Meet our guest writers:
Mindaugas Petrikas
Hello! My name is Mindaugas Petrikas, better known as Gus due to my unpronounceable first name. I am an automotive and mechanical engineering graduate with weird hobbies and crazy dreams.
It all started with my passion for engineering and cars. I had this crazy idea to design and engineer a kit car when I was 16. Six years later I am still in pursuit of this ambition. I left Lithuania to study at the University of Bradford, to gain the knowledge about vehicle technology and engineering. Soon after that I found out that Autodesk 3dsmax and Autodesk Inventor were the tools I was looking for my whole life. And so it all began – countless nights spent experimenting with the software packages, doing research and learning. Three years later I was certified as an Autodesk Inventor 2012 Associate. I recently moved to London, to continue the development of the “Petrikas P2” (more info about it on my portfolio – www.petrikas.net) and, when the time is right, start the build. Currently I am looking for a company to whom I might be useful as an employee.
I enjoy simple things in life: coffee, spending time with friends, “making”, cycling, 3D CAD and photography. At the moment modelling, engineering and prototyping using the aforementioned software are my main hobbies. I find great pleasure in conceptualizing, designing and making my ideas visible to other people. Hopefully, someday, I will be able to put those ideas to good use.
Paul Munford
Paul Munford is the CAD/CAM manager at Halstock cabinet makers in the UK. Paul is a contributor to AUGIworld and D3D Magazine, and has been a speaker at Autodesk University for the last three years. Paul is a firm believer that your CAD software shouldn’t hinder your creativity or productivity and writes awesome tips, tricks and tutorials for AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor on his blog Cadsetterout.com.
Visit Cadsetterout for more awesome CAD tips!
Alex Fielder
I first remember seeing AutoCAD R10/R11 (I’m not sure which) on my Dad’s old 386 PC. It had a CRT which was as deep as it was wide for the CAD window, along with a separate screen for the command line, a huge digitizer and a “dongle”, the likes of which hasn’t been since. From that point on wards, and probably using R13/R14, I spent many an hour waiting for simple things to render – you know the drill, revolved wine glass shapes, bottles etc.
I moved into an engineering apprenticeship upon leaving school, at the same company I had carried out my work experience for when I was 15; my fondest memory of which was showing their 2D Draughtsman how to use some of the 3D tools in AutoCAD. He left there shortly afterwards to pursue 3D work, Oops. Since those days, I moved onto using AutoCAD 2000, 2004, 2006 and all of the most recent versions.
I discovered Autodesk Inventor in October 2008, which truly was a lightbulb moment for me, and in October 2012 I achieved Autodesk Certified Professional for Inventor 2013.
When I am not in the office I can be found online as I am an avid PC gamer, and on occasion I have been known to pull my bicycle out of the shed and go for a ride.
You an follow Alex on Twitter or connect with him via LinkedIn.