Hi everyone,

 

I'm a new student to AutoCad 2009. My question and problem is

that I'm a dental lab tech (I make teeth). The world of dentistry is fast becoming digitalized, mouths are being scanned and digital impressions are being sent to cadcam machines to be finalized.

I am wanting to learn this from the ground up, maybe even program my own software.

This said, I signed up for a course at the local college (Autocad 2009)

thinking this would be a start. Talked with the teacher who said it really wouldn't be applicable to what I want to do. I wasn't convinced he really knew what I was talking about.

My question is: Is the class really going to be a waste of my time in this direction? If so what would my career options be if I continue to take the class (it looks interesting but I want to do something with it). I'm more artistically inclined than engineering.

I also need to know how to get started on the dental path. There are cad cam machines and programs out there for dental now but i want to learn to maybe program and design my own.

Any input would be appreciated!

 

Thank you,

Sherry

 

 

I was about to withdraw from class but my gut told me to check this out further.

 

I get  free signup to Auto Desk for tutorials and all for being a student.Any useful tutorials I could look at there?

I don't think the class I'm taking will get into the 3d modeling, mostly drafting stuff (Autocad 2009), but I agree  that it could be a starting point.

 

Where are the classes and what should I be reasearching, learning to set me in the right direction? A few of the companies that offer dental cad cam are Patterson (Cerec ),Sirona. This said, they're for crown and bridge and metal work, not dentures. Dentures are my area and I'd like to someday program software to this end . Cadcam dentures ! :-)

I need some info to head me in the right direction!

 

When you say everything starts with a cad drawing does that mean an image that is imported will become a cad drawing too?

 

Thanks,

Sherry 

 Are there jobs for people who take the cad class without any other direction such as engineering or electronics. Do you need the drafting class or are there places that would hire you and train you in what they do assuming you pass the cad classes?

 

So I'm a drafter after the course? :-)

Please go into more detail on the mechanical vs. architectural directions and what branches out from what.

There are a couple of ways to go with the classes. I plan to go through advanced CAD and maybe the proramming route. From there I'm an open book. Like I said I'm more artistic than math smart although dental is a combo of science and art. I'm also a jeweler  (a long time ago) think they have cadcam now. Just want to be realistic in my expectations.

After scanning the file becomes a 3d image on the screen that can be manipulated  using a program supplied with the machine by the company.You can build tooth structure on the image, then send info to cam machine to make tooth or

plaster model/ metal framework. They call it cadcam ?

All around though, I don't think it would hurt to take this basic cad course

now that I'm already enrolled