Why do you need to learn AutoCAD?

7 Reasons Why You Need to Learn How to Use AutoCAD

Approximately a hundred years ago, the world was plunged into the industrial age which saw giants like John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford change the way people worked manufactured items as well as lived in those days. It goes without saying that these great men who took advantage of this age gained great personal wealth and also left their footprints in the sand of time for humanity to emulate.

And once again, the world has found itself in another golden age—the tech age—where flawless design and the ability to create innovative items or processes for doing things is king. This makes it safe to say that developing your ability to design creative innovations can pave the way to success for every individual motivated enough to master the craft of design. So how can learning AutoCAD help you be successful?

 

Benefits of learning AutoCAD

Gaining a Craft

The ability to design with AutoCAD is definitely a craft that gives you the needed technical expertise needed to pursue a professional career in various fields—engineering, architecture, interior design, manufacturing, project management etc.—were organization and aesthetic design are king. With this skill, you can take on designing projects as either a hobby or a source of income to supplement your core source of income.

 

Choosing a Profession

 

As a prospective student of architecture, engineering, and interior design, a simple search on pre-requisite subjects for studying these courses will include the need to be AutoCAD literate. Also, AutoCAD as a course of study will definitely be encountered down the line when studying these courses.  Therefore, pursuing a professional course in architecture and engineering is definitely a reason to be a student of AutoCAD. 

 

Getting Paid

Having the ability to design working prototypes of engineering components as well as draft architectural plans are skills that can easily be monetized due to the high demand for design professionals in these industry verticals. Therefore, for those looking to kick-start a career where you can earn a good living as a technical designer, then learning the basics of AutoCAD should be your first step in building an impressive working portfolio. Consequently, you can then seek jobs on freelancing platforms like Upwork and freelancer.com, where the demand for designers is high.

 

Taking Up Additive Manufacturing

3D printing which just happens to be the rave of the manufacturing industry relies heavily on CAD designs for models that can be used as a prototype for printing objects. This reliance is due to the very high level of accuracy using AutoCAD brings to designing a model. Therefore, individuals who plan to 3D print either domestic or intricate objects need to definitely work on their CAD modeling abilities to simplify the additive manufacturing process.

 

Building the Foundation for Mastering other CAD Interfaces

The minimalistic interface AutoCAD presents makes learning how to use its design tools quite easily. But more importantly, having a comprehensive knowledge of the AutoCAD interface makes learning to use more advanced CAD software applications far easier than if you were starting from scratch. Therefore knowledge of AutoCAD can transfer itself to using Microstation, Solid Works, Solid Edge among others.

 H

Furniture Designing and Arrangement

For most people who have visited Ikea’s online store and tried to use its furniture arrangement software to pick furniture from its inventory and arrange it to meet your specific aesthetic taste, that experience might be your first with a CAD application. Now, Imagine having the ability to design your own furniture right from scratch, design a virtual room with the exact dimensions of your physical room and arranging this furniture to meet your exact requirements would feel.

This and much more are some of the tasks you can accomplish with the right knowledge of AutoCAD. Furniture manufactures and interior decorators can also take advantage of the creativity AutoCAD offers to create prototypes and designs for their clients before proceeding to manufacture or design the actual product or room.

 

Teaching Your Kids to be productive

With the advent of smart devices and customized personal computers for kids, the development of applications designed to teach kids how to accomplish certain tasks has become rampant and the field of computer-aided design has not been left out. Autodesk has developed apps that can create interfaces that look just like its more advanced designed software the AutoCAD for kids and having some knowledge of AutoCAD is definitely required to use these apps. Therefore as a parent, understanding the practical uses of the software gives you the knowledge required to teach your kid thereby introducing him or her to pursuing a career in engineering or architecture.

 source of information : https://tutorial45.com/7-reasons-to-learn-how-to-use-autocad/#:~:text=Gaining%20a%20Craft%20The%20ability%20to%20design%20with,management%20etc.%E2%80%94were%20organization%20and%20aesthetic%20design%20are%20king. H

