JayPSC

Looking at getting into CAD so I can do some contract work, anyone know of any short intensive courses?

Jay

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

A basic AutoCAD course would be about 2 days. Then you could get to grips with it before doing another 2 days at a slightly more advanced level. you really need to use it day in day out though. Are you just looking at 2D? Also depends what type of contracting you'd be looking to do.

SiPie

Mine was a 4 day Autocad 2006 course and thought it only just scratched the surface.

Now using it daily, my suspicions were spot on and I'm relatively quick at learning....

JayPSC

Working as mechanical/aircraft fitter at the moment, looking to do something with higher hourly rate so I don't have to work as much over the course of the year. Been wanting to learn CAD for a while now as it's something I'd use at home as well.
As above, all the courses I've seen are 2-4days, wondering if there was anything a bit more in depth without spending a year at college?

Jay

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

It's normally a case of getting used to a package at first then using it for a bit in your chosen field. Once you've done that you find you'll have a lot of questions of how to do things or just be able to apply new things you learn in a way that is useful to you. There's also 3D CAD as well should you wish to progress to that. You can do it in AutoCAD (in its various guises) but if this is something you'd want to do then there are packages such as Inventor and Solidworks to name a couple.

Maybe try get hold of a *cough* trial copy and do the tutorials to get a feel for them.

orbix

Which CAD package are you looking at?
What is your field?
Short courses wouldn't really impress any protental clients though. IMPO

stilover

Most colleges will do a AutoCad Night course.

Most are either - City & Guilds or BTEC courses. As said above, there are various Cad systems (Solidworks etc) but if all you want is standard AutoCad (Which I use daily, then the courses are :

2D Cad, 3D Cad, Customization & System Management, AEC, & AutoLisp programming (Quite Hard).

Just depends on how much into it you want to go.

You'll find that each field will have it's own software, but to start with join a College night course doing 2D then 3D Cad.
This will show future employers that you have good general knowledge of Cad, then they'll train you up if need for their own software requirements.

Ray_li

Don't want to p1ss on your thread but what makes you think you can make a living from doing contract work after learning CAD for 2 nights?

You're gonna find it difficult to find contract work as a CAD operator from doing a short course

SiPie

Totally agree

Account deleted by request

Slightly off topic and dont mean to hijack but anyone use CAD to create scaled drawings/floor plans for property?

I have a basic package to draw floor plans The Mobile Agent but this does not do them to scale which I really need.

If I could do a 2 or 4 day course to get to grips with CAD then that would be a real bonus and useful for my business.

Any info from CAD experts would be useful.

Thanks

chop

Tidgy

tbh i have been using autocad for 4 years now, after previously using strucad, still finding new things, bugs with it etc etc, each time a new version comes out its an even bigger learning proccess

orbix

Wouldn't you be better off using Autocad LT to do your plans it's not as expensive as the full blown version and theirs books and courses available.

Account deleted by request

To be honest I have no knowledge on the subject, always got away with using The Mobile Agent for plans but my work involves planning/development work more and more so I really should be looking into this.

I will do a google and have a look at Autocad LT.

Thanks for advice

chop

stilover

You'll find that most Architects use AEC. An add on package for AutoCad that has all the blocks etc for windows/door/furniture etc, etc.

Can't understand that the package you use won't allow you to scale. Sounds to me like you don't know how to do it rather than it won't do it.

Most of these simple cheap packages are mostly a load of crap TBH. If it's a career drawing plans etc, then it's always worth getting the best package you can get, expensive as it always is.

stilover

Just something else to point out too, is that if you do go for the full AutoCad package, you should register with Autodesk and subscribe with them. Reason being, is that most companies (mine including) always use the most up to date Autocad (currently 2007). We've just paid our subscription for next year meaning we get sent 2008 when it becomes available. If you don't subscribe and want to update, you will have to pay full whack again.

Otherwise you won't be able to open 2008 drawing in 2007 etc. Most companies don't like to or refuse to resave there drawing in an older version just to please you. I know I don't.

Big Daz

LOL, If it was that easy Ray would be living in the sun working 1 day a week tops
(me too actually )

Daz

Account deleted by request

Just had a look at autocad LT and it is really more than I need. I'm not an architect I specalise in property acquisitions and development. Basically I buy and sell properties and gain outline planning permission to either build new houses or convert existing buildings to apartments. I don't need a package that involves specific building design although basic external aspects/elevations would be useful. Ideally its needs to be fairly simple which autocad doesn't look or I can learn in a few days on a course.

I spend a fortune paying people to draw these plans to scale, and they only copy my hand drawn plans as I always knopw what I want or what layout I will be using. Would save me a lot of time and money to do this myself.

The Mobile Agent doesn't allow you to scale, they have been hoping to bring this as a new feature for some time but have still not developed it. That package is really meant for estate agents showing basic non scale floor plans on sales details.

I will have a look at AEC as that sounds more like what I need.

Thanks for input any further info would be useful.

chop

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

AutoCAD LT would be the one to go for. It may be more than you need but most 2D files are either dwg (AutoCAD) or dxf.

If you could just learn what elements you require then it wont be too complex.

PS How much you paying for these plans?

stilover

Yeah, that's a thing. How much do you pay?

I'm sure I could give some competetive rates. Bit slow at work at the moment. Could do with a bit of extra cash on the side.

Feel free to PM me

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

Oi back off!!

Ray_li

Dont know about the Sun but I do 1 days worth of work a week

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

How's the new job going?

Ray_li

A bit of a killer to start with as i was using Inventor but they have bought me Solidworks ready for when I get back from my holiday.

Got me doing a huge project to start with but its ok and the guys in the office are

ricardo_wrx

If you are looking to work on achitectural projects, have a look at ArchiCAD. I used to use AutoCAD ages ago, but ArchiCAD dumps on AutoCAD from a great height when it comes to 3D work! There is a course that is run in Nottingham by Bite Design. 4 days.

ricardo_wrx

Solidworks is a very clever piece of kit! Only have a trial copy.

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

Nice one! there's not much between Inventor and Solidworks really these days but you need a spacemouse with Inventor IMHO and it doesn't handle variations of derived parts as well.

Big Daz

Just looked at spacemouse - Gonna have to get me one of those

Agree with the derived parts bit though - Inventor is a bit clunky

Daz

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

Once you've used one a bit they're an essential. comes second nature flipping a part round etc.

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

AEC will be even more expensive than AutoCAD LT.
The latest version of AutoCAD lets you create dynamic blocks (for doors and windows for example) so you can scale them to whatever opening size you've measured.
If you only want to be able to produce basic, to scale plans then a 2 day course will be fine. If you want to make a living producing drawings to Planning and Building Regs quality you'll need to attend a much more in depth course.
I've been using AutoCAD for 12 years. I've used other packages in the mean time and the easiest & best one I've used so far is a little known package called MicroGDS (think it's been brought by AutoDesk now anyway).
AutoCAD is getting easier to use with every release, as AutoDesk buy out competitors and incorporate the features in AutoCAD.

Matt

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

the problem with AutoCAD is they have to keep their aged existing customer base happy. the ones who can only work in certain ways. If they were to design the package from scratch I'm sure they could improve it a lot more! There are so many ways in 2007 to do the same command to keep as many uses as possible happy. I used Microstation previously and preferred it although some aspect of AutoCAD are now better.