Referencing drawings while building models

[ronll]

I have always been more comfortable building my Acad models while referencing paper hardcopy of the construction documents (or whatever is available), except perhaps an efile of the first floor or site plan that I can use as a starting layout. Trying to reference digital drawing files for elevations, sections, details, whatever, seems really cumbersome compared to just quickly thumbing thru a hardcopy set for the info.

 

Yet it is getting harder and harder to get clients to send me hardcopy. They seem to think because I work electronically, it would be easier for me to have all digital files. Plus there is the real advantage of not having to wait a day for delivery of hardcopy.

 

So how do the rest of you work? Do you work strictly from the clients digital files or do you work from paper hardcopy? If you work from paper do you print your own in-house?

[neko]

i can understand the need (or desire) for paper copies, especially if the work is less familiar to you personally. most of my work is my own, or familiar enough to me to make it unnecessary.

 

however, asking clients for hard copies is probably a little annoying, because most would expect you to have the capabilities to print your own copies from the files if you really needed them.

 

if i was your client i would rather you got them printed than have me do all the work of gathering/printing/courier.

[Koper]

both.

 

hard copy prints (we do it in house like normal prints, but can go A3) and it helps to quickly make notes and little scribbles, especially when you want to look busy;)

but on the most part I use a second monitor for viewing any and all data, I just find it easier than looking away from the monitor and breaking the concentration

[JonRashid]

As a freelancer I have to have print facilities in house. If a job is coming in from the other side of the world then digital is almost immediate. For complex buildings one screen is often not enough. I have to lay all the plans out in order to cross reference information. You can adjust the scale to match your printer although A1 deskjets are pretty cost effective nowadays

[ronll]

Okay, I'm convinced I have to change my ways. So now I'm trying to decide whether I should set up to print in-house, or learn to reference on-screen.

 

If you reference on-screen, how do you handle the issue of needing quick cross references to multiple sheets of drawings?

 

If I decide to print in-house, what printers would you recommend?

[JonRashid]

If you go the print route, I find the HP Deskjet 110 is fantastic for anything up to and including A1. It's just over £600 but even does photo printing. It also helps when you are going through discrepancies with the architect if you can point things out on paper.

[ronll]

Is anyone converting clients drawings to PDFs for reference?

[vizwhiz]

rin

 

i bring in my elevations into autocad in The 2d plan

and Then rotate Them up by 90 located at a distance

 

away from The plan

 

so That way you can extrude from The plan lines

and Then SLICE and subtract by using The elevation geometry

 

To create The doors, windows and roof pitches, etc

 

hope This helps

 

Thanks

 

randy

 

(i model in autocad only Then FileLink into max)