Floor plan layout

Hi everybody,
I started a new job and I need to draw a lot of floor plans and I think I
just take to long drawing them. I would like to hear as many tips as
possible on how to draw a floor plan fast and accurate. I know that what
works for one person may not work for another person, but I know there is a
lot of people out there with a lot of experience and tricks or short cuts.
Help will be appreciated.

 

I know that I'm probably in the minority here, as elsewhere, but I have
found that
Multilines can save some time in 'clean-up', and can prevent dimensional
errors in the thicknesses of
assemblies if you always stick to a menu of standard or approved ones.

They have problems too: they don't always behave, sometimes the files get
unstable. Nevertheless
I find that they save time drawing plans. I have standard multilines for all
walls, windows, stair risers, kitchen cabinets, closet rods, handrails.Some
of these can be downloaded from my site (mostly Imperial units).

Other recommendations:

Set unit accuracy to 1/256.
Do not use too many running osnaps-especially Nearest and Perp.
Get to know the keyboard and your Acad.pgp file- it's faster that button
clicking or menu pulling.
If you are drawing orthogonal building, keep ORTHO on.
Customize your installation, once you know what you are doing.

 

Thanks a lot for you advise, I'm not familiar with Acad.pgp file, can you
tell me where I can get more info on this topic or how I can learn how to
use it. Thank you.

 

RTFM ... or in this case F1 or HELP.
___

 

Try the help, under "Alias".

 

Google: "pgp file"+"autocad" to learn about that.

As for floor planning, if you only have AutoCAD the smartest and most
efficient way to draw a lot of floor plans as accurately and as fast as
possible is to not even use AutoCAD at all.

Use Broderbund's 3D Home Architect [1]. Try to trust what I am telling you
as I have used it to crank out fully dimensioned floor plan designs and
redraws of existing floor plans in as few as 10-15 minutes. I kid you not,
it takes about 10-20 minutes to install and learn (I am not kidding here)
and it is a fast Object Oriented drag and drop automated floor planning tool
that automatically dimensions walls, door and window openings, stairs and so
on.

It can then save the final plans as .DXF which are then loaded into AutoCAD.
You turn on snap to endpoint and ortho mode and trace over the floorplans
using the line tool. That's another 10-20 minutes.

Did you ever hear it said "when the only tool you have is a hammer
everything will look like a nail?" Most people are very foolish and
mistakenly think AutoCAD must be used to pound every nail.

If you want to waste your time with AutoCAD because you have been misled
into thinking AutoCAD is the best for every drafting task be my guest but
spending $49.95 to buy 3D Home Architect may prove to be the smartest move
you will ever make if you have a lot of floor plans that have to be designed
or redrawn as quickly, as accurately, and as cost effectively as possible.

--
<%= Clinton Gallagher, "Twice the Results -- Half the Cost"
Architectural & e-Business Consulting -- Software Development
NET
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/

[1] http://www.broderbund.com/

 

He's got a "JOB" Clinton. More than likely he has no choice
about the application he gets to use.

--


MichaelB
www.michaelbulatovich.com

 

That was clear to me.

Have you ever used 3D Home Architect or Chief Architect from which 3D Home
Architect is derived?


<%= Clinton Gallagher, "Twice the Results -- Half the Cost"
Architectural & e-Business Consulting -- Software Development
NET
URL http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/

 

No.