Educators Corner “Tony Cantrell”
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.
Tony Cantrell
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.
Stay Tuned for more from the Educators Corner featuring SolidWorks!
