Ever wanted to know how to perform a specific operation? Ask the experts.
#76636 by Robert Scott
Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:52 pm
The answer: It depends ;)

On most of my projects, I use what I call the "eggshell" method only doing the outside of the house or building. No wall thickness. I also try to only model what is shown or affects the view.

Robert
#76650 by Robert Scott
Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:56 am
Not necessarily as the end purpose of the model plays into the method I use. I do quite a bit of full exterior and interior models especially those being used for design development.

Robert
#77364 by Ted B
Sat Dec 07, 2019 1:49 am
I use a hybrid of DCAD and Sketchup/Layout for design and construction documents. I've found it tedious to try to accurately model in only 3D, and insane to maintain too-much granulaity. The downfall of BIM I find.

I'll model the house as a shell, sometimes just as the form...sometimes with the detailing (doors, windows, trim), then document in Layout. But the floor plans and sections are drawn 2D in DCAD. If it's just a 3D shell, I used to export a dwg flat view from Sketchup into DCAD, but Layout sonetimes is more practical for a "live" model.

The farthest I'll currently go with Sketchup 3D model for a section is just a very schematic wall, floor and roof mass for a section-cut...just the nominal thicknesses and planes. If I need a kitchen or a bathroom in 3D for rendering or interior wall elevations it's a separate file/model.

There are "BIM-lite" add-ons for Sketchup that automate the management of the model between model-space and paperspace supposedly replacing the need for CAD software, but they're horriblely-expensive annual subscriptions and opaquely-proprietary.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests

About DataCAD Forum

The DataCAD Forum is a FREE online community we provide to enhance your experience with DataCAD.

We hope you'll visit often to get answers, share ideas, and interact with other DataCAD users around the world.

DataCAD

Software for Architects Since 1984