Raval has been working since 2011 in the field of new product development. For the first two years, he worked on casting, forging and automotive projects. For the next two years, he worked on agricultural machinery design, producing drawings of tractors (from the initial design phase to the final marketing) for an Indian OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). This OEM assembled agricultural equipment, such as tractors, harvesters, sprayers, uni-platforms, etc. For the next 3 years he has been working for a major engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services conglomerate. He serves US and Europe-based automotive clients involved in the manufacturing of products for recreational purposes, such as ATVs, snowmobiles and motorcycles.
While working in the engineering services industry, he has handled a number of automotive projects. The most interesting CAD project that he has worked on so far was the one where he got the opportunity to design various automotive systems including driveline, gearbox, differential, engine, chassis, interior body work and exterior body.
He observes that today in the market for CAD services, design and manufacturing are coming together and every day companies launch new technologies. He believes that with the help of CAD prototyping, experts can now quickly make designs and models.
As he has been working for clients based in the U.S and Europe in the field of design and development for many years, he has learned how to select the best software for each application. He uses software to represent his conception of an idea and makes a selection according to customer requirements. His favorite tools are Creo Parametric 2.0 and 3.0, which he uses for 3D modelling, casting, forging, sheet metal and assembling models. He also likes Catia for surfacing. He likes to work on Unigraphic and AutoCAD 2D for 2D modelling.
Since he is handling projects for US and Europe-based clients, all the work-related discussion happens on Webex, Skype, and Jabber. He is now skilled in ways of connecting with the clients through Skype and remote servers. When faced with a difficult situation, he also meets the client.
Having worked as an interim CAD draftsman and an external CAD consultant on projects, he has learned about many new technologies. He looks forward to new challenges and opportunities every day.
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D. Bryson began work in machining and metalworking in Canada in 1981, becoming a world recognized journeyman tool and die maker in 1985. Re-entering the workforce as a CAD designer, he worked his way up to Senior Mechanical Engineer in a leading microwave radio company. He shares recognition in two patents relating to his design work of microwave radios. His previous hands-on metalworking experience has benefitted him greatly in his design career, where he continues to design and develop innovative yet simple-to-manufacture parts and assemblies. Familiar with all aspects of manufacturing including precision machining and grinding, stamping, die casting and welding. He is an expert in Solid Works and AutoCAD, including import and export of the many other software platforms in the marketplace.
My clients are varied. My background is in metalworking and mechanical CAD, both 2D & 3D. I have worked on very complicated mechanical assemblies and manufacturing drawings for the microwave industry, the semi-conductor industry, the nuclear industry and just the manufacturing industry in general. I have also worked with architectural CAD and have a client in the low voltage retrofit industry whose major customers are school districts and hospitals. They upgrade security systems and classroom technology. I have done both 2D drawings and 3D renderings for them. I have another client that installs automatic car wash systems and I do all their installation drawings. I have another client for whom I do RV park layouts. Finally, I have created drawings for individuals to submit with patent applications.
The most interesting project I worked on was a proprietary mechanical system that I can’t even talk about since the patent application is still pending. It had many small mechanical assemblies and a very large final assembly. All the work was in 3D. It will be interesting to see it actually come to fruition and know I was a part of it. I had to research many new to the market components that went into the assembly, create 3D models of them and integrate them correctly.
My favorite tool is Solid Works. With my mechanical background, it is the most versatile software available that ties part modeling, assemblies and drawings all together parametrically. I can’t imagine doing the work I do today on a drawing board with a pencil. A week’s work would take a year!
I have talked to all my clients many times over the last 2 years, thinking that they were bringing their CAD requirement in-house since I had shown a significant decrease in business from all of them. This was not the case. It is simply a slowdown in all industries. If anything, they have laid off their own full time people and are still planning on outsourcing the majority of their CAD work.
I have always been good at time management and servicing several clients on several projects at the same time. I have never missed a deadline or had an unhappy client. With a home office, I have the flexibility to work any hours required to get the job done.
I have been involved in many remote meetings as an observer but have not yet had the necessity to launch my own meeting.
Patel has been drafting and designing since 2008. He has been actively involved in product development for a number of companies. The 3D models and simulations that he creates are further used to estimate actual weight and area of objects, lookout of objects and manufacturing time.
He has constructed 3D models and simulations for aircraft test equipment and test stands, models for aircraft and industrial load banks, packaging solutions for the pharma and pesticide industries, design drawings for food and dairy. He has fabricated drawings for brewery, cosmetics and all types of gear boxes, design models for industrial hoists and cranes, packaging solutions for hydroponic fodder systems and models for bellows expansion joints in cross country pipelines. He has produced drawings for heat exchangers, pressure vessels and tanks, hydraulic solutions, foundry and furnace industries and ceramic industries. Working as a CAD professional on these projects, he has gained confidence in his skill as a CAD engineer.
He feels that the projects he found most interesting and challenging were for:
His favorite tools are AutoCAD for 2D, SolidWorks for 3D, CreoFusion360 and Inventor.
According to Mr. Patel, there is an increasing demand for CAD-based projects that require 2D drafting, isometric drawings, schematic diagrams, 3D modelling, simulation, animation, surface modelling, sheet metal work, weldment, piping and routing and analysis.
He typically works remotely and communicates via email. He also uses Skype frequently and finds it very effective, although he says sometimes it’s difficult to handle troubleshooting on Skype due to file size and formatting limitations.
