Setup Drawing

A typical Setup Drawing...

The overall look of these drawings is something I have been working on this past year.





Setup_View

Setup_Download

American Express as-built

I am always a little frustrated by having to upload .jpg files to my blogs. One reason being is that most of my work is in large scale format, and a small jpg files loaded up to the web just doesn't do the drawings justice.

So...using Google Groups as a host, this is a PDF file of an as-built drawing a did awhile back.

The original design was done out of another office in Detroit, but built here in Denver.

The "build" drawings had plenty of detail, but did not reflect the final product, so this drawing was needed to reflect what was actually built - as-built.

the image below is just an example of one of the perspective views.


AMEX As-Built

AMEX

Some random notes on CAD standards..

Over the years I have created and/or re-worked the CAD standards for a couple different companies.

The following texts are just small excerpts from my notes....

Creating AutoCAD standards

I have been looking online, and there seems to be a major debate in regards to what the best method for dimensioning things in AutoCAD.

Paper space or Model space?

For this writing -- I will give my opinion based on my own experience; having tried just about every which way you can think of to annotate a drawing.

What I have discovered is that it really is all about personal preference, and there is no true “best” way to properly dimension your drawings. With that said -- there are situations where circumstance should dictate which way you choose to dimension and annotate your drawing.  

Here is my general guide…

For details and 2d drawings – I create my drawing model space; that includes line work, text, dimensions, etc.  I use set dim styles, text styles, and layers while using paper space and vports to control page layout and views. Going about drawing this way gives you more freedom to think of model space as a “work area” that is flexible, while being able to use paper space and vports to fine tune what comes out on the final print.

For 3d drawings and dimensions models, the best method is to model in model space and dimension and annotate in paper space using vports to control your views and layers. By going about things this way, it allows you to draw one model and use your vports to control your views. With a single model you can create your plan views, elevations, and depending on how well the model is done, even your section views. I have experimented with dimension 3D model in model space by rotating the model and using my OSNAPZ variable, and while this method worked pretty well, I came across the issue of the plot shade of “legacy hidden” removing the fill from my text and leaders.

Another thing I feel is very important to having nice looking and consistent drawings is to understand drawing scale. For example, it is a good idea from the onset to establish a font style and size for your drawings. It is best to use a standard windows font (like Arial), otherwise you run the risk of using some fancy architectural font that other users or companies might not have, and when you send off your files for others to use AutoCAD will default to something like simplex when it can’t find the font. Next determine a standard size for your font.  Personally, I tend to use 3/32” (0.09375) text height as a standard. This means that in paper space your text height @  1” = 1” scale will be 3/32” on printed paper, and is easy enough to remember if you do nothing but annotate in paper space, but what if you want to draw in model space and annotate while maintaining consistency in your text sizes? What if you have different scales on your page with some of it annotated in paper space and some in model space? 

This is where it is important to understand how paper space works. Think of your drawing as if it were laid out on paper on a drawing board. Model space is your set drawing that is taped to the desk and all your drawing is done there. Paper space is like taking another sheet of paper and overlaying it on top of the original customizing the views you want while also being able to annotate without screwing up the original. When you think of view ports, think of them as cutting out windows in that overlaid paper and using those windows to select only the parts of the drawing below that matter. The upside to computers is the ability to control and zoom.

"Structural Elevations"

Structural elevations are drawn by projecting upward from an xref'd building base plan. This allows you to get an accurate representation of panel sizes, location, and how the panels will connect and interact with each other.

To achieve this, the background is xref'd in. Then - all layers that do not pertain to the core of the building should be frozen. This would include glazing, doors, rtu's, roof pavers, exterior lights, etc. Things you do want to see include: building foundation, sill walls, walls, walls above, double tee's, inverted tee beams, etc.

Everything you need to build a building.

To the left is an example of how this is done. For every part of the building an elevation must be drawn. As shown, the building has been rotated to make it easier to draw this area."

STRUCTURAL ELEVATIONS OVERVIEW:

Structural Elevations (or SE / Shop Drawings) are a graphic representation that shows a building at its very core. They are drawn from an “inside looking out” perspective and detail out the way a precast building fits together. In a way, the SE's are probably the most important drawings because they are literally the instructions that bring all the parts of a building together.

GETTING STARTED:

Before starting a set of structural elevations, it is important to ensure the construction documents and structural sheets have been checked and finalized by the architect and engineer, for it is from these drawings that you will get the necessary information needed to complete the se drawings.  Information like dimensions, elevation views, reveal locations, window and door opening, roof heights, column heights, etc.  As stated above, the perspective of the structural elevations is from the inside looking out. So when drawn, it is as if a person were standing and facing a wall while looking out a window (even when a window does not exist). Precast concrete panels are poured face down and stripped from the form before being set, so the SE drawing represent the view as if you are looking at the backside of the panel, and all features on the finished side (far side) of the panel are shown as hidden lines. This tends to pose a few problems when trying to accurately portray what is happening on a finished face (far side) of the wall.

The most important reason for the structural elevations is to give detailed direction for what pieces go together. Precast concrete buildings are generally made up of sill panels, columns, spandrel panels, and beams, all of which are formed and poured on site.

The process is started with the structural elevations, but the actual pieces of the building are built from "ASP Shop Drawings".

SHOP DRAWINGS:

"ASP shop drawings" are the second phase of the structural elevation drawings. "ASP" is an acronym that stands for architectural, steel, and plates. These are the basic descriptive term used to explain the different aspects of the panel drawings.

The "asp" panel drawings, say for a sill panel, will generally consist of (3) separate drawings.

·         The "A" sheet will have only information that pertains to the size and shape of the panel. Things like panel dimensions, reveals, double tee pockets, opening locations, etc.

·         The "S" sheet is a graphic representation of the rebar cage that in the panel prior to being poured. The information for how to lay the steel out should come from the structural engineer, but the layout of steel is usually pretty consistent from project to project. These drawings can end up being the most time consuming. Along with the layout and spacing of the rebar, it is important to show any rebar with special bends or shapes, and to label quantities and lengths in order to obtain accurate pricing for steel.

·         The "P" sheet is to show the location and plate type (ie: 'a' plate, 'b' plate, etc) for the panel. This is important to get right because the plates must line up from panel to panel to ensure a solid connection. The plate drawing will also have important information like pick points for the crane to strip and set a panel, plate counts and weights of concrete.

Depending on the panel, sometimes additional sheets and details are required, but most can be figured into the A.S.P. drawings.