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Is there any market for knowing Solidworks and AutoCAD?

Question asked by Gabriel Didier on Jul 17, 2020
Latest reply on Jul 27, 2020 by Frederick Law

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Hey all, I am just curious; as the title suggests, if I need to start focusing myself in one program over the other; vs being able to market myself as multi-use.

I am in the midst of wandering thoughts while I take the verbal lashings for a project I have no control over, for context.

I think it would be cool to hear from the many expert users here on the forums, of which I am sure most are SW all the way.

I guess a better question would be, is there a market for that kind of utility?

I appreciate your feedback!

Gabriel

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Maha Nadarasa Jul 17, 2020 9:18 PM
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I have seen many job ads required SWX and AutoCAD. Employers prefer if you are a multi-skilled person. Why? answer is simple, because if you have 2 in 1 skilled they can get the job done with one person instead of hiring two - maximizing the profit.
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Wayne Matus Jul 18, 2020 10:17 AM
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I agree with Maha, the more skills you have, the more valuable you will be to your employer. More valuable equates to more opportunities and more money for you.
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Maha Nadarasa @ Wayne Matus on Jul 18, 2020 10:31 AM
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"Survival of the fittest" - Darwinian evolutionary theory is applicable here.
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Roland Schwarz Jul 18, 2020 10:41 AM
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That question is best answered by looking at job ads.

I have not seen a lot (any) of AutoCrayon-heavy SW gigs. Most just require the ability to open and view AutoCAD, import/export for conversion to 3D, and/or export drawings to DXF. I've never met a good SW user that could not stumble through these operations untrained and unaided.

AutoCAD skills is just a step above arriving to work on time.
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J. Mather Jul 18, 2020 2:38 PM
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1-9YPC71Q wrote:
...while I take the verbal lashings for a project I have no control over, for context.
It has been my experience that it is best to know AutoCAD better than the AutoCAD users.
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Jim Riddell Jul 19, 2020 2:18 AM
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"The Engineer who dies with the most tools wins."
Learn both. Focus on one and become at least basically proficient in the other for starters. Each seem to have their particular industries that they favor (at least in my limited experience) so choose an industry you have the most interest in pursuing a career in and check what s/w they seem to use predominantly. Both are low-cost entries into the CAD realm so you will find many more places using the likes of either, usually it's what they start out with or grow up to as the industry needs change.

Both have their draw-backs and neither has all the features of the other.
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Glenn Schroeder Jul 20, 2020 7:09 AM
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I don't doubt that there are jobs out there that require both, but please keep in mind that both software packages are just tools. I think it's more important to learn as much as you can about your chosen field instead of focusing on one tool or another. Knowing how to use SW is of minimal value if you don't know anything about what you'll be designing.

Owning a hammer, and even knowing how to drive nails, doesn't make you a carpenter.
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Jim Moses Jul 20, 2020 8:16 AM
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Hi,

Been at a few jobs with several different CAD (Autocad, Solidworks and Catia) programs going at once even Mylar changes as well (Hand drawings with fun chemicals for all the younger crowd).

All CAD programs are simply tools, a coworker coined this the other day, you drive a Chevy car and someone only has a Cadillac for you to drive, as long as you know how to drive the rest is simply learning where the wiper controls and blinkers are, its not much different with CAD software, simply learning the procedures that work for that software and company your working for.

No offense to Solidworks, but don't pigeon hole yourself into 1 software as seen many go the way of the dodo bird, as not so long ago Chrysler used Catia and once Fiat took over they went to UG/NX so a whole lot of people were force to change or go packing.

Regards,
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Frederick Law Jul 20, 2020 8:21 AM
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Lots of CNC, Laser, Plasma Brake press are still using DWG and DXF.
It'll help a lot if you know how to export one properly.

And not just AutoCAD.
We're still having problem with customer on get 3D model.
They'll sent every format under the sun but the one we can use.

Oh make sure you know the different between a model and a drawing.
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Kevin Chandler Jul 20, 2020 8:38 AM
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Hello,

Two different tools from two different eras with two different mindsets.

AutoCAD:
- It's 2D/3rd D sticks and rings and worms
- Not too productive OOTB
- Highly customizable to do most anything for many different CAD genres
- It's a CAD engine basically, for which many add-ins were written (& were required to get something done)
- Even if you "know" AC, that doesn't necessarily translate to knowing the add-ins, which is where the real work takes place
- AC remains relatively strong because of its add-ins, but with a diminishing AC market, fewer add-ins will survive/be updated/be able to get programming labor to work on code that's 20 years older than the programmer
- It started out on Unix in the 70's, so it's been around a while (so it's been a great cash cow for AD)
- It's too expensive for what it is and that you have to rely on add-ins for any real gains in productivity
- AD focused/steered/catered AC more toward the AEC market than the mech market, so AC has more legacy value in AEC than in mech, but Revit is supplanting/has supplanted AC there
SW:
- Real 3D
- Add-ins available but aren't required to get something done
- Many OOTB features to sate a wide audience of user types
- Too expensive
- Geared explicitly toward the Mechies, with some AEC on the side (as the often ignored, ugly stepchild)
What are your goals?
Of what you learn now, what will become of it in 5 years?
Are you more on the AEC side of the fence? Or on the Mechie side?

