Lawrence C.

I am an Engineering Technician who has spent 30 odd years involved with getting things made. I have designed and drawn, ordered materials programed an operated plasma and laser cutting machines. As I have worked mostly in smaller companies you get to wear many hats and do whatever is needed to get a project completed. Started my design and drawing the old fashioned way on a drawing board then started CAD with the best 2D cad of its day Generic CADD which I still have a copy on an old machine I use to drive my antique pen plotters. The pen plotters are great for entertaining children though of limited use for real work. Autocad from version 10 on was what my main tool in the 1990's being only useful as a 2D tool as 3D was awkward and not as quick for most work. My world changed when I discovered Solid Edge in 1999, 3D modeling became practical, quick and faster than the 2D approach. Solid Edge and Solid Works are my definite preference over Inventor which I have never liked. My main CAD tool now is Geomagic Design which is as I see it, the best deal going, far cheaper than both Solid Works and Inventor and a better product than inventor. I would like to be able to afford Solid Works but working on my own the amount of work I would need to produce and sell does not add up. Geomagic Design delivers technically and economically and is the most practical CAD for me to use.

As well as my CAD business my main job is programing and operating Laser Cutters and a Turret Punch for a small Sheetmetal Fabrication Company. I started my engineering career in 1973 as an apprentice Fitter and Welder, have my Advanced Trade Cert, but haven't worked as a Fitter Welder since 1980.

A sizable part of my recent work has been designing and detailing steel stairs, sheet metal parts and producing drawings and designs for a range of centrifugal fans, dust collectors and filters.