Hello - A little advice please

[Franco B]

Im not sure if this is the correct section for this message, please move it if it is in the wrong place.

Hi everyone, I have just signed up to the forum and I would like some advice if possible.

First of all I should introduce myself. My name is Franco and Im 24 and from the UK. Im a CNC machinist and work for a company that manufactures gas turbines.

I have been at college for the last four years to get some qualifications to hopefully get a job in CAD. I think I may struggle slightly to get employment as I have no office experience but I’m hoping that my machining background would help me to get a job within a manufacturing company.

At college I am currently studying AutoCAD (2005) as part of my Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Mechanical Engineering, along with my other subjects, Mechanical Principles, Maths, Quality Assurance, CAD/CAM, Project Management etc.

Im thinking about getting some CAD books to work through, could anyone recommend any?

I use AutoCAD 2005 at college although I have both 2005 and 2007 at home so I would imagine it would be wise to get the 2007 edition of any books?

I’m also thinking about studying Autodesk Mechanical desktop and Inventor in my spare time as I think this would boost my credentials; again can any one recommend any books? I don’t have Mechanical Desktop or Inventor at present but I hope to purchase them soon.

I’m trying to do as much CAD as possible to get my skills up to scratch by taking component drawings home from work and making 3d models of them etc. Is there anything else I could be doing to improve my chances of employment in CAD?

I look forward to any advice, thanks in advance.

[ReMark]

Two authors you can't go wrong with would be O'Mura and Finkelstein. For a somewhat different approach you can try AutoCAD 2007 3-D Modeling by Alan J. Kalameja.

Sorry, but I cannot make any recommendations re: books on Inventor or Mechanical Desktop but I'm sure another forum member will be able to help you out.

When you assemble a portfolio of drawings make sure to do it in as professional a manner as possible. A sloppy and disorganized portfolio will put off many a prospective employer. Good luck in your job search.

[James]

re:books there are a few on ebay at the moment (i have purchased one) and i have many e-books that may be of some use.

[Franco B]

Thank you for your advice.

I think these are the books that I am going to get. Unless anyone has a particular one and does not think that they are worth it?

AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein

Autocad 2007 3-d Modeling: A Visual Approach by Alan J. Kalameja

Maximizing Autodesk(r) Mechanical Desktop(r) by Ron K.C. Cheng

Autodesk Inventor 11 Essential Plus by Daniel T Banach, Travis Jones, Alan J. Kalameja

Im going to put them on my Christmas list, they may not be fun to everyone but I know I will enjoy them