Mechanical Drafter

Mechanical drafters prepare detail and assembly drawings of a wide variety of machinery and mechanical devices, indicating dimensions, fastening methods, and other requirements.

Drafters prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers to build everything from manufactured products, such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery, and spacecraft, to structures, such as houses, office buildings, and oil and gas pipelines. Their drawings provide visual guidelines, show the technical details of the products and structures, and specify dimensions, materials, and procedures.

Drafters fill in technical details, using drawings, rough sketches, specifications, codes, and calculations previously made by engineers, surveyors, architects, or scientists. For example, they use their knowledge of standardized building techniques to draw in the details of a structure.

Some drafters use their knowledge of engineering and manufacturing theory and standards to draw the parts of a machine in order to determine design elements, such as the numbers and kinds of fasteners needed to assemble the machine. Drafters use technical handbooks, tables, calculators, and computers to complete their work.

Mechanical drafters are drafting technologists and/or technicians who prepare engineering designs, drawings and related technical information, in multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers, or they may work independently. They are employed by consulting and construction companies, utility, resource and manufacturing companies, all levels of government and by a wide range of other establishments.

Drafting technologists and mechanical drafters may - throughout their career - perform some or all of the following duties:

• Develop and prepare engineering designs and drawings from preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets and other data
• Operate computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
• Develop and prepare design sketches
• Complete documentation packages and produce drawing sets
• Check and verify design drawings to conform to specifications and design data
• Write technical reports
• Prepare contracts and tender documents
• Prepare construction specifications, costs and material estimates
• Supervise and train other technologists, technicians and drafters.
• Operate computer-assisted drafting equipment or a conventional drafting station

The type and quality of postsecondary drafting programs vary considerably; prospective students should be careful in selecting a program. Opportunities should be best for individuals with at least 2 years of postsecondary training in drafting and considerable skill and experience using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) systems. Demand for particular drafting specialties varies geographically, depending on the needs of local industry.

Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a two- to three-year college program in engineering design and drafting technology, or in a related field is usually required for drafting and design technologists. Completion of a one- to two-year college program in drafting or Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or Four to five years of related experience plus completion of college or industry courses in drafting are usually required for drafting technicians. Trade certification for draftspersons is available, but voluntary in some areas. Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians may be required by employers. A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification. Senior and supervisory drafting and design technology workers require experience. Mobility is possible to civil, mechanical, electrical or other engineering design technologies through educational or work specialization.

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Industrial growth and increasingly complex design problems associated with new products and manufacturing processes will increase the demand for drafting services. Further, drafters are beginning to break out of the traditional drafting role and increasingly do work traditionally performed by engineers and architects, thus also increasing demand for drafters. However, the greater use of CADD equipment by drafters, as well as by architects and engineers, should limit demand for lesser skilled drafters, resulting in slower-than-average overall employment growth. Most job openings are expected to arise from the need to replace drafters who transfer to other occupations, leave the labor force, or retire.

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