Rich Hall’s BLOG

A couple of months ago, I started asking around my network for educators who might like to get some coverage here on the Educators Corner.  Richard Doyle, our great SWUGN leader and recent winner of 2009 CAD Society Joe Greco Community Award, sent me a list of people and my next guest was one of the folks listed.   When I say that Tony Cantrell is an experienced guy, I’m not exaggerating in the least.  When you read the following excerpt from his resume you’ll see just what I mean. 

1973 – 2008  Design & Drafting

Thirty-five years experience in design and drafting of mechanical, facilities, product and civil drawings.  Experience includes board drafting, Anvil4000, Cornerstone, Mainframe Cadam, Professional Cadam, MicroCadam, Helix Design System, AutoCad R14Lite to 2004, and Solid Works 99 to 2008.  Geometric Tolerance & Dimensioning.  Hands on experience in machine shop practices, and field construction.  Office Skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint, Visio, Architectural Graphic Standards, Means and Pulsar estimating systems.  Operating Systems: IBM Mainframe, Unix, AIX, Dos, and Windows 3.x, 95, 98, NT, 2000, 2000me, XP.

RH: I’m glad to have you on Educators Corner, Please tell me about Tony Cantrell (TC). 

TC: I went to school at Midlands Technical College for Industrial Drafting (This was all drawing board and slide rule; no calculator).  I currently teach at Midlands Technical College NE Campus doing continuing education classes using SolidWorks.  I am the user group leader for the Palmetto SolidWorks User Group and we are having a user group meeting April 20, 2009.  If you are interested in attending please contact me at the email link HERE.

 

 

RH: Do you have any industry experience?  

TC: My current job, since 2000, is with Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Company Columbia, S.C. where I Design/Draft/Model Various product parts.  I also assist engineering in design, build testing and installation of equipment, fixtures, tooling, gage components and product.

RH: What led you to become a teacher and why SolidWorks?

TC: I really enjoy watching the light bulb go on when someone understands something, and with SolidWorks, it is just a matter of time.

RH: How long have you been teaching?

TC: Just about three years now.

RH: What SolidWorks certifications if any do you currently hold?

TC: CSWP 2005, CSWA

RH: What are your classes (age range and/or skill level)

TC: Continuing Education (SolidWorks the basics, Engineering Design, Drawing and Detailing) all adults ages 18 and up.

RH: What is a typical classroom day like for you?

TC: My classes are in the evenings from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, I generally start with an introduction to SolidWorks and me, and then off to the modeling.

RH: What is your preferred teaching method?

TC: I like to start by showing the basic steps and then turn them loose and watch what happens.

RH: What method of teaching SolidWorks have you found to be successful?

TC: So far, what I stated above seems to work, occasionally I have to spend a little more time with some students.

RH: What curriculum and industry standards do you teach?

TC: The curriculum is Continuing Education, as far as standards, I would say mainly ANSI but I do answer questions about ISO when asked.

RH: How do you use the SolidWorks Educator resources and curriculum in teaching your class?

TC: Currently, I am teaching from the SDC books written by David and Marie Planchard. I do go out to the educator site for ideas and techniques.

RH: Do you have any work from the students or from your curriculum that you are able to and would like to share? 

TC: I do not save any of the models, but I use the exercises from the textbooks by SDC Publications mentioned above.  

RH: What industry do you teach for or what is the prevalent industry in your area that would eventually hire a SolidWorks trained person?

TC: I do not target any industry.  As far as the industries around; this is a list of companies in our general area:

Westinghouse

Spirax

Mid State Tooling

Energy Solutions

A.O.SMITH

REI Automation Inc.

Superior Machine Co of SC, Inc.

Garlock Helicoflex

Fischbein-Inglett

Accutech Machine

Michelin

Hansen International

ALPHA Mfg.

Howden Buffalo

Protected Vehicles, Inc

Watermark Design, LLC

Bose

Jarden Materials

Schneider-Electric

American Spiralweld

Precision Machine Works

Hagler Systems

Elite Tool & Design

Curtis Fabrication

Whidtec

Force Protection Industries

Tobul Accumulator, Inc

Interlake

Access Mfg.

CompositeResources

Energy Solutions

Mancor

Steck Technologies, Inc

Custom Components Inc.

Parsons

Thermal Engineering

Partion Systems Inc.

Kaydon

King Design and Drafting, LLC

Shaw Group

Midlands Biofuels

Dixie Poly Drum Corp

 

RH: What universities or community colleges are nearby that your students would attend and pursue a course of study with SolidWorks application?

