CAD Standards And Management
Developing standards, managing your CAD staff, and implementing the roll out of new software can be a daunting task. Learn what it takes to be an effective CAD Manager and to help your firm's profitability by automating and eliminating unnecessary procedures. Here, we discuss best practices and procedures for managing your CAD standards and resources.
Customizing CAD
Customizing your CAD drafting software can become expensive if you want to hire a consultant but here are some tips on how to do it for free. Whether you're linking to your blocks or trying to insert images into your plans, modern CAD packages like AutoCAD have built in tools to customize the user experience to your company's needs.
Implementing Engineering Document Management (EDM)
Implementing an Engineering Document management (EDM) solution is no small task to undertake. Even using a robust program like Autodesk Vault can be a pitfall if you don't properly prepare. this article is the first in a series that will take you through the beginning steps of structuring your workflow for an EDM system.
Engineering Document Management (EDM)
We've all heard about Document Management Systems like Autodesk Vault and how important they are to an AEC firm's bottom line but the question still remains: how does it make us money? This article covers the basics of Engineering Document Management (EDM) and shows how it can quickly improve a design firm's profitability.
Putting The Cloud To Work
We hear a lot about cloud services and how beneficial they are, but what does the cloud mean in terms of the CAD world? Is a cloud based file sharing system of any real benefit to an AEC firm, and how much will it cost to actually implement one? This article discusses that and more.
Software Subscriptions
Putting your CAD software under a subscription contract to get regular upgrades and support benefits is what modern software developers are pushing for, but is it really worth paying an annual fee when you've already purchased the software itself? This article looks at the pros and cons of subscription contracts in the CAD world.
Layer Filters
Working with the National Cad Standard (NCS) or other complex layer standards can be of great benefit to Cad Managers but something of a problem for drafters. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to set up Layer Filters in AutoCAD to make using complex layering systems a breeze.
Autodesk Labs
Autodesk Labs is a site dedicated to testing the latest utilities from the Autodesk development teams. It lets CAD user download free utilities and beta programs for use in their daily work and lets them provide direct feedback to the developers to improve these products prior to release. This article describes how Labs works and what it can do for you.
Autodesk University
Autodesk University is the largest CAD conferences in the world, but is it worth your time and money to go? Is using the AU Virtual program just as effective, or is it worth struggling with your boss to get him to pay for attending the actual conference? This article will give you the answers.
How to Use 'AutoCAD Sheet-Set Manager' to Automate Setups
AutoCAD's Sheet Set Manager (SSM) is one of the most under utilized tools on the market today. Used properly, this simple tool palette interface can save you thousands of man-hours each year, which equates to hundreds of thousands in savings for your firm. This article explains how a few simple setup changes can drastically increase your profits on a recurring basis.
Autodesk Design Review
Autodesk Design Review is a free program that lets you review and digitally markup AutoCAD drawing files from just about anywhere, without the need for expensive CAD licenses. Designed with the casual user in mind and not needing any CAD knowledge at all, this program may be the paperless answer your senior designers have been looking for.
How to Build Customized AutoCAD Tool Palettes
The AutoCAD Tool Palette is a great way to implement CAD standards across your company. If you're a CAD Manger looking for simple ways to increase productivity or even if you're a drafter just looking to make your daily work go a little quicker and easier, this article will tell you all you need to know about working with Tool Palettes.
Company Layering Standards
Putting together the layering standards for your firm is the keystone of CAD management. Creating a simple, consistent, easy to understand layering scheme can save your firm thousands of dollars each year. This article discusses the pros and cons of different approaches to this most basic tool of the CAD world.
Enigineering Document Management Software
Engineering Document Management Software is one of the most valuable, and least understood, tools in a design environment. This articles explains the benefits of using EDMS to save your firm money, while helping keep your staff working with consistent standards.
Which EDMS Package is Right for You?
Engineering Document Management Software (EDMS) gives you the ability to control how users can edit files, create work flow and life cycle state, even track who made modifications to your file and when. This article reviews the top five EDMS packages out ther and tells which one is right for your industry.
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