FerritDude Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Hello All, I have been using AutoCad 2006 for years now. I have been drawing everything in 2D, never ventured much into 3D. The only thing is im tired of drawing side views in 2d. Then when the floor plan chages i have to move all the side views accordingly, and sometimes i forget, and well you see the problem... I have tried all sorts of "Framing Programs" and even Revit but they dont offer the flexibility i need. So i thought that i could just do 3d wall framing in plain old AutoCad. With that said im not sure how to approach this... Do i make the wall studs 2D polylines and then add thickness for stud length? Can i make wall studs some sort of 3D Dynamic block where i specify the length? Another issue is that if i want the side view of one wall in particular for a plan page how do isolate that paticular wall and its subsequent harware without the other walls showing through? Would every wall have to be a separate layer? Thanks in advance for any of your thoughts... Quote
SuperCAD Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Vanilla AutoCAD won't do what you're looking for. Go with AutoCAD Architecture if you want your elevations and sections to auto-update when you change a floor plan. Quote
FerritDude Posted July 27, 2009 Author Posted July 27, 2009 Thanks, I have tried Architectural desktop, and it doesn't allow the customization that i need. Most framing programs have automatic framing, with very little ability to modify how you want things framed or moved. When i tried Arch Desktop back in 06 it wasn't what i wanted. In fact it wasn't too user friendly to do the actual framing of a building. It would do structural elements and just the wall, but to do individual studs was a big ordeal. I just want to be able to draw a 3d framed building, then do side views and interior views of the walls. That way when i move things around on the top view it moves it in the side view as well... Quote
SuperCAD Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 One program you might want to look into is SolidBuilder. I tried using it in the past, and I didn't like it much, but I know a builder who swears by it. He's got more experience with the program than I do, but I know it will generate a framing diagram and a material list directly from the plan you drew. Setting up the program to frame the walls properly and maintain a material database was a major PITA for me, but you might like it. It's available from a company called Digital Canal. http://digitalcanal.com/solidbuilder.htm Quote
FerritDude Posted July 27, 2009 Author Posted July 27, 2009 Thanks a lot for the suggestion. I actually just finished the trial of Solidbuilder. It has a lot of nice features but is a bit inflexible for our particular needs. I want total control of how things are framed, and while it allows framing modification, doing so is highly time consuming, and im frankly not impressed with the interface, but like you said there are others who swear by it, it depends on your particular needs. Quote
JD Mather Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 You might take a look at this short tutorial http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/CAD238/AutoCAD%202007%20Tutorial%208.pdf Would take a bit of programing to automate. I work all in mechanical and therefore use Autodesk Inventor. Inventor has a set of tools collectively called Frame Generator which I use to do stuff like this even though it is intended for machine frames - angle iron, tube frames and such. I have added custom lumber sizes to the library. All 2D is associated to the 3D model which is quickly built from a skeleton and easily controlled. As I know this tool I use it for wood deck design. I just look at it as geometry is geometry and parts are parts. Quote
Noahma Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Thanks, I have tried Architectural desktop, and it doesn't allow the customization that i need. Most framing programs have automatic framing, with very little ability to modify how you want things framed or moved. When i tried Arch Desktop back in 06 it wasn't what i wanted. In fact it wasn't too user friendly to do the actual framing of a building. It would do structural elements and just the wall, but to do individual studs was a big ordeal. I just want to be able to draw a 3d framed building, then do side views and interior views of the walls. That way when i move things around on the top view it moves it in the side view as well... Much has changed with ACA since 06. Check out VisionRez with the associated programs they have that work well with there add on for Autocad Architecture. Jay over there is a wonderful person to talk too. They have a program that will work with the ACA/VisionREZ model to export for framing, then re import with all associated framing impeded in the walls and roof. It seems painless. Quote
SuperCAD Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 As I know this tool I use it for wood deck design. Have you checked out the Deck Tools software from Simpson Strongtie? Looks pretty sweet, only it costs almost $2,000. I guess it would be a great investment if you only did decks. Quote
Wavada Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 Hello All, I have been using AutoCad 2006 for years now. I have been drawing everything in 2D, never ventured much into 3D. The only thing is im tired of drawing side views in 2d. Then when the floor plan chages i have to move all the side views accordingly, and sometimes i forget, and well you see the problem... I have tried all sorts of "Framing Programs" and even Revit but they dont offer the flexibility i need. So i thought that i could just do 3d wall framing in plain old AutoCad. With that said im not sure how to approach this... Do i make the wall studs 2D polylines and then add thickness for stud length? Can i make wall studs some sort of 3D Dynamic block where i specify the length? Another issue is that if i want the side view of one wall in particular for a plan page how do isolate that paticular wall and its subsequent harware without the other walls showing through? Would every wall have to be a separate layer? Thanks in advance for any of your thoughts... Just draw your studs in plan view, 2D. Throw your viewort in isometric view and extrude the polyline to the desired height. For top rail/bottom rail do the same. Just make sure you change your ucs first correctly. I use Autocad 3D all the time for framing. Quote
ReMark Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 Let's start with a very basic question. Can you afford to buy new software at this time or will you continue to use 2006? Quote
Wavada Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 I work in the UK as a timber frame designer. What we call here timber frame is not the actual post and beam form of timber frame construction. I design modular timber panels that are factory pre fabricated and than shipped to site, for erection. I use a Autocad based program called 'Consultec Framing', as it produces individual dimensioned frame drawings, and cutting lists, schedules, etc. But you are perfectly capable creating 3D frames in Autocad. You just need to do the take off, dimensioning of frames 'manually'. Quote
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