CAD/ Drafting Technology

This program is instructed by Gary Rogers. He is a member of and the program is certified by the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA).  The program consists of eight exit points:  Detail Drafter, CAD Technician, Drafting and CAD Technician, Architectural Residential Drafter, Civil Drafter, Mechanical Drafter, Structural Drafter and Computer-Aided Illustrator.   The Drafting student is taught to translate the ideas, notes, rough sketches, specifications, and calculations of engineers, architects and designers into working plans which are used by skilled craftsmen in making a product. 

The objective of the Drafting and CAD Technology program is to train those individuals who have selected drafting as a career in the latest industry standards and techniques, giving them solid basic training and familiarizing them with the major specialty drafting fields.  It is the intent and design of the program to prepare the graduate for an entry-level position in the job market. 

Program Description:

During the first eight months, all students complete the Core Courses.  The Detail Drafter courses lead the student through basic drawing skills where emphasis is placed on graphic language, instrumental drawing, geometric construction, freehand sketching & shape description, multi-view projection, sectional views, auxiliary views and computer-aided drafting I and II.  The course also includes a study of pictorial drawings, and technical drawings I, II and III.  Upon successful completion of the core courses, each student must choose an area of specialization.  CAD Technician is for one who already has drafting or related background or has the CORE classes completed and wants to update their CAD skills.  Drafting and CAD Technician offers an introduction to several fields such as working drawings I, drafting applications I (architectural, electrical and electronic schematics, structural drafting), and drafting applications II (civil, HVAC/Sheet metal development and industrial process piping).  It is designed to offer students a versatile employment opportunity and to help them determine areas in which they may want to pursue their training. 

Architectural Residential Drafter -- studies focus on persons who wish to become drafters for architects, engineers, or contractors, the design and preparation of plans for the construction of residential living units.  The course includes planning and design with emphasis placed on the needs of the client including covenant requirements, and the older resident special needs, traffic flow, and sound design principles. Building codes, construction practices, non-residential construction, utilities, working drawings, and specifications to present drafting techniques through the drawing of plans, elevations, sections, details and schedules as used in residential construction are included as well as live work.

Mechanical Drafter -- studies are intended for persons who wish to become drafters in the manufacturing and machine related trades.  Topics covered are solid modeling visualization basics, mechanical theory and processes, tolerancing, GD & tolerance, threads and fastening techniques, working drawings II (mechanical drawing and specifications and power transmission), special fields in mechanical applications (sheet metal development, tool design and patient drawings).

Civil Drafter -- topics covered in this course include the fundamentals of surveying, plot plans, topographical maps, and earthwork of roads and profiles of earth, highways, utilities and materials of construction.  Much emphasis is placed upon Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD).  Studies also deal with structural steel drafting, structural poured-in-place as well as precise concrete drafting to prepare drafters for work in civil engineering companies, for surveyors, and in city, county, state, and federal government road and engineering departments.

Structural Drafter -- courses are focused on structures classified as heavy construction which includes commercial buildings, industrial buildings, bridges towers and numerous other types of structures. The principles and practices used in the structural drafting field, overall structure must be designed and the design must be documented by engineering drawings.  In addition, each individual part must be designed and be documented by shop drawings. Structural drafting consists of preparing the documentation for the design of a structure so that the individual parts can by manufactured and the overall structure erected.  Much emphasis is placed upon Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD).  Students are introduced to structural steel drafting:  pre-engineered metal buildings, structural precast concrete, and structural poured-in-place concrete, and special topics in structural applications an in-depth coverage of structural steel framing plans, steel sections, steel connection details, fabrication details, and bills of materials, pre-engineered metal buildings and structural wood floor systems.

Computer-Aided Illustrator courses are intended to advance the student’s visualization skills for creating 3-dimensional images, moving illustrations, and presentation techniques for construction and industrial design.  It primarily focuses on the use of 3D modeling and animation software for visual communication.

 Students in the Drafting & CAD Technology program work with several software programs including AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Chief Architect, and Microsoft Office Applications.

Students:  Available to adult and high school students.  High school students may enroll on a part-time basis.  See Secondary Programs for details. 

Drafting/CAD Technician classes are available on line. 

Enrollment:

New students enroll every month as space is available.

Average time to complete program:

16 months

Grades: 

An average grade of C or better must be maintained to remain enrolled.

*There may be additional costs during the first term.  **Costs are subject to change.