Early in my university studies, I worked on a group project focused on designing flexible accommodation for Indigenous communities in Australia. The project required both detailed planning and physical model building. My main contribution was creating the SolidWorks model of our tent design, which at the time was my first proper CAD drawing. This project marks the beginning of my journey with SolidWorks, a skill that has since become a significant part of both my academic and professional development.

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to significantly improve my CAD skills through my experience in the workplace. To demonstrate how far I’ve progressed, I’ve also included a spiral casing model I work with at my current job in NDT. While I didn’t create this original model, I regularly manipulate it to extract cross-sections, produce detailed technical drawings, and prepare specific parts for 3D printing. Comparing these two examples highlights the growth in my CAD abilities. From duplicating decking panels in a student project to now working with complex geometry and measuring weld thicknesses for intricate scan plans.