Capacitor Switching in APFC Panels

Capacitor Switching in APFC Panels

       The switching of capacitor banks is a special and challenging application in Automatic Power Factor Correction (APFC) panels. The selection of appropriate switching device for such applications is based on two criteria:

® Ability to carry rated capacitor current continuously

® Ability to make the peak-inrush current of capacitor

             It is simple to calculate the capacitor rated current and select the switching device to be able to carry rated capacitor current (2.5 to 3 times the capacitor rated current to take care of overload, harmonics, supply voltage variation and capacitor value tolerance). However, it is a little difficult to select the switching device which is able to make the peak- inrush current. This is because the peak inrush current for capacitor switching application depends upon various factors such as:

® The inductance of the network (including cables, switchgears and transformer)

® Thetransformer power rating and % impedance ® Methods used for power factor correction: O fixed capacitor bank

O multi-stage capacitor bank with steps of equal ratings

O multi-stage capacitor bank with steps of unequal ratings

® |n multi-stage capacitor bank, the nos. and rating of steps already switched on

In most of the installations, the multi-stage capacitor banks are used with steps of unequal ratings. The bigger steps of higher kVAr ratings being switched on initially and smaller steps are switched on periodically, for achieving the targeted power factor. In such cases, the value of inrush-current peak will be far higher and hence the smaller capacitors will be heavily stressed.

Capacitor switching can be done by various ways such as:

Power contactor:

® Normal power contactors will simply allow the inrush current to flow through them and because of this, contactors and capacitors are heavily stressed. Contactor selection should be such that

it withstands the heavy inrush current for which some amount of derating would be required.

® Power contactors should be used along with inrush current limiting reactors, which will increase the cost and size of the APFC panel.

® |Instead of de-rating power contactors and using current limiting reactors, capacitor duty contactors shall be used.

Capacitor duty contactor:

® MO C range of capacitor duty contactors can be used to limitthe inrush current to less than 10*|.

® (Capacitor duty contactors have pre-contacts with currentlimiting resistors (of 4 Q).

® Capacitor duty contactors are employed where the frequency of switching is less i.e., the load fluctuation is not often. The capacitor requires atleast 60 seconds to discharge to a nominal value (50 V). So capacitor duty contactors cannot be used when load fluctuationis heavy.

® MO C contactors can be used for switching capacitors upto 80 kVArin each branch.

Thyristor switching module:

® TSMis used for dynamic power factor correction i.e., wherever the load fluctuation is heavy (welding, steel rolling, etc.)

® Rapid switching (5 ms) is possible with TSM along with Quick Discharge Resistor (QDR). Existing discharge resistor in capacitors shall be replaced with QDR.

® There will be no inrush current while using TSM (zero voltage switching and zero current switching). So frequent switching will not affect the life of capacitors and there may not be a need to use extra currentlimiting reactors.

® TSM has thermal cutoff, which will switch off when temperature exceeds beyond a certain limit. It will automatically switch on when optimum temperature is attained.

® Panel design becomes critical while using TSMs and adequate cooling arrangements need to be employed.

ESTIMATION OF BUILDING

ESTIMATION OF BUILDING

Any common man has one dream in life i.e. to construct his/her own dream home. However, before even planning to buy or starting construction work of their home, one has definite curiosity to know whether the cost will fit-in his/her budget. Estimate gives the approximate cost of construction which will help the owner/builder to decide whether the proposed work can be carried out with the available funds or at further disposal and then plan its details during construction.

The process of calculating the quantities (The quantity with reference to the measurement in the drawings, i.e. plans, elevation, section) and cost of various construction items i.e. excavation, concreting, masonry, plaster etc. of the project is called an estimate.

As the word suggests, it is an estimate of what the cost would be on completion. It can be based on “lump sum” i.e. thumb rule bases like plinth area or per sqft rate at the conceptual stage. Once plans are decided it has to be in details for its methodical & scientific planning and execution or say for right construction management and selection of materials. It will form the bases of so many decision and documents and will play an important role in the choice/selection of material as well as /construction technology.

