Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
(OP)
Lately at work, I have found drafting to be a bit tedious, which is no big deal. But as I have enjoying learning to automate things (like learning excel macros), I was wondering if anyone has any experience in using autocad scripts and macros for structural drafting. I was curious if this might be worth learning in free time, or if I wouldn't get much utility from it. A potential issue is that my company uses autocad whereas most other structural firms I know use microstation, so if the learning process for these automation procedures is very difficult and very different between the two programs, the knowledge could be obviated upon changing jobs.
Thanks guys,
labeattie
Thanks guys,
labeattie






RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
if your peers are using microstation, then are you doing bridge design? Outside of state and county public works, most do not use microstation. Civil 3d is much more likely to be used
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
Script files for cleaning up architectural plans, drawings monotonous things on plans, setting up templates, etc are fairly handy. At my previous job, we used layer scripts extensively.
It doesn't need to be complicated. Learn enough to write one script. Tweak an existing one if you have to. Start with the most simple, but time consuming job you have to do.
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
I don't believe they work in Revit.
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
Ray asked what was I thinking about and I said that I'd like to use a dialog box to define things like bay spacing's, column line designations, etc. I said that I would like to layer the grids, dim's, etc. so that they could be then used for all of the plans - Floor Plan, Foundations, Framing, etc. In that system, we drew in what would be "paper-space" in AutoCAD. Each sheet was on it's own.
Ray thought he could do that. What else would I want? For a single story warehouse structure, we would input the loads (DL, LL, SL) and the allowable soil bearing pressure and then design/draw the footings (square footings only in this first trial) for those loads and bay spacing's. Within a couple of weeks (in his spare time) he came back with the first effort. It worked pretty good. We tweaked a few items and then had a floor plan and foundation plan for our fictitious building. Wind Loads and braced bays were never in this preliminary effort.
When we presented it to the entire department, there was a lot of skepticism, such as: "Not all of our buildings have constant bay sizes for their entire length or width". Yes that was true, but with a "stretch box" those idiosyncrasies could be easily remedied.
Ray then asked what else was a typically mundane task. Drawing and detailing stairs came to mind. As he was not a structural drafter, we reviewed the last couple of projects to see how the stairs were drawn. Standard details were used to define all of the connection's, etc. The plans and elevations were shown for each stair system.
We reviewed the basics - max. step height (7.5"); one less tread than riser; landing lengths, Code limitations, etc. So with this dialog box, one would put in the elevations of the floors, the number of runs between levels, any limits on individual stair runs, etc. Again, in about 2 weeks, we had a working model that drew the plan and elevation views of the stair in question. It could be repeated for each set of stairs.
I'd like to tell you that it was a resounding success, but I was downsized out later that year when the company was purchased by a foreign competitor. The engineering staff was gutted (70+ to 6). They were forced to switch to AutoCAD and they contracted out virtually all of their design/drafting. Ray still was there, but mainly to convert any existing drawings to AutoCAD or PDF's and to provide them to any of the consulting firms that were going to do the work.
I've related this idea at my subsequent employer's but no one was ever interested. We billed by the hour and there was no incentive to reduce any hours.
gjc
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
All our drawings are done with full models similar to how BIM projects are done, we've been doing it this way for 20 years and are still baffled that people don't do the same. The speed, quality, and ease of use when using full 3D models with automated routines is well worth the time to develop them (or the money to purchase them).
Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
RE: Is automating structural drafting possible/worth the effort
One result of attempting to automate, even when it does not succeed, is the examination of the design process that is required as preparation. Automation can't help in areas that are unclear; attempting to automate makes those areas obvious. It has to be a genuine effort to work right, but it's worthwhile.
Simple things like examining notes and specification references to see that the automation will reflect what is implied or required can uncover areas that are either more costly than need be or are assumed correct for wide application when they are only applicable to special cases, and vice versa.