Neon sign combine electric power with gases that are sealed into hollow tubing that illuminates as different colors.
Many shops, restaurants, and other businesses depend on electric signs to advertise their products or services; hence, CAD employment is necessary in making its design and must have a superb presentation. Meanwhile, a sign that does not function properly cannot appeal to customers and may even result in a loss of revenue. Whether the defect is simply a burned-out bulb or a major breakdown, a service call is made to an electric-sign repair shop for prompt attention. Repairers drive to the location in trucks equipped with ladders and boom cranes that can reach tall signs or those placed high above the ground. They carry a supply of replacement parts, a variety of hand and power tools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, saws, and drills; and electric testing devices, including ammeters and voltmeters. The repairers inspect and test the sight to determine the cause of the malfunction. Many of the repairs are made on site. Burned-out bulbs and transformers are replaced, defective parts removed, new ones installed, and the sign rewired. Major repairs, such as broken neon tubing, must be made in the shop, in such cases; the repairers may have to remove the entire sign. To replace some burned-out parts, such as lamps or flashers in illuminated plastic signs, repairers may have to refer to wiring diagrams and charts. When the job is completed, repairers usually have to fill out a report that includes the date, location, and nature of the service call. They sometimes estimate the cost of service calls and may sell maintenance contracts to sign owners.
In the application of CAD designer jobs in making electric signs for public display and advertisement, this is often covered by service contracts. To prevent breakdowns and to keep the signs operating at peak efficiency the designer, as well as repairer, inspect them on a regular schedule. They clear away any debris or water that may have accumulated, tighten or weld parts that the wind may have loosened, and check, adjust, and lubricate motors, gears, bearings, and other parts of revolving signs. They also repaint beams, columns, or other framework, and they may repaint portions of the neon tubing to make the signs more readable.
In some large cities, electric sign designers and technicians drive a scheduled route in a company car to check out the appearance and operation of illuminated and animated signs through CAD jobs that their company has under service contract. They may change or improve the design, or make minor repairs, such as changing light bulbs, but generally they report faults to the service department so repairers may be sent out the next day to correct the problems. Repairers who work for sign manufacturers may help assemble signs when there are few service calls to make, and some repairers also install signs. Workers in large sign companies may specialize in one type of repair and be designated as sign electricians, neon-tube benders, sign sheet-metal workers, or plastic fabricators.
Educational and Training Requirements
Although to design and repair, like many other trades, does not have high educational requirements, employers generally prefer to hire high-school or vocational-school graduates. Course most helpful to students planning to enter this occupation include mathematics, science, electronics, blueprint reading, arts, and CAD training instructions.
Electric-sign designers and technicians may learn their trade in one of two ways: through informal on-the-job training or through apprenticeship programs, especially in auto CAD jobs in making design works. Most of them start as trainees, performing basic tasks under the guidance of experienced workers. Beginners work in the shop learning to cut and assemble metal and plastic signs, mount neon tubing, wire signs, and install electrical parts. Only after mastering sign construction are they permitted to accompany skilled repairers on service calls and learn repair and maintenance techniques. To become a fully qualified repairer takes at least four years of training and experience. Likewise, good color vision is mandatory for sign repairers, because electric wires are frequently identified by color. Handling tools requires manual dexterity and lifting transformers and other heavy equipment calls for physical strength. Repairers must not be afraid of heights, because they do much of their work while standing on ladders or from the baskets of boom trucks. As expected, all electric-sign repairers must have knowledge of the national electric codes. In addition, many states require that repairers be licensed through examinations in both theory and application.
Where to look for CAD jobs
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