TC: Clemson University, University of South Carolina, multiple TECH schools

RH: Have you attended SolidWorks World? If so, what was beneficial from a teaching standpoint?

TC: Yes, Orlando twice and New Orleans.  This past year was the first from an educator standpoint and for me, meeting Marie Planchard was a highlight.

RH: Will your school board or current school be willing to fund a trip for you to SolidWorks World? 

TC: I really doubt that, since I am an Adjunct Instructor and not full time.

RH: Knowing that most school systems are in desperate financial situations, do you feel that there will be continued support for teaching SolidWorks and CAD drafting skills. 

TC: As long as there is a demand for educated people in these fields, then tech schools will try to offer these courses.

RH: How important do you feel that teaching CAD/drafting skills is for the future of engineering and industry in general?

TC: I believe it is imperative that we teach these skills, if we don’t, how will we progress?

RH: What are the biggest challenges you face in teaching SolidWorks/drafting?

TC: Getting more classes.

RH: What are some goals for your future and do you always plan on teaching?

TC: As long as I am able, I will probably teach these classes or until they run me off.  My goals are to have fun and show others how much fun design can be.

Tony,

Thank you for taking the time to share with everyone.   

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 It’s amazing who you can meet at SolidWorks World where a whole bunch of like minded folks get together.  Right after breakfast on Monday morning of day 1, Gary Hall (my brother of no relation) and I were headed up to get in line for the general session.  As we approached what we thought would be a good entrance point, Gary said hey I know those guys.  We walked over and got in line where I was introduced to Randall Bock and Wescott Pusey.  I found out from our conversations that they were SolidWorks teachers at Pennsylvania State University, better know as Penn State or PSU.  I also found out that they were running the Happy Valley SolidWorks User Group on campus.  Throught the week we kept in touch through Twitter and email and Randall ( @randllbock ) told me that one of the SWUGN summits was going to be hosted by HVSWUG later in the year.  Details have not been released on the Happy Valley Summit yet but the date has been set for June, 16 2009.  I have never been to Pennsylvania so it sounds like a good road trip to me.  I am planning on taking my family up on vacation in June and attending the Summit.  Randall has a lot of dynamic ideas and projects he has shared with us here at Educators Corner.  Be sure you take a look at what the next generation of SolidWorks students are learning at a major university. 

 

  

 

Rich Hall (RH): Hi Randall.  Why don’t you share a little about yourself.

Randall Bock (RB): I currently hold a BS, MS in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Penn State.  In my day job I am an Engineering Associate and Affiliate Instructor at The Pennsylvania State University in the area of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.  In my area of core responsibility, I work with faculty and students in the design and implementation of teaching, research, and outreach programs. The engineering and agricultural challenges being studied are wide ranging: bioreactors, food-born pathogens, particulate mechanics, natural resource conservation, structural and mechanical design, food and biomass processing, agricultural health and safety, ethanol production, computer modeling and simulation, and nano-technologies.  My night job is Continuing Education Instructor at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park where I develop and instruct coursework for EDSGN 496A: SolidWorks Fundamentals (3 credits).  Virtually all products manufactured in modern facilities begin as three dimensional computer models (3D-CAD).  SolidWorks has approximately 800,000 licensed seats worldwide and is the most accessible 3D-CAD application at Penn State.  This course delivers the methods and techniques necessary to become proficient in the application of SolidWorks for product design and manufacturing.  The SolidWorks corporate certification exam is included. Advanced topics on weldments, sheet metal, and finite element analysis are covered. 

RH: What led you to become a teacher and why SolidWorks?

RB: Up until 2006 I was using AutoCAD to do 3D solid modeling.  One of my students showed me SolidWorks.  I stopped AutoCAD, dove into SolidWorks and never looked back.  The software changed nearly every aspect of my job.  Design became fun and life got better.  Much of my work is developing prototype equipment for research.  Now with SolidWorks I have the ability to design and analyze using the same package.  Before my class was developed, Penn State did not offer a rigorous course in 3D modeling.  Freshmen engineering students were doing the SolidWorks tutorials as part of a general engineering class and other students we doing the Pro/E tutorials.  In general I found that the software was under utilized.  This fantastic engineering teaching tool was available but no one was using it.

RH: How long have you been teaching?

RB: I started teaching in Spring 2008 with 20 students.  The class has grown to 40 students in two sections with broad interest among under graduate students, graduate students, engineering professors and returning adult students.

