Great Advice For Cad Jobs

Introduction

As a computer-aided design (CAD) technician, you will use computer software to create design plans for machinery and buildings. CAD technicians are able to work in a variety of cad jobs, such construction, engineering and manufacturing. CAD technicians can either create 2D designs, which are also referred to as surface modeling, or 3D design, also referred to as solid modeling.

Step 1

CAD technicians will use a 2D design to make a presentation of a product to their clients. Once they get feedback from their clients, they can then go ahead and build and test a prototype. They will often use a 3D design to take a virtual tour of a building or to look inside manufacturing machinery. CAD technicians will use their designs to produce cost estimates for a project, to produce assembly instructions and maintenance manuals for installation, repair and service technicians. Here are some of the specific tenets that make up cad jobs.

Step 2

They will often work in a small team, with each technician designing a specific area of the project under the guidance of the design engineer. CAD technicians may work under different names, depending on the specific industries the cad jobs are located in. For instance, computer aided industrial design (CAID), computer aided engineering (CAE), computer aided manufacturing (CAM) and computer aided styling (CAS).

Step 3

CAD technicians will typically work for 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday through to Friday. They will be based in a design office, working from a CAD design workstation. For engineering or construction cad jobs, you will probably to work on site for a portion of the project.

Step 4

To qualify for cad jobs, you will need a thorough understanding of engineering design principles, good computer or numeracy skills, good communication skills, an understanding of material properties, manufacturing process and construction methods. You will also require good problem solving skills, a flair for creativity, and ability to work in a team and to meet project deadlines.

Step 5

Candidates looking for cad jobs can either start as an apprentice in a construction or engineering firm, or apply for a college course that covers CAD skills, in order to gain the prerequisite skills to apply for a CAD job. You can apply for an apprentice position with just a school diploma. However, an enthusiastic attitude for the industry is an important part of qualifying for the apprenticeship. Besides the typical AutoCAD software used for learning, some colleges will also provide additional training on specialized software packages such as Autodesk Architectural, AutoCAD LT, 3ds Max, etc.

Tips

Once you successfully apply for cad jobs you will receive specific hand-on training in specific CAD software relevant to your industry. You can also seek a number of work-based qualifications which cover cad jobs, depending on your job description, such as EAL Advanced Diploma in Engineering and Technology Level 3, Engineering Technical Support Level 3, etc.

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