In 2019, almost all mechanical and architectural drafting and other precision drawing is done using some kind of computer-based applications. For practical purposes in terms of repeatability, easy revision, portability, archiving, integration with analysis tools and a whole list of other things, computer-based design is superior. However, there is something satisfying about producing a really good drawing using a pencil, paper, and an assortment of precision drawing tools - it is functional art. For good or bad, board skills are rarely taught and are rapidly dying art form.
When I was an undergrad (1983-87), CAD was new and I really believed that the primitive systems I had seen were a passing fad. As a result, I dismissed the need to learn how to use such tools (which was a mistake) and I have yet to remedy that situation due to the fact that I will never be doing any kind of design work again. In fact, my Kinematic class was mostly solving machine kinematics problems graphically. Before computers, such solutions were faster and in some cases more accurate than grinding through an analytical solution. The advent of ubiquitous calculators and computers have rendered that skill moot, although I maintain that learning it probably yield a superior understanding of mechanical motion of rigid bodies.
My fascination with drafting tools and skills persists, though, as evidenced by my collection of 0.3mm mechanical pencils and (somewhere in storage) some interesting sets of vintage tools. I still use a minimal set of gear when drawing sketches and graphs as part of my solutions for math problems. Yeah, it's time-consuming overkill in some cases, but it's fun and leaves me with a better solution to review for later use.
When I was an undergrad (1983-87), CAD was new and I really believed that the primitive systems I had seen were a passing fad. As a result, I dismissed the need to learn how to use such tools (which was a mistake) and I have yet to remedy that situation due to the fact that I will never be doing any kind of design work again. In fact, my Kinematic class was mostly solving machine kinematics problems graphically. Before computers, such solutions were faster and in some cases more accurate than grinding through an analytical solution. The advent of ubiquitous calculators and computers have rendered that skill moot, although I maintain that learning it probably yield a superior understanding of mechanical motion of rigid bodies.
My fascination with drafting tools and skills persists, though, as evidenced by my collection of 0.3mm mechanical pencils and (somewhere in storage) some interesting sets of vintage tools. I still use a minimal set of gear when drawing sketches and graphs as part of my solutions for math problems. Yeah, it's time-consuming overkill in some cases, but it's fun and leaves me with a better solution to review for later use.
