Assured employment in the field of engineering not only demands a suitable degree but is largely dependent on your technical proficiency and knowledge of industry-relevant software. One such software that aids engineers to draw, scale, and bring their designs to life is AutoCAD. Although it became a popular name in the engineering industry, AutoCAD is widely preferred by designers across other industries to create 2D and 3D models.
Why AutoCAD?
Replacing the old manual hand drafting tools, this computer-aided software enhanced accuracy, reduced errors, saved time and resources, helped designers to collaborate, and made data transfer and calculations easier. It is often used by engineers to create blueprints, section planes, equipment layouts, and model documents. Of course, building a product with minimum errors in the prior motive of any organization, thus, professionals skilled in AutoCAD determine the size, space, design, color, elements, required resources, budget, and manpower beforehand through creating virtual models. These designs can be used to pitch the product to the clients and create custom tools, design prototypes, and parts for larger devices through 3D printers.
When designing is done through computers, a lot of manual errors are reduced and the same dimensions, designs, and elements could be used to replicate the whole structure without building it again. Consumer products, medical equipment, manufacturing, aerospace, oil and gas, industrial products, fashion technology, and all branches of engineering majorly use AutoCAD for designing purposes.
AutoCAD For Beginners
Breaking the preconceived notion that AutoCAD is a software dedicatedly designed for engineers, various online courses now assist learners from any educational background to gain computer-aided design skills. The structured teaching pedagogy, examples and practice-led training, interactive teaching forms, and guidance from industry experts, make learning convenient, affordable, easy, self-paced, and interesting for you.
As a beginner, you are taught every concept of the software right from scratch wherein you get acquainted with the interface of the software and basic elements and objects. You learn to use editing commands, grip editing, normal and associative arrays, properties and properties panel, and layers. The training also focuses on giving you a hands-on experience of working with blocks, annotations, and dimensions (2D and 3D).
For beginners, learning AutoCAD might seem a daunting task at first. But, the doubt clearing assistance, flexibility to learn from home, assignments, and projects for practice, module tests, and placement assistance, provided by online training platforms, makes it easier for you to start and build your career in CAD.
Career Scope Of Learning AutoCAD
From startups to MNCs, computer-aided design skills are highly in-demand across recruiters. Mastering accurate skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, knowledge of application, changing technology and industry trends, and teamwork, along with software expertise, could help you secure a lucrative job. A few career roles associated with AutoCAD include- computer-aided design (CAD) drafter, interior designer, project engineer, project manager, mechanical engineer, urban planner, project architect, Architectural Technologist, civil engineer, and electrical engineer.
As per the data by a recent report, AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS were the major skills employers were looking for while hiring interns in the engineering domain. In the past year, the average stipend for students equipped with these in-demand engineering skills was ₹6,000 per month and the highest was ₹45,000 per month. This reinstates the fact that AutoCAD would continue to be one of the most popular skills demanded by recruiters and among engineering graduates willing to begin their career in civil, mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, or other forms of engineering.
AutoCAD: The Foundation For Other Courses To Boost Your CAD Experience
As AutoCAD is probably the easiest software for industrial designers, it often also assists in career development by building the foundation for learning other software. Having a comprehensive knowledge of its interface helps the learners grasp the concepts of other CAD software easily. Some softwares that dominate the core engineering sector, and could also be learned by those interested in technical designing include AutoCAD 3D, SOLIDWORKS, Advanced SOLIDWORKS, STAAD Pro, Fusion 360, Internet of Things, Ansys, 3D Printing, PCB Design, LabVIEW, Arduino, CATIA, and MATLAB.
Learning AutoCAD certainly paves way for beginners into the professional world. It allows you to gauge your skills, choose a field wherein you wish to build your career, enhance your learning and gain work experience through internships, build a strong portfolio through real-world projects, and gain the self-confidence required for facing technical interviews.
Courtesy: Internshala Trainings (training.internshala.com) – e-learning platform to learn new-age skills from Internshala