Purpose of Estimate & Costing 

There are numbers of the purpose of estimate & costing. However, the major include as below:

(a) Administration Approval/For Taking in Principle Decision to go Ahead

To take in principle decision whether to go ahead with the house construction or not. Usually administration approval is necessary in government department. After obtaining, administrative approval technical sanction is given by competent authority, sanctioning funds for project/i.e. allowing funds. The lump sum area-based rate will give an idea whether with the funds available/ manageable the proposed building can be completed or not. Such estimates are based on area bases or per sqft bases or thumb rules.

(b) Selection of Construction Materials/Technology

Once in principle decision is taken, the design will be prepare with planning for materials & technology. Selection of right construction material is required for successful completion of the construction project. Estimate is majorly required to plan and to choose the right construction materials and also for deciding the right technology.  The plus or minus of each cost will help you to choose between alternate materials of varying cost i.e. vitrified tiles v/s marble, white washing/acrylic paint and so on. As the total cost will ultimately depend on the cost of selected materials, which are available in a wide range in the market.

(c) Required Quantity of Material 

Estimate is useful for estimating the quantity of materials which are required for the proposed construction work. So, materials can be bought and will be arranged as per estimated quantity during the given time limit, during the proposal of work depending upon their lead time. (As all materials are not available in the market in ready form/stocks)

(d) Labour Requirement

Estimate will also give you the required number of labour forces required for different categories of work, those will be employed to complete work within specified time. Estimate is also used for calculating the wages of labour, carpenter, Mazdoor, bhisti, skilled, unskilled mason etc. and to decide labour cost of different constructions items like excavation, masonry, concreting, plaster, painting etc.

(e) Equipment, Tools and Plants Requirement

This stage will help to determine the quantity and cost of tools, plants, machinery and equipment’s required to complete the work according to the project size/type. It may also include maintenance cost of various equipments, machinery and plants. Estimate also includes the lump sum and unit costs for loading, unloading and transportation cost of construction materials.

(f) To Plan Time

At this stage, the estimate can become very useful for finding out or calculating the completion time for the project, based on quantity or volume of work of different items, and also funds needed for each item. For completion of work, it is important to schedule time for each work items so as to complete work within the stipulated time limit.

                                                                                                    (g) Final Decision

At this stage, the owner/builder can make final decision depending upon final cost, whether to go ahead or not or make some changes in design/specification.

(h) Project Sanction

Estimate is used to accord final sanction and approve any construction project. The estimated cost is worked out so that the necessary funds can be arranged in a given time by the competent authority for efficient and successful completion. In case of private owner, one can plan for housing loan, if needed. The owner can take a decision whether to go for a project and also to decide whether to restrict or to change the size of project. This is normally done after completion of all basic drawings and designs.

                                                             (i) Cost Control

Budget is one of the most important aspects affecting any common person. Cost control is the main purpose of the estimation and costing. If you don’t have an estimate in your hand, you will not have any idea whether your building cost is increasing and you cannot control the cost. Also, sometimes due to lack of money during construction work, it may get stopped & the owner will be put in a difficult situation.                                                                        

(j) To Invite Tender/Quotations

At this stage, estimating and costing is used to invite tenders or quotations of different construction work items based on the estimated quantities of different construction items for execution of construction work and to finalize the contractor by comparing quantity with estimated quantity and rates/offers. It is also used for preparing bills for payment.

(k) Valuation

Estimate is very useful for the valuation (It is the technique of estimating or determining the fair market value of the property) of existing property such as building, or any other engineering structures, etc.

While preparing estimate, it is necessary to know what the purpose behind preparing an estimate. Estimate is prepared as per the requirements of the project in various stages, and it is very helpful to decide and control the budget.

Therefore, estimation and costing plays vital role for starting any construction work. Estimating and costing thus serves the number of purposes in the construction process including preparation and finalize of bids and cost control. The main purpose is to provide to volume of work for cost control and to see that the adequate options of materials are explored during the execution of the project.

