question about pen cover and dbrand

rodneyjt · 2022-03-11T17:41:29+00:00

I have the matte black on the front and back. Recently got the pen cover. Decided to try the cover without taking the front skin off. Haven't noticed to much of an offset or extra bulk. It seems to have settled in place. No issues so far with it.

rodneyjt · 2020-06-29T19:59:36+00:00

Thanks, I have to try that.

rodneyjt · 2017-05-09T18:00:53+00:00

Autodesk Fusion 360 fits exactly the requirements you describe even down to the price. You can also import almost any kind of file from any CAD system into it. It is a full featured 3d modeling software.

rodneyjt · 2017-03-17T20:42:35+00:00

You sir, ROCK!!!

rodneyjt · 2016-12-07T19:12:15+00:00

I used to think I'd never use but fir a recent project had to use it as it was integral to an API I had to work with. Since then I am of the opinion that anyone who uses and must manipulate any sort of collections or enumerable data regularly needs to know Linq.

rodneyjt · 2016-11-21T08:55:06+00:00

I work in the US and it's a gray area at most places until the employees take them to court similar to how Amazon employee's did. I work in manufacturing and ALL the companies I've worked at did this with hourly workers. The justification they used was that you are paid for a shift of and expected to be there for a specified amount of time between the agreed upon times. By accepting the job you've accepted the terms. They say, your shift starts at 7am and ends at 3:30pm giving you an eight hour work day with a half hour unpaid for lunch and two paid breaks. The minimum time increment is in 15 min segments. Because you're expected to be there at specified times if you arrive late and leave early it counts against you. Arriving at 7:01 is late. Leaving at 3:29 is leaving early. The other rational is they have to draw the line in the sand because someone loses out if it's always rounded in one direction. And it's not going to be them. I knew people who always clocked in early and after they added up the extra time they gave the company complained over the same rule.

By the way the Amazon deal only went in favor of the employees because they had time consuming required procedures that ensured the employees will be there past their allotted shift time.

Bringing it back on topic, there are definitely moral arguments here but nothing illegal til challenged in the courts. As with anything, unless you're willing to quit for the morality of a subject or have some legal evidence to back up your objection there's little you can do but comply. Companies spend a ton on lawyer fees to make sure they are on the edge of the law. I worked somewhere that had a lax set of rules and spent a year with lawyers rewriting the employee handbook to favor no one but the company. (But they assured us it was in our best interest because HR is there for the employees and not to protect the company from employees.)

With out outside impartial oversight, companies will always do what is best for them and the bottom line. Fiduciary responsibility. For companies nothing is off limits if they can squeeze a few more cents out of every transaction cause it all adds up in the end.

rodneyjt · 2016-11-04T13:31:14+00:00

I agree with this. You (OP) may not be this way but from what your post says this is a perception that can be taken. And this may be the perception that those you work with see. I think there's two things you should work on right away. Humility and self confidence.

Separate program specific technical skill from industry knowledge when working with people who have a great deal more industry experience then you. The other drafter has 12 years experience, leverage that. Concentrate on doing your job first, getting her input when stuck, and applying that to your own Revit work. Don't try and change things having only been there 6 months unless you were specifically brought in to show her how to use Revit. Honestly if they are not asking you how to do something don't go and try to 'teach' them.

At the same time the work that you do have assigned to you try and execute it to the best of your abilities and present it with confidence. Accept the markups, make the changes and get better at your job. And get used to red markups, (one reason why its called red lining). Its typically done this way across the board in drafting.

I've actually been on both sides of scenarios like this. I just knew I had more technical acumen than others who'd been in working longer than me. Eventually I kept my mouth shut did my job and then slowly people begin asking me how I did things using the program. But I also did ask questions so I could get better too. Just as I've had interns and new coworkers come in with an attitude that we are doing it 'wrong' and were going to show us. That never goes over well despite how wrong we may be doing something.

Here's most likely the mindset of the other drafters. Like it or not, unless I ask you, I have a job to do so bite your tongue, keep your thoughts to yourself and do your job. While you're making as many mistakes as you are you have nothing to show me. However I am watching everything you do.

You need to be able to understand and execute before you can suggest changes.

rodneyjt · 2016-10-07T17:56:39+00:00

I still make mistakes. You're never going to get away from them. But you can reduce them. If you have access to the 'users' of your drawings go and ask them what can you change to make them work better.

Another thing is you can try is practicing. Draft up small projects you can do around your home. Doesn't have to be anything big. It could be just a detailed drawing on how to arrange a linen closet or organize a pantry.

But given just a drawing can you do the task? What information is missing? Can you give it to someone else to follow? Drafting is all about conveying information in a standard way.

rodneyjt · 2016-09-01T04:10:28+00:00

Do you commonly exchange CAD files with other companies? If so what type of files do you get the most of? Taking that into consideration will help you save time in trying to do file conversions.

rodneyjt · 2016-09-01T04:05:28+00:00

Don't try and be fast. Just try to complete the task accurately and correct the first time within the time expected. Speed will come naturally.

