J. DeSouza skilled in the preparation of Eminent Domain sketches, complete Construction Plans for submittal to local agencies for approval, maximizing the use and design of layouts. He was also in charge of putting together presentation drawings for potential clients in the private and public sector by enhancing sketches with color and aerial background images. The result was the company being awarded numerous contracts for various types of work. Responsibilities also included verifying field conditions, traffic impact studies, loss of parking analysis (due to FOOT Eminent Domain), Autoturn analysis. Able to prepared base maps by researching right of way maps, deeds, FDOT Standards, using construction plans, aerials, and field verify with measurements and photographs. Experienced in Accident Reconstruction work involved field data collection, vehicle inspections, using aerial images when needed. Able to develop accident reconstructing scenarios / diagrams based on all available evidence and information with each specific case.

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.

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Interview with Mr. D. Bryson

1. What kinds of clients do you serve?

   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.

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

   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.

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

   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!

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?

   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.

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

   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.

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?

   I have been involved in many remote meetings as an observer but have not yet had the necessity to launch my own meeting.

J. Yazel provides both 2D plans for houses and a business, as well as 3D designing. He has an associate’s degree in architecture.

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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.

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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. Deery has been working as a Draftsman/3D Modeller/CAD Trainer for 23 years. He has extensive experience in: 2D Drafting 3D Modelling BIM 3D Images 3D Animation, and has a multi-disciplinary background, working in areas such as Architecture, Civil Engineering (roads, light rail and heavy rail, drainage), Structural Engineering, Power & Electrical, Mechanical and landscaping. He has worked on many projects with both large and small firms throughout Ireland and the UK. Some of these firms include: Mott MacDonald Ove Arup & Partners, Amec Process & Energy, Muir International, and Balfour Beatty. He also provides 2D/3D training, CAD support and consultancy services.

R. Aligam currently works at the University of the Philippines National Engineering Center as a Research Engineer under the Geographic Information System(GIS) department. Her areas of expertise include Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Mapping and Surveying. Her interests are image interpretation and analysis, map making, geocomputation,web mapping, 3D modeling, land surveying, data gathering, data management and data processing.

R. Basheer is a CAD draftman who works primarily in Autocad Architecture, Pro-E and Google Sketch-up.

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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:

• a military Maintenance Repair and Operations services (UAE),
• a state-owned aerospace manufacturer (China),
• a worldwide hydraulic systems engineering services specialist (Netherlands),
• a detention center (USA),
• a not-for-profit financial cooperative (USA),
• a leading developer of IT systems for the aviation industry (USA).

According to Mr. Patel, one of the most interesting projects that he has worked on was the designing of large generators for which he received help from engineers of Indian Space Research Organization. He feels that the most challenging job for him was to join two large drive bases.

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.

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