R. Taylor has extensive experience using Auto CAD, Auto CAD Mechanical, Inventor, Architecture as well as Bentley and MicroStation. His qualifications include 6 years of experience as a CAD designer/ draftsman. His recent experience includes design, as-builts and redraws in various areas, including architecture, piping, electrical, mechanical, rail road design, civil and site layouts.

M. Fitzgerald is a consultant and trainer in the area of CAD, Drafting and Illustration. He specializes in the following activities:

1. Architectural & Mechanical Drafting, including plans/elevations/sections/details, sketches to working drawings, as built surveys of existing structures, or mechanical parts using AutoCAD Scan to PDF, JPG, or TIFF for mark-up, or true reverse engineering, (i.e., re-drawing existing plans to AutoCad-dwg files).
2. Architectural and Mechanical Renderings: traditional 2D, or 3D renderings of plans/elevations, or pen and ink illustrations.
3. Site Visits (New York, or New Jersey) for onsite measurements of existing conditions and digital photography of sites.
4. Providing AutoCad layouts, for “Retrofit jobs, new designs, and “As-Built drawings”.
5. Providing “Graphic Conversions” for use in dynamic linking software, required on customer sites and for sales presentations.
6. Assisting Design Engineers & Field Technicians by providing them with AutoCAD, drawings and “As-Builts”.
7. Graphic conversions of Acad drawings to Windows Metafile drawings and to Micrographic Designer drawings and conversion from Bentley MicroStation to Acad drawings.
8. Assisting Account Managers (Sale force) by providing them with full size printouts of project, & pre-bid drawings.
9. Providing training in architectural terms, drafting techniques, AutoCAD skills for architectural work, technical writing skills, & minor mathematics for use in the architectural /engineering fields.
10. Providing manual/hand drawings and CAD drafting (Personal Designer Cad software) working with concrete construction layout drawings.
11. Manual drafting (pencil layouts), working with mechanical drawings from engineering and field personnel.

D. Hilton has over twenty-five years graphic design experience on Macintosh and PC platforms using primarily InDesign, Quark Xpress, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat and Microsoft Office. As an architectural and structural draftsperson, she is also adept at preparing plans, details and as-builts from client sketches and specifications using AutoCAD 2011. Ms. Hilton can prepare (2d) cost-effective photographic mock-ups of architectural structures. She is experienced in creating creative websites using CSS, HTML and Dreamweaver.

View Samples

Comments

1. Describe a project that was particularly challenging. What was challenging about it? What was the solution and what results did you achieve?

   I draw floor plans of existing homes for my husband who makes scaled birdhouses. The challenging part is that I often don’t have any dimensions to work from, so I have to interpolate the footprint and door and window sizes from photographs. I generally use standard sizes to get the best approximation.

2. Which CAD software programs do you find the most useful for the kind of work that you do?

   AutoCAD 2011

3. What are the pros and cons of the various CAD software programs that you use?

   I only use AutoCAD. I use other programs for other purposes, like Adobe products for graphic design.

4. How do you keep yourself up-to-date with the various developments in your field of work?

   I read on-line articles and talk to colleagues. Also, help forums for help.

5. Which new skills have you acquired in the past year? What new skills do you plan to acquire in the future?

   Just keeping up with the new features in the software is a full-time job 🙂

6. Are there any kinds of activities that you feel are better to outsource or subcontract than to do yourself?

   N/A

7. Send us some samples of your work, in any format (DWG, PDF, JPEG, DXF,etc.), along with a description of each sample.

   Attached is a set of drawings for a structural engineer. Also, see my website of examples:

   http://www.ilikeitdesign.com/drafting/autocad.html

8. Testimonials you would like to send us from your existing customers.

   I have never asked for any.

D. Hildebrandt is a CAD Technician with extensive experience in military, residential, municipal and commercial construction. He provides the following services:

• Participates in Civil/Architectural/Electrical/Mechanical design including but not limited to airfield and military site design, Grading, Concrete, Asphalt, Utility, Storm, Sewer, Site layout, Traffic protection, Signage, Utility plan/profile, Concrete construction, and multi-story PEB construction
• Specifies and Implements engineering drawing standards and implemented standards CAD/ detail library/filing/references/Software specification and configuration/AutoCAD and drafting specifics/hardware maintenance, specification, and configuration)
• Maintains existing site database while updating CAD/GIS files and conducting as-built surveys. Maintains GIS databases.
• Conducts as-built and topographic surveys for construction projects
• Rebuilds sites as-built survey using Trimble GPS gear and builds 3d CAD models.
• Uses 3D design software (LDD, Civil 3D and Softdesk) for contour build, pipe and structure
  profile, cross section, grading, sewer pipe design, drainage pipe design, road design, highway design, grading, cut/fill calculation, and survey data manipulation
• Provides design engineering for municipal and private sector construction projects including but not limited to site design, grading, concrete, asphalt, erosion control, retention, detention, stabilization, utility, storm, sewer, traffic protection, traffic signalization, signage, highway construction, ROW improvement, utility plan/profile, jack/bore operations
• Implements, specifies, and maintains CAD hardware, AutoCAD software, and standards
• Structural: Multi-story construction (steel, wood, concrete, masonry, tilt-up, precast), Residential Construction, Municipal and Education facilities
• Architectural: Multi-story construction (steel, wood, concrete, masonry, tilt-up, precast), Residential Construction, Municipal and Education facilities
• Electrical: Grounding, Power distribution, Lighting, Single-line, detailing, and scheduling
• Mechanical: Plumbing and HVAC layout, detail, and scheduling

Mr. Hildebrandt graduated from Porter & Chester Institute for Mechanical Design/Drafting, and has an ACI Certification for Concrete Inspection Field Technician Level 1, and a Construction Management Certificate from the University of Washington (Construction Safety, Project Management, Construction Estimating, and Project Planning and Control).

