Looking for a short 1/2 week intensive CAD course in or around Sheffield - does anyone know of any info?

Thanks

Originally posted by lou070879
Looking for a short 1/2 week intensive CAD course in or around Sheffield - does anyone know of any info?

Thanks

Try the local Colleges mate.. It's possible the new Hillsborough one might do courses like that.. I'm hoping they'll carry on the MS Visual Basic courses from Parson Cross.. Unlikely though, stupid arsing Sheffield College and their outdated IT software.. Did you know they still use WordPerfect to teach word processing?! :lol:

There's a CAD suite in the castle college site - block F. I assume they do the courses there, but I know they're used for some of the engineering stuff.

I wasn't keen on the set up of the system though, and the tutors were downright rude and offensive when I had occasion to speak to them.

Hope you find what you're looking for Lou ;)

What is it you need it for? (it's a complex package that has far more stuff built in than you will need, so it's important to ensure you get what you need out of your course)

http://my.sheffcol.ac.uk/index.cfm

Sorry I can't be more specific, but it's one of those sites that doesn't work that way :(

Thanks Strix - much appreciated.

Ask for Mark at Sigmagraphics, he might be able to help

Are you looking to do this privately or via your business??

I did CAD as part of my HNC in electrical engineering. This was done as a unit, so two hours per week for the year.

Theres alot to take in and raises lots of questions so doing an intensive course may raise more questions than answers.

I agree with Hadron Lou. Sending you a PM :thumbsup:

Hiya,

My BF is looking to start an Autocad course but due to his forsight has missed the usual options of doing a college course.

Can anyone suggest another route to go down. He has heard of a company called Square Mile Training, has anyone heard of this company or can suggest a simlar company in sheffield.

Thanks for any assistance given :thumbsup:

Try www.autodesk.co.uk
Autocad falls under their umbrella of programs and they will be able to point you in the direction of authorized training centres which are more likely to offer the fast track training that you require as opposed to a technical college...and they are more up to date with the most recent releases.
Alternatively if there is something specific you would like to know to get you started then pm me back and I'll see if I can help.
Be warned..the courses can be quite pricey.

Square Mile training is/was a part of Sheffield College

The company I work for use this company and they are very good but not cheap.

http://www.cadassist.co.uk/

Think Sheffield Hallam University's IT training Unit also runs a course.

Thanks everyone for their help given ......:D I will follow up on leads

Square Mile went bust late last year.. :rant:

Good job I got out of the ECDL course I was doing through them then.... :rolleyes:

They sucked anyway, proper useless they were.

Hello-
Have you thought of private tuition?

I use Autocad 2006 daily and have had Autodesk accredited training on Autocad 2004 and Autocad 2006. It was very expensive but i'm sure I could teach you what you need to know for a fraction of the cost!

I hold an Engineering degree and I'm a very patient teacher- PM if you're interested!

Doncaster College are approved AutoCAD trainers, you can do a variety of courses there.

Check out this website http://www.ictacademy.co.uk/AutoCAD/default.htm

Hiya,

me again ..... ok now he is thinking of doing something called ''Pro-engineer'' instead. has anyone used or heard of this program and what are the differences between that and Autocad. ( ie which one is better in the industry)

Thanks everyone again for their feedback

Hello-
Autocad is predominantly 2D drafting, Pro-Engineer is a 3D modelling package.
Autocad is the industry norm, there are other 2D drafting packages but Autocad is the main software used by companies.
As said before, Pro-Engineer is used for 3D modelling. This is used in industry to provide 3D drawings of i.e. component detail/assembly. This is excellent for all sorts of reasons but the main is to provide a clear image of what the manufactured part will look like by being able to revolve the item on its axis in a virtual state. It also provides a clear view of whether the part will fit within other parts, reducing re-work. It can also be used to create 2D ‘working ‘ drawings.
Unlike Autocad, there are many different 3D packages used in industry, which brings a problem of which 3D package to learn.
Personally I would choose the 2D route, more scope for gaining employment, and learn 3D at a later stage. I advise that he gets a copy of Autocad and practises too, it’s ok to go to college to learn but unless used it’s easily forgotten.
Hope this helps!

Hiya JumperJohn,

We do have a copy of Autocad at home but the company he works for use Pro-engineer so he just wondered if that ''should'' be an option but I suggested to find out what the industry norm was as 'what would be better for him in other jobs'

Thanks for your advise so far

I went on an AutoCAD course a while back which was excellent. It was a training company called Datex at Halfway, Sheffield (not far from Crystal Peaks). Their web site is www.datex.co.uk

They do loads of other stuff as well, really good relaxed training.

Hope this helps

Originally posted by jumperjohn
Hello-
Autocad is predominantly 2D drafting, Pro-Engineer is a 3D modelling package.
Autocad is the industry norm, there are other 2D drafting packages but Autocad is the main software used by companies.
As said before, Pro-Engineer is used for 3D modelling. This is used in industry to provide 3D drawings of i.e. component detail/assembly. This is excellent for all sorts of reasons but the main is to provide a clear image of what the manufactured part will look like by being able to revolve the item on its axis in a virtual state. It also provides a clear view of whether the part will fit within other parts, reducing re-work. It can also be used to create 2D ‘working ‘ drawings.
Unlike Autocad, there are many different 3D packages used in industry, which brings a problem of which 3D package to learn.
Personally I would choose the 2D route, more scope for gaining employment, and learn 3D at a later stage. I advise that he gets a copy of Autocad and practises too, it’s ok to go to college to learn but unless used it’s easily forgotten.
Hope this helps!
Plus there is quite an extensive array of 3d tools in Autocad that would be sufficient for your needs.

