Be the Engineer of your Career

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Dream a unique engineering dream!

Engineering remains a profession many aspire to. It is truly a professional’s profession, but even this noble profession has recently lost its luster. This is mainly because students are not staying true to their passions but following the crowd in pursuing careers in fields distant from their passions.

To use an illustration, Jethro Tull –studied to be a lawyer but he ended up inventing the seed drill, a mechanical instrument that revolutionized agriculture. The trend today seems to be the opposite. We follow our passions into college – take up specialized courses but when it comes to choosing our careers, we bury our passions and follow the crowd.

CADDZOOM is carrying a series that takes a more in-depth look into the various engineering streams. We kick start this series with Mechanical Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering: inventing leverage!

Mechanical engineering, using principles of heat and mechanical power, designs, produces, and maintains mechanical systems. Mechanical engineers design and manufacture everything from small individual parts and devices (e.g., microscale sensors and inkjet printer nozzles) to large systems (e.g., spacecraft and machine tools). The sub disciplines of mechanical engineering include structural analysis, mechatronics and robotics, design and drafting, etc. Mechanical engineering emerged as a full-fledged stream during the industrial revolution.

However the mechanical engineering legacy starts with the simple machines. The six simple machines are: Lever, Wheel and Axel, Pulley, Inclined Plane, Wedge, Screw. A simple machine is an elementary device that has a specific movement (mechanism) providing a mechanical advantage. The invention of the wheel has been attributed as the invention, that changed the face of technology – its inventor can be regarded as the first mechanical engineer. Can you imagine what would have happened if he too had just gone with the flow? If farming was the trend then, the inventor of the wheel would have just gone on pulling the plough himself. The wheel wouldn’t have been invented!

Ferris wheel!

The Ferris wheel has brought joy to numerous fans since day one. The abandonment and freedom that a Ferris wheel provides, was possible only because George Ferris remained true to his design and passions. In response to a challenge to create a monument to outdo The Eiffel tower, at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Ferris responded with a proposed wheel from which visitors would be able to view the entire exhibition. The planners feared his design for a rotating wheel towering over the grounds could not possibly be safe. Ferris persisted. He returned in a few weeks with several respectable endorsements from established engineers, and the committee agreed to allow construction to begin, also recruited several local investors to cover the $400,000 cost of construction. The Ferris wheel thus stands as a testament to a mechanical engineer’s passions.

CADD Centre evolves with CAD Technology!

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As CADD Centre celebrates 25 years of passionate training, we look down memory lane and see our heritage tied with one amazing technology – Computer Aided Design!

Engineering, has a rich history, from the first machine to the pyramids, all these marvels would have required the first step – design. Here is a brief look at the evolution of this design space, aided by technology.

Early History

The earliest recorded engineering drawings are those done by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. This stage gave way to more technical drawings, when distinctions were drawn between artists and engineers. The initial drawings by engineers were done using a pencil, T-square, triangles, scales, irregular (French) curves and drawing instruments such as compasses and dividers.

One of the first advances was a device called a Universal Drafting Machine which combined the T-square, triangles, scales and protractor. It enabled the drafter to create perpendicular lines at any orientation. The manufactures of this device included Bruning, and Keuffel & Esser, they subsequently attempted to develop CAD system businesses selling mid-priced systems.

In 1957, Patrick Hanratty developed PRONTO (Program for Numerical Tooling Operations), the first commercial CNC (Computer Numerical Control) programming system. Ivan Sutherland presented his “Sketchpad, A Man-Machine Graphical Communication System.” Among its features, the first graphical user interface, using a light pen to manipulate objects displayed on a Cathode Ray Tube. Hanratty and Sutherland are known as the fathers of CAD.

1970s…

This decade saw steps towards a specialized technology for design and drafting. However this stage was still just the germinating period. CAD system, then was a 16 bit minicomputer with maximum of 512 Kb memory and 20 to 300mb disk storage space at a price of 125000$. Apart from the obvious disadvantages; engineers had to sit with an operator to carry out their creative design and the process was very expensive.

1980s…

The 1980s were the Golden Age in the evolution of CAD. The various CAD pioneers, that are leaders today were founded during this period, these included Autodesk, Bentley and PTC. CADD Centre, like a true pioneer, saw the potential of Computer Aided Design and Drafting and joined the foray in 1988. A glimpse into the formative years of these world leaders is given below.

