File Sharing

Since it has been fairly convincingly established that consultants won't
share their CAD files because of "liability issues", I got an A4 scanner &
everything which doesn't matter much gets scanned & traced - quick & dirty
but that's what you get for nothing. I don't give a bugger if your building
is drawn all wrong as long as my ductwork fits & I just might have to
withold as constructed CAD files because of "liability issues".

 

The very few drawing by hand

I can't see the difference between supplying a paper copy of a drawing and
supplying the digital version, as far as litigation is concerned. If there
is a design error, it will show up on both, so why the problem of providing
the digital info?

Keith
Civil Solutions (UK)

 

Neither can I but we have had this many times and it has become almost
universal that they won't hand over the files. I am sure some use it as an
excuse but whatever they have it and you want it & they call the tune. One
possible problem I can see is, because of translation problems between some
software/versions, information could possibly be lost or become obscure -
like ttf's and odd linetypes. Another reason for a universal file format.

 

How's this for a fun way to deal with that: Draw everything at
precicely 1:1 (as it *should* be in CAD) and simply leave off all
of the dimensions when sharing the CAD files. It would totally
befuddle many folks, while (unknown to them) giving them all of
the information.

 

Their problem is that it's digital data that you can measure it

People think that CAD information on it is going to be right!!!!

Some Architects I've worked with don't know how to draw accurately
how oftern do you check string dimensions on an Architects drawing
and find out the overall dimensions don't add up with the sum of the
sting dimensions.

When I asked a good CAD Architect why this was he told me "Tradition"

There is a lot of sloppy CAD work out there. If they give you a paper
copy and there are not enough dimensions for you, or you don't
find their mistakes in dimensioning for them, then they can always
say you should not have scaled the drawing you should have asked.

A common note on old manual drawings "Dont Scale Ask"

Copies of drawings like any photocopy / copy process stretch the
drawing. Plus when draing by hand a small amount of not quite to
scale was acceptable. Pick up a 1:50 scale rule and measure a
drawing, its an estimate of size. Are you measuring from outside to
outside of line? Center to Center ? does it depend on if it's an
internal or external dimension?

In the old days lines were drawn in thin pen thickness and crossed at
the corners then they were thickened up to show the room. Measuring
was done between the thin extensions at the corners for more accuracy.

Many more bad drawing practices are highlighted in a document on my
web site called "How To Draw"

Regards

Alan
http://www.cadalot.co.uk

 

Just put it on the board a do your work. Seems it would be faster than
redrawing.

 

I'm doing a planning application in England ATM.

Blastered all over the advice they give you is that drawings marked like
that will be dismissed out of hand.


DJE

 

.................
That's right, but BC they used to trace paper architecturals on the board
and either risk inaccuracies or check important areas. No one wants to send
ductwork or instal chillers in a plantroom which won't fit. It's just the
perception of cad info being better than paper, promoted largely by the
computer/software industry's own trumpeting. Other features such as
structural & hydraulic often matter more and very often not dimensioned.
Many dwgs don't carry the "do not scale" note but that would not remove
responsibility from someone who did.
I had one client who wanted to make me redraw his old building accurately as
part of the mech service contract because the paper architecturals we
received were very inaccurate and lacked dimensions - there was never any
suggestion of me prosecuting him for supplying inaccurate dwgs although it
caused some grief, just as I think you would agree I am not obliged to fix
his architurals.

 

Some would say I never could draw well by hand, specially judging by the
praise my cad dwgs got, and still sometimes receive! It's a bit like being
asked to keep wearing the paper bag but I would not like to go back all the
same.