CAD and CAM Problems

"matt" (mattisnthererightnow) 10/10/2013 at 17:18 • Filed to: None

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I'm taking an engineering class in high school where we primarily work on Mastercam. I took this class because I hoped that it might turn into a career one day.

I'm also now seeing just how complicated it's getting. The parts we're making now are still relatively simple but are definitely getting more difficult. And i can only assume next year it will be even harder.

Thanks for reading if you did, I just wanted to rant a bit.

jlmounce > matt 10/10/2013 at 17:20

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In the digital world, progress is directly related to complexity. You see it in pretty much all areas tech based. Design, coding, production. Keep focused and let your education help you through!

Volvosaurus-Rex > matt 10/10/2013 at 17:24

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By the time you get out of college (if that's your plan), you should be able to 3D print everything so don't worry about learning anything.

matt > jlmounce 10/10/2013 at 17:26

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My biggest problem is remembering all the tiny things to do. Thanks for the advice though.

desertdog5051 > matt 10/10/2013 at 17:29

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Being the geek I can be, those must be racing pistons. The top ring is quite a ways more down than a current passenger piston. (it's an emissions thing). Good luck with your class and destination.

matt > desertdog5051 10/10/2013 at 17:35

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http://www.superchevy.com/technical/engi…

For your viewing pleasure?

desertdog5051 > matt 10/10/2013 at 17:40

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Interesting. I suppose they have to make compromises on that engine. Thanks

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > matt 10/10/2013 at 17:41

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I have to agree with Volvosarus.

3D printing will eventually take over all things, however CAD and CAM design can come into play in pretty much every market you can think of due to 3D printing. I know I've used my little bit of CAD knowledge to design hard to find car parts, furniture pieces, hard to find replacement parts for some machines I own. So it definitely pays off. If you don't go to school for it, I would at least continue to reach for the goal on your own if you truly enjoy it, because it is a nice skill to possess, even if it's not a part of your job.

matt > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 10/10/2013 at 17:54

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That's the thing that I considered if this didn't become a career. Maybe in the future, if I feel I'm good enough at it, I could design a part for myself or a friend for a car or something.

matt > Volvosaurus-Rex 10/10/2013 at 17:57

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I'm not that familiar with 3D printing but what I thought was that the materials used might be somewhat limited. (as of right now)

Volvosaurus-Rex > matt 10/10/2013 at 18:05

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Sarcasm bro

WhiskeyGolf > matt 10/10/2013 at 18:09

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If you want to turn it into a career, all experience in this area is beneficial. Showing up to a lab where you know the software that the rest of the group is struggling with is a huge leg up. I feel you, though, because CAM software and MasterCAM specifically can be a huge pain.

matt > Volvosaurus-Rex 10/10/2013 at 18:09

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Damnit. I can never tell online.

Volvosaurus-Rex > matt 10/10/2013 at 18:09

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Although do you plan on going into to engineering in college? Engineers don't usually do the machining, more of a hobby if you are into it. In fact, at bigger companies you may not even design anything in 3D on your own, but more manage projects and ensure requirements are validated and all sorts of other things I can't spit out right now cause I've been too busy doing them all day.

We either have contractors to do the detailed 3D design or I send it to India and review and manage the design from my office.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > matt 10/10/2013 at 18:17

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It could become an easily profitable side job. I've had some mixed results, because in my work I've always been redesigning something that already existed, but that I just couldn't find or could design cheaper. So therefore patents and what not prevent me from really selling at a profit.

But, as a personal side job, or for stuff like one-off items, I could easily make my own designs to sell. In fact, I'm saving up for a small 3D printer so I can start making random trinkets and interior decorations to sell, and the plan is to just move up from there to hopefully a full-size CNC or 3D printer.

matt > Volvosaurus-Rex 10/10/2013 at 18:19

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I'd like to find an job in the automotive field. I'm not sure where though. As for the hobby part that's maybe what it will become, it may come to be somewhat useful if I needed a part for an older car or soothing like that.

Boxer_4 > matt 10/10/2013 at 18:20

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I took 2 semesters of Pro Engineer (CREO) in college last year, and CAD is definitely not the simplest thing in the world. I don't have much experience with CAM, however, I'm trying to teach myself that portion now.

My experience really only deals with the CAD side of things. As with any skill, CAD modeling gets easier/better the more you practice. What I found helpful was finding an object that is simple enough in design, and trying to draw it. Picking a simple object that interests you keeps it fun. I'll try to dig up one of the side projects I worked on last year. I would lose track of time for hours working on my own projects outside of the assignments, all while building up my modeling skills. Stick with it, because it is a useful skill.

matt > WhiskeyGolf 10/10/2013 at 18:22

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Apparently after I take the third class next year, I'm somehow going to be a "Certified Engineer".

matt > Boxer_4 10/10/2013 at 18:25

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That sound really helpful but I don't think I'd be able to do it because I wouldn't have time for it in school, and the programs to buy are pretty expensive.

matt > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 10/10/2013 at 18:27

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That sounds really cool, good luck with that.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > matt 10/10/2013 at 18:28

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Same to you good sir. I wish for a future where everyone is an engineer lol.

And subsequently no one takes fault when something breaks.

Boxer_4 > matt 10/10/2013 at 19:39

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I forgot that Mastercam does not have a true/convenient solution for student editions of their software (I was looking earlier this year).

The only thing I can offer is that once you get familiar with one CAD/CAM suites, it is fairly easy to jump between CAD/CAM suites. If you just want to get more practice modeling, it might not hurt to check out another suite. CREO (formerly Pro Engineer) has a free student version of their software. It won't help if you are having Mastercam specific problems, however.

Volvosaurus-Rex > matt 10/10/2013 at 19:50

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What do you want to do in the automotive field? I'm a mechanical engineer at an OEM.

WhiskeyGolf > matt 10/10/2013 at 20:08

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Ha, believe me, becoming an engineer is significantly harder than that :D

matt > Volvosaurus-Rex 10/10/2013 at 21:47

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I'm not really sure but I have time to figure it out still.

matt > Boxer_4 10/10/2013 at 21:49

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Thanks, I'll check these out sometime.