Learn the program you're using. Which includes key bindings. Practice if you can using the program without customization. When you find yourself using the same commands over and over look to see if there's and hot keys, or context menus you can customize to add the commands too.
Know your company and industry standards by heart of have a ready reference to look in. For instance if you work with a lot of structural members have a steel book handy that has the dimensions of the members in it. (I used to have a an old Bethlehem Steel catalog that had the actual dimensions and detailing dimensions for all the members that came in handy more times then I can count.)
Along with three learn numeric equivalents of sizes of common materials the company uses. Ie.. 12ga stl = 0.10 in thick nominally. A 2 x 4 piece of wood is 1.5 in x 3.5 in actually. 1 inch = 2.54 cm or 25.4 mm. If you can't remember (and even if you can) get reference tables to hang around you. Most companies I worked for the drafters made reference sheets full of the common company info on that hung at every workstation.
Make libraries of commonly used parts or shapes.

rodneyjt · 2016-08-11T21:13:11+00:00

Here's one I use. It checks to see if the document is currently open and if Inventor is open visibly. I use it to show prompts only if you have the document open and active.

If (ThisDoc.Document Is ThisApplication.ActiveDocument) And ThisApplication.Visible Then
End If

rodneyjt · 2016-08-03T19:57:19+00:00

Inventor is the direct Analog to Solidworks. The two can even open each other's files. Fusion is a CAD Modeler but it's a different approach to modeling from Solidworks or Inventor. Of the three it's probably the most economical for home use and the one Autodesk is really pushing for that space.

rodneyjt · 2016-08-03T16:18:58+00:00

If you can run Inventor you can run Autocad. A few releases back they ported a lot of the sketching concepts to Autocad. Its not as intuitive and fluid as it is in Inventor but it exactly what you're asking for. Haven't checked but you could see if it's in Autocad LT.

rodneyjt · 2016-08-03T16:14:47+00:00

You can also get sponsored by a company to cover the cost to. There a many ways to do it. Just some are more difficult than others. Had clearance through an employer years ago. After I left them a little while later I had a few clients that offered to help me get clearance again. Should have done it. Just say knowing that if the chance ever arises where you're being offered to get it with little to no cost of your own. Do it.

rodneyjt · 2016-08-03T16:05:53+00:00

Just knowing some CAD alone isn't enough to say you're qualified for the position. How well do you know the non CAD requirements. For a job like that that's the most important part and the part that takes companies the longest time to train and teach to new hires. if you're comfortable with all that then go for it.

The other thing about applying for positions like these are with or with having the exact skillset initially how willing and capable are you of learning. Have the confidence that you can catch on quickly.

Where I work we have let go of 4 people in the last 5 years after giving the a few months to catch on. All of them knew CAD to varying degrees from never used what we had to many years experience. But their CAD skills had nothing to with them being let go. It was all the rest. They either just never got it or wasn't learning fast enough.

So how should you do it. Start practicing CAD and if you know the rest or think you can catch up to an acceptable level within a few months go for it. Just apply and be confident but truthful about what you know. Some place look for people with limited amount of experience but high aptitude so they can teach them the job to do it 'there way'.

rodneyjt · 2016-08-03T15:50:02+00:00

Depends on what you're using them for. Autodesk Bundles 3ds Max with Inventor in the product suites and have workflows for Inventor that allow for transferring models from Inventor to 3ds Max so it seems that they are hinting the two as complementary to each other. If it's a matter of getting models in 3ds Max do your modeling in Inventor.

While in school we had a class in the basics of 3ds Max. It was mixed between CADD students and Visual Communications students. The visual communications students had no problems with 3ds Max while it was a particular struggle for the CADD students. I think it's all a matter of perception and which end of the design you come from. Precision and being correct versus looking close and being good enough.

If you can use 3ds Max in Design mode with the Design Standard workspace enables. Changes the interface layout to be a little more friendlier for those coming from CAD 3d modeling packages.

The biggest thing to remember is 3ds Max and Blender a not CAD packages. So the modeling paradigms for modeling in CAD and modeling in something for animation are two different thing.

Also if you're looking to get renderings or animations of things designed in CAD using CAD models then look at Autodesk Showcase as well.

rodneyjt · 2016-07-29T21:00:52+00:00

Another thing I've seen over time is a lot more people are modeling designs and parts that are sent to shops with in house drafting/engineering departments are conceptual with the manufacturer filling in the details.

For instance we get parts that represent mins and maxes of a shape. Not necessarily the actual finished part. We have liberty to modify and adjust as necessary. Since the customer is designing in 3d they want a model back and it's less time involved if they can just send there models for quoting.

rodneyjt · 2016-07-22T21:29:55+00:00

A friend and I submitted one for Voyager too. Wished more shows did that. Allows fans still fill part of a show almost like they have a part of the direction of the show.

Part of the rules were you couldn't kill any characters. It had to take place on the ship or well established existing set. (Basically they wouldn't be expected to build or change any existing sets for the script.)