RH: Why do you teach CAD with SolidWorks?

RB: Penn State has 500 EDU licenses that are available in all University computer labs through out the Penn State system.  Students new to SolidWorks can achieve CSWA level proficiency in one semester.

RH: What SolidWorks certifications do you currently hold?

RB: I passed the CSWA, CSWP, and plan to take the CSWP-CDES this Spring.  I am also a CSWA provider. 

RH: What are your classes (age range and/or skill level)

RB: The age range is from college freshmen to 65 year old professors.  Most have tried the software but they all lack the knowledge required to make elegant parts and assemblies.  Symmetry, design intent, multi body, and in context modeling are all new concepts. 

RH: What is a typical classroom day like for you? 

RB: I work as a research engineer during the day and teach in the evenings for continuing education.

RH: What is your preferred teaching method? What method of teaching SolidWorks have you found to be successful? 

RB: Since student learn differently, I teach using a variety of methods:

• Standard lecture for new information
• Follow the leader: for detailed modeling techniques or complex features 
• In class challenge assignments
• Timed quizzes: to prepare them for the CSWA
• Homework assignments: I encourage them to work together
• Midterm project: consisting of 8 parts minimum
• Final Project: assembling the parts from the midterm project, producing drawings and doing FEA. 

RH: What curriculum and industry standards do you teach? 

RB: I developed my own curriculum which using what I call “Basic Strategy”  (Blackjack inspired terminology).  This Basic Strategy presents good habits, best practices, and reinforces the basics: design intent, symmetry, constraints, etc.  I have found that students really need the knowledge of experienced users.  Good design practices and strategies normally come from experience; I try to give it to them in the classroom.  I tell them that as a goal: 80% of producing a 3D modeling happens in their head and that pushing the keys is the instant gratification / detail phase. 

RH: How do you use the SolidWorks Educator resources and curriculum in teaching your class? 

RB: The SWE resources are project based.  I start the students with the basics.  I feel making impressive looking parts in the beginning diverts attention away from fundamental modeling techniques.  So I have them start by making very simple shapes.  Then later after they have learned the tools one at a time, they are assigned progressively more complex parts.  After they can make complex parts, I have them pick a project.  I emphasize that the project should have some value to them personally or should otherwise be connected to a project in another class. 

RH: Do you have any work from the students you are able to and would like to share?

To view the following files you must have eDrawings for SolidWorks.  Please click the free Download link below:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH: What industry do you teach for or what is the prevalent industry in your area that would eventually hire a SolidWorks trained person?

RB: I do not teach for any particular industry although most student are in mechanical or aerospace engineering.

RH: What universities or community colleges are nearby that your students would attend and pursue a course of study with SolidWorks application?

RB: Penn State is it.  We are in central PA there is nothing else for miles!

RH: Have you attended SolidWorks World? If so, what was beneficial from a teaching standpoint?

RB: I attended SWW 2009.  This was a great networking and learning opportunity for me!  I am hooked!  I am already planning for Anaheim.

RH: Will your school board or current school be willing to fund a trip for you to SolidWorks World?

RB: So far this hasn’t been a problem.   Penn State supports my trip to SWW as professional development. 

RH: Knowing that most school systems are in desperate financial situations, do you feel that there will be continued support for teaching SolidWorks and CAD drafting skills? 

RB: At Penn State… if it makes money they will let you do anything.  I need to recruit more adult students.  Possibly the Engineering Stimulus will help!

RH: How important do you feel that teaching CAD/drafting skills is for the future of engineering and industry in general?

RB: It is absolutely essential for engineers of all disciplines to have a strong foundation in 3D CAD and analysis.  Many of my students receive job offers based on the classroom training and CSWA.

RH: What are the biggest challenges you face in teaching SolidWorks/drafting?

RB: Having the time and energy to do my daytime job and then get charged up to teach from 6-9pm. 

RH: What are some goals for your future and do you always plan on teaching?

RB: I started the local SWUG because I found that classroom experience isn’t enough.  Students need contact with real world projects and the opportunity to present their solutions.  I hope the Happy Valley SolidWorks User Group can provide an educational and networking resource for Penn State students and local industry.

We are hosting a SWUGN Summit on June 16, at Penn State (State College, PA).  Please watch the SWUGN web site for further details.  Please feel invited to join us for a great time in Happy Valley!

Randall,

Thanks for taking the time to share with me at Educators Corner.  I am looking forward to visiting you in June!

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