I’ve talk, briefly, about the project I’m working on in past posts. I don’t know how much detail I actually got into (and I’m too lazy to go and look), but I wanted to talk about the architectural aspect of it. Yes, I’m using SolidWorks for architectural "stuff". It’s been interesting to say the least. It’d been 13+ years since I’ve looked at an architectural drawing (I used to build houses), and I’d forgotten what the typical architecture symbols looked like. Symbols that aren’t in SolidWorks. Symbols that I get to create as blocks and then insert into the drawings. But, SolidWorks is a mechanical CAD software, not architecture software, so it’s to be expected.
One has to wonder, though. SolidWorks has been around for, what, 13 years, and no one else has brought up the fact that creating architectural drawings is a PITA? I know I’m not the first one to do this, right? Inserting the symbols isn’t too much of a pain, save for one small detail: the number of drawings that are going to end up being produced. Last estimation was ~500. Thankfully, that’s a lot less than the 1200 I was originally told. Anyway you cut it, that’s a lot of time consuming work. Take sectioning for example. I create the section, then have to overlay the architectural section symbol, then manually input the section letter and sheet number that contains the section view. Easy enough, I suppose, until you start moving the section lines. Then you have to move the symbol block. Then the text. I hope I’m missing something here and that there is a way to lock it all together so it moves together (anyone, Beuller?).
SolidWorks, however, is doing the job. The project managers are able to see, quickly and easily, where there might be interference issues, poor utilization of space or any other "opportunities". Over the course of the project, the naysayers have become proponents and that’s always a good thing for a SolidWorks addict like me.
Thankfully, I’m meeting with some of the awesome peeps at SolidWorks next Monday (God, I can’t wait to go home again!). A couple of the tech support guys in the AM to go over some of the crashing issues I’ve had, then some of the API/Drawing gurus in the afternoon to look into getting some automation going.
Bear in mind (Matt, this is directed at you) that I’m NOT whining. I love the fact that I’m getting to use SolidWorks for something that it wasn’t intended for. The customer, thusfar, is duly impressed with everything we’ve generated and loves being able to see his place in 3D, right down to the broom in the corner. It’s an awesome experience. One that I hope to be able to do again.
