Re: New Current Interesting Link - Drawing on Experience

From: <Michael>
Date: Sat Apr 24 2004 - 12:30:00 EDT

Thats a good article.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Bowers <pbowers@pipingdesign.com> Sent: Apr 24, 2004 12:23 PM
To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [PipingDesign] New Current Interesting Link - Drawing on Experience

See also http://www.memagazine.org/medes02/cadjock/cadjock.html

Paul

> Paul:
>
> I trust that the reverse is the case as well, ie an engineer does'nt
become a CAD designer. Personally I can recall all too many occasions when engineers either did not undertake to perfom what was initially required, the engineering itself and chose instead to fling thier ideas. Or, they were consistant in changing thier minds as to the requirements during the eveloution of thier ideas. The result of this, it left the CAD designer redrawing and redrawing the designs, to the eventual satisfaction of the engineer.
>
> The point I make, it is possible that the CAD designer is actually
more tuned into the design than the engineer may be, qualifications aside? For example, I am a chemist by education. With a background in laboratory, quality, statistics, materials, process engineering, an real world experience to back it up, I may be able to a make the case that I have more in the way of knowledge of materials than many engineers may have. I would not distinguish in the first place, because I believe even specialties are limited and there are no gods in this respect. But, there is after all, a whole world in materials science that goes beyond statics, dynamics, kinematics and the physical world, etc. I have been witness to engineers select the cheapest material and the wrong materials. And yep, they call themselves engineers.
>
> There are "human" factors that come into play here, such as egos and
what I would characterize as a superficial opinion that many engineers believe they are an upper class. This phenomenon carries over to the job market, and I have seen many instances where an employer for example, wants a CAD designer with an engineering degree. Best of both worlds? The engineer may know his science, but his quest for engineering knowldge may have diminished his knowledge of CAD systems, or visa versa. The latter is critical and in my opinon, it eventually boils down to the individual, and while even our "better" engineers in this world, may have license to certify designs to the satisfaction of others, there is graveyard out there of failed designs, these can hardly be ignored should we really be seeking some truths in this matter.
>
> Mike Waugh
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Bowers <pbowers@pipingdesign.com>
> Sent: Apr 24, 2004 11:29 AM
> To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [PipingDesign] New Current Interesting Link - Drawing on
Experience
>
> www.pipingdesign.com
>
> <<In the Mechanical Engineering Design supplement in March, Jean
> Thilmany explored the idea that the advent of computer-aided design
has
> served to blur the distinction between engineering and what used to be
> drafting. That was a very perceptive article.
>
> Given the present state of software development, it takes a
substantial
> investment in time and training for anyone to become proficient with a
> solids modeling system. This gives the operator every right to regard
> himself as a professional, but it doesn't make him an engineer.>>



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