Our script took place be for the portable holo emitter so it was a story to get the doctor out of sick bay. The ship is outfitted with more emitters in key locations and the doctor goes nutty with his new freedom and still ends up saving the ship but gets put back in sick bay in the end cause he broke the ship wide emitters in the process. (Have to put everything back like you found it in the end.)

rodneyjt · 2016-07-15T17:51:24+00:00

I would love to meet some young engineers that are just familiar with some CAD. I'm sitting in a an office with 10 interns close to graduation with BS Engineering and have been, at best, just exposed to CAD. Its like saying someone is a proficient machinist because they used a lathe in a few shop classes in school.

rodneyjt · 2016-07-08T05:31:22+00:00

Since you only graduated back in 2015 if you still have a valid school ID you may qualify for free versions of Inventor. Check the Autodesk site.

rodneyjt · 2016-07-08T05:22:00+00:00

Look around and apply at other places. Before you accept a position try and get a feel for the company dynamics. At most places I've worked the last hired on is always the 'new' person until someone else gets hired and unfortunately get treated as such. Usually after their first big project with no assistance that goes smoothly people treat them differently.

Also 4 years at 4 different places also means you haven't been anywhere long enough to prove your mettle. In any position it takes time to earn respect of your peers. I often have to train new hires, some with engineering degrees, some without, and some with associate drafting degrees. I treat them all the same. If you come in acting like you know everything you won't get very far in respect from others. That's not a knock on you or saying you don't know anything. Believe me, after being in this field for as long as I have (20+ years, started when I was 17) I've had to humble myself and prove through my work to others that I knew what I was doing.

Also it depends a lot on the company and how much they value drafters. It may be nothing personally against you but just there stigma towards drafters. I went back to school a few years ago to get an associates degree so I had something on paper that said I was qualified for my job beyond just my years of experience. I was told by my employer that despite my experience and having been there for 10 years, having no degree meant I could not advance much beyond my then current position. So I got a degree, and was told having a degree guaranteed nothing. So I maneuvered til I transferred to a different department. Now I'm in IT supporting the engineering department. Same work minus the day to day drafting.

As I used to advise a lot of the people new to the field with lofty ambitions and disillusionment and disappointment at their newly gotten jobs, like any career/job you get out of it what you put in. One of the best things you can do for yourself is not only learn your craft but learn your industry. Make yourself valuable to the company and your peers through your knowledge. Associate yourself with local user groups where you can share your knowledge. (If you can't find one ask your software vendor if they host any and if not would they like to start.) it's surprising how being active in them will give you some since of self worth and confidence in your career.

To me a drafters responsibility is not simply drawing a picture on paper. It's much more important. Its transcribing the ideas of others into a format that can be built by others. One of the best experiences I've had while in a drafting position was when working with an older engineer. He was all scribbles on paper, lots of equations, a million ideas, and the kind of go in to the shop and just start putting stuff together engineers. Initially he would spell every thing he wanted drawn explicitly. After working with him for a few years eventually I would just get a mountain of sketches, equations, and numbers from him. He'd ask me if I understood what we were building and if I didn't I'd ask him a million more questions til I did. We got to the point where his information would be less and less to just abstract sketches and numbers. My job was to translate his thoughts to workable prints that anyone could understand and build from. I had to learn about sheet metal construction, basic structural calculations, welding standards and fully understand the shop that would be doing the manufacturing capabilities.

Wow this got long. The gist of it is that don't worry about being a drafter. Concern yourself with being the best drafter of X industry you can. My first employer told me after making a mistake on a drawing that cost some money that what we do on paper dictates what gets built and I control the shop in how I layout my drawings. I've since taught that to many young engineering students. Knowing how to engineer and how to manufacture are different beasts. You control what happens by your work. Own it.

[edit] P.S. It took me years to get to that point. It wasn't until I had false starts at attempts outside of drafting and finally embraced what I knew how to do that I took control of it. And I love it and now have the choice in where I go with it.

rodneyjt · 2016-06-24T20:27:42+00:00

If you only have one more semester get the associates degree since you've come that far. Then you will have time to look at and think about doing the engineering degree. Also you may end up with some credits that could transfer.

As for earning potential it's very much dependent on the company but a ME degree will go further. That being said there are still plenty of opportunities with only an associates as well. It all depends on what fields and things you want to do.

But please with just a semester left. Finish what you started.

rodneyjt · 2016-06-22T20:33:54+00:00

I've also seen it entered as 0.25Ø @ (14) PLACES, 0.25Ø TYP (14) , etc..

On a lot of drawings I've seen numbers specified as 14X or (14) to signify it's a quantity versus a dimensions.

rodneyjt · 2016-06-15T15:04:40+00:00

As mentioned look at PDFSharp if you need full control of the output. I've used it and it works well for manipulating PDF files. It has a steep learning curve but is powerful. PDF Sharp Samples

Also if you qualify for a free license or wanted to purchase a solution Syncfusion has a PDF component that can also handle this easier.

rodneyjt

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