Engineered Efficiency offers Unlimited Live Training

While I personally thought Autodesk would announce next (not this) release would be the final release of Land Desktop, the announcement itself really comes as no surprise. Since the Technology Preview release of 2004, Civil 3D has evolved from a really cool new technology to a technology now able to sustain real-world design. For firms still using Land Desktop, switching to Civil 3D has less to do with the technical abilities of the software, and more to do with the cultural paradigm and the raw cost.

Civil 3D is not an incremental upgrade to Land Desktop; it’s a replacement for Land Desktop. For that reason many firms still have weighed Civil 3D vs LDT, and simply decided to stay on LDT subscribing to the notion “if it aint broke, don’t fix it”. More often than not that argument is code for, we’re not willing to commit to the hours upon hours of training our staff will need to be productive on Civil 3D. While Civil 3D certainly has the potential to save lots of time [money] in the long run, it’s difficult to convince management to forgo the necessary cost of training.

News of a reseller offering training is far from monumental. Something monumental would be a reseller offering unlimited live training to their customers. That’s exactly the announcement Engineered Efficiency recently made. EE CivilAccess and EE GuidedAccess customers will have the opportunity to enjoy unlimited free access to an impressive curriculum including; Core Concepts; Residential Design; Site Design; Transportation (local roads); Survey; Styles; Data Management; and Workflows.

Something especially appealing to those migrating from Land Desktop is the other services included in the EE CivilAccess and EE GuidedAccess portfolios. In addition to unlimited instructor led training, EE customers receive their impressive ProPak Base [Express Tools for C3D], access to an exclusive knowledge base, and support tokens. Their GuidedAccess offering provides a 5-step implementation, including the all important pilot project mentoring. The folks over at Engineered Efficiency have all but ignored the conventional reseller model, offering their clients premium services at an affordable price.

To learn more about EE’s impressive offering check out their website at www.eng-eff.com.

AutoCAD 2011 No Experience Required – Now Available

Over the last several months you’ve probably heard me talk about (sometimes a little too much) my “upcoming” book, AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required. It’s with great excitement that I finally get to announce AutoCAD No Experience Required is no longer “upcoming”; it’s now available from a book retailer near you!


AutoCAD No Experience Required is both a tutorial, and Autodesk Official Training Guide aimed at empowering novices to acquire the necessary skills to work in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT immediately. The book is structured such that readers start with a blank drawing, and by following a series of concise explanations and step-by-step tutorials creates a complete plan set, including a 3D model of a summer cabin.

Since AutoCAD No Experience Required takes you from project start to project finish, readers also have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date techniques, tactics, industry standards, and methods. For example, the increasingly popular U.S. National CAD Standards are applied throughout the book.

AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required was named an Autodesk Official Training Guide, and can be found from most major book retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you own an Amazon Kindle Device, or have the Amazon Kindle application installed on your computer and/or smartphone (iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry), you can also pick up the Amazon Kindle Version of AutoCAD NER.

Steel prices in India may fall by Rs 1,000 per tn in July

NEW DELHI (Commodity Online): India’s domestic steel prices may come down by Rs 1,000 a tonne in July due to sluggish demand mainly from the construction and infrastructure space.

According to steel secretary Atul Chaturvedi, in July, steel prices are likely to fall by Rs 1,000 a tonne mainly due to lack of demand from infrastructure firms amid the monsoon season.

Domestic steel makers are yet to announce any price changes of their products. High cost of raw material, fall in demand and cheaper global rates are putting pressure on domestic steel prices and analysts say the trend could well hit the margins of domestic companies in the current quarter.

The July-September period will see erosion of profitability of steel companies as the gloomy demand scenario would prevent them from hiking rates amid high input cost pressure. He described the second quarter as the weakest link for the industry in the current fiscal.

Steel firms have seen prices coming down by up to Rs 6,000 a tonne to around Rs 27,000-33,000 a tonne in past few months as construction work slowed down ahead of monsoon.

Prices of raw material, coking coal and iron ore, are at present ruling around 50-100 per cent high. Spot iron ore prices are ruling at around USD 100-115 a tonne and coking coal prices at around USD 185 a tonne level.

Anticipating a hit on their bottomline, steel makers like Tata Steel, Essar Steel and JSW Steel are looking at increasing price in some segments in the current month.

Tata Steel, the world’s sixth largest steel producer, hinted at increasing the prices of steel. The company said the rise in the input costs would be passed on to the customers.

Globally, raw material prices have gone up. If producers don’t pass on the price increase, their margins will be affected. We are hoping that we’ll pass on the increase in raw material cost.

Though the demand for steel both in the domestic and international markets is growing, the cheap imports from China, which has overcapacity, continues to be a challenge for Indian firms.

Tata Steel said there are positive trends in the international markets such as the U.S. and Europe. China has overcapacity and we anticipate that the cheap imports will continue. It will have an impact on the domestic market.

