Expert: Bill DeShawn - 9/20/2009

Question
I just recently got a job as a CAD intern at an architecture firm and I am doing great, but the ting that i am slightly confused about is what are CAD standards, and how do i use them?

Answer
CAD standards include what layer we draw walls on, what layer we draw stairs on, what layer we draw plumbing fixtures on, what linetype and what color each layer will have, what plotstyle file (ctb or stb) you use, what title block you use, what other blocks we use, how we make blocks, who makes blocks, where we find them, etc.  Often times it includes what menus and routines you use to get your work done (as they are designed to speed up the drawing process as it conforms to other drafting conventions).  If you are "doing great" then it sounds like you might already be adhering to the CAD standards.  Keep up the good work, but before you get creative, talk to the CAD manager at your architectural firm about the changes you would like to make to the standards.  A good CAD manager will listen, and then if he decides to shoot down the suggestion, he will tell you why, you will learn, and you'll get a feel for whether or not he likes to listen to suggestions, or for what kind of changes he may be looking for that will improve the company's overall productivity.

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