Sunday 6 May 2012

Shop Drawings For Every Industry

By John McDunn


In the world of 3 dimensional modelling, are Shop Drawings nevertheless used? Absolutely! There isn't really a different way to successfully transfer info on the design/detail end to the shop floor. Some Fabrication Shops are utilizing a lot more 'robotic' abilities, but they are few and far between. You will find machines out there that may needless to say cut, drill, weld and prep pretty much anything , but nothing is successful at assembling. Assuming that this continues there will also be a need for a Shop Drawing detailer/designer. Shop Drawing and detailing has evolved a lot over the past 20 years. It used to be an 'art' form with drafting tables, electrical pencil sharpeners and shavings brushes. Now it's the computer mouse as well as a monitor and high powered computer software such as Auto CAD, Tekla Structures, SDS2, Auto Desk Revit, Auto Desk Inventor and every other Auto Desk product.

From Conception to Paper

Quite frequently an concept is actually sketched on paper to begin with, by a designer (lets state an architect for his customer). This designer/architect will then work with his team and create a set of drawings of this idea, (lets use a museum as an example). This set of museum drawings may also include a 3D model (or derived from it). Once they are satisfied they send them to the Client for approval. If approved the construction process can begin, and the hiring of a general contractor to seek out the trades is often the best route.

The task of creating Shop Drawings is often found in one of these trade routes, in this case it woulde be : Mechanical Shop drawings for duct work, Structural Steel Shop Drawings for the steel, Decking, Joist and Concrete also need Shop Drawings.

What is a Shop Drawing?

A shop drawing is basically a design and/or detail portrayed on paper , put forth to a shop fabricator or manufacturer so they might therefore build the required piece.

Are Shop Drawings always mandatory?

Not always, but yes more often than not they are required and sometimes mandatory (IE. engineers and architects will want to see their conceptions on paper)

What is a Shop Drawing Stamp?

A Shop Drawing Stamp is the engineer (of record's) way to say he has approved the Shop Drawing which you or maybe your company has drawn. It fulfills his/her design and they are acknowledging it to be built. This is usually a manual approach (due to signing of the stamp), but typically necessary.

What should the Shop Drawings show?

A proper shop drawing should display all the crucial data that is required for the piece being built. This does not mean to repeat information yet and go overboard. Adding pointless dimensions and data can often cause confusion with the shop floor. Utilize the proper line weights (if you are using Computer Aided Drafting or CAD). Always put your own name and the checkers name on the drawing, this ensures it was done with care. Remember: the individuals working on the shop floor do not have the same working environments you have when drawing it, it can be darker, louder and the drawings can potentially get damaged. At all times keep this is mind.

Shop Drawings are for Every Industry

Almost all trades in a construction or manufacturing procedure require drawings of some form. If not, there isn't any real way of discovering how something was built and to what standard. In Mechanical Drafting there are particular guidelines to observe which may be completely different from other forms of Drafting.( such as the scale, display etc.) When dealing with Structural Steel drawings there are strict principles when it comes to connection design, to make sure that every steel framing connection will not fail.




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