somwhat confused

[spanish pants]

I have a small problem i would your professional opinions on. I applied for a freelance job and was sent a modeling test consisting of their brief instructions and an autocad file. I'm new to the arch viz industry but an old timer in the cg for tv industry, so i have no problem modeling but i've never worked with autocad or site planes so i'm a little confused by autocad linework they sent me.

It seems to me like it leaves some to imagination, but i'd like your opinions based on the dwg file. I'm confused by the cross section that shows multiple beams and then the large beam support under the roof profile.

I was hesitant to email them to ask for more information as i don't want them to fail me. hahaha.

[Brian Smith]

All it is, is a completely glass fascade and the beams are visible beyond the glass. The roof appears to be standing seam in places and glass in others. Pretty lousy drawings all together - completely nondescriptive.

[Devin Johnston]

Sorry but my opinion is if you can't read the drawings then you shouldn’t accept the job. Everyone thinks that reading a set of architectural plans is easy but it actually takes some time and experience to properly understand what you’re looking at. You will find that an actual project is going to be a lot more detailed than the test they are sending you. I’m sure you are a fine artist; perhaps you should hire someone to model it for you.

[Ricardo Eloy]

I'd have to agree with Devin, here. Designs just get worse each day, and much of the process is about you being able to figure out what the heck the architect was trying to draw. I'm sure I'm not the only one here to realize that, most times, I know more about the whole project than the person who created it (r almost).

[Brian Smith]

I have to agree with Devin. Took many years of being a lonely drafter to read em right.

[Justin Hunt]

On the otherhand calling them up to discuss the elements of the design you dont understand will give you more insite into what the design intentions are and how they fit together.

 

It will also give you the opportunity to get this right sooner rather than later saving many hours of redoing work.

 

Exercise or not, if you are finding it difficult to understand thier drawings now, just think what it would be like when you a in the thick of the project and deadlines are looming

 

JHV

[fac311]

yeah i work for an architecual firm and plan are a pain especially when all the architects you work with thinks the are renegades and don't follow any structure every damn plan i come across is diffrent.

[spanish pants]

Has anyone other than Brian looked at the file?

I have never had to model from an autocad site plan but i´ve seen a few before this and i was able to understand them. This one doesn´t provide much info and what it does is confusing.

I think i´ll contact them and take the chance of not getting the job based on not being able to understand their bad cad work.

Devin, i never thought it would be easy to understand arch drawings but i´ve

everyone has to start from somewhere and having questions regarding the drawing shouldn´t disqualify me from working in the industry. I´m sure with time and experience you´ll all get less stupid questions from me

 

Thanks all

[Sindala]

these don't really look like cad drawings at all. they look more like a 3d model converted to lines. pretty crappy but not that hard to model. probably a metal sheeting roof with some glass and a few beams underneath it seems you got that already.

the section shows a few beams that are a bit further away from where the section is taken. (i hope you understand this, my building jargon in english isn't that good)

Just model it and let us check first if you're in doubt (PM me if you like). And b.t.w. reading CAD isn't hard really.

[STRAT]

i dissagree with the opinions here.

 

i've just looked at the file, it's instantly understandable, and the standard of cad work isn't poor in the slightest. it's all standard stuff. not the best i seen, but certainly standard for a cad drawing.

 

they've obviously cobbled together a few details enough for you to draw from. and yes, it's all there in the file. no notes or explanations needed it's lacking a bit in the fine details like how and where the glass is actually fixed and panelled up, but nothing to hamper progress.

 

but i do agree with the other point made - this is a fairly simple detail and the drawings are clear. if you dont have the experience to interpret them without headaches, then i'd decline the job. if you think this drawing is difficult just wait until the 'real' stuff comes along.

 

time and experience will happen, it just depends how you want to acquire it.

[STRAT]

I'm confused by the cross section that shows multiple beams and then the large beam support under the roof profile.

 

remember you're looking at a cross section which will show details where the section was taken, and beyong or in the backround. and the section is going through a curved beam structure, so yes, the arcs will look strange in the distance as their lengths look like they're getting shorter.

 

so that large beam support you talk of is the immediate beam in the forground where the section was cut, and the multiple beans are those behind it. this is typically how a section is drawn.

[fac311]

Ok Finally Had A Chance To Look At The File At It Is Pretty Self Explanitory You Have To Side Elevations At The Bottom, An Overview In The Middle, And A Crss Section At The Top. But What I Don't Understand Is Why He Is Using A Blue Lline On A Yellow Layer Thats What I Am Talking About When I Say Renegade Architects They Do Everything So Unorginized.

[STRAT]

But What I Don't Understand Is Why He Is Using A Blue Lline On A Yellow Layer Thats What I Am Talking About When I Say Renegade Architects They Do Everything So Unorginized.