On April 26, 1982 Autodesk was formally incorporated in the state of California. By November the same year company participated in COMDEX Conference showing AutoCAD-80. AutoCAD was different because it was microcomputer program unlike prior CAD programs that ran on mainframe computers or minicomputers. This initial version of AutoCAD consisted of approximately 12,000 lines of source code.

Keith Bentley developed a software package called PseudoStation that enabled a user to access Intergraph’s CAD software from a low-cost DEC VT-100 terminal, effective when designers wanted to make changes to existing drawings. In January 1987 Intergraph announced that MicroStation would be marketed on both UNIX and PC platforms.

Parametric Technology Corporation was founded in May 1985 by Dr. Samuel P. Geisberg as SPG Consulting Corporation. PTC developed a new approach for CAD software, one that would be based on solid geometry and would use feature-based parametric techniques for defining parts and assemblies. Beta testing of Pro/ENGINEER began in September 1987 and commercial shipments began in January 1988.

CADD Centre was established as an authorized training centre by Autodesk, way back in 1988. Mr. C. R. Vaitheeswaran and Mr. V. Sathyamoorthy started Shanthi Anand CADD Centre to equip engineers with the AutoCAD tool.

1990s…

In the 90’s each of these companies went from strength to strength. It was this era that witnessed the visions of these companies translated into reality.

Autodesk founder, John Walker’s statement reflects the commitment to keep technology evolving – “…most companies that attain great value then lose it do so by failing to adapt when technological progress or the market demand they change.” In January 1991, Autodesk released AutoShadeVersion 2 which included RenderMan for enhanced rendering of AutoCAD images.

Bentley in 1995 began distributing Microstation independent of Intergraph. Various new software from Bentley included MicroStation Modeler – a solids modeling package initially intended for mechanical and MicroStation Review– an easy-to-use package for redlining and revising MicroStation drawings.

In late 1993, PTC began shipping Pro/ENGINEER Release 12 with a number of sketching and design enhancements. The Release 12 version of Pro/MANUFACTURING improved the software’s user interface by tailoring the number of menu options presented to the user. For example, if the user was doing three-axis milling, only commands applicable to that type of machining would appear on the screen.

The network expansion of CADD Centre continued. This decade brought CADD Centre to every nook and corner of India. It also went global in the 90s, establishing centres in Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also launched courses in Colour graphics and multimedia. The nineties proved to test and approve of the CADD Centre motto – “providing CAD education that makes student employable and employees innovative”

2000s…

The modern CAD era has been marked by improvements in modeling, incorporation of analysis and product lifecycle management. The CAD leaders continued on the same track.

Autodesk’s former CEO Carol Bartz said, “Look around you: If God didn’t create it, AutoCAD did.” In 2002, Autodesk acquired Revit Architecture, a Building information modeling software, allowing users to design a building and its components in 3D, annotate the model with 2D drafting elements and access building information from the building models database. In 2010, Autodesk released its first AutoCAD mobile application AutoCAD WS.

Creo is a family or suite of design software developed by PTC. Creo provides apps for 2D design, 3D CAD parametric feature solid modeling, 3D direct modeling, Finite Element Analysis and simulation, schematic design, technical illustrations, and viewing and visualization.

Research International Engineers was acquired by Bentley in 2005, with this acquisition Bentley acquired rights to distribute STAAD Pro. The results of the analysis are used to verify a structure’s fitness for use, often saving physical tests. Structural analysis is thus a key part of the engineering design of structures.

CADD Centre in the new millennium grew to be a multiproduct training centre. It took the road less travelled and ventured into fields of creative design, project management and electronic CAD. It has always been a visionary, establishing Dreamzone, Synergy and Livewire, it carried forward this tradition.

Interestingly, the software’s main selling point today is the same today as it was the year of its birth: productivity. The buzzword at CADD Centre too remains: Productivity. The evolution of CAD and the evolution of CADD Centre ensure productivity keeps increasing.

References: www.cadhistory.net | www.cadalyst.com

Engineering Influences in SPORTS

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The ethics of sports

The sacred field of sports has been scarred by scores of unethical practices. Ben Johnson, exactly 25 years back become infamous with just one word “Busted”. When he tested positive for banned drugs, Johnson not only lost his gold medal and world records, he also lost numerous fans. Lance Armstrong by admitting to systematic doping has shattered the faith of billions of fans. This is worsened by the fact that Armstrong and Johnson are just the tip of the iceberg.

The urgent need for improved performances has corresponded to the rise of dishonourable practices. In no other field is the value of milliseconds more visible, races are won and lost by mere immeasurable seconds. This feeble distinction between the first and second place brings about the drive to excel. While this drive can bring about a passion for excellence, a journey of self discipline and inspiration to succeed it can also become a destructive force by sportspersons turning to unethical means to win.