Recently, the state-run National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has increased the prices of iron ore by 11 per cent based on the international market trends. The company has indicated that prices would be revised on a quarterly basis.

AutoCAD

Design and shape the world around you with the powerful, flexible features found in AutoCAD® design and documentation software, one of the world’s leading 2D and 3D CAD tools. Speed documentation, share ideas seamlessly, and explore ideas more intuitively in 3D. With thousands of available add-ons, AutoCAD design software provides the ultimate in flexibility, customized for your specific needs. It’s time to take design further. It’s time for AutoCAD.

Architecture, Engineering & Construction

    * 3D/2D ShareNow: share your designs with others, in one click
    * Bridge Modeler for AutoCAD Civil 3D: create bridges from Civil 3D objects
    * Autodesk Showroom: accessorize with real products and photorealistic results
    * Bluestreak Project Collaboration: collaborate with project group members
    * Butterfly DWG Editing: edit drawing files using your web browser
    * CommunityCommands for AutoCAD: discover commands from the community
    * Firefox Add-on: embed DWF files in HTML pages and view with Firefox
    * Freewheel DWF Collaboration: view and review using the cloud
    * Google Earth Extension: view your drawings in Google Earth
    * Locate Design Content with Snap: find design content anywhere
    * Neon Cloud Rendering Service: render your models via the cloud
    * Newport 3D Storytelling: real-time 3D storybuilding for architects
    * Plugin of the Month: utilities from ADN members including source code
    * Point Cloud Tool for 3ds Max/3ds Max Design: turn laser scans into models
    * Solar Radiation Tech Preview for Revit: analyze designs for solar radiation
    * STL Exporter: export Revit models to 3D printers
    * Try AutoCAD over Web via Twitch: trial applications over the internet

Manufacturing

    * 2D to 3D Tool: convert 2D data to 3D models
    * 3D/2D ShareNow: share your designs with others, in one click
    * Butterfly DWG Editing: edit drawing files using your web browser
    * CommunityCommands for AutoCAD: discover commands from the community
    * Feature Recognition: STEP, SAT, or IGES solids to Inventor models
    * Firefox Add-on: embed DWF files in HTML pages and view with Firefox
    * Freewheel DWF Collaboration: view and review using the cloud
    * Inventor Fusion Technology Preview: unite direct and parametric workflows
    * Krypton feedback for Inventor/SolidWorks: instant feedback dashboard
    * Locate Design Content with Snap: find design content anywhere
    * Mesh Enabler for Inventor: work with imported meshes in Inventor
    * Neon Cloud Rendering Service: render your models via the cloud
    * Plugin of the Month: utilities from ADN members including source code
    * Rhino Import Translator: directly import Rhino files into Autodesk Inventor
    * Sustainable Materials Assistant: assess sustainability of your designs
    * Try Inventor over Web via Twitch: trial applications over the internet

Media & Entertainment

    * Firefox Add-on: embed DWF files in HTML pages and view with Firefox
    * Freewheel DWF Collaboration: view and review using the cloud
    * Newport 3D Storytelling: real-time 3D storybuilding for architects
    * Point Cloud Tool for 3ds Max/3ds Max Design: turn laser scans into models
    * Try Maya over Web via Twitch: trial applications over the internet

Education

    * 3D/2D ShareNow: share your designs with others, in one click
    * Autodesk Showroom: accessorize with real products and photorealistic results
    * Bluesteak Project Collaboration: collaborate with project group members
    * Butterfly DWG Editing: edit drawing files using your web browser
    * CommunityCommands for AutoCAD: discover commands from the community
    * Freewheel DWF Collaboration: view and review using the cloud
    * Multitouch HCI: manipulate designs without a mouse or keyboard
    * Plugin of the Month: utilities from ADN members including source code
    * Locate Design Content with Snap: find design content anywhere
    * Try Applications over Web via Twitch: trial applications over the internet

Mechanical Engineering Scholarships

Work in Aviation or Automotive Industries

Students interested in Mechanical Engineering degrees must have an interest and or aptitude for mechanical things. The major is pretty much what it sounds like. Students learn about mechanical systems, all types of engines and machinery especially their applications in industry.

Mechanical Engineers often work in the automotive and airlines industries because of their abilities with engines and large mechanical systems.

College Scholarships

Florida International University has a large Engineering and Computing Department, which sponsors dozens of scholarships. The Southern Gear and Machine, Inc. Scholarship, however, is specifically designed for Mechanical Engineering students. Applicants must be residents of Dade County and be able to prove financial need as well as the ability to perform academically.

West Virginia University Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department offers students in the mechanical engineering major nearly two-dozen scholarships. Among them:

* Amelia Earhart Scholarship Award for Women is given to an outstanding graduate level female student in the department.
* The Hansen Inc. Scholarship awards $800 to students in their third or fourth year of undergraduate studies or their graduate program.

