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Quite often an
Architect's first reaction to Autodesk Architectural Desktop® (ADT) is
that, while impressed with its 3D and BIM (Building Information Model)
capabilities, they still have to work with partners (Engineers,
contractors, etc) using vanilla AutoCAD®, and are primarily concerned
with getting out productions drawings. This article focuses on one
of the capabilities of ADT that assist the development of production
drawings, whether the firm is working with 3D models, or 2D AutoCAD
style drawings.
Detailing is one of
the most time consuming task of developing production drawings.
And even after the details are completed, making sure that the details,
sections, and elevations are properly called out on the original
drawings is a very time consuming task. Autodesk Architectural Desktop
can drastically reduce the time involved in these efforts.
 DETAIL
COMPONENT MANAGER
The Detail Component Manager allows the user to rapidly develop
details with standardized, intelligent components. It is accessed
from the Detail Palette of the standard ADT Tool Palette set. Notice
that the predefined tools are categorized by the standards established
by the Construction Specification Institute (CSI). We will continue to
focus on this point as we go on (see Figure 1).
Clicking on any tool
will take you a point within that CSI division. Right clicking on
any tool gives you access to the entire catalog. As with almost
any AutoCAD or ADT command, there are several ways to get to this point,
but this is the most straight-forward.
 Notice
first that within the Detail Component Manager can give you access to
several databases (See #1 in Figure 2). The default database is a
very extensive library of parts from all 16 divisions. You can if you
chose develop your own components, or tailor the standard database to
contain only the components that you want your staff to use on a
specific project.
In this case, we are going to add some bricks to a detail. Notice
that the brick already has an assigned keynote (See #2 in Figure 2).
ADT supports a keynote database as well, and detail components already
have keynotes defined. We will see more of this later.
 A
detail can start from scratch, from a library of detail drawings
you may already have, or from a callout you derive from your
building model. For this example we start art with a
callout (see Figure 3).
Simply by
selecting the masonry units from the detail component manager,
and selecting a start and end point, we can add as many bricks
as we need. We can use the properties menu (see #1 in
Figure 3) to select which view of the bricks we want, and
use the right-click menu to get the proper orientation to fit
the different pieces in place. An experienced user can use
the category and type fields (see #2 in Figure 3) to select
different components to quickly build up a detail without ever
leaving the screen, or click the select button (see #3 in Figure
3) to return to the Detail Component Manager.
We have a great deal
of flexibility with the standard components. For example, if we
want to change the shape of the brick above the window, we simply use
standard AutoCAD drawing tools (in this case, an arc) to define the
shape change we desire, and use the AEC merge tool to join it into the
brick (see Figure 4).
By continuing to add
component from the database, using standard AutoCAD tools to trim, alter
shapes, etc, and use the AEC Modify tools for more complex editing (such
as replacing one component with another) we can end up in minutes with a
detail such as in Figure 5.
Notice that we have also added keynotes
from the Standard Document Tool Palette. Simply by selecting
Keynoting tool, clicking on the component, and placing the leader, the
keynote is automatically filled in, with the proper CSI code and
description. We can alter the keynote reference to display only
one or the other if we wish (See Figure 6).
In making a detail however, you may have added your
own blocks, just as you can use the standard AutoCAD tools for editing.
If you wish to place keynote references on these blocks, you utilize
the same tool. When you select the block, you will see the tool in
Figure 7. You may select a keynote from the database, or edit or add your
own entry in the database. Using a common database for detail
components and keynotes guarantees a degree of standardization and
accuracy across your project. |
