Research for class assignment

[mist]

I'm working on an assignment for class in which I need to interview people that use AutoCAD in the field. I would be extremely thankful to anyone who could answer any or all of the following questions.

1. Your name, location, profession?
2. What type(s) of service do you provide using AutoCAD?
3. Do you use AutoCAD for all phases of the design process, if not, what phases do you utilize it for?
4. Do you use any form of standardization? If so do you use a specific system? (ie: National CAD Standard)
5. What advantages or disadvantages do you feel AutoCAD brings to your design process?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi "enola" ( Sorry, I do not know your real name )

Please note I have *moved* this thread from the Skunk Werx Lounge forum to this one, as I feel this particular forum is a more appropriate place for such a topic.

Thanks, Mike

Forum Manager

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

To help you get going, try plugging the following search criteria into the forum search facility...

Key Word(s): Name + Location + Profession

Have a good one, Mike

[Pontoon]

1. Helen, Aberdeen Scotland, Asset Document Controller
2. I administrate/control CAD files for an offshore installation in the North Sea. This includes tracking revisions, scripting files and loading the files into our database. General problem solving eg, locating missing xrefs, font files etc...
3. Nope we use Microstation as our standard, but most our vendors use AutoCAD so we need to deal with both.
4. We do have standards, but they are out of date as our drafting is all done outside mainly with the vendor who has the maintenance contract for the installation.
5. Unsure as we do not use it for design in house. There are issues within the viewing package we use on our database as it prints out 2 pages the 2nd one being blank. Other than occasional font/xref problems I don't really come across anything. As for advantages, the main one being that is is an industry standard, though the company I work for hasn't switched over to it yet... though it is possible that it might in the near future.

Hope this helps.
Good luck with your research .

[mist]

Thank you so much, it definately helps. I am very excited about learning how AutoCAD is used in different fields and appreciate your insight.

Mike, thanks for moving it.

[Robert.Hall]

1. Robert Hall
2. I use AutoCad to generate Product/Process designs
for an Automotive manufacturing facility.
3. I use AutoCad for all design phases, quote, prototypes, final production.
4. No specific Cad standard in use. Created a company standard
based on the product that is manufacturing. Plain english, tailored a standard.
5. Autocad advantages:
Saves money that could be wasted on uneccessary prototypes.
Allows for a really good study of product tolerances under min/max part conditions.
There would be oodles of math to accomplish a tolerance study that is otherwise
eliminated using electronic part data.

[.chad]

1. chad - louisville, ky - intern architect
2. construction documents, schematic plans, site planning
3. yep. use hand sketches also, but mostly cad
4. we use some form yes, not a good one though.
5. its a definate learning curve from hand drawings in school, but i am slowly coming around to using it for design. it is definately faster to get quick massing models and accurate plans / elevations for schematic and presentation purposes.

[mist]

Once again, thank you very much.

[thomas.stright]

1. Thomas Stright, Washington DC, Plumber working as Mechanical Coordinator.
2. Shop and Fabrication Dwgs for field use, Also MEP Contract.
3. Everything from pre-bit to as-build are done on AutoCAD.
4. Company standard, Pretty much plain English.
5. Allows us to bring down costs in the field by doing 3D coordinated designs in-house.

[CADKitty]

1. Jen, Albany, NY, CADD Coordinator for an engineering firm
2. We're MEP engineers - Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection for commercial buildings. We use AutoCAD to create all of our drawings.
3. Sure...ask me to explain it to you after I'm done writing them!
4. Oh my goodness, the advantages are numerous - speed, neatness, being able to use standard blocks and tables to save time and keep a nice, uniform look. The only disadvantages I can think of are that the architects use it, too, and think that they can send us new plans right before we're supposed to finish the project!