Mechanical Engineering students enrolled at the Western Michigan University may be interested in the Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restorers Club Scholarship. Qualified applicants must be majoring in mechanical engineering, but be concentrating on automotive courses and willing to consider a career in automotive restoration. $500 available.

Professional Organizations

HENAAC, Inc. encourages and supports Hispanics in engineering. A big part of the organization’s mission is to make sure the next generation is covered as well. Thanks to generous support from large corporate partners the organization is instrumental in extending thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to deserving Hispanic students in engineering programs in accredited programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to be considered for all awards:

* Daimler-Chrysler funds a scholarship for mechanical engineering students with a demonstrated talent in the major and high academic scores.
* Ford Motor Company scholarships go to Hispanic students in mechanical engineering. Applicants must have GPAs of at least 3.0.
* Lockheed Martin Corporation rewards those mechanical engineering students who are at the top of their class academically.
* Northrop Grumman Corporation scholarships are awarded to students with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
* Shaw Industries scholarships are available to those students attending mechanical engineering programs in the Southeast region of the U.S.

The National Society of Black Engineers sponsors dozens of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in engineering. Like other minority students and women, African Americans have been tragically underrepresented in the engineering professions:

* Johnson and Johnson awards over a dozen scholarships to the tune of $1500 to undergraduate students pursuing any number of engineering degrees, including mechanical engineering. Qualified applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.2 and be genuinely open to a career with Johnson and Johnson.
* The GE “Lloyd Trotter” African American Forum Scholarship is awarded to those students in their third or fourth year. Eligible applicants must have a high GPA and be active in the NSBE. Awards are $2500.

Scholarships from the Society of Women Engineers are funded in large part by large industrial and manufacturing corporations. Women are also considered a minority in a field such as engineering and have been underrepresented until recently. Applicants must consider that scholarships require top academic scores, and that many of the sponsoring companies are also looking to employ the next wave of talented engineers. These criteria alone make these programs extremely competitive. Awards designed for women studying Mechanical Engineering are funded by such corporations as Lockheed Martin, DuPont, GE, and Chevron to name only a few. Scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $6,000.

Manufacturing Engineering Scholarships

Students pursuing a major in manufacturing engineering receive core curriculum in science and mathematics. Within the specialty students study more focused components of a manufacturing environment including technological and production processes associated with all aspects of manufacturing.


The job of a Manufacturing Engineer includes designing, analyzing and implementing innovative systems and processes that streamline the production of materials and goods. Professionals may be asked to consider manufacturing from a wide perspective, including financial, technical, and labor related aspects.


Part of the mission behind the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is to provide monetary and professional support to member students. To those ends the organization sponsors a heady array of scholarships for students at all levels of manufacturing engineering studies. A few include:


Caterpillar Scholars Awards are offered to high school seniors enrolling in a manufacturing engineering major at a four-year college. Preference is given to minority students with proven academic talent.
Phoenix Scholarships go to students pursuing manufacturing engineering in a college in Arizona.
E. Wayne Kay Community College Scholarships are available to manufacturing engineering students attending a two-year community college program. Eligible applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA to be considered.
High school students who already are engaged in manufacturing engineering activities and are members of the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) not only have access to extracurricular know-how and industry-related activities, but they also are eligible for scholarships. The Next Generation Scholarship Fund is designed to attract those graduating high school students with superior academic aptitude especially in engineering.


College Scholarships


The College of Engineering and Architecture at the University of North Dakota offers scholarships relative to students in the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering program. Most of the departmental scholarships are available to upper level and graduate students, including the Helgason Scholarship. Incoming students must apply for general academic or financial scholarships through the Financial Aid Department.


Wayne State University offers students scholarships through the department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Students must write an essay outlining their career goals as well as include letters of recommendation from faculty and a professional resume. Applicants being considered for the awards may also be subject to an interview.


A few of the nearly dozen scholarships sponsored by the College of Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Stout are:


Rath Foundation Scholarships are awarded to new or transfer students who are at the top of their class academically. Up to $6,000 possible.
An upper level manufacturing engineering student with an internship already under his or her belt may qualify for the John Entorf Scholarship. Awards are up to $2,000.
3M Wisconsin Community Affairs Council Scholarships are specifically designed for students in at least their junior year of the ME program. Awards are $1,000.
Minority Scholarships


Traditionally minority students have been underrepresented in the sciences and engineering fields. For this reason minority students, including women, will find an almost endless array of scholarships all designed to offer the best support possible: money.


The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) annually awards well over 100 scholarships to female students pursuing degrees in an accredited engineering program. Applicants may be undergraduate or graduate students.


The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) offers dozens of scholarships funded by generous corporate sponsors like ExxonMobil, Delta Airlines and Northrop Grumman. In most cases applicants must demonstrate above average academic talents in the major.


The American Indian Science and Engineering Society sponsors scholarships for students majoring in an array of engineering degrees, including manufacturing engineering. Applicants must be ready to offer a Certificate of Indian Blood along with other specified criteria.