Autodesk Revit is the new favorite of the construction shop drawings’ specialists. We have noted that for creating very precise construction schedule and projecting cost estimation for construction projects, Autodesk Revit really comes in handy with many benefits. With a host of professional features, Revit makes it easier to develop reliable shop drawings using its comprehensive tools, intelligent objects. Using Revit, drafters can design and use a dynamic database, making the software quite useful for the AEC industry.
In this blog, let’s focus on some of the advantages of using Revit for generating shop drawings and how you can achieve high-grade efficiency and accuracy in your shop drawings with Revit. Let’s briefly understand what Shop drawings are.
What are Shop Drawings?
Shop drawings are the drawings related to pre-fabricated components, describing how they should be manufactured or installed. They have design intent drawings and specifications prepared by the design team and show the details how the component will actually be fabricated, manufactured, assembled or installed. Think of shop drawings as the step by step “assembly manual”. Shop drawings are usually prepared by contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, product manufacturers or fabricators.
Shop drawings can be prepared for elements like structural steelwork, reinforcement, building services equipment, lifts, appliances, ductwork, piping, plumbing, windows, cabinets, electrical and data layouts, fire protection, and so on.
Advantages of Using Revit.
1. Ability to make changes quickly without repetition.
The concept designs go through a rapid transformation during the initial phases. Earlier, this would have meant logging extra hours and repetitive tasks.
All of this has been done away with, thanks to Revit. Changes are reflected quickly and various components of a design; such as plans, sections, and elevations are interconnected so that when you make changes at one place, the rest of the model adjusts accordingly.
2. Extensive Building Component Library.
Revit has an in-built library of parametric building design components. This makes the job of shop drawing easier for the drafters. The pre-existing or previously designed component is saved in the repository which can be reused time and again according to requirements.
This saves enormous amounts of time and valuable resources. Find out how you can extend this useful feature and build your own custom Revit family library for higher operation speed.
3. High Quality and Detailed Documentation.
Without extensive and clear documentation, no shop drawing is really useful for a client- be it a fabricator, supplier or contractor. With Revit drafters and designers can create high-quality construction documentation which is error free, detailed and to the point.
4. Flexibility , Versatility and Accessibility.
Contrary to AutoCAD, you can save all your project data in a single project file which makes management easier. Multiple users can work on the same project and merge their changes on every step with Revit. This enhances productivity and flexibility for the team. The software can also import and export DXF, DWG, PDF, JPEG, and DGN files. If that’s not extremely helpful, we don’t know what is!
After seeing what Revit has to offer, let me take you straight away to the tips and tricks you can implement to create the best shop drawings.
Useful Tips to Create Accurate Shop Drawings with Revit.
1) Start with the right Revit Assembly Codes.
To begin with, get your basics right! You need the right Revit assembly codes to match your content plan for all elements. More and more designing firms are harnessing the power of Revit getting these assembly codes right helps them kick off projects correctly.
2) Do not overlook the height and width parameters.
While designing a shop drawing, you should never ignore the height and width parameter of all your components. Even when you are working on a project where the Revit Family is not parametric, you should include both these parameters, especially when you are designing custom doors and windows.
3) Focus on the walls.
While embedding walls in your shop drawing, you should never use generic walls even if you are not going to tag it. Instead, you should always ensure that the wall offsets comply with the design intent. At the very least add a designation, type name and other information to all the wall types to make it easier to differentiate between various walls types in the drawing.
4) Use Revit beam families to create custom beams.
Having a basic family is always better than having no family. When you are working on custom beams, always use the Revit beam families to ensure that everything within your drawing is accurate.
It is always advisable to use some family instead of working with orphan elements and components. This is a more effective way to get accurate shop drawings.
So, you see how well you can make Revit work for you. Try using Revit the next time you land a shop drawing contract and create superior drawings, effortlessly.
Alternatively, if you want us to take care of your shop drawing requirements feel free to drop by our office. You can also write to us.
Read More: Benefits of Revit Family Creation in 3D BIM for Furniture Manufacturers.
Benefits of Using 3D Modeling for your Interior Design Business.
Conclusion
Autodesk Revit is a powerful software for designers and drafters looking to improve their shop drawings. At the same time, using Revit ensures that a project is sealed for successful implementation owing to detailed information and documentation.
At Hicad Africa Limited, we leverage Autodesk Revit’s capabilities to create robust, dynamic and accurate shop drawings for AEC projects. If you are interested in accurate drafting of shop drawings for your project, get in touch with our experts today.