Hello john,
I am interested in learning autocad 2D and 3D and willing to negotiate to pay you. Please can you let me know if you are available to teach me. This is my email dapoodesola@yahoo.com
I will be looking forward to hear from you.
Thank you

Just for anyone interested, there is a much cheaper alternative to AutoCAD. ProgeCAD is based on a program called intellicad. In almost every way it looks and mostly operates the same way as AutoCAD. It isn't perfect but where AutoCAD costs about £3000 - £4000 for a licence there is a free version of intellicad (2D only)which would be useful to help people learn. Like I said it isn't perfect but learning how to use it will teach you the majority of AutoCAD functions (they are virtually identical in look and feel) and wont require you to seriously breach the law by having a pirated copy.

Just do a search for progecad on the net. The free version is called ProgeCAD Smart.

Just for anyone interested, there is a much cheaper alternative to AutoCAD. ProgeCAD is based on a program called intellicad. In almost every way it looks and mostly operates the same way as AutoCAD. It isn't perfect but where AutoCAD costs about £3000 - £4000 for a licence there is a free version of intellicad (2D only)which would be useful to help people learn. Like I said it isn't perfect but learning how to use it will teach you the majority of AutoCAD functions (they are virtually identical in look and feel) and wont require you to seriously breach the law by having a pirated copy.

Just do a search for progecad on the net. The free version is called ProgeCAD Smart.

I would be very reluctant to use alternatives if I was learning, I admit I have never used Progecad or Intellicad but the use of the commands in AutoCAD is very important to the fluidity of work flow once your familiar with AutoCAD. Although the full version of AutoCAD is extraordinary expensive there is a cut down version called AutoCAD LT that I believe is around £150.00 and I believe there is a student license available although I think you have to be a student at an official learning organization to get this.

Good luck with your learning, I'd offer to help but too busy at the moment and I'm a crap teacher anyway.

I would be very reluctant to use alternatives if I was learning, I admit I have never used Progecad or Intellicad but the use of the commands in AutoCAD is very important to the fluidity of work flow once your familiar with AutoCAD. Although the full version of AutoCAD is extraordinary expensive there is a cut down version called AutoCAD LT that I believe is around £150.00 and I believe there is a student license available although I think you have to be a student at an official learning organization to get this.

Good luck with your learning, I'd offer to help but too busy at the moment and I'm a crap teacher anyway.

I am a proficient AutoCAD user and progecad is ideal for learning the basics.

AutoCAD LT that I believe is around £150.00

AutoCAD LT 2008 cost me about £950 back in 2007.

LT2010 is currently listed at £1128.

I agree wholeheartedly with Fogey. Intellicad in it's various guises, (Progecad, Bricscad, etc.), is an extremely good alternative to Autocad. It uses the same file format, is customisable and all of the basic commands and most of the others are identical - basically it's a clone. An experienced Autocad user can use it immediately and a newbie won't notice the difference if they then start using Autocad at work. The interface looks slightly different but other than that...

Autocad LT costs around £1100 and Progecad £220 (both plus VAT). LT is 2D only, I'm reasonably sure Intellicad in it's various guises is 3D but I only (occasionally) use it for 2D. Even if it isn't 3D, you can download a 30 day trial free. Full Autocad is for companies or lottery winners, waaay to pricy for your average punter to buy IMHO. What the LT student version costs, I've no idea.

I use full Autocad 2010 at work.

AutoCAD is by no means a standard program for 2D drafting.

within packaging and die making, i know of no company that uses autocad - most use industry specific cad packages. i would imagine the same is true of many industries, though obviously i can only speak from my experience.

i studied AutoCAD for three years as part of my degree, and to be honest, it was invaluable to learn a basic understanding of general cad system operations, but as a package, it was cumbersome compared to Artios (what i use now).

not that any of that helps! :)

Hello, was looking to pick up Autocad, and came across your post... do you still work with Autocad?

Please message back, thank you.

Hello-
Have you thought of private tuition?

I use Autocad 2006 daily and have had Autodesk accredited training on Autocad 2004 and Autocad 2006. It was very expensive but i'm sure I could teach you what you need to know for a fraction of the cost!

I hold an Engineering degree and I'm a very patient teacher- PM if you're interested!

Acad is the norm for civil engineering type work plus 3D packages such as Revit which is a 3D structural package.

Getting the basics of ACAD 2D is pretty straightforward. I've been using various versions since 1989 but have never used its 3D capabilities. If I was starting again I would definately become 3D proficient at the same time.

We are just introducing Acad 2011 in our company (Engineering Consultants) so 2006 is a few years out of date but all the basic commands are the same. I think the biggest change was 2009 to 2010 but its easily picked up.

Once on the software Autodesk do online tutorials as well.