Working in solids via CAD is NOT the same as making a part out of a solid chunk of whatever. It is easy to draw it but not as easy to remove the metal as cited by emanSoh.
THe cad guys at a former employer were GREAT tube jockeys. Their parts were a nightmare to make at times because they never could think like a machinist nor did they deal with the realities of removing metal. Do the drawing, get it done, throw it over the wall, when it doesn't work say "but the CAD said it could be done", shrug shoulders and walk away (sipping coffee all the while).
ON the other hand, we had a machinist who decided to learn CAD (health reason) and he became an awesome designer because he already knew how to remove metal.
If I could make it happen, I'd have my CAD guys work as apprentice's BEFORE i'd let them drive a tube. A dose of reality goes a long way.
Software (unless it it really good) NEVER knows as much as a machinist who's had to do a "how the heck am I gonna do THAT!?!?!?" when confronted with a poorly thought out CAD gem ....  |