As a Mechie, I would ignore AC. I "know" it and I don't use it.
With increasing rarity, I don't need to get into my time machine and use my AC knowledge to blow the cobwebs off some legacy relic that someone pulled down from the attic

With 3D (SW or Inventor), there is a massive amount you can learn so you'll be most proficient in breadth and in depth and do so readily, at least when compared to your contemporaries
And this ability to adapt and accelerate is what will make you more valuable, regardless of what replaces SW.

Kevin

My two cents.
Save them. There's a "coin shortage" .
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Shawn Stugard Jul 20, 2020 10:11 AM
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Many places I've worked are still using AutoCAD for their electrical work as well as mechanical in some industries. Not just small places, but multinational corporations, from robotics to nuclear applications. Places that do a lot of large structural work are in many cases still in the 2D world. I think you'll find youself more marketable with at least a working knowledge of AutoCAD, but don't spend too much time on it, since it will likely be a fairly small part of your future work.
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Roland Schwarz Jul 20, 2020 10:38 AM
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If you're going to invest time in new skills, theres better places. Materials science and manufacturing processes would be my first choices.

Materials science and mechanics of materials are especially important if you start getting into FEA.
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Kevin Chandler @ Roland Schwarz on Jul 20, 2020 11:05 AM
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Roland Schwarz wrote:

If you're going to invest time in new skills, theres better places. Materials science and manufacturing processes would be my first choices.

Materials science and mechanics of materials are especially important if you start getting into FEA.
Seconded.
And the electro-mechanics, too.
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Gabriel Didier @ Roland Schwarz on Jul 21, 2020 12:53 PM
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"I GuESs i hAmMer oN My PuTeR MaKE pRattY LiNEs!"

At least I am getting paid for being on time? haha.
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Chris Saller Jul 21, 2020 12:59 PM
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Almost every company I have worked at we use both ACAD and SW. Usually ACAD for opening old dwgs, SW for new designs and converting ACAD.
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Gabriel Didier Jul 21, 2020 1:17 PM
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I really appreciate all of the input so far!

I know that ACAD is a joke program to most Mech-Desi's, but it was the only software I had access to early on. I used it for CNC nesting of DXF's and model construction for a civil type of survey using Photogrametry.

It does seem that I learned to use SW fairly proficiently over the last 9 months; especially with no training other than my colleagues and the forums. I like it when it works(that is mostly due to our contract that limits us to SP 5 of '16) and will continue to fine tune my skills.

I will take the suggestions to find a path like Materials sciences or manufacturing processes ect, to really become more marketable.

Here is a shameless representation of a model I made 100% in AutoCAD when I had downtime at my previous employment. I pictured this as if it were ordered by a cartel boss showing off their wealth by using gold plating and other precious metals(like they do). Hope it gives at least a smile for your time!
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Frederick Law @ Gabriel Didier on Jul 21, 2020 1:25 PM
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I start with AutoCAD 14.
3D boolean solid.
Good old days.
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Tim Taby Jul 21, 2020 1:39 PM
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A lot of places use both, since at some point they usually went though a 2D to 3D conversion. I think a lot of it depends on what your going to doing. In design heavy environments is going to mostly be 3D work cause it's easier to see how parts interact and if there is interference. In a heavy manufacturing environment with CNC machines you would be more likely to work in both. It's easier to do nesting and simple shapes with 2D geometry then to have to manipulate a 3D model in the CAM packages.

I have had 4 jobs in the last 20 years and all of the places used both, so it's handy to know the basics.
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Michael Paul Jul 23, 2020 11:57 AM
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my company was Creo exclusively until about 4 years ago and now we are SW for new designs, Creo for existing.

when we interviewed people, especially new graduates, we knew flat out that nobody knew Creo. we concerned ourselves not with whether they knew the package, but whether they knew sound modeling techniques. SW and Creo can both do the same things, you just need to know the methodology. yeah, there are some fundamental differences between the two but if you can model in one, you can model in the other. we knew anybody could learn the software, since we all did at one point. we just wanted somebody who knew the steps and the processes and not necessarily the mouse clicks on day 1.
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Hubert Carle Jul 23, 2020 12:12 PM
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Just for the fun of it..... Don't forget that AutoDesk has INVENTOR. I've used both SW and inventor for several years. Each has its good and bad points. Told my wife was like using a long handled rake and a short handled rake. Both are rakes but the way it is used is slightly different. So learn it too. LOL
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The Merovingien @ Frederick Law on Jul 23, 2020 12:36 PM
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working with boolean is still possible within SlowidWorks...
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Frederick Law @ The Merovingien on Jul 23, 2020 12:47 PM
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But they don't call intersect intersect.
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The Merovingien @ Frederick Law on Jul 24, 2020 4:12 AM
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Frederick Law @ The Merovingien on Jul 24, 2020 8:06 AM
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Combiner ...
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Matt Juric Jul 24, 2020 8:18 AM
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Is it better to know how to use a hammer or a hammer and screwdriver....or a hammer, screwdriver, socket set, allen wrench....I think you get my point.

In my opinion it is better to more know than to know less in almost every case imaginable....save those instances where you need plausible deniability :-)

A person who knows SWX, IV, Draftsight, Autodesk, NX, Pro-E, Catia, etc etc is more valuable than the person that knows only one of them.
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Is there any market for knowing Solidworks and AutoCAD?

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