Drafting Service: Everything You Need To Know

By Adriana J. Noton

A drafting service creates drawings that are measured to scale and from multiple points of view so that someone like an engineer, a machinist, or a home builder can see exactly what he or she will be making. The drawings also include features and materials that will be used in the design. Drafting services are particularly useful for inventors, manufacturers, and construction workers.

Inventors can solicit the help of a drafting service to draw a professional prototype of their invention. Having professional, attractive materials aids them in patenting and selling their idea.

For manufacturers, draftsmen prepare drawings for MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Machinery. They draw specifications for plastic molds, injection molds, mechanical parts, and electrical schematics from jet engines down to tiny computer chips. CNC Machinery is run by a computer chip that reads coded instructions, usually for the creation of metal parts.

A draftsman is also helpful when designing a new home or remodeling an existing home. A homeowner provides the draftsman with drawings or plans created in home planning software. The draftsman then transfers those drawings into professional software, manually redrawing the images and providing views from multiple angles.

A drafter will usually choose a specialty. Electrical drafters plan the layout and wiring in large structures, like buildings, power plants, or manufacturing plants. Mechanical drafters draw mechanical machinery and devices. Civil drafters create drawings for large projects, like bridges.

An architectural drafter works specifically on buildings and may specialize in a particular structure, such as skyscrapers. Aeronautical drafters prepare specifications for aircraft, missiles, and their parts. Pipeline drafters create designs used in the oil and gas refineries, oil and gas fields, and chemical plants. Electronics drafters plan the layout of computer chips and microprocessors.

All drafters compute metrics such as volume, weight limit, and stress factors as they create drawings. Many drafters also obtain ten or thirty-hour OSHA safety, construction, and industry certifications. This prepares them to address safety and environmental problems in their designs.

Draftsmen primarily use AutoCAD (Computer-Aided Drafting); a few use Microstation for Windows. Most drawings can be emailed to the client or to the manufacturer directly from a draftsman. AutoCAD and Microstation create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional drawings.

For drafting services, clients are usually charged by the hour, by the size of the drawing, or by the square footage for an architectural space. When a client provides a draftsman with a design, the client should receive a quote before any work begins. The drafter should also willingly share designs with clients via email or FTP so that they can measure progress.

Before employing a drafting service, also consider a few other factors. Is the work performed on site, or is it outsourced? Is the data copyrighted by the company, or does it belong to you? Some companies retain ownership of your drawings and charge you a maintenance fee. Finally, what are the payment terms? How much do you pay up front, and what payment schedule is set up for the remainder?

About the Author: With over 40 years of experience for all of your toronto drafting service and bcin Toronto needs, professional services can assists in all projects large and small.

Source: isnare.com

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