Re: Re: Inch.Dia

I was pointing out the cost difference between "a hundred dollars here and there" for, say, access to ASME codes and the cost of software for CAD.

CAD seems to have turned drafting/technical drawing into a commodity.

That's not going to change, but as the other Paul says, everything depends on how good management is.

The piping design world (plant owner/operators and engineering design firms) desperately needs interoperability between CAD systems so that smaller entities can compete. What we have now is effectively multiple closed systems that limits one's ability to play based on which brand of hockey stick one uses. And the hockey teams also lose, because their pool of players is also limited.

Paul

Geoff Stone DD&D Australia wrote:

> Paul,
>
> I disagree. If you have these resources you can up your rate and be different.
Take the medical profession as an example in business. The general practitioner in ahospital or medical centre makes a living, the brain specialist makes a killing.
>
> If you are very good at what you do then invest in the resources and hire
yourself back with all the software/hardware. You can write it off with the IRS on your tax and also gain other tax benefits.
>
> Once you are independent then you get more respect from the company. I did it
32 years ago and have never looked back. But you have got to take a risk and you must be better than the 'pack". You have to have the latest in everything, know the problems and benefits of the tools, be prepared to meet deadlines, take the risk and benefits of fixed price tendering and provide service to you client. To make the big bucks you have to go from a one man band to about fifteen strong. Anything in between has to be a Co-op to be financially stable.
>
> Its not for everyone but there are opportunities out there. There is a
worldwide shortage of engineers and draftsmen. Not everyone wants design sub contracted to a swet shop on the Sub Continent.
>
> Geoff
>
> Paul Bowers <pbowers@pipingdesign.com> wrote:
> tomcruz55 wrote:
>
>>Probably the problem is not with searching but getting hold of the
>>reference material for free. A hundred dollar here and anohter there
>>can bankrupt a lot of small guys like me in no time at all.
>
> Consider the freelance CAD guy:
>
> - $4000 for AutoCAD/Microstation (plus ongoing upgrades)
> - $4000 for add-on piping software (plus ongoing upgrades)
> - $? for specific hardware suitable for CAD
>
> Running PDS or PDMS is out of the question, so you can't play with the
> big boys. This of course limits jobs you can work on.
Received on Wed Sep 07 20:42:00 2005