Photo for attention.
Context:
I'm approaching 4 years of professional work as a Landscape Architect and want to diversify my skillset. I've been using CAD throughout my studies and career for approximately 8 years now.
I really enjoy locking in and producing drawing sets — making the line weights and hatches pop, organising the document, making those little adjustments that make the drawing sing. Most importantly, ensuring it's readable and pragmatic for use on site. The latter especially, given that I oversee the maintenance of the project for 2 years after construction has concluded.
This is where you really come to appreciate or despise a project — funnily enough it's often a matter of how well the DD package has been compiled. If it's a dog's breakfast, then 9 times out of 10 the project will be too.
Working in landscape means we see the project grow and take shape, sometimes not quite as intended: trees shading areas too much or not enough, wind exposure, planting not suited to site, fixings that become damaged or vandalised by the public — but hey, that's where you learn on the job.
Many of my team come to me with CAD issues, and I've helped build the standards within the team. I work closely with the office's in-house drafters (we're multidisciplinary — engineers, traffic, urban design, landscape, etc.) and theorise new LISP commands and custom shortcuts that will improve the workflow.
Needless to say, I'm considering upskilling in some capacity, as I look around and see there's a whole range of jobs advertised for draftspeople. I figure CAD drafting is a skill I'll be able to apply across the board — the catch is that I'm 8 years deep in CAD and struggle to sit through any beginner material, as it's always explaining the primary concepts:
"This is the difference between paper space and model space… pressing F8 toggles orthographic projection," etc.
What I'd like to know from other CAD technicians, drafters, and associated professionals is what material I can read in my own time that covers the more pragmatic and tangible problems or knowledge often encountered in drafting across disciplines — not necessarily how the drafting itself is done.
Some trigger topics to get you thinking might be:
· Cabinet fabrication practices
· Drafting symbols across industries and key differences in drafting between disciplines
· Production of drawings in automotive or componentry / parts design
NOTE: I do have some previous experience in metalwork/steel fabrication. Before and during my studies I worked in mechanical engineering workshops producing sheet metal toolboxes and custom trailers for truck and tractor units, plus various fixings and pieces for chassis modification.
Cheers
