Why Use CAD (computer aided design) When Drawing Is Faster?

Usually every class has at least one person that is there to learn how to draw beautiful plans using CAD--with a nagging thought in the back of their head.  "This is great, but I think I'm faster drawing by hand."  I can relate.  I've been using RainCAD's CAD programs over 15 years, but there is a learning curve.

Do you enjoy snow skiing? Did you enjoy it the first day you tried? Did you ever say, "Why am I doing this?  It's cold, I'm tired and besides all that I'm already at the bottom of this dumb mountain. Why do I want to get on this scary tram just to come back down again?  I've thought about it now, and it's illogical!  Where's the lodge?"  If you never got over it, you missed out on a lot of enjoyment.

When you know what you're doing and you have practiced enough to execute your craft with speed, accuracy, taste and ease, well, it's a joy.  Until then, though, it's work.  As you know, we humans are not known for wanting to think, work or change.   CAD takes all three. 

But, if you're willing to pour yourself into it and stay with it long enough to master it, new vistas suddenly appear.  Keep in mind we're talking hours, not days, weeks or months.  

You learn that measuring a property is different for CAD than hand.  It's easier and faster.  There are simple ways to check yourself so you don't have to go back out to the site and re-measure something.  Once you draw the property, you realize that you can now consider more than one plan without having to redraw (we call redrawing sawing sawdust).  

The bottom line is I can't tell you CAD will be faster for you.  It is a lot faster for me and I sincerely believe it will be for you.  It does depend on you, though.  If you will invest yourself and commit to use CAD on several plans so you can internalize what you know, you'll be able to draw faster.  

That's not even the best part.  More later . . . 

To find out more about our CAD Class click here.

New CAD Class Approved

ceuWOW would like to announce that our new CAD Class, a 16 hour continuing education unit (CEU) class, has been approved by the TCEQ for Texas Licensed Irrigators.

We are holding the class in the major market areas of the state now. At this posting we still have room in the Houston and Austin classes. Classes are small due to the hands-on nature of the instruction, so enroll early.

The CAD Class teaches irrigators how to use RainCAD's latest software offering, Pro Contractor Studio.

The cost of the class is $275 for both days.

Designing the CAD Class

The past four days I've been hold up in a hotel in Fort Worth with one purpose in mind: Designing a CAD class that was something other than the same ol' type of class. I thought of every detail and every skill-set we wanted to convey and wrote it down on a Post-It note. I used the hotel's wall to start placing these benchmarks in order (right) and started the task of building slides to support it.

I hope you'll join us when we come to your town and let me know how we're doing. We are trying to make this class engaging and an experience that you will remember for a long time.

Remember this is specific to RainCAD's Pro Contractor Studio. It is not transferable to RainCAD 10. Call if you have questions: 866.728.9834 or doug.s@ceuwow.com.

CAD Class Sheduled for Temple Killeen Harker Heights

ceuWOW will be conducting a Computer Aided Design (CAD) class at the Ewing Irrigation shop in Harker Heights on February 11 and 12th. This two-day class will equip irrigation professionals to use RainCAD's latest tool, ProContractor Studio. RainCAD'sProContractor Studio will allow irrigators to comply with the new rules that went into effect in Texas on January 1, 2009.

It will also give Texas Irrigators the ability to easily prepare multiple layouts, giving their customers more options. This capability can lead to a "good, better, best" marketing plan that businesses have used to put themselves in competition with themselves.

Before ProContractor Studio, RainCAD's software sold for $500 to $900. But, this new program costs $30 per month. John DeCell, the owner of RainCAD, said, "A contractor can use [ProContractor Studio] as much as they want during that month. But if they reach a time during the off-season where they don't need it, they don't pay that month. The next month, they can reactivate." So it's an economical alternative.

If you are an irrigator in the Temple/Killeen/Harker Heights area that wants to bring your tool-set into the twenty-first century, join us on February 11-12. That's a Wednesday and Thursday. Both days are only $275.

You will leave equipped to make professional, beautiful and complete irrigation plans.

New Computer Aided Design (CAD) Class Offered

A convergence has occurred that has been the impetus for a new Computer Aided Design (CAD) class.

•The Texas law changed January 1, 2009 that requires a plan on every new sprinkler installation.

•RainCAD introduced a new, affordable and robust CAD package called ProContractor Studio.

We are teaching this software package in a 2-day class to ensure that each student "gets it" and "keeps it." We intend to give irrigators another tool to not only comply with the new regulations but also to separate their company from the competition. We have all been exposed to a marketing philosophy that was pioneered by Sears Roebuck--the "good-better-best" comparison. Hand drawing makes multiple options a huge time consumer. But, with CAD, it's much easier. For one thing, you don't have to draw the property over again. You can just lay out a different method of sprinkling. The automatic material takeoff makes bidding much easier.

We hope that Texas Irrigators will check out our web site and enroll. The cost is $275 and we are trying to get to the major market areas. If you can get a minimum of 10 folks together, we will come to you.

CeuWOW is committed to bringing excellent and relevant educational classes to Texas Irrigators. The new CAD Class is NOT for Texas CEU credit.