LocostUSA.com

Hi, My 15 year old son has expressed a real interest in becoming an engineer. I'm assuming it'll be mechanical since he LOVES anything with wheels. He does very well in school and has been on the honour role for many years and has competed in math competitions and has done well. Before anyone labels him a geek , he also does VERY well with the popular girls and can swear like a sailor when he "thinks" it's appropriate .
Anyways, my question is,
What software would be good for him to learn on and still be useful in University, and the workforce.
Please keep in mind that we are *FAR* from wealthy .
Thanks,
Jeff
Any other things that I could introduce him to that might help him later on in life?

Hmm, hard work.

Try to keep him enjoying math and also science classes. Anything to do with projects that he finds interesting is a good idea. Projects teach you how to think and get to a goal. Start building a Locost! You can do a lot of research and learning for background on that project. Much smaller projects are good too.

I hesitate to recommend software. But if you want low cost learning about Linux fits the bill. You can run that on old computers and still do useful things. You can buy tiny computers for about $30 called "Arduino" that you can learn to program and control simple things with so he could learn electronics. Maybe some more people will chip in with ideas. Encourage him to come back and ask questions, we can point him places certainly.

The big things he needs are curiosity and the desire to do this. It's a rotten profession for someone who just thinks it will make a career. It can be a lot of fun and pay well if you enjoy it.

Thanks Horizenjob,
He's already running a couple of operating systems on his computer.
He loves math and science.
I'm starting my locost build soon beside his MG Midgt project. It looks like we'll both be running 2.3 turbo fords. I figure if I'm working beside him and not "over" him he's going to enjoy his project a little more. I'll help as much as he needs me but he'll be doing the work on his car. He works part time and has paid for a lot of his own parts and has helped himself to his fair share of mine .
I guess I really wanted to know more about drafting type software like CAD. Cad is expensive and I'm wondering if there is something more affordable, but similar? Thanks again,
Jeff

You can try sketchup, which has a free version and a relatively cheap paid version. AutoCAD has educational/student versions if I remember right, way way cheaper than the commercial versions. You may want to look into that (with him being a student and all...)

You can always try looking up open source CAD programs, I know there is quite a few kicking around.

And lastly, there's always a pirated version. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I don't see a moral or ethical problem with a kid screwing around with a pirated version. That's not a lost sale for the company, and if it is the catalyst that starts a career in that field, the software company will certainly benefit from it in the future.

I pirated my first graphics suite, but was very strict that anything I used it for was just to learn and have fun with, not for profit. I ended up taking some courses for graphics design and purchasing the software legally. Never would have happened without piracy.

Alibre is a decent 3D CAD package for not too much money. Solidworks and others offer inexpensive student versions. If he has an EE bent, look at some of the circuit design stuff available as demos. They cut the functionality as far as number of nodes, but for learning...just fine.
I have been in engineering for a really long time. Great field, underpaid for the amount you have to know...but very rewarding when actual products or machines work in front of your eyes and you can say..."I did that". Gives me a rush every time. 2 of my sons have taken this path as well.

Doesn't his high school offer Tech Ed courses that have CAD software and instruction available?

He should be able to learn that at school without buying anything.

progeCAD 2009 free version http://www.progesoft.com/ does autocad files. ..
Swap meets, scca events, anyplace you'll find people swapping stories, that'll fire up the imagination. Sounds like he's got the mental gymnastics part down now he just needs to see what it does.
MG Midget you say? A perfect entre` into the world of weekend racing where you go hiel for leather during the day then share tools and bbq at night. (don't be a fool, vulcanize your. ... nevermind )

Being able to drive to school with genuine, actually used by himself, racing numbers on the side of the car. ..PRICELESS!!

You guys are great. Thank you.
Jeff

Most of the high end packages AutoCAD, SolidWorks, etc offer student editions for a reasonable price. It is definitely worth looking into.

Thank you


Does anybody know how much processor and ram you need to run most of this type of software?? I'm pretty sure he's using Windows 7 and Aboontoo (I have no idea how to spell that )
Jeff

Anything less than 4 years old should be just fine. .. of course a bit more RAM is always a good thing

If his school offers a robotics program (either during school or after school) that will challenge him. It encompasses engineering, math, design, shop, computer programming, and thinking outside the box. My son has been in his school's robotics program for three years now and I am one of the adult mentors on the team. He will be team captain next year. It is sponsored by the First Robotics Competition (FRC). It is worth looking into. Start a team at his school if they don't have one. Also FRC offers nice college scholarships to the kids also. Russ

Ubuntu is a Linux based operating system. AutoCAD and Solidworks only run on Windows based operating systems and can run on XP onwards.

System requirements for AutoCAD: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=13784795
System requirements for Solidworks: http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/SystemRequirements.html

While both have some multi-threaded functionality, the solving process for both 2D and 3D modeling are very linear and having a multi-core processor does not provide significant performance gains. A mid-range dual-core processor with a couple of gig of ram and a decent video card should be fine for basic work. Solidworks uses OpenGL graphics language and not DirectX, so most of the high end video cards for gaming and graphic design won't offer any performance gain over a lower end video card. Also, Solidworks has the ability to use software video acceleration.

I would recommend Soldiworks over AutoCAD as the world of machine design has been and will continue to move to 3D. A 12 month student license for Solidworks is $150.

His highschool is a rural Canadian school. NO robotics or much of anything .
Jeff

FRC has programs all over the world. Some of the rural schools do better in competition because rural kids have a little more common since than the citified kids. Russ