First, let me thank Len for making room for this Idea. It's not mine, but actually the result of several folks inquiring if this could be done.
Learning to use a CAd system can be a bit imposing, especially when you are,
1, already a pretty good board draftsman.
2, perhaps not real "computer savy."
3, daunted by the completely unfamiliar tools used in a CAD system to create drawings.
The last one is likely the biggest reason many may aquire a CAD system, and then after trying a day or two, giving up and going back to the familiar drawing board, T square, and triangles.
Most Good Cad pilots are also good board draftsmen. The difference is that they invested the time, got some instruction, either formal, or read the book, and learned to use the digital tools.
I've often heard that CAD drawings lack the soul, "artistry", if you prefer, that a well done hand drafted plan has. That may be true, but, I believe what most matters is the skill, and artistic sense of the drafter, whatever the media.
Don't get me wrong, all of us appreciate a seriously great hand drafter, Steve Buso comes immediatly to mind, as one of the best, but I've seen some CAD drawings that will give him a run for his money. It really depends, in both cases, on the skill of the drafter.
OK, let's look at some of the reasons you may want to switch to CAD.
Accuracy is one reason. A skilled CAD pilot can make drawings accurate to 17 decimal places. Do we need that? Well,, the answer is, sometimes.
Repeatability is another. You can save often used parts in a seperate file, and insert them where you wish. No Need to redraw something each time you make a drawing.
Modifications done in CAD are seamless, and relativly easy. Re-arranging an entire drawing can be done in a few minutes.
Storage of drawings is digital. Most of my drawings are backed up on a seperate hard drive, a few CD's, and a flash drive. (I use a multiple back up system ever since I had a hard drive crash that lost a complete drawing forever.) Hard copies can take up a lot of space, and can be ravaged by time, accidents, dirt, and dust. Digital files can also suffer, but not in the same ways, and multiple backups help insure the files integrety.
Hard copies must be copied in some manner. Many methods will sometimes elongate the drawing in one direction. A later copy of that copy, and then another, etc. We can get a build up of errors, and not even be aware of it. Cad drawings, plotted from the file, are a new drawing, or what is known as a first generation print. Less chance of errors.
There are some advantages that help us when we build a CAD designed plane.
Very accurate patterns for each part can be easily produced and made available for the scratch builder. The same files can be used with a Laser cutter, to make accurate parts for the builder to use. The accuracy is such, that I expect to see some changes in how parts are used to self jig, and take advantage of structure for stregnth.
OK, I'm running on a bit, but it's for a good reson. If you decide to take this trip with me and others into the CAD world, you need to understand why you're doing it. I can guarantee that at first, you will be able to do it by hand a lot faster. I can also guarantee that as you gain understanding of, and skill with using your new tools, it won't take long before you'll realize that you're working faster, easier, and more accuratly.
It's my plan to introduce skills incrementally, one building on another. I plan on introducing a topic, and then start a discussion by explaining how I do the task, in the format I use.
I hope that those skilled in the same, and other formats will join in and explain how the same thing can be accomplished their way.
I feel that this broadened exposure should cover most of the bases, those it doesn't perhaps won't matter, or some one else will join in and show us the way.
I invite all CAD Pilots to paricipate. Share what you know, and let's learn from each other.
Len, I've a question, How do I pin this one to the top?
Learning to use a CAd system can be a bit imposing, especially when you are,
1, already a pretty good board draftsman.
2, perhaps not real "computer savy."
3, daunted by the completely unfamiliar tools used in a CAD system to create drawings.
The last one is likely the biggest reason many may aquire a CAD system, and then after trying a day or two, giving up and going back to the familiar drawing board, T square, and triangles.
Most Good Cad pilots are also good board draftsmen. The difference is that they invested the time, got some instruction, either formal, or read the book, and learned to use the digital tools.
I've often heard that CAD drawings lack the soul, "artistry", if you prefer, that a well done hand drafted plan has. That may be true, but, I believe what most matters is the skill, and artistic sense of the drafter, whatever the media.
Don't get me wrong, all of us appreciate a seriously great hand drafter, Steve Buso comes immediatly to mind, as one of the best, but I've seen some CAD drawings that will give him a run for his money. It really depends, in both cases, on the skill of the drafter.
OK, let's look at some of the reasons you may want to switch to CAD.
Accuracy is one reason. A skilled CAD pilot can make drawings accurate to 17 decimal places. Do we need that? Well,, the answer is, sometimes.
Repeatability is another. You can save often used parts in a seperate file, and insert them where you wish. No Need to redraw something each time you make a drawing.
Modifications done in CAD are seamless, and relativly easy. Re-arranging an entire drawing can be done in a few minutes.
Storage of drawings is digital. Most of my drawings are backed up on a seperate hard drive, a few CD's, and a flash drive. (I use a multiple back up system ever since I had a hard drive crash that lost a complete drawing forever.) Hard copies can take up a lot of space, and can be ravaged by time, accidents, dirt, and dust. Digital files can also suffer, but not in the same ways, and multiple backups help insure the files integrety.
Hard copies must be copied in some manner. Many methods will sometimes elongate the drawing in one direction. A later copy of that copy, and then another, etc. We can get a build up of errors, and not even be aware of it. Cad drawings, plotted from the file, are a new drawing, or what is known as a first generation print. Less chance of errors.
There are some advantages that help us when we build a CAD designed plane.
Very accurate patterns for each part can be easily produced and made available for the scratch builder. The same files can be used with a Laser cutter, to make accurate parts for the builder to use. The accuracy is such, that I expect to see some changes in how parts are used to self jig, and take advantage of structure for stregnth.
OK, I'm running on a bit, but it's for a good reson. If you decide to take this trip with me and others into the CAD world, you need to understand why you're doing it. I can guarantee that at first, you will be able to do it by hand a lot faster. I can also guarantee that as you gain understanding of, and skill with using your new tools, it won't take long before you'll realize that you're working faster, easier, and more accuratly.
It's my plan to introduce skills incrementally, one building on another. I plan on introducing a topic, and then start a discussion by explaining how I do the task, in the format I use.
I hope that those skilled in the same, and other formats will join in and explain how the same thing can be accomplished their way.
I feel that this broadened exposure should cover most of the bases, those it doesn't perhaps won't matter, or some one else will join in and show us the way.
I invite all CAD Pilots to paricipate. Share what you know, and let's learn from each other.
Len, I've a question, How do I pin this one to the top?
I'm wondering why everything is spinning around?
John Miller
John Miller
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