Hey guys, I just started my first engineering graphics class about a month ago at Texas Tech. We are useing a CAD program called Autodesk Inventor. I was just wondering how this program compares to the ones actual ME majors are useing in the Auto Industry right now.

Also for anyone who might be able to help with some info or a phone #, I'm looking to apply for an internship this summer at GM or Ford. I went to the GM website about this a while ago and I dont remember it being so helpful. I'm very serious about heading north this summer to start working my foot in the door. If anyone can help or shed some light on anything that might help my career I be glad to hear. Thanks.

 

Anything by AutoCad is for girls. Sorry, but them's the facts.

Unigraphics and Catia are becoming the standards in the automobile industry (SDRC/I-Deas is dying at Ford and being replaced by Catia), and with the appropriate modules installed they are exponentially more powerful than anything AutoCad makes.

I started in the industry as a manual designer (you better learn how views and sections and drawings work...), then moved on to Unigraphics, then to engineering, then to Reaserch and Development, and finally to management - where I am now.

The important thing to get out of a CAD class is what a drawing is FOR and how to make them. The rest is poking buttons - monkeys can poke buttons, true engineers and designers KNOW what a drawing is, what they're for, what they should look like, how they communicate information.

Footnote - Parts ARE NOT manufactured solely from CAD models. The important information is the tolerancing. NEVER forget that.



Email me your resume:

prsce22@hotmail.com

I work for a Tier 1 supplier. Internships at the OEM's are VERY difficult to get.


Want the best career advice anyone can ever give you?

Work on your social skills. I'm NOT saying yours are bad or anything, but they are the NUMBER ONE thing that will get you ahead.

I can hire technical experts by the bushel. Hiring technical experts with good interpersonal skills and the drive to succeed is a bit more difficult.

 

Yep - Catia will soon be near-universal, once SDRC dies off (as a result of the UG merger - dumb, dumb, dumb). The only reason that UG is still alive at GM is because they're extremely stubborn and would still be using MS Paint if that's what they started with.

We're slowly changing over to CAD-as-the-master around here, with tolerancing information contained within the model itself instead of on a print. Debate the wisdom of that as you wish - there's a lot of folks with very mixed feelings about it around here. Of course there's still the regulatory issues with doing this, too. Until those are resolved, learn to communicate part characteristics clearly via the print.

The man speaks the truth here. Folks with high levels of technical expertise and semi-functional social skills are very difficult to find. Despite what some might think, being a super-bright engineer who's a complete social mess is not cool. Some level of quirkiness is expected, though

Depending on what field you wish to enter, cross-functional skills are so damn important nowadays that it's hard to overemphasize the point. If you're an ME, learn some EE stuff - as much as you can tolerate. If you're a EE, you'd best have some good knowledge of the mechanical world. The way things are in the auto industry right now, you've still got primarily mechanical inputs and outputs, but there's a ton of electronics sitting in between.

 

Well if you're into writing code, developing/designing hardware, software, etc... then CAD/CAM isn't for you. It's more artistic than anything else.

And as everyone else said... anything by Autodesk sucks! I've been using it for the past 8 years (forced to in my industry), after spending the previous 5 years using Microstation. (I also miss UNIX as well. )

 

Of course, in the auto industry (at least at the Tier 1 and OEM level) the engineers don't do CAD! That's for the designers. Someone has to make the drawings while the engineers go to all the meetings..

I also work for a Tier 1 supplier, and I know a couple of people at one of the Big 2.5. I might be able to help as well.

PS - don't forget to apply for internships at other major automakers, like toyota, honda, etc.

 

I actually like AutoCAD alot, but I never could get used to Inventor. I've done alot of 3D work in AutoCAD, but I'd like to learn some other programs, as it seems to be limited in that area.

 

Catia is definitely the one to learn right now. They are finally switching over to that system from I-DEAS. (They always do what ford is doing since the land and the school was basically built by ford- U of Mich-Dearborn) 5 years ago I learned Cadkey(don't laugh).
I agree that you should learn some other diciplines. I know I had to in my ciriculum. I learned to program in C and FORTRAN and MATLAB(though matlab is not technically programming). Also had to do control sysytems and some other EE ciriculum.
I just graduated with my BSME over the summer and have yet to receive a phone call to make an interview yet (sent out over 100 resumes). So I hope the economy is in better shape when you are done. I even been in retail (sales and waiting tables) for the past 5 years but it does little good if no one wants to talk. Only way to get in anywhere right now is if you know someone.


Good luck

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. I didn’t realize the program I’m using stunk so much compared to the real world. I’ve heard of Catia. I believe my dads friend uses it at Lockheed designing the new F-22 Raptor. I’m guessing that this is one of those $10,000 programs that I’m not going to be able to run down to Best Buy and pick up. So anyone have an idea how I’m suppose to get experience with it? Or am I going to have to wait till I’m hired somewhere? I haven’t heard any of my professors mention it before.

Double thanks for all the advice PacerX. I’m not too worried about my social skills. I think I’m too social sometimes. I can talk to just about anyone and I’m good at explaining things. My mom joked that I would talk to a board if it would listen. I’m more worried about working on my Calculus skills. Not to say I cant do it. But CAL 2 and CAL 3 look like they are going to be a lot of fun.

Concerning the resume, the one I have now isn’t to thorough. I’m only a little over a year out of high school and the one I put together about a year ago needs to be updated. If you can wait a week or so and let me get through some test I’ll put something together for you. Thanks for giving me this opportunity.

Just curious where are you located?

IF anyone want to add anything about the industry please chime in. I’m very career motivated and I’d like to know as much as possible.

 

Stars,

You're welcome for all.

I'm in Detroit, Pontiac actually, right next door to GM Pontiac East.


"Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. I didn’t realize the program I’m using stunk so much compared to the real world. I’ve heard of Catia. I believe my dads friend uses it at Lockheed designing the new F-22 Raptor. I’m guessing that this is one of those $10,000 programs that I’m not going to be able to run down to Best Buy and pick up. So anyone have an idea how I’m suppose to get experience with it? Or am I going to have to wait till I’m hired somewhere? I haven’t heard any of my professors mention it before."

What you need to take from this class isn't how to operate the CAD system. You've got to learn what a drawing is for and what it does.

Learning CAD is eventually a good idea, but I wouldn't get too wrapped up in it. When the time comes you can learn the appropriate system if you want to do some design work. Right now, get through the basics.

College, for all it is cracked up to be, does a poor job of preparing engineers for industry. The things you should know aren't emphasized, and you'll end up specializing very quickly when you enter the industry anyway.

 

Using CAD/CAM software isn't for him, but writing it might certainly be! There's a large number of custom programs in use right now, and the number continues to grow. In a lot of cases, you simply can't go find what you need on the market, so you're forced to develop it internally.