 

thats the nature of the cad monkey

[AJLynn]

The line color doesn't really matter here. Strat's right - this is pretty simple as far as CAD drawings done by other people go. Start with a pencil and paper and try sketching it out. The way they've drawn it the glass parts of the roof will leak, but don't worry, that's not your problem

[fac311]

The line color doesn't really matter here. Strat's right - this is pretty simple as far as CAD drawings done by other people go. Start with a pencil and paper and try sketching it out. The way they've drawn it the glass parts of the roof will leak, but don't worry, that's not your problem

 

true the line color here doesn't matter as much but when you work with cad you cshould know all layers have there place orginization is key no matter how simple it is.

[spanish pants]

perhaps i didn´t explain myself clearly. i can interpret the views in the cad files but there are some details from view to view that elude my simple monkey brain

to me it looks like the big beams in the cross section are single sections that are attatched to the columns, but in the front and side views it looks like the beams are a single piece.

Even if i fail the test laid out for me, this is still good experience for me.

that being said i still thank you all for your input

[STRAT]

to me it looks like the big beams in the cross section are single sections that are attatched to the columns, but in the front and side views it looks like the beams are a single piece.

 

the upright columns are separate, the arc roof beams are separate and the cross sections that join them are also separates.

 

you're interpreting the design as one peice because when built, the steel work will either be in it's natural state, as 'I' section features, or clad or boxed in as like these drawings show.

 

again, lack of experience is making you question this. If the drawings dont show every minor detail, which these dont (but they certainly show enough), an archi student will have enough knowlege to suitably fill in the gaps without question.

 

and again, if you have problems interpreting this simple scheme you'll suffer.

 

before long m8 you'll pick this stuff up easily, but practise by studying archi plans and drawings first. and if they're not in a perfect state dont worry, it's rare to almost impossible you'll ever find a cad drawing that is (except when you draw it yourself of course )

[joseph alexander]

Hey I remember when I first started working and I didn't understand XREF's and stayed up for two days straight pulling appart a curtain wall drawing to model it. You learn, it's more important to show your the kind of person who will stay late to get something right. Stop talking about it and try modeling it, and post what you got and you'll get feedback.

[fac311]

Hey I remember when I first started working and I didn't understand XREF's and stayed up for two days straight pulling appart a curtain wall drawing to model it. You learn, it's more important to show your the kind of person who will stay late to get something right. Stop talking about it and try modeling it, and post what you got and you'll get feedback.

 

 

i like how this guy thinks. He's right don't worry about i don't get it and give it a shot if you can't do it well then turn down the job but i say you still model it for your own personal knowledge and experience. You learn by doing not by saying i can't.

[Brian Smith]

When I was hired in my first CAD job, it was with an aerospace firm, and I knew VERY little about AutoCAD. In fact, I remember taking a 20 question test and not knowing the answer to 'What is a block'. The only reason I even got the job was because I had an aerospace degree from a great school and I told my boss that I would learn everything I needed to know in 2 weeks. I stayed at the plant til midnight every single night for 14 straight days and learned everything as I said I would. It totally sucked but it was doable.

 

When I switched to an architectural firm, the same thing happened all over again. I knew nothing about architecture (couldnt even pick out a window from a door), and my boss hired me again because he was a former officer in the military like me and believed me when I said I would learn everything I needed to know in 2 weeks. Again, midnight every night for 2 weeks and I was viable.

 

I think a large majority of us took a chance and a risk by taking a job that was, to some degree, over our heads. I think every really cool trick i learned on my own came from taking a job that was unchartered terriority. Learning the hard way is usually not an enjoyable experience but usually a worthwhile experience.

 

Bottom line is if you want it bad enough, take the job and do whatever it takes to learn whatever you need.

[STRAT]

yep, and as we all know, the best way to learn is in at the deep end on a job.

 

listen m8, if you're unsure about anything, ask us here first before your client. peeps here will give you all the help and advise you need

 

then when you hand over the completed job, the client is happy, you take all the credit, and everyones a winner

[Elliot]

Brian,

 

Very seldom I post opinions in here..... I do agree with you... Sometime ago we hired a person with excellent CAD skills..... we eventually got rid of him because he had an attitude problem. He took upon himself to critize everything we do. We don't know much.....! He left and we were so glad....!!!

 

The next guy didn't know much beyond the basics.... She had a wonderful attitude. When we realized she couldn't do 3D we paid for her to go for a 3 months night school to learn. What a wonderful experience, we learned through her eyes..... She has been with us short of 5 years. She is definitely our top drafting person..... By the way she still has her humble and modest attitude and she always ask us what are we trying to say... so she can illustrate it correctly. She has never been arrogant and in fact we respect her like she was our boss. She has taugh herself 3D Max and SolidWorks.

 

During the interview she look to the floor and told us she didn't know much but needed the job.....! She had a few questions and we noticed that in fact she didn't know much..... Five years later....... we are asking to her the questions...!

 

To Celso..... go and ask the questions.... You are interviewing them too.... if they get mad at you for asking questions.... Perhaps it is a sign that YOU shouldn't want to work there.

 

Regards

Buena Suerte

 

Elliot