This aggressive competition can remain healthy however if ethical means of improving performance is practiced. Sportspersons must take to heart the advice of Gandhi – “Means are after all everything.” While sportsman must train harder, engineers too have a role to play.

Engineering the ethics of sports:

Innovating to improve performance, using intelligence instead of deception, is the way engineers must look at sports. Engineers, have in their hands, the very tools to dictate the ethics of sports. Sports equipment, are the most fundamental area where the influence of engineers can be seen. A vast range of sports balls, golf clubs & balls, running shoes, baseball bats & helmets, surf boards, skis and snowboards, ice axes, bicycles, mouth-guards, training equipment, and tennis racquets are designed using CFD and CAE with products from ANSYS, LS Dyna, SIMULIA, MSC & Mentor Graphics’ FloEFD tool. Below are sports where the design skills have come into play in obvious manners.

Motor Sport was one of the first professional sports to adopt commercial CFD tools for competitive advantage. Adrian Newey, is an example of what engineers can do in the field of sports. He has worked in both Formula One and IndyCar racing as a race engineer, aerodynamicist, designer and technical director, considered one of the best engineers in Formula One. He designed championship-winning Formula One cars for Williams F1 and McLaren.

Motor sports have seen design skills being employed over the past few decades, the first inviscid panel method was used in the 1980s – An inviscid flow is the flow of an ideal fluid that is assumed to have no viscosity. It can be argued that Formula 1 has been a major driver for technology innovation in CFD with high performance computing and preprocessing enhancements to CFD technologies being developed for ANSYS FLUENT, CD-Adapco’s CCM+ and latterly the OpenFOAM product.

Swimming too has seen various innovations, Speedo International has a long track record of technological innovations in elite swimsuit design over several Olympiads and its 2008 offering, the LZR Racer Swimsuit, was developed with the help of ANSYS FLUENT CFD software for the Beijing Games. With the use of CFD, Speedo were able to make their suit 5% better in passive drag and swimmers were going on average 2% faster overall after its launch. Late in 2011, Speedo debuted its latest swimwear innovation, Fastskin3 — a cap, goggle and swimsuit engineered to work together as one revolutionary racing system. Research indicates that this innovative system of products, when worn together, reduces full-body passive drag by up to 16.6 percent, improves oxygen economy by up to 11 percent, and reduces active body drag by up to 5.2 percent. Technology thus has given an edge to talented swimmers such as Michael Phelps.

Football has also witnessed the contributions of engineering techniques. FEA software from Simulia was used to design the Teamgeist ball for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It was engineered to behave consistently wherever it was struck with the interior of the ball being a carcass structure made from 12 pentagonal panels of fabric that fold up to form a sphere. This design led to large improvements in stiffness distribution. The FEA software modeled the behaviour of the ball when kicked at up to 160 kilometres an hour (100mph), helping to determine the effect of even small structural changes on the ball’s overall performance. Separate CFD simulation using the ANSYS FLUENT determined and improved the aerodynamic features of the novel panel structure used on the ball’s surface.

Cycling is a sport that has seen rapid technological advances. Cycles are continuously being developed to ensure speed, in a sport where every faction of a second counts. Examples of such specially designed cycles are presented by the company Avanti Bikes. To help design the bikes, Dynamics Sports Engineering (DSE) engineers first used ANSYS CFD- Flo computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to optimize the aerodynamics of individual components, such as the head tube, fork, bottom bracket and seat stay attachment. Next, engineers performed a systems simulation as they combined components into a full structure and tested the aerodynamic performance of the assembly at crosswind angles from −20 degrees to +20 degrees. Engineers manually iterated through a series of designs to an optimized solution that provided about a 20 percent reduction in drag. This drag reduction could decrease a rider’s time by approximately one minute over one hour of race time.

Virtual Athlete

The examples cited above are just a mere reflection of the revolution occurring in the field of sports. While some might suggest that such innovations are “technological doping” – the fact remains that such research and development is carried out in a transparent manner with the prime investment being intelligence.

Reference: www.nafems.org |www.ansys.com

Technology’s latest at CADD Centre!

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ProSteel

Bentley’s ProSteel is a 3D modeling environment, for structural steel and metal work, supporting construction and planning tasks. ProSteel, works alongside AutoCAD and MicroStation platform to provide a multi-material modeler. Thereby, ProSteel is ideal to layout complex structures, produce shop drawings, assemble connections and manage bill of materials. ProSteel offers integration not only with Bentley products but also with third-party products.