തണുത്ത അന്തരീക്ഷം പ്രധാനം ചെയ്യുന്നതിൽ ശീതീകരണ സാമഗ്രികളെ സഹായിക്കുന്ന പ്രധാന ഘടകം

                                REFRIGERANTS

A refrigerant is a substance used in a heat cycle to transfer heat from one area, and remove it to another. Usually a gas at room temperature. Found in pretty much everything that cools, and sometimes in things that heat, most commonly air conditioners, fridges, freezers, and vehicle air conditioners. Traditionally, fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), were used as refrigerants, but they are being phased out because of their ozone depleting effects. Other common refrigerants used in various applications are ammonia, sulphur dioxide, and non-halogenated hydrocarbons such as propane. Most refrigerants found in end of life devices are ozone depleting and global warming inducing compounds.

Refrigerants use thermodynamic phenomena of phase changes, which help the gas to convert into liquid or the liquid to gas. Because of this remarkable ability, it can be used in many devices like ACs, refrigerators, freezers, cooling machines, etc.

Despite such usefulness, many of the refrigerants are responsible contributing to global warming. It is said and has been studied that refrigerants affect our environment adversely and slowly diminishing the layer of ozone. However, we will discuss regarding this issue some other time as today we are focusing on some common refrigerants available and refrigerant types.

TYPES OF REFRIGERANTS

The chemical arrangement of the refrigerants decides in which group it should be considered. As per the various manufacturers’ guidelines, there are four main refrigerant types:

1.    CFCs – Chlorofluorocarbons

2.    HCFCs – Hydro chlorofluorocarbons

3.    HFCs – Hydro fluorocarbons

4.    Natural Refrigerants

Gases like HC and CO2 are natural, but CFC, HCFC, HFC, etc. are considered under the synthetic class. Let us give you some details explaining each type of refrigerant.

1) CFCS – CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS

These are the refrigerants which contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. R11, R12, R115, etc. are included in CFC refrigerants. This type of coolant can be used for commercial as well as daily purposes. It was developed in the past – in the 30s – and at that time it was non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-reactive.

But in the early 70s, it was proved that it is hazardous for the layer of ozone and unfriendly for the environment. The chlorine atom splits the extra oxygen atoms in the composition of ozone, and so it is liable for ozone depletion. So, CFCs were banned in the late 80's because of adverse environmental effects. Nowadays, it is estimated that half of the total CFCs have been improved.

R11, R12, R13, R113, R114, R500, R502, R503 are the top refrigerants covered under the group of CFCs. Some of them are also known for the greenhouse gas effects.

2) HCFCS – HYDRO CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS

HCFCs were referred to as the substitute of CFCs. It contains hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. Of course, it is not like this group’s refrigerants are not at all affecting the layer of ozone, but they affect only around 10%, which is extremely less than the CFCs.

HCFCs are non-toxic, cheap, and competent. But yes, even if they do not harm the environment much, they are known as greenhouse gases! They can also deplete the ozone slowly, but continuously.

R22, R123, R124, R401A, R401B, R402A, R403B, R408A, R409A, R414B, R416A are the refrigerants which are covered under the group of HCFCs.

3) HFCS – HYDRO FLUOROCARBONS

These refrigerants do not include any particles of chlorine. So, they are not at all harmful to the environment and do not deplete the ozone layer. But just like any other refrigerant, they have some powerful impact on global warming as compared to natural refrigerants.

When there was the ban of HCFCs, this group comes in. It includes hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. So, if compared to other refrigerants, it has the lower potential of global warming.

R23, R134a, R404A, R407C, R410A, R417A, R422A, R422B, R422D, R507, R508B are included in the HFC group. This group of refrigerants is always in demand by refrigerant manufacturers because of its environment suitability.

4) NATURAL REFRIGERANTS

As the name suggests, natural refrigerants are completely natural. They are not created by any men like the other ones. They do not harm the nature, environment, or the ozone layer.

Moreover, they are quite inexpensive as compared to other refrigerants. Air, HC, ammonia, CO2, H2O, etc. are the examples of natural refrigerants. They have zero ozone depletion potential and negligible effects on global warming.

What are the most common refrigerants nowadays?

·         R134a (HFC)

·         R-12 (CFC)

·         R-410A (HFC)

·         R-22 (CFC)

·         R-404A (HFC)

This is the top common list of refrigerants. These refrigerants can also be used in HVAC equipment.