Interview with Mr. D. Hildebrandt

1. What kinds of clients do you serve? What is your particular area of expertise?

   Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, Architects, Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Environmental Consultants, Geologists, Telecommunications Engineers, and Builders. All phases of construction design and drafting using AutoCad, Civil 3D, and a host of graphical and processing software.

2. What was the most interesting CAD project that you ever worked on? What made it interesting?
   What challenges did you face?

   The JFK International Airport Air Train. I was one of the designers responsible for traffic control, pedestrian control, and crane movements. Time was a crucial factor, as it was near-impossible to design in advance due to construction timelines, change orders, etc. Therefore every inch of the way (a year in the making) required fast-paced engineering and realistic answers to very limiting factors.

3. Of the software tools that you use, which is your favorite and why?

   Civil 3D is my favorite, as it includes all the tools I need to help design including survey data manipulation, earthwork calculations, road design, and profiling tools for utilities and infrastructure design.

4. What trends are you observing in the market for CAD services? How have these trends affected you, and how are you responding to them?

   More dedicated services. A shrinking job market requires dedication and hard work in order to hold on to clients. I’ve got to work harder to keep the work coming. There are many people looking for work who can do what I do for a fraction of the cost so I’ve had to cut corners and make deals that work in favor of my clients. Of course they work in my favor too as I’ve not lost any work and am very grateful to be busy.

5. What do you like about working as an interim CAD draftsman or external CAD consultant working on a time-bound project?

   I’ve always viewed the 24 hours in a day as my time when I’m not required to show up to an 8 to 5 job. I can work any time at my own pace (always very fast) and spend quality time with my family. It is an all-around flexible way to operate. Sometimes it’s difficult to make time for multiple clients, but dedication and superior workmanship are the key.

6. Have you ever provided CAD consulting services remotely, either via phone, the Web or email?
   Do you use any screen sharing tools (like Webex, Skype, or GoToMeeting), and are they effective?
   What kinds of questions and problems could you tackle remotely?
   Are there any issues that you feel are better handled face-to-face?

   Yes. I do work remotely via email and phone. The background I posses enable ease in communication. I’ve been dealing with engineers for 25 years. I haven’t the need to work using screen-sharing. Closely-located clients, email, scanning, phone calls, and travel cover all the bases. Any and all engineering or design projects. Of course face-to-face is easier, but engineers need flexible and experienced designers to make their projects grow quickly and accurately.

Purushothaman is a CAD/MEP Engineer and Architectural Draughtsman specializing in multi story buildings, including the preparation of 2D /3D architectural drawings for interiors, plumbing, sanitary facilities, drainage, HVAC and fire piping.

He provides the following services:

• Preparation of full sanitary and plumbing layout construction drawings
• Preparation of shop drawings ,working drawings, details and as-built drawings
• Taking quantity of piping
• Amendment of architectural and structural drawings
• Preparation of full construction drawings
• Detailed bath, wardrobe, kitchen drawings
• Preparation of renovation building and irrigation drawings
• Preparation of estimates
• Preparation of subdivision paybill document
• Training in draughting (manual), 2D and 3D commands, AUTOCAD, ARCHICAD, STADDPRO.

He holds a Diploma in Civil Engineering and numerous certifications in the area of structural analysis and design. He is competent in the following software tools: Autocad 2010, Archi cad, 3D Studio Max, Revit, Architectural Desk Top, GT Strudl, Stadd pro, Photoshop, Coreldraw, Pagemaker, PRIMAVERA, MS- PROJECT, Microstation.

Y. Sharma is a provider of Design Support Services, focusing on the following activities:

1. Civil/ Structural Engineering:

   Provides Design, Analysis, Drafting & Detailing services for: a. Industrial Structures like Plant Buildings (both RCC & Steel Structures), Compressor House with EOT Cranes, Substation Buildings with Transformers, Control Rooms, Workshop Buildings, Pipe & Cable Racks, Conveyor gantries & Transfer towers, Stack like structures like chimneys, flare stacks, Static & Dynamic Equipment Foundations, Cooling Tower Basin & Pump House. b. Utilities: like Water Supply Systems with Surface & Ground Water, Roads, Drainage & Sewerage Storage Reservoirs. c. Building Structures: like Healthcare Buildings, Hospitality & resort Buildings, Educational Buildings, Commercial & Retail, Residential Buildings & Complexes. d. Steel Detailing: Also works on Tekla (X-Steel), Strucad and Autocad, and can produce Shop drawings, Fabrication drawings, Rebar details, Erection/ Field Drawings, material take offs and As-built drawings.

2. Architecture:

   Provides the following services: a. Schematic Design b. Design Development c. Construction Documentation d. As-built, Record & Shop Drawings e. 2D to 3D (BIM) Conversion. Works on 2D Software like AutoCad and BIM Software like Revit and have experience of working on Healthcare, Education, Commercial, Retail, Mixed Use, Residential & Industrial projects.

3. Mechanical Engineering:

   Provides Design, Analysis, Drafting & Detailing services for Bulk Material Handling.