ProSteel, built by engineers experienced with steel design, is comprehensive, aiding initial planning, design and assembly. Based on standard platforms, both MicroStation and AutoCAD, ProSteel easily lets structural engineers, detailers, and fabricators create 3D models for both concrete and steel. ProSteel provides automatic creation of documentation and details. The automatic creation of documentation and details increases productivity and therefore profitability. The detailing includes miscellaneous steel such as stairs, handrails, ladders, and circular stairs. The documentation provides 2D drawings from a 3D model, including bills of materials, NC data and PPS data.

ProSteel is for:

The professionals using ProSteel, to bring about more effective results in their professions, are Structural/civil engineers, Plant engineers, Fabricators, Detailers, Architects, and Educators etc. Various firms in similar sectors have also benefited from this software. Patrons of this software include Maurer + Söhne, Sinclair Knight Merz, Connel Wagner, KBR Kellog Brown & Root, Roche Mining Pty Ltd, PermaSteelisa Europe/Josef Gartner GmbH, Larsen & Toubro Limited, Hatch etc.

ProSteel at CADD Centre:

At CADD Centre, the Masters Diploma in Building Design offers students an opportunity to master ProSteel. This course combines ProSteel with other tools such as Revit Architecture, Design Visualization Pro, STAAD Pro and ANSYS Civil etc. CADD Centre also provides students with the opportunity to acquire ProSteel skills with Project Management tools such as PMP and MSP. This comprehensive combination ensures that students are provided with the skill set required to be experts in the field of building design.

Reference: www.bentley.com

CADD Centre wins “Business Leadership” Award

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CADD Centre scaled new heights in the year 2012 Franchise India recognized CADD Centre with the “Business Leadership Award.”

In 2002 Franchise India awarded CADD Centre – The Best Franchisor Award in “Technical Education” category. CADD Centre has received consecutive recognition from Franchise India for its sustained efforts. We take a moment to acknowledge this award and deliberate the grounds for this success. In this context, that this issue of CADDZOOM features an interview with Mr. S. Karaidi Selvan, Managing Director-CCTS.

1.What do achievements, such as this, signify to you?

We believe that the real source of happiness or success is achievements – lasting happiness, a happiness that can be sustained is possible when achievements are repeated. However achievements and celebrations last only for nanoseconds. It is imperative therefore to look forward to new targets. We have been in the training business for 25 years, through these years we have given our utmost and we continue to strive to set new milestones.

2.What is unique about the CADD Centre  Franchise Model?

CADD Centre began with the objective of imparting design skills, soon we realized that we could provide viable business opportunities. Our franchise model was uniquely designed to create a win-win situation. Our model ensures that the profit and growth are sustained, this is proven by the fact that franchise centres have continued with us for over 10 -15 years. The first franchise centre that began in December, 1995 is still a part of CADD Centre after 18 years.

3.How has CADD Centre ensured that despite its   large expansion quality is not compromised?

New initiatives to ensure quality such as “Launchpad” and “Incubation” are specially designed to strengthen centres that might be facing challenges. QACS – Quality Assurance & Customer Service is another initiative to positively handle the over 70,000 feedback. We believe that quality cannot be delegated; the top management follows a hands-on approach ensuring that our entire nerve system exudes quality be it upstream or downstream.

Award Profile

The business leadership award is a Special Award presented by Franchise India. The award is selected based on the criteria: “responsible for the overall growth of a franchise system”. The Award was presented at Franchise India 2012, the 10th international franchise and retail show, which held on November 3-4, 2012 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The award was received by Mr. N Subramanian, Vice President Business Development, CADD Centre Training Services Limited on behalf of CADD Centre.

The year that was… 2012

01. CADD@School 

The latest innovation of CADD Centre, in keeping with its vision and mission is the CADD@School initiative! CADD@School caters to engineers of the next generation – Generation Z! This Generation Z – roughly, those born between 1990 and 2000–is the most connected and diverse in history. Generation Z is a generation born into the digital age. While previous generations have had to learn technology as it was developed, you are “digital natives” because you have been raised in an environment where technology is already existing and mature. Technology to the previous generations seems like a foreign language to Generation-Z, it is their native language.

