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.
K. Hill has been working in the field of architecture since 1995 and has deep experience as a CAD Operator and Project Manager for a variety of architectural projects, including educational/university, business/commercial, telecommunications, industrial and residential. Mr. Hill is familiar with construction document preparation and coordination, field survey, documentation and background preparation, shop drawing preparation and review, building code research and analysis, construction product research, specification preparation a variety of computer applications. Mr Hill has a Masters of Architecture degree.
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M. Spencer is currently an independent CAD entrepreneur and consultant. She is also a Business Professional specialist in the Plant Engineering department at a fortune 500 company. She holds a BA from the University of Louisville, and also a Drafting with AutoCAD Career Diploma from Penn Foster College. She has had experience from structural design, mechanical, HVAC, electrical schematics/one-lines, to evacuation plans, and 3D modeling.
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A. Woodruff has been semi-retired and is providing patent drawings to several attorney clients for whom he has worked for over 18 years. For 10 years prior to that, Mr. Woodruff was owner of a retail business supplying automotive accessories. Before entering the retail business he had over 40 years of increasing experience and responsibility in several fields including heating/grain drying, recreational vehicles, gear boxes/machining, food processing equipment, automotive accessories, and, doors and windows. Responsibilities included design engineering management of a staff of 6, project management, and plant manager of a factory of over 300 employees. The majority of Mr. A. Woodruff’s experience is in the fenestration industry where he holds 5 U.S. patents.
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J. Yazel provides both 2D plans for houses and a business, as well as 3D designing. He has an associate’s degree in architecture.
Sasaki has been handling R&D projects for cars and truck companies and design or modeling studios in Japan and China.
One of the most challenging projects that he has worked on was the business-class seat production, a 3D CAD-based project for Singapore Airlines’ new Airbus A380. It was a two-year commitment to incorporating international development standards from the UK, Singapore, and Japan.
His favorite software is Autodesk Alias, the mainstream surface modeler for styling and designing cars and trucks. He uses Alias for V2 jet designs, one of the primary software tools for designing and styling automotive and aircraft equipment. He mostly designs 3D models and does rendering and basic animation using Alias. He also uses Autodesk Showcase and Rhino for 3D modeling. He is competent in the use of Inventor. He also handles 3D CAD-based projects that require working on SolidWorks and Creo.
Mr. Sasaki has worked on-site in Japan, Malaysia, and China for a considerable number of years but he enjoys CAD consulting as well. He owns a 3D industrial design firm that also provides external design consulting.
Most of his clients are overseas, and he communicates with them via e-mail, phone calls and sometimes by Skype to share his Alias CAD-screen. He often has a kick-off meeting with a client. He believes that car companies generally dislike remote design work, so on-site work becomes more or less mandatory.
