5
Who's the guy who plays in CADGAD? Really liked the "unexpected" low C... I think it was Chris Proctor... You're not thinking of that Hussein dude who played in BAGDAD, are you? Have not heard much from him lately. |
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Post by Aesthetic_Ascetic on Dec 30, 2006 19:01:46 GMT -5
No, that tuning does bad things to the neck...
Guitar neck that is...
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Post by roylundelius on Dec 30, 2006 20:07:03 GMT -5
Is that the swing key. Do Bop a Dee Bop.
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Post by Marshall on Dec 30, 2006 22:30:04 GMT -5
CAD is a fun thing. If she has an affinity to it (or a like of it) then go ahead and learn it. There's always going to be a need for it.
Though there are some A/E firms that ship out their CAD work to Inda and the far east. You mark up you electronic files and email them out at the end of day. Next morning your corrections are emailed back. Or so I hear.
But there will always be a need for someone to intelligently draw things up.
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