CADD@School aims at translating this familiarity with the digital world into an asset for each student. The training module ensures that the student’s knowledge and skills are streamlined giving them a competitive edge in the engineering sector. The CADD@School initiative of CADD Centre is a customized in-house CAD training program where engineering students will learn the techniques of Drafting, Designing, Analyzing and Manufacturing products effectively, in the comfort of their classrooms and at reasonable costs. Management tools and Soft skills are also taught. CADD Centre will sign MOU with the Institution and formalize the tie-up in the form of a “Certificate of Association”.

CADD Centre partner with institutes of all sizes and accreditations – engineering colleges, polytechnics, Industrial Training Institutes, and private diploma institutions – at no cost, and send our staff, trained and certified by of about 15 principal software developers including Autodesk, Bentley, Cadence, PTC, and Siemens. Presently we have tied up with – Vels University, SRM Eswari College, Agni College of Technology & ARM College of Engineering in Chennai and Narasimha Pallavan College in Kanchipuram. CADD Centre wishes to work hand-in-hand with educational institutions as it seeks to create a skilled community.

For more details please write to: km.venkataraman@caddcentre.ws

02. SYNERGY-ECPD

Synergy School of Business Skills, a division of CADD Centre collaborated with NIS Sparta, and launched a soft skill training program; Effective Communication and Personality Development (ECPD). The program ensures that participants are skilled in business and organizational human relations. This training module commencing from the year 2012 is aimed at enhancing the employability of graduates. Employment opportunities remain evasive despite good technical skills due to lack of communication skills. This factored in the development of the Effective Communication and Personality Development module, to ensure that the deficit between technical skills and soft skills is minimized. The participant’s feedbacks attest to the effectiveness of this program   P. Vinayak said “This course has taught me to behave in a polite manner and through this course, I realized how easy life becomes when you add little bit of sophistication in your behaviour.” Anish Shankar agreed when he said “I can speak in public easily now! It is also easy to talk to new person. I also learnt to present myself more confidently.”

For more details about ECPD please write to: k.rajeshwari@synergysbs.co.in

03.LIVEWIRE

This year we introduce you to LIVEWIRE, a division of CADD Centre that focuses on core areas in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Information technology and Computer Science. LIVEWIRE is structured and branched in a manner that ensures the course packages available to students are comprehensive. LIVEWIRE has broadly classified the courses into modules: Electronic Design Automation, Network Engineering, System Administration, and Project Planning and Management. The various software tools taught under these modules ensure that the students are industry ready. Electronic Design Automation provides students with the tools required to design various products with high speed and accuracy for the electronic industry. The Network Engineer module ensures that students master all facets of networking devices similarly System Administration module deals with all concepts of the operating system. The launch of LIVEWIRE thus ensures that students now have resources that equip them for a niche industry.

For more details please write to: info@caddcentre.ws

04. Emerging Trends

The Emerging Trends Seminar is an effort to ensure that students are kept up-to-date on the trend of a fast paced and ever-changing industry. These seminars were conducted in both Chennai and Bengaluru this year. Emerging Trends Seminar dealt with areas such as Product Life Cycle Management and Engineers Aspirations versus Industry Expectations. Over 1400 students, in both cities benefitted from the expertise of Industry Professionals such as Mr. Md Faiz Ahamad, Vice President and Business Head, Automotive Practice from Defiance Technologies Limited, Mr. Dilip Sridhar, ERND Dept Manager from Brakes India Limited, Mr. Aiyappan Ramamurthi, Director, Digital Lifecycle Management from Siemens Industry Software India Pvt. Ltd, Mr. V. R. Chari, Vice Chairman of GH Induction India Pvt. Ltd. Dr. Ashok. B, Deputy Project Director, Aeronautical Development Agency, Bengaluru, Mr. Anantha Hebbale, CEO of Enphiniti Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Mr. T. Madhan, Director – Educational Sales from PTC India Pvt. Ltd. This flagship event continues to provide a platform for aspiring engineers to interact with key members of the industry without any cost to them.

05. CADD Quest

CADD Quest has been a part of the CADD Centre Calendar since 1997 and is now eagerly awaited. Since its inception the students of CADD Centre have continuously reaped the benefits of this innovative initiative. The year 2012 has witnessed a new and improvised version of the CADD Quest. CADD Quest is now online!! CADD Quest ensures that meritorious students do not miss out on the opportunities presented by CADD Centre; the scholarship is based purely on the performance of the students in the aptitude test. The online aptitude test makes CADD Quest even more accessible thereby increasing the participation. CADD Quest is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. The huge number of likes on the facebook page for CADD Quest is just one of the signs of its popularity. The alumni too promote the merits of CADD Quest.

For more details please write to: info@caddcentre.ws