Career tips: how to become a draftsman
For people looking to
combine artistic talent and math skills in a career, becoming a draftsman is an
ideal choice. With a foundation of drafting education, specializations in
architecture, electronic design, and various other fields can be obtained. Not
only can this job offer a creative outlet, but it can also provide an impressive
income. Draftsmen can find an employment with a company or start their own
business once they have obtained a degree. With all of the opportunities for
advancement in this career, it is worth considering for anyone who is looking
for a practical way to apply their creative side.
What is a Draftsman?
A draftsman's job is to turn a design idea into an accurate
picture, whether it is a scaled-down floor plan for a building or a diagram for
a machine. The drawings that a draftsman creates serve as guides for builders
and manufacturers, so precision is necessary. Although blueprints are now
considered out-of-date, draftsmen create their modern relatives. Teams of
drafters with different specializations work together on projects, sometimes
drawing by hand but more often through the use of drafting computer software.
To be a draftsman, an ability to see all sides of an object (or 3-D vision) and
strong math skills are
necessary.
Study Options
In the past, draftsmen obtained career
training at technical schools or through community college programs. However, the popularity of
computer-based learning has led to distance educationdrafting courses, which allow students
to study at hometo obtain a degree of equal quality to
on-campus programs. Both options have benefits for certain types of students.
For example, a person who prefers the physical presence and immediate feedback
of instructors will excel in tech school program. Those who enjoy working
independently and have the discipline to devote time to daily study may prefer a
home-base degree program. Either way, obtaining a drafting
degree is very affordable in comparison to a university education, with
distance education classes being cheapest. In both
cases, student loans can be taken out for accredited courses.
Degree
Requirements
Drafting students begin their degree program by reviewing
mathematical concepts, beginning with basics like adding,
subtracting, multiplication, division, and fractions. The course then
progresses into covering geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. These concepts
are fundamental for learning to create accurate diagrams scaled up or down
depending on the size of the project. Next, mechanical drawing and freehand
lettering are taught. Students learn how to use templates and specialized
measuring tools to create plans on paper. Tools studied include compasses,
protractors, professional pencils of various widths and shades, drafting paper,
and French curves. All work is done on a drafting table, which sits at an angle
and has special lighting. A draftsman in training also memorizes various
formulas used for manually creating sketches. Once these techniques have been
mastered, the student learns how to use a computer aided design (CAD) program.
This software is a modern invention designed to save draftsmen time and to
create hard copies of drafts. Basic programs take between two and four years,
depending on the institution with which a student studies.
Specializations
Having completed the basic drafting
program, students can move on to a chosen specialization. Draftsmen interested
in designing products to be assembled can become mechanical drafters. They are
responsible for creating exact models piece by piece with detailed construction
instructions. Architectural draftsmen create floor plans for buildings based on
the specifications of builders. They also design highways and railroads before
construction begins. Government drawers/drafters create plans for military
vehicles and work under strict security clearance. Electronic drafters are
responsible for laying out wiring plans for buildings and machines, a job that
requires extensive training. Aerospace draftsmen make drawings of airplanes,
helicopters, satellites, and even spacecraft. Once a draftsman has studied in
their chosen field for several years, they may choose to obtain a
Master's degree . Having done so, they can
then enter the field of an architect, engineer, or another higher-paying field.
A career as a draftsman
offers excellent chances to increase ones pay and skills, depending on how
ambitious a person is. The estimated annual income for a general draftsman is
$59,000, with an estimated fifteen-percent increase in pay by 2010. With
further study to hone job skills, a drafter can reasonably expect to double
that amount over the life of the profession. Programs are designed so that any
weak areas in math or drawing can be improved, and programs can be done at a
student's own pace. Thus, almost any devoted student can master the skills of
drafting with time and obtain the skills for a rewarding life-long
career.
For people looking to
combine artistic talent and math skills in a career, becoming a draftsman is an
ideal choice. With a foundation of drafting education, specializations in
architecture, electronic design, and various other fields can be obtained. Not
only can this job offer a creative outlet, but it can also provide an impressive
income. Draftsmen can find an employment with a company or start their own
business once they have obtained a degree. With all of the opportunities for
advancement in this career, it is worth considering for anyone who is looking
for a practical way to apply their creative side.
What is a Draftsman?
A draftsman's job is to turn a design idea into an accurate
picture, whether it is a scaled-down floor plan for a building or a diagram for
a machine. The drawings that a draftsman creates serve as guides for builders
and manufacturers, so precision is necessary. Although blueprints are now
considered out-of-date, draftsmen create their modern relatives. Teams of
drafters with different specializations work together on projects, sometimes
drawing by hand but more often through the use of drafting computer software.
To be a draftsman, an ability to see all sides of an object (or 3-D vision) and
strong math skills are
necessary.
Study Options
In the past, draftsmen obtained career
training at technical schools or through community college programs. However, the popularity of
computer-based learning has led to distance educationdrafting courses, which allow students
to study at hometo obtain a degree of equal quality to
on-campus programs. Both options have benefits for certain types of students.
For example, a person who prefers the physical presence and immediate feedback
of instructors will excel in tech school program. Those who enjoy working
independently and have the discipline to devote time to daily study may prefer a
home-base degree program. Either way, obtaining a drafting
degree is very affordable in comparison to a university education, with
distance education classes being cheapest. In both
cases, student loans can be taken out for accredited courses.
Degree
Requirements
Drafting students begin their degree program by reviewing
mathematical concepts, beginning with basics like adding,
subtracting, multiplication, division, and fractions. The course then
progresses into covering geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. These concepts
are fundamental for learning to create accurate diagrams scaled up or down
depending on the size of the project. Next, mechanical drawing and freehand
lettering are taught. Students learn how to use templates and specialized
measuring tools to create plans on paper. Tools studied include compasses,
protractors, professional pencils of various widths and shades, drafting paper,
and French curves. All work is done on a drafting table, which sits at an angle
and has special lighting. A draftsman in training also memorizes various
formulas used for manually creating sketches. Once these techniques have been
mastered, the student learns how to use a computer aided design (CAD) program.
This software is a modern invention designed to save draftsmen time and to
create hard copies of drafts. Basic programs take between two and four years,
depending on the institution with which a student studies.
Specializations
Having completed the basic drafting
program, students can move on to a chosen specialization. Draftsmen interested
in designing products to be assembled can become mechanical drafters. They are
responsible for creating exact models piece by piece with detailed construction
instructions. Architectural draftsmen create floor plans for buildings based on
the specifications of builders. They also design highways and railroads before
construction begins. Government drawers/drafters create plans for military
vehicles and work under strict security clearance. Electronic drafters are
responsible for laying out wiring plans for buildings and machines, a job that
requires extensive training. Aerospace draftsmen make drawings of airplanes,
helicopters, satellites, and even spacecraft. Once a draftsman has studied in
their chosen field for several years, they may choose to obtain a
Master's degree . Having done so, they can
then enter the field of an architect, engineer, or another higher-paying field.
A career as a draftsman
offers excellent chances to increase ones pay and skills, depending on how
ambitious a person is. The estimated annual income for a general draftsman is
$59,000, with an estimated fifteen-percent increase in pay by 2010. With
further study to hone job skills, a drafter can reasonably expect to double
that amount over the life of the profession. Programs are designed so that any
weak areas in math or drawing can be improved, and programs can be done at a
student's own pace. Thus, almost any devoted student can master the skills of
drafting with time and obtain the skills for a rewarding life-long
career.
