CAD Standards - Is there a Meca?

[awarren]

I am doing a story for my newsletter to my user base. I remember when I was a CAD manager there were very few "Standards" so to speak. I know there is a AIA Standard, and a ANSI and ISO Standard. But is there really somewhere with CAD specific standards? I mean things like DIM arrow should be xx% of text size. Or you should always place this view here or that view their. Next we get into the 3D modelers such as Inventor and Revit, what about their standard?

So my questions are:

Do you use an Outside Standard?

Where can you find a Outside Standard?

Where can a new user find Standards to make their own?

[tedg]

Do you use an Outside Standard?
Yes, we based our company cadd standards on NCS 3.1 because it's required by most of our DOD and Government clients (United States).

Where can you find a Outside Standard?
Look here for info on NCS 4.0
Or just "google" it.

Where can a new user find Standards to make their own?
AutoCAD ootb is based on AIA (I believe), I don't know where you can get a canned set of standards for free.

[jaberwok]

There are many ANSI, ISO, BS and other standards. Many now include cad-specific stuff but they are not free and it's difficult to discover just which ones are useful.
Go for ISO wherever possible - it's supposed to be the way of the future.

[dgorsman]

First of all, we work in the piping industry (different disciplines do different things).

We use client standards when they are provided/mandated and when they can be incorporated into our system. Where the client standards are not practical, they are usually willing to incorporate our suggestions. If no standards are provided, we have our own.

Creating standards from scratch isn't something a new users should be doing, IMHO. This is a task for an intermediate to senior designer/user, who uses experience and research as a guideline to put together something that is applicable to the company and tasks at hand. It is unlikely that an "out of the can" solution will be available without compensating the originator, given the time required to put them together.

[awarren]

What about just basic drawing standards, not so much CAD Standards? Not trying to change topic mid stream just playing devils advocate... And I love to get input from different areas such as AEC, MEP, Civil, and Mechanical.

I teach allot of three to four day class on how to use the software to people making the physical parts. Where can they go to get good standards to general drafting? Things such as best practices, dimensioning, and then just the order you should do something? I.e. in Inventor you should add Fillets later in the part, this is taught in the Essentials class, but others tips may not be.

[michael.12445]

After almost 20 years' worth of working with CAD, I've come to the conclusion that there is no Mecca - but there is plenty of jihad. I've seen people take positions on some issues relating to CAD standards with a fervor that borders on religion. I've also seen people who loudly bemoan the fact that there is no standard in place for this or that, implying that the CAD manager is obviously negligent, and immediately run away when asked to contribute to formulating the standard in question.

Michael Evans
Togawa Smith Martin Residential, Inc.

[tedg]

.... I've also seen people who loudly bemoan the fact that there is no standard in place for this or that, implying that the CAD manager is obviously negligent, and immediately run away when asked to contribute to formulating the standard in question.

Michael Evans
Togawa Smith Martin Residential, Inc.

I work a couple of those too....They can't wait to trip up the ones who are working their a** off to set the standards, but will not positively contribute when asked (just allot of pi**ing and moaning).

Side note, has anyone noticed that the "Poll" above is OVER 100% ?

[markj.193961]

We are in the process of moving to NCS v4.0 because of requirements of our government contracts.

I struggle with using the standards because they are based on AIA standards and we are a civil firm. I would be open to find anyone out there that has found a good civil standard that utilizes the rules of the NCS standard. It seems that I am continually making adjustments in the standard to make it fit the industry I work in.

I too have nearly 20 years worth of CAD experience and agree that there is no Mecca for CAD standards but plenty of Jihads. If you don't believe it, try implementing a new standard where there wasn't one previously.

[RobertB]

Side note, has anyone noticed that the "Poll" above is OVER 100% ?

It is a multiple-choice poll, so someone(s) voted for more than one item.

[John Colby]

Currently implementing NCS 4.0. We're at ~75% adoption.

Officially anyway. Enforcement is a whole other issue.