New To ASD 2011

[Mr Greg]

Hi All,
I just installed ASD 2011 and had a few questions before proceeding. Is this a purely 3D software? Or can you do all 2D details. The reason I am asking is because some of our jobs are in Revit and others in CAD. Our company uses AutoCAD Architecture primarily for the 2D steel blocks. Vanilla Autocad only has very basic Imperial steel shapes while Architecture has everything a structural detailer could ever ask for, steel shapes, section marks, weld symbols. Would ASD replace ACAD Arch.? So far all i can tell is that you need a Revit model before you can begin detailing. Can you do all 2D sections?

[Katika]

You don't need a Revit Model. ASD is a detailing program for fabrication drawings and does not replace any sort of architectural package (although Revit will replace it)

You get Acad with the package, which gives you all the 2D you need, but although you technically could do 2D in ASD, it cannot be done perfectly, and the scripting if you add 2D elements to the generated documents can get eaten by updating the document.

If you want to insert 2D blocks or whatever, there is nothing stopping you from adding them, but that isn't really the intended usage of this program. (that's more pure acad)

You query however doesn't sound like you want the package to create fabrication drawings, but more like creating CD's.

You mention the 2d steel sections, Revit has those as detail components, and Revit can have purely 2D details created as families that can be inserted in other projects. (I personally use the 3D model with detail component familes to create live details in Revit.)

There are discussions of exportint to ASD to create connections and sending them back to Revit, however you get a slid or mesh, that doesn't contain any real information.

I find detail component families much better as I can add in the connection information with parameters and tag them, thus changes to my connection are reflected immediately.

[Mr Greg]

Thaks for the info. By what you are saying it looks like ASD is not worth any time investing in it. We only have a few jobs in Revit, the rest is in AutoCAD.

The reason we use AutoCAD Architecture is because it comes with all the Detail Componets, and its even easier to use than the detail components provided in Revit. I cant imagine trying to do CD's without all the structural elements provided in ACAD ARCH. My hope was that ASD would replace ACAD Arch and save my company some money, but it doesnt appear this will work.

[lucis29]

It depeneds what you intend to do. For example if you want a detailed structural plan of a warehouse or if you want to make a reinforcing plan, ASD is quite good and money saver. If you just need some architectural plans, then it doesn't worth learning.
Even the name sugests that: Autodesk Structural Detailing.

[Mr Greg]

I think the AutoCAD Architecture is confusing the posters in this thread.

What I am looking to acomplish is a full set of structural plans in .dwg files without using Revit or any 3D software. Most architects, engineers & subcontractors we deal with only use AutoCAD. So all plan views and sections are drawn in CAD. We use AutoCAD Architecture because it has Detail Componets for every structural section ever made. If i need a W18x47, there is a block for that in the Detail Components. If i need a side view of a 12K3 Joist, Detail Componets has it. AutoCAD Architecture also has Weld Symbols, Section Marks, Break Lines, Call Outs, and Revision Clouds with Delta blocks. Basic AutoCAD does not come with Detail Components or any of these special blocks which make Structural Plan and sections easy to create.

Having said all this, I was hoping I could use ASD as I would AutoCAD Architecture. Purely 2D with all the detail components to make all the steel sections I could ever want. Is this possible or not?

[joeb.243415]

Mr. Greg,
To get any of those sections or details from ASD, you need to start with a 3D model and then create details. This software won't replace AutoCAD Architecture in the way you want it to, but with a bit of learning, you can model your projects in 3D and then create plans, sections, and details. By creating your projects in 3D, it takes the guess work out of creating details. This software will automatically create details to build from. By doing a model in 3D, you don't have an issue of somebody overlooking something because they weren't thinking in 3D. Overall, ASD is very very useful, but you need to start with a 3D model. I know this is a very long answer to your question, but the short answer is no, ASD will not replace AutoCAD Architecture if you want to work in 2D.

Joe

[Mr Greg]

Joe...Thank You Joe,

That is the answer, or not the answer I was looking for. I personally love to model our jobs in Revit. However we are always bending over backwards for the Architects. Its easy to say model it and cut a section and be done with it. However, plans are always being revised, dimension changed, walls moving. One change can affect multiple sections. When you have frequent deadlines, it makes it difficult to keep up with all the changes.
Something else to consider. We have a job with 4 mostly identical buildings, all in Revit. Am I to model everything and cut 4 identical sections and detail them every single time. We have up to 40 sections per building, thats 160 sections to be modeled and detailed. I have resorted to drafting views to copy & paste.
So the solution to my company's drafting needs arent always as cut and dry as just one or the other. It must be nice to work in an office where everyone is up to speed on 3d technology.

[lucis29]

Mr. Greg

Thats why is good to model in ASD Steel. It is 3D and any modification in the model will have a correspondence in the Drafting plans (or it should have).
Also, consider the fact that ASD and Revit (should) work together. So there are many chances to be able to model in Revit and export to ASD.

Regards