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I’ve been reading some previous postings on CAD (and lack of qualtity work), and have a question: How detailed do these plans get? Do they list every stud, post, and vent stack? Or are they more generic sketches? Who creates them? Is it possible to make a living by just creating (good) building plans on CAD?
The reason I ask is that I’ve been doing mechanical CAD work for about 15 years, and am looking into starting my own business doing CAD drawings. I’m used to detailing *everything*, right down to the fasteners, but I’m sure we don’t need to show nail patterns. I am having difficulty finding a good source of information on acceptable drafting practices for residential / light industrial building to practice the transition from precision mechanical to construction. I have progressed to the point that I now teach / consult in CAD, but would like to do some architectural or structural work on the side. Any ideas?
P.S. In regards to another post about lousy CAD drawings, 99% of the time, it’s the operator. I started out on the board and still try to maintain that quality of work, but CAD will never make you a better drafter, it’s just another tool to use. Just my $.02…
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Coyote,
Check around some of the sites...they may let you see what thy're working with..ask questions, are they happy with the detail etc..but your biggest problem will be technical knowledge. If you are used to mechanical drafting, architectural is another world, and nothing beats experience. In my opinion the best draftsmen have done a few years on site and know how a building goes together.A case in point is the "proffesional " draftsmen that drew that plans for a set of apartments that we are currently working on. This joker wouldn't know if his bum was on fire, and has made stupid costly mistakes:eg. drawing the roof pitch at 20 deg but noting it as 25 deg. Looks fine on paper 'till you go to build it.
mark
*Coyote - Do you have any experience or training designing buildings? Architecture is the grandest of the arts, far more than the ability to draft. That's why so many folks complain about bad architects - everybody with a computer and a CAD program thinks they can design a building. My $.02. - jb
*Coyote:Around here there are architectural design firms (not architects) that have sample plan sets for people (prospective customers) to look at. Their charges go for about 2k or 3k for a basic set of custom plans - maybe 10 pages - or maybe $500 to purchase an existing plan set. Perhaps you could check one of these type places.As far as level of detail - depends what someone wants (to pay for) - a set of house plans may have anywhere between 5 and 25 pages. Nails/studs are not shown, except in specific specs generated by a PE - ie "Each rafter to be attached with min 3 12p nails at each end." and "Header to be supported by 3 jack studs at each end".
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Coyote:
As Matt mentions, sounds like you may be able to step into a firm that does stock (off the shelf) home plans. Beware: most of these "services" are in one or two cities (my experience is that is is all 'done' by mail order). These plans rely on the contractor to apply his knowledge of homebuilding and his knowledge of the governing building code to complete the project.
Though other oppurtunities surely exist, inorder to do other types of projects (you mentioned "industrial") you need to know more than CAD. CAD is just what is getting USED to put the thoughts/directives down on paper, right?
The next basic 'plan preparing' that I can think of is in preparation of Site Plans for "Approval" by the local government. This could be in Residential or Commercial. But you need some knowledge/familiarity with Zoning Ordinanaces, and Planning bodies. Knowledge of Easements and other Site Restrictions.
There are some people that work at Architectural or Engineering Firms that are more along the lines of what I'd call a converter, a person that enters graphic information into the digital format. Sometimes these people do quite well if they are real 'computer geeks' (no derrogatory meaning intended). But as was stated by others, it seems to me that this work has to be somewhat supervised if you have no real time experience or professional training.
How'about calling someone to see about Internships?
Good Luck.
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Coyote
I make my living as a mechanical engineer and I've been using CAD programs for the past 10 years.I do contracts for Pratt & Whitney,Bell Helicopter,Bombardier to name a few.I know about 10 different CAD programs ranging from 3D CATIA to PRO ENGINEER.I work for myself so I have to know what I'm doing.The reason why I logon to these discussion at FH is because "I'M NOT AN ARCHITECT".Every discipline has its standards and rules that you have to live by.It's not how you make a drawing but what information you put on it.If you want to be an architect and do home designs for a living, learn architecture first(if you don't allready know it).This way you can avoid lawsuits and pi#@!ing people off.So I would have to agree with everyone.
All the best in your endeavors!
Gaby
P.S I don't mean to be a pain in the rear but can anyone give me some advice on my last post? "rigid insulation and condensation"
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Thanks for the input!
As many of you have eloquently noted, being a competent CAD jockey (as we are usually known), or a mechanical designer (which is my title) doesn't make you an architect. Perhaps to clarify the situation, I have done a great deal of structural work, but it's been welded steel structures for industrial applications. Not exactly residential / light industrial.
I have seen 'drafting services' advertising at local home shows and wondered if they really knew what they were doing and perhaps I could learn to do that someday. Looks nice, but I see I'll need to get some relevant experience first.
Also wanted to get some idea of standards in case I ever get to design my dream home (someday), and make it easier on the architect by giving them a concept CAD model. I think I'll start out by seeing if I can pick up some simple CAD work from some local architectural firms and see how it goes.
Thanks again!
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I've been reading some previous postings on CAD (and lack of qualtity work), and have a question: How detailed do these plans get? Do they list every stud, post, and vent stack? Or are they more generic sketches? Who creates them? Is it possible to make a living by just creating (good) building plans on CAD?
The reason I ask is that I've been doing mechanical CAD work for about 15 years, and am looking into starting my own business doing CAD drawings. I'm used to detailing *everything*, right down to the fasteners, but I'm sure we don't need to show nail patterns. I am having difficulty finding a good source of information on acceptable drafting practices for residential / light industrial building to practice the transition from precision mechanical to construction. I have progressed to the point that I now teach / consult in CAD, but would like to do some architectural or structural work on the side. Any ideas?
P.S. In regards to another post about lousy CAD drawings, 99% of the time, it's the operator. I started out on the board and still try to maintain that quality of work, but CAD will never make you a better drafter, it's just another tool to use. Just my $.02...