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red mahan Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 2	Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:00 am    Post subject: Residential modeling, and working drawings I got re enthusiastic about architecture when I got modeling 3d in sketchup, then i hit a big wall when I tried to create working drawings with SketchUp/LayOut. I might be possible to do but I did not find a cost effective way to do them. Now I am convinced that the computer is the way to go but want to do 3d as much as practical. Which software are people using that would work well with SketchUp and then the cost / time effective creation of working drawings? I have looked into VectorWorks, Archicad, PowerCadd and Spirit. I am on a Mac, and do not want to spend alot of $'s and with a long new learning curve. any suggestions?
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adailide Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 115 Location: Michigan	Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:26 pm    Post subject: If you do not want to spend a lot of money, I would suggest farming out your work. Freelance CAD workers are easy to find, take a look in this forum for services offered and you will find a ton. CAD programs are not cheap, and even after you purchase, you have to know the ropes to know how to effectively use them. With that said, if you have sketch-up, you should be able to easily export out your 3d drawings into a CAD program to work out the working drawings. I would not suggest ever using a 3d based program, and trying to complete any kind of working drawings, not matter if they say they have a good way to do it. Stick with CAD programs that are made just for that, drafting. _________________ Adam A. Dailide ad@studio-render.com www.studio-render.com
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nanrehvasconez Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 329	Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:15 am    Post subject: Time and again people have the idea that cad programs from AUTOCAD to SKETCHUP and hundreds in between will design your buildings, your 3d drawings, etc. Time and again these people should be remainded that cad software programs of any kind, from the simpler PUNCH to complicated AUTOCAD are nothing but a modern drafting tool. You have to learn to use them, specialize in the one best suited to your needs, and use the vast libraries within the software.
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phansford Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 832 Location: SW Ohio	Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:00 am    Post subject: nanrehvasconez wrote: Time and again people have the idea that cad programs from AUTOCAD to SKETCHUP and hundreds in between will design your buildings, your 3d drawings, etc. Time and again these people should be remainded that cad software programs of any kind, from the simpler PUNCH to complicated AUTOCAD are nothing but a modern drafting tool. You have to learn to use them, specialize in the one best suited to your needs, and use the vast libraries within the software. You didn't know.... all you have to do it answer a few questions, push a button and presto..... your house is designed. But seriously - you are dead on.... you have to invest the Money AND the time to learn the program to use it efficiently. The latter being the most important investment.
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Jimbobidybone Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Derby, UK	Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:15 am    Post subject: I'm an Architectural Technician / Draftsman / 3D modeler (i could go on forever lol) The majority of my work comes from working drawings and modeling 3D houses, I use AutoCAD Architecture for the majority of my drawings as I find the layout tools second to none, I have however been using the software since I was 12 years old and it comes natural to me. It is also very quick and easy to produce accurate mechanical (not organic) 3D models, however like the other guys mentioned it is all manualy AutoCAD won't work anything out for you but the Architecture package has a huge library for construction detailing (you still have to know what you're doing, in terms of construction knowledge! Alot of the guys on here might be upset with me for telling you this but if you feel you do have the knowledge to produce your own working drawings, you can get a 30 day free trial from AutoDesk of this which gives you access to every feature for that period (it will cost roughly 4000 GBP to buy) you will be able to export from sketchup into it, but i'd suggest starting from scratch, at least with the working drawings, if you're a noob to the program or any other you're not going to produce anything better than what you already have in sketchup. If you do want to buy a cheap program that will let you do everything you need you could look at TurboCAD will set you back roughly 100 dollars, never used it myself as i'm a big fan of command lines ;p I'd strongly suggest employing a planning service, something similar to my own but more local, as it will save you alot of time and effort. I might even be able to help you to some extent over the internet, with photo's and sketches etc. Hope this helps _________________ James Pegg Please check out my site www.jrpcad.co.uk.
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