{"id":14025,"date":"2022-02-16T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/solidedge\/?p=14025&preview=true&preview_id=14025"},"modified":"2026-03-26T07:36:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T11:36:40","slug":"austin-based-student-and-cnc-plasma-cutter-is-printing-her-own-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/solidedge\/austin-based-student-and-cnc-plasma-cutter-is-printing-her-own-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Sophia Valentine cuts a clear path with a CNC plasma cutter and Solid Edge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Computer-aided design (CAD) software has been changing industry design over the last 30 years. What used to be made at great expense in a large factory can now be done by sending your CAD model to a CNC plasma cutter table or 3D printer to create a prototype. Design and technical drawing are simplified across industries with the increased use of design software. Furthermore, the possibility of producing spare parts or customizing objects according to one\u2019s preferences are being offered more frequently. Maybe this is the reason why the interest in CAD, design, and additive manufacturing has also grown among young people worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Sophia Valentine, a self-taught CAD designer and metal artist on the rise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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20-year-old college student Sophia Valentine inherited her passion for design from her mother, a professional welder and welding instructor. Inspired by her mother’s craft, Sophia is following in her mother’s footsteps in her own unique way: she uses 2D CAD drawing, sketching, metalworking, and welding to create custom metal artwork. But unlike her mother who is professionally trained, Sophia’s impressive design and metalworking skills are completely self-taught. Sophia works at a local print shop in her hometown of Austin, Texas, where she manages her own CNC plasma cutter table. In her spare time, Sophia creates and sells metal artwork of her own, often working directly with customers to create unique pieces based on their preferences and ideas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sophia Valentine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We had the pleasure of connecting with Sohpia to understand how she taught herself to Solid Edge software, what inspired her to do so, and where she wants to go next…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was born in Austin, Texas, and I moved all over the country as a kid. I came back to Austin when I was 16 years old. My mom became a welder, graduated from Austin Community College, and taught welding after that. So, I definitely continued that in a different way. I work at South Austin Metals and I\u2019m going to school at University of Texas in San Marcos. I plan on graduating this